Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "park"

Cesar Chavez Memorial Plaza Renovations Coming Soon

2012-01-28T05:02:41Z

After two years of planning and organization, renovations will begin on Feb. 6 for the Cesar Chavez Memorial Plaza. Since its construction 150 years ago, the park has been renovated many times to maintain it and adapt it to the new needs of the public.

“It’s a prominent public space, and I’m looking forward to giving it a facelift,” said J. P. Tindell, park planning and development manager of the Sacramento Department of Parks and Recreation.

Lisa Martinez, marketing director for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP), also said that she looks forward to the “beautification efforts” on the park. The DSP is known for holding many events in the park, including Friday Night Concerts in the Park and the Wednesday Farmers Market.

“The city’s doing their best to make sure the community’s aware of (the renovations),” Martinez said, “and to make sure the business community isn’t negatively impacted.”

The renovations are meant to enhance the park by reducing maintenance and improving the functionality for events like concerts and the Farmers Market. One example is the extension of the walkway from the perimeter sidewalk to the center plaza, which will lengthen the walkway by around a third of its current size and provide direct access to the center plaza from 10th street. Tindell said this part of the park is often used for the beer garden during summer concerts, and replacing turf with walkway will minimize wear and tear on the turf.

Tindell said that this park in particular has more traffic than most in Sacramento, and it has to be renovated more often to compensate. There are three phases of renovations, and while they can be extensive – from placing new benches to raising the stage – Tindell said they want to avoid closing the park.

“We’re not planning on closing it,” Tindell said. “We don’t want to negatively impact the community.”

Tindell said the entire cost of all three phases will be around $800,000. Tindell said that the budget funding comes from the Quimby Act funds, which authorizes local agencies to establish laws requiring new development to pay in-lieu fees for parks. City and state law won’t allow these funds to offset staff operation and maintenance costs.

Tindell added that she and others who’ve planned this for years want to recognize all events held in the park and help them, and help all surrounding businesses as well.

“It’s the front lawn of the City Hall,” Tindell said, “and it should be kept at some level of maintenance.”

The city plans for phases one and two to be completed before concerts begin in May, and phase three should begin toward the end of the year.

How Registered Sex Offenders can Challenge “Jessica’s Law” Residency Restrictions

2011-12-22T17:30:03Z

Q. My brother is going to get out of jail soon, and we were planning on him moving in with me, but his parole officer told him he couldn’t because he has to register as a sex offender and I live too close to an elementary school, which is against “Megan’s Law” or “Jessica’s Law” or something like that. Isn’t there anything we can do? I’m afraid if he doesn’t live with me he will be homeless.

Jerri

A. California’s Megan’s Law requires anyone convicted of a wide range of crimes, including forcible sex crimes involving non-consenting adults and most sex crimes involving children, prostitution, and child pornography, to register as a sex offender upon release on parole or probation or discharge from custody. California Penal Code § 290. Proposition 83, the Sexual Predator Punishment and Control Act, or “Jessica’s Law,” which amended Megan’s Law on November 8, 2006, forbids any registered sex offender from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park where children regularly gather. California Penal Code § 3003.5(b).

Your brother is not alone in facing a very bleak prospect. According to the Prison Law Office, a nonprofit public interest law firm which engages in class action and other impact litigation on behalf of prisoners, these residency restrictions have forced many parolees to become homeless because they are unable to find affordable, compliant housing.

Jessica's law has been challenged in courts as being too restrictive. Your brother may wish to ask a court to review his case. The Prison Law Office, which has been involved in many of these challenges, has produced a packet of forms and instructions that parolees can use to ask for an immediate stay of the restrictions while their individual cases are being heard by the courts. The packet is available for free on the web at http://www.prisonlaw.com/pdfs/ModelHabeasFull,Dec10.pdf. An additional fill-in-the-blank form, required by all California state courts in this type of case, can be downloaded from the California Courts’ website at http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/mc275.pdf.

You should be aware that local cities, towns and counties are permitted to adopt ordinances which impose further restrictions on where you can live. If you are not in Sacramento and are unsure whether your residence is in compliance with local law, check with someone who is familiar with your community’s laws.

Good luck!

Do you have a question for the County Law Librarian? Just email sacpress@saclaw.org. If your question is selected your answer will appear in next Thursday's column. Even if your question isn't selected, though, I will still respond within two weeks.

Coral Henning, Director
@coralh & @saclawlibrarian
www.saclaw.org

Youth volunteers clean up Curtis Park

2011-10-24T05:57:22Z

As the sunlight crept through the thick leaves of Curtis Park Saturday morning, the sight of youth volunteers cleaning up dried leaves welcomed joggers and dog-walkers on the park.

Twelve youth volunteers cleaned up Curtis Park from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. as part of the youth programs provided by the La Familia Counseling Family Resource Center and Hmong Women's Heritage Association. Staffers of the two associations supervised the youth volunteers.

"It has given us the motivation to come together and focus to work with youths at risk that are living in the same communities," La Familia youth specialist Vidal Gonzalez said about the two groups collaborating. "Why don't we go ahead have activities where everybody can come in, rather than focusing on one specific ethnic community at a time, since we’re all living in the same space and share the same parks too?"

Cristo Rey High School student Bryan Maldonado,14, and The Met High School student Martin Ochoa,15, joked around while shoveling leaves into a wheelbarrow, while Juan Maldonado,18, brother of Bryan and also a student of Cristo Rey, just finished piling up leaves.

"It's pretty fun," Ochoa said. "You actually feel like you really have a voice, and you get to help the community." He learned of the program from his sister who invited him to join. He has been with the group for three months.

Gonzalez said the youths are volunteers and are given a $100 stipend after completing the three-month community service. They are also required to be present on weekly meetings and program events.

"It's great to see community service in action," Curtis Park resident Carmel Brown said. "I wish more of our residents are doing this work."

Hmong Women's Heritage youth advocate Nai Saechao said this is the first time the two organizations worked together for a community service program. In the past they have had youths come together from different groups to network and get to know each other.

Curtis Park is the second park the La Familia volunteers have cleaned up this year and first with Hmong Women’s Heritage. They had their first cleanup at Tahoe Park two months ago. Gonzalez added that Curtis Park was chosen for the cleanup because of its close proximity to their youth center, which is located at 34th Street and Fruitridge Road.

"We take requests, too,” Gonzalez said. “If someone knows of a good park that they they feel is being neglected, we’re more than willing to look into it and see if our kids can go out there to clean it up a little bit.”

Below is an audio slideshow presentation of the Curtis Park cleanup.

Watercolors Hiking in historic Locke and Delta Meadows State Park

2011-09-13T10:47:13Z

A Watercolors and Hiking event will be held in Locke, Calif. on Thursday, September 15, 2011 starting at 10:00 a.m. The hike will be led by Martha Esch. Bring the kids and the grandparents; everyone is welcome! Well-behaved dogs on leashes, okay. This is a mostly level 1.5 mile hike apart from one 20 foot long, somewhat steep, narrow path up a levee hill and some optional off-path routes along the way that are prickly and narrow.

Locke artist and art teacher, Martha Esch, will demonstrate easy techniques to painting a quick, lovely, loose watercolor postcard of scenic spots along the hike. Next, participants will begin using watercolor kits, blank postcards and brushes that will be passed out to all who'd like to paint their own scenes. (There will be a $5 art supply fee.)

Pack your own brown bag lunch, your own beverage and maybe some small snacks to share with others. The group will gather in front of Al the Wop's famous bar and steakhouse, located in the middle of Main Street in Locke, Calif.

If you arrive late, just follow the wooden walkway next to Al's to the back of Locke and the walking path past the community gardens, up the levee to the Meadows State Park to catch up. At the top of that levee, the first of two postcard watercolor paintings will take place overlooking the beautiful lagoon called Railroad Slough.

After 15 minutes, the group will stop painting and hike about 1/2 mile to a scenic overlook along Snodgrass Slough where they'll pause to paint their second15-minute postcards.

Lunch will take place at the Snodgrass Slough as well before the hike back to town where the 90 to 120 minute tour winds up back on Main Street.

Everyone in the hiking group will be welcome to sneak a peek at Esch’s paintings, some in progress, at "The Shack," her art and music studio located at the top end of Main Street at Levee Road.

The Delta Meadows State Park is a beautiful, secret gem and the town of Locke is a fun, historic place that you'll want to soon return to with your out-of-state guests. Visitors are free to visit antique and gift shops, museums and the town’s two restaurants, Al the Wops and the Locke Garden Chinese Restaurant.

Visitors should be sure to shop at Lisa Kirk's fun store called Strange Cargo, located next to Al the Wop's. If you have some muscle strain after your hike and want some acupuncture, Diane Thomas is the one to visit at Locke Chinese Medicine a few doors north of Lisa's shop.

Call Martha Esch at (916) 776-1000 with questions. Hope you can join!

To get to the meeting place in Locke from I-5, take the Twin Cities Road exit west toward the tall radio towers. When you hit the road along the Sacramento River, turn left (south) and go one mile to Locke and turn left into the tiny town. When you enter Locke, park in the free parking lot, straight ahead, next to the public restrooms. Entry codes are: Men 3535/ Women 3434.. Gather in front of famous Al the Wop's, located at 13943 Main Street, Locke CA 95690.

Disclosure: Aricle author, Martha Esch teaches private, small and large group art classes in watercolors, oils, and acrylic painting as well as clay classes to all skill levels and ages. For more, visit her blog at www.marthaesch.blogspot.com

Man on the Street: Best place to take kids to have fun for less than $20?

2011-04-20T19:22:45Z

Spring is here, which means the kids have been hibernating all winter and are ready for some outdoor fun.

The Sacramento Press recently posed the question, “Where is the best place to take kids to have fun for less than $20,” to people at Westfield Downtown Plaza.

Joseph Enriquez, 22, of Elk Grove is a personal trainer. “(I would take them to) Funderland,” he said.

Funderland is a small, outdoor amusement park at 1350 17th Ave. for children ages 2 to 12. There are nine child-sized rides.

Admission to Funderland is free and each ride requires one ticket. Funderland offers single tickets for $1.75 on weekdays and $1.95 on weekends and has ticket books, wristbands and season passes. For pricing and hours, click here.

Jasmaine Briggs, 22, of Galt is a makeup artist. “(I would take them to) the zoo,” Briggs said. “It’s more of a social environment for the kids.”

Weekday admission prices for The Sacramento Zoo are $10.50 for general, $9.75 for seniors, $6.50 for children 2-11 and free for children 1 and under.

Weekend admission prices are $11 for general, $10.25 for seniors, $7 for children 2-11 and free for children 1 and under.

Several individuals said that the park is the best place to take kids for under $20.

McKinley Park at 601 Alhambra Blvd. includes a baseball diamond, basketball and volleyball courts, swimming and wading pools and a play area.

Regency Community Park at 5500 Honor Pkwy. has an adventure play area, skate park, two baseball diamonds, two volleyball courts, a soccer field, a bicycle trail and disc golf course.

Sacramento resident Kevin Hollins, 50, is retired from the Department of Corrections and has lived in Sacramento for about 48 years. He said he likes to take his grandchildren to a place where he can jog or play basketball and keep an eye on them.

“Take them to a park and let them run around,” Hollins said. “Everything else is getting kind of expensive.”

Cody Chu, 36, of Elk Grove said he likes to take his son to the neighborhood park. “Anywhere you go, it’s more than $20,” Chu said. “The park is probably the most fun for them.”

Student Nicole Abraham, 24, of North Sacramento is the mother of 1-year-old Amya. “Pack a picnic and go to the park,” Abraham said.

Tell us where you would take the kids in Sacramento for less than $20 in the comment section below.

Easter Events Extravaganza

2011-04-20T05:02:44Z

Spring is nearly a month in, and as April turns into May, the forecast promises warmer weather and plenty of outdoor activities, especially this weekend, as Easter is Sunday.

There are plenty of ways to celebrate Easter, whether you’re looking for a traditional egg hunt or a nice place to eat Sunday Brunch.

What: Southside Park Spring Egg Hunt

When: Saturday, 11 a.m. - noon

Where: Southside Park, 2107 Sixth St.

Cost: Free

With help from the Southside Park Neighborhood Association and St. John’s Baptist Church, Vineyard Church, the city of Sacramento will host the Southside Park Spring Egg Hunt, which will have a plethora of activities for the kids, including an egg hunt, face painting, carnival games, pictures with the Easter Bunny, various bunny-related crafts and Easter-related worksheets. Mounted police and the K-9 unit have also been invited to join the festivities.

Orange juice and coffee will be served, and there will be a raffle for two $250 Safeway gift cards.

The egg hunt will begin at 11:30 a.m. with 15,000 eggs for the hunting. There will be a total of four hunts, divided by age group. While most of the eggs are easily accessible, there will also be 10 golden eggs that will be a little more difficult to find. The golden egg discoverers can exchange their find for an Easter gift basket filled with various stuffed animals, games and toys.

Jessica Equihua, event coordinator and executive assistant for council member Rob Fong, said they are preparing for 500 participants on Saturday.

“The event is free, and there are plenty of fun takeaways, and one of the major highlights is that families are also provided with resource bags filled with information about services and events, such as this Easter event, in Sacramento,” she said.

For more information, call 808-7004 or go the the city events website.

What: Easter Egg Hunt and Pancake Breakfast

When: Saturday, 8 - 11 a.m.

Where: Clunie Clubhouse at McKinley Park, 601 Alhambra Blvd.

Cost: $5 for adults and $3 for children. Tickets are available at the door.

“The Kiwanis community, along with local Key Club and Circle K volunteers, has been putting on this event for hundreds of parents and children for about 24 years,” said Michael Flynn, coordinator of the event.

Traditionally, thousands of eggs are filled with goodies and hidden each year. The hunt will be done in age groups, beginning at 9:30 a.m. starting with the youngest and adding the next age group every 15 minutes up to the age of 9, according to Flynn. The breakfast is all-you-can-eat and includes pancakes, orange juice, fruit, coffee or tea and bacon or sausage.

There will also be face painting, carnival games and of course the playground itself for the children to roam free.

President Leslie Merker said, ”The Kiwanis’ mission statement is to serve the children, one child and one community at a time. It will be a fun event for the children, very family-orientated.” In fact, Flynn noted that the proceeds of the event will be for improvement and maintenance of the play structure in the park.

For more information, call 484-1314 or go the the Kiwanis’ website.

What: Spring Egg’stravaganza

When: Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Where: The Pavilion, Elk Grove Regional Park, 9950 Elk Grove-Florin Road

Cost: Prices vary, $0.50/ticket

Kristyn Staby, recreation supervisor in special events, said that while the name has changed over time, the Spring Egg’stravaganza has been going on since the Cosumnes Community Services District (CCSD) came into place in 1985.

This year, the event will boast several carnival games, an egg drop competition and even a petting zoo by a local nonprofit 4-H Club. Last year, they welcomed about 1,800 guests and are expecting a similar number this year.

From 8 - 10:45 a.m., the Pride of Laguna Creek Lion’s Club will be offering a pancake breakfast for $5, children under 2 can eat free with a paying adult.

Outside of pancakes, they will also be serving ham, fruit and orange juice or hot chocolate. This Breakfast with the Bunny event usually draws about 600 people, according to Staby.

Carnival games and the Egg Scramble, the CCSD’s egg hunt, will occur all day.

The egg drop competition is done in partnership with the CSD Fire Department and takes place at 11:30 a.m. Children construct a simple holder for their egg in hopes that it will not break when dropped from the fire department’s ladder truck. Undamaged eggs are awarded a prize.

For more information, call 405-5300 or go the the CSD’s main website.

There will also be two other Easter hunting events in the area.

Westminster Presbyterian Church will be holding its very first Easter egg hunt in Capitol Park on Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon. The event is free and hunting will begin at 11:30 a.m.

For more details, call 747-9592.

Fairytale Town will be hosting its annual Spring Eggstravaganza on both Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Both days will be filled with egg hunts, prizes, pictures with Peter Cottontail, puppet shows and spring-themed hands-on activities.

For more information call 808-7462 or check out Fairytale Town’s event list.

BYOB: Bring your own basket to all egg hunting events.

For those of you who want to head straight to the meal and skip the hunting altogether, there are a couple of local places offering an Easter feast or just a few special eats.

What: Easter is Easy at Ten22

When: Sunday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Where: 1022 Second St.

Cost: $12 per special; prices vary on regular menu items

Ten22 will be adding three brunch specials to its regular menu this Sunday: Walnut Levain French toast, a Dungeness crab omelet and roasted apple crêpes.

Jay Veregge, the executive chef, said, “We want to provide our customers with the regular menu and have additions for holidays.”

Veregge also mentioned that the restaurant really tries to stay organic and farm-driven.

While the restaurant has only been in Sacramento for a little over a year, it was voted “Best New Restaurant” in 2010 by subscribers of Sacramento Magazine.

Specials will be available from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Reservations are recommended.

For further details, call 441-2211 or log onto their website.

What: Celebrate Easter at the Firehouse

When: Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: 1112 Second St.

Cost: $39.95 for adults, $14.95 for children 12 and under

The Firehouse is the sister restaurant to Ten22 and they have been hosting Easter Day Brunches since 2001, said Christi Stevens, marketing specialist.

The Easter brunch was specially created by Chef Deneb Williams and diners will enjoy a three-course menu beginning with a buffet of freshly baked pastries by Pastry Chef Jill Berger, seasonal fruit and assorted meats and cheese. Guests are provided with five entree options of pork chop and eggs, Newport eggs Benedict, Santa Fe tenderloin scramble, vegetarian polenta and prawns and scallops and either chocolate-peanut butter gâteau or lemon cheesecake for dessert.

A three-course children’s menu is also available. This menu also includes the starter buffet and a choice of Triple Berry Pancakes, chicken Alfredo or the Rise & Shine dish, which consists of scrambled eggs, crisp bacon and potatoes. For dessert, an oatmeal raisin cookie sundae is served.

Both The Firehouse and Ten22 have outdoor seating for you to enjoy that great spring weather.

More for information, call 442-4772 or check out the website.

Those in search of some Easter entertainment can check out either of the following two events.

A local church is changing up its regular routine this Sunday, with a performance in place of the normal service.

What: Easter Sunday Performance: Bow at the Knee

When: Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 11:45a.m.

Where: 2805 El Camino Ave.

Cost: Free

This will actually be the second year that El Camino Baptist Church will be putting on this specific production. Last done in 2004, Pastor of Worship David Burckhardt said it was very well-received and looks forward to watching the production again.

April Schrokosch, the ministry arts director, said “Bow at the Knee” is a very relatable play.

“It’s a great production about a man who struggles with looking at two different worlds. He is confronted with a different way of thinking and this applies to many people.”

With a cast of over 50, both Burckhardt and Schrokosch said, it was a true and full-on musical Broadway-style production about the story leading up to Jesus’ death and Crucifixion through the eyes of a Roman Centurion.

More further details, call 488-1522.

If daytime outings aren’t really your thing and you’re interested in something different, you might want to check out Easter Sunday School at Movies on a Big Screen.

What: Easter Sunday School

When: Sunday, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Where: The Guild, 2828 35th St.

Cost: $5.00, advance ticket sales on site, cash only at door

This Sunday night, Movies on a Big Screen (MOBS) is showing a collection of vintage Christian material including but not limited to Christian scare films, kids’ shows and other religious video strangeness.

Robert McKeown, co-founder of MOBS, said, “We always try to play with special times of years or holidays. For example, around August, when school usually starts back up, we do a Back-to-School-Night with old educational films from the 50s and 70s. This year’s Easter viewing will be pretty similar.”

MOBS had always done Easter-related films before, such as a showing a Peeps documentary, shot in Sacramento, two years ago, but McKeown said that last year was the first year they had to deal with a movie viewing actually on Easter. So, they wanted to do something different and decided to show the video, “Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter.”

For this event, McKeown scoured through hours of obscure videos for the night’s line-up, which remains a secret until the big night. But after some prodding, McKeown hinted that film clips may include material from an old Christian children’s show with a real life amputee dressed up as a pirate doing autopsies on sinners.

Themed snacks and drinks will be available for purchase, and you are also allowed to bring your own food.

For advance tickets or further details, check out the event page.

If you know of any events not mentioned above, please feel free to put the suggestions in the comment box below.

Back Country Skills

2011-04-05T05:39:06Z

There are numerous trails and parks found in the greater Sacramento
area. With a large variation in terrain and difficulty, there’s no
need to go to the coast or all the way up to the Sierra Nevadas. Area
trails and parks are somewhat unknown and this lack of experiences
makes it seem like some of these places are not worth going to.
This is where Recreational Equipment Inc., better known as

REI, comes in. REI provides an opportunity to develop skills with a
knowledgeable instructor.

In the Sacramento area, REI’s Outdoor School has been steadily
developing for the past few years. REI offers numerous classes every
month and is still adding new classes. There is a wide variety of
classes offered, from Stand Up Paddle Boarding to Sunset Photography
to Back Country Skills.

This past Sunday, REI offered its Introduction to Back Country Skills
class. The class met at the Roseville REI before venturing to Hidden
Falls Regional Park, where the actual class would take place. When
everyone met in the parking lot, the instructor handed out a GPS,
compass, map and emergency blanket. She also had the group preview the
trail and compare the maps provided to see if there were any new
trails nearby.

As the group walked toward Hidden Falls, the instructor pointed out
the numerous variations of poison oak, edible plants in the area and
plants important to the Native Americans. The instructor also gave
tips on how to use the GPS more effectively while out hiking.

The four parts of a successful hike: plan, notify, execute and share,
were also introduced. During the planning stage, the decision on where
to hike is made. Local conditions are checked, such as whether or not
the trail is open or covered in snow, etc., and hikers begin to gather
proper permits and check trail rules.

The notifying stage requires that the destination and time of return
are left with someone responsible who is not going on the trip.
Another good idea provided by the instructor was to leave behind the
license plate and make of the car being used. In the event that the
hikers do not check in, this provides an easy way to see if the person
is still out or if their cell phone died and they couldn’t check in,
but have left.

The execution stage is the stage when hikers go out on the hike. The
final stage is to share the experience or record memories from the
trip.

The class also covered the 10+ essentials, what to do in first aid
situations, different types of clothing and when they should be used
and how to signal distress. REI covers these topics in excellent depth
and has other great how to’s available at
http://www.rei.com/expertadvice.

The class was very informative and was a perfect introduction to back
country skills.

For more about the classes offered, please visit
http://www.rei.com/outdoorschool/141.

Local Roots Food Tours offers an opportunity to experience Sacramento's culinary scene and learn about the city's historical roots

2011-03-31T05:20:16Z

Sacramento’s Local Roots Food Tours are a fun way to experience Sacramento’s culinary scene by sampling different restaurants and learning new recipes, like homemade pasta noodles.

The tours began in February, and were created by Lisa Armstrong who is the owner and only tour guide at the moment.

“My first experience on a food tour was in Seattle,” Armstrong said. “After coming home from Seattle I couldn’t stop thinking about how much fun I had and what a great idea it would be to put together a tour for a city like Sacramento.”

At 11:15 a.m. on a Tuesday, Armstrong conducted her first official three hour tour with a group that included eight people.

“We are hoping to attract anyone who likes to eat, who likes to have fun meeting people: chefs, store owners and individuals who would like to learn more about the culture of Sacramento,” Armstrong said.

The group started the tour with a meet-and-greet at César Chávez Park in front of the fountain.

After introductions, Armstrong announced that the group would be sampling foods from seven different locations including Shine Coffeehouse, Sugar and Spice Speciality Desserts, Sampino’s Towne Foods and 524 Mexican Restaurant.

“Our tour locations vary anywhere from a farm-to-table upscale restaurant to a small and special bistro to a funky coffeehouse off the beaten path to a mom and pop deli market,” Armstrong said.

The second location was 524 Mexican Restaurant on 12th Street, where owner Jose Gomez served the tourists Albondigas, a fresh daily soup with meatballs, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and rice in a tomato broth.

“This restaurant is over 100 years old, and a lot of the recipes are from the 1950s,” Gomez said.

In addition to 524, the tour also stopped at Sugar and Spice Specialty Desserts on F and 10th streets.

Carissa Jones, who owns the bakery, allowed the tourists to sample chocolate-covered mints and cream puffs.

“I started this bakery because it’s a great opportunity to offer people something other than just cakes,” Jones said.

The tour also includes several different historical neighborhoods such as Alkali Flat and Mansion Flats.

“We pause here and there to talk about a particular house or some funky fact about a person who lived in the home at some point,” Armstrong said.

The Sterling Hotel, Charles Lai Mansion, Sacramento International Hostel, Hubbard-Upson House and the Governor’s Mansion are just a few of the historical homes that are a part of the tour.

“George Pardee was the first governor who lived in the mansion,” Armstrong said. “It was built in 1877 and is now being used by the state and public for ceremonies and events.”

Armstrong said she received most of the historical information from the Sacramento Room located within Sacramento’s Central Library where she spent several hours of researching and reading publications. She also was able to find some history by talking with the locals in the communities where the tours pass through.

“Now I know about places I can go to when I come to Sacramento,” said guest Anne Winbush, who lives in Lathrop, but works in Sacramento.

“My favorite stop was Ambrosia Café I liked the southern red velvet cupcake samples. They were delicious and are one of my favorite cakes.”

Armstrong said that Local Roots Food Tours works closely with local farms, vineyards, orchards and businesses that promote farm-to-table food in their restaurants and supports other local businesses.

Tours are conducted every week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, but will be expanded by this summer to offer more times and days.

“We plan on offering food tours in Midtown, as well as local farms and vineyards in the upcoming months” Armstrong said.

Tickets are $58 and can be purchased here.

The next tour will be on Saturday, April 2, at 11:15 a.m.

Volunteers Prepare For "Park Clean-Up Day"

2011-03-17T17:20:31Z

Spring is in the air and volunteers in the Tahoe Park neighborhood are eagerly preparing for their first "Park Clean-Up Day" of the year.
After organizing two successful clean-up events in the area last fall, event organizers hope to attract a large enough group of volunteers this Saturday to have yet another triumphant event at their local park.

Late last year, the Tahoe Park Neighborhood Association was awarded a $1000 dollar grant by "Gift-To-Share, Inc." with the purpose of
purchasing tools and equipment for clean-up events. Recently, board members of TPNA obtained these tools and will be making them available for the first time during this volunteer effort.

Tahoe Park is used by hundreds of residents every day for many different reasons. Some people come out to use the jogging path, while others walk their dogs of all shapes and sizes under the dozens of trees that adorn the park. The playground, basketball court, baseball fields, and horseshoe pits are also thoroughly enjoyed by children and adults alike.

TPNA hopes by organizing these events the park will remain attractive and safe for citizens to use well into the future. Events like this are also designed with community interaction in mind. Neighbors are encouraged to interact with one another and nominate sites for future clean-up events in the area.

Volunteers will be meeting at the park this Saturday, March 19th at 8:30 a.m., rain or shine. Snacks, juice, and coffee will be provided to participants. While volunteers fill out their release forms, speakers from the neighborhood association and the city will briefly talk about the benefits of civil engagement and volunteerism. All participants will be entered into a raffle drawing for one of several prizes which will be awarded towards the end of the event at 11:30.

WHAT: Tahoe Park Clean-Up Day

WHEN: This Saturday, March 19th starting at 8:30. Raffle will be at 11:30

WHERE: Tahoe Park, 3501 59TH Street, Sacramento. Meeting point is near the basketball court, look for the yellow signs.

For more information please visit www.tahoe-park.org or email
isaacTPNA@gmail.com

Isaac Gonzalez is a board member of the TPNA

New soccer field is dedicated to Grantland Johnson in Hagginwood Park by councilwoman Sandy Sheedy and Hagginwood community

2011-03-17T16:23:57Z

City Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy, along with the Hagginwood community, will be gathering Saturday in honor of a new soccer field recently constructed in Hagginwood Park.

The soccer field will be named after Grantland Johnson, a former city councilman and county supervisor representing all of North Sacramento.

“We’re expecting about 60-100 people will show up,” said Jim Cones, director for Sacramento’s Parks and Recreation Department. “Recently we had a grand opening of a park in North Sacramento, and there were several hundred people.”

Cones said the plan to implement the soccer field came from a survey that was conducted in 2008.

“Some of the parks in the city were not as safe as they should be, so the community did surveys, and the No. 1 recommendation from the community was to reconstruct Hagginwood Park,” Cones said.

As part of the master plan to re-design Hagginwood Park, a new soccer field has been provided as an effort to make positive changes in the community.

“The park will be used to promote positive things and leave less of an opportunity for negative influences like drugs or gang violence,” Cones said.

In addition to the need for positive influences within the community, there was a lack of soccer fields for use in North Sacramento.

Sheedy said the soccer field can be rented throughout the year and has been built to meet the needs of the residents in Hagginwood.

The funding for this project was provided by both the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency and the Department of Parks and Recreation.

“SHRA contributed $1 million and our budget was $1.3 million,” Cones said.

Johnson grew up in Del Paso Heights and graduated from Grant High School, where he was a
member of the Grant Pacers football team and played baseball on what has now become the Grantland Johnson soccer field.

“It’s the community’s way of thanking Grantland Johnson for his contributions to this city and state,” Sheedy said.

The grand opening of the new soccer field will be at Hagginwood Park from 1 - 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The park is located at 3271 Marysville Blvd.

Cones said the reconstruction of Hagginwood Park is just beginning. There are still new restrooms to be built, parking lots to be redesigned, and a makeover of the entire playground to be done.

Davis Farmers Market celebrates the season with annual festival

2010-11-01T18:33:52Z

Fall was definitely in the air Saturday as the Davis Farmers Market held its annual festival to celebrate the season.

In addition to the typical market fare of garden-fresh fruits and vegetables, the festival, which is held on the last Saturday in October, brought a fall theme including Halloween decorations, a scarecrow display, additional vendors and more activities for families.

Overcast skies and cool air accompanied the dozens of Mylar balloons, cornstalks and hay bales that made up the many decorations in the market area. Joy Wills, the assistant manager who has worked at the market for 18 years, described the festival as a “celebration of the fall harvest.” Wills also mentioned that stuffed little pumpkin baggies hanging from some of the trees are 16 years old and are still in great condition.

Davis’ Central Park is home of the weekly market that is held under a pavilion, but the festival brought out an extra 20 or so vendors who stretched the row of offerings across the park’s entire walkway. Items for sale included handmade jewelry, freshly popped kettle corn and slices of pumpkin pie.

Kristy Lyn-Levings of Cache Creek Meat Co. has been coming to the market for a year and a half to sell naturally raised chicken. Lyn-Levings brought her 3-year-old niece, Abigail, to enjoy the day, and they both got into the festival spirit by dressing in chicken costumes.

Among the families and customers at the market were Peter and Susan Dileanis, who moved to Davis from Sacramento a few years ago. They have been attending the farmers market since 1984.

“It’s much bigger, with the 4-H groups and activities just for kids,” Susan said.

Additional activities for children included pony rides, face painting, a chance to pet baby pigs and even a chance to join in the live music. The Peter Franklin Band, which played on the south side, and Music Matt, which played on the north side, each provided a variety of instruments for the little ones to play.

New sponsorship and advertising program for city parks

2010-04-16T03:34:19Z

Imagine playing softball at your local park and seeing an ad for a local sports equipment store, or going to a city skatepark and finding out there's a sale at the nearest skate shop. This type of city-business interaction could be possible with the Department of Parks and Recreation's Community Sponsorship Initiative.

Thursday afternoon at the Sacramento Softball Complex, the department unveiled its new funding program, CSI, which was approved by the City Council April 6. The program provides individuals, groups and businesses sponsorship and advertising opportunities, all while funding Parks and Recreation programs and facilities.

"It's taken us a year to get to where we are now, but today we're happy to announce that this initiative will help us with our budget problems by bringing in new revenue to the department," said Hindolo Brima, spokesperson for the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Operations Manager Dave Mitchell said at the April 6 City Council meeting that department staff hopes to earn between $80,000 and $100,000 in the first year of the program.

Brima said that funds from the CSI would be placed in a general parks fund unless otherwise specified. Sponsors can also choose for the money from their purchased advertisement to benefit a certain facility or program.

Ads can be placed at designated specialized facilities (like skate parks, community gardens and dog parks) and special events (like Doggy Dip Day and the Jr. Olympics Competition), in the "Department of Parks and Recreation Seasonal Recreation Magazine," a quarterly publication, or on the department's website.

Recreation Manager Alan Tomiyama said there has been a terrible financial crisis in the department over the last three years. "Sometimes it takes a crisis or a catastrophe to enable people to think out of the box, innovatively, and think how we can take advantage of the economic situation we're in," he said.

He also mentioned that the Sacramento Softball Complex is one of the first specialized facilities now accepting advertisements. Placement could be on the scoreboard, the side of a building, or on the outfield fences.

Tamayama said the SSC averages about 400,000 visitors per year, including 50 weekend softball tournaments. He also said that the complex hosts a number of teams from out of town, and local weekday softball games take place as early 8 a.m. while others end as late as midnight.

Jamie Engelleiter, director of sales for Holiday Inn Express & Suites, was one person from the business community already interested in advertising.

"This opportunity for us to be able to advertise and get our name out there, to be able to work with this facility, will be an honor," she said. "We look forward to offering all the sports teams package rates."

Rates for advertising start at $250 and reach up to $9,000 for a "Platinum Package." Sponsorships, on the other hand, can be as little as $10, and can go to any specific purpose related to the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Brima said that advertisers were in charge of creating and styling their own ads, but all ads need to meet provided guidelines and approval from a city committee. The community will also be notified of all pending advertisements via fliers and will be able to call a hotline to voice their concerns about advertisements.

He added that the first advertisements could be up as early as this summer.

More information on the CSI can be found at supportsacparsandrec.com. Rates descriptions of all advertising packages and options are available by contacting Hindolo Brima at (916) 808-5972 or hbrima@cityofsacramento.org.

Sacramento celebrates DJ AM

2009-09-12T05:07:08Z

The Park put its "no tennis shoe" rule on hold Thursday night. The club's dress code normally requires shoes to be "polishable," but hundreds of Sacramentans came together in all kinds of footwear to celebrate the life of Adam Goldstein, aka DJ AM.

AM, a celebrity DJ, died August 28 of an apparent Oxycontin overdose. He also was known for his love of Nike sneakers. In addition to owning more than 700 pair, he was designing a signature shoe for Nike at the time of his death.

At about 10 p.m., a crowd filled the lounge/club to dance to tunes played by DJ AM's friends.

As part of the "Get Loud 4 DJ AM" celebration, a slideshow depicted him with celebrity friends such as actress Mandy Moore, DJ Steve Aoki and drummer Travis Barker, with whom he formed the duo TRVS-DJAM. About a year ago, Barker and AM were the only survivors of a plane crash that killed four others. They both suffered severe burns in the accident.

TRVS-DJAM performed at The Park in 2007 and AM returned to perform in 2008. AM was scheduled to perform there for a third time Thursday to celebrate The Park's four-year anniversary.

Instead, AM's friends performed, including Sacramento DJ Gave Xavier, who opened for DJ Scene, a popular Las Vegas DJ who has performed with 50 Cent, Nas, Afrika Bambaataa and many other hip hop artists.

DJ Scene played a set accompanied by Sacramento drummer Justin Barnes that was an homage to the instrumentation popularized by TRVS-DJAM. Brian Bassett, music and managing manager for The Park, and Sacramento promoter Nick Willrich, both friends of AM, emceed the free event.

"People asked if we would do a moment of silence," Bassett told the crowd, "but that's not what AM would've wanted. So let's toast to a guy who put Sacramento at this level [of DJ talent]."

"He was a pioneer, a revolutionary, with mash-up skills," said Rob Draper, 29. The University of California at Davis pre-law student first heard of AM two years ago when he attended TRVS-DJAM's performance at The Park.

"He's a person who can make a person who doesn't dance, dance," said Carla Sanchez, 28. She also saw TRVS-DJAM's 2007 performance at The Park. "It was awesome."
Sanchez drove from Vacaville on Thursday to see the tribute. She said she hoped AM's family would be touched by the celebrations of his life happening everywhere.

"It reminds us of New Year's, [hearing music] you're not used to [hearing]" said Sanchez's friend, Christel Prince, 23. "They're trying to re-enact what could have been, but respect his work."

"It's not DJ AM, but it's better than nothing," said Draper. "It definitely brings closure for [AM's fans] from Sacramento."

Ultimate frisbee fans flock to SUPA

2009-07-25T21:59:30Z

Anyone looking to meet new people, get some exercise and have a little fun need not look further than the Sacramento Ultimate Players Association (SUPA) for ultimate frisbee.

Established in 2003, the SUPA offers people the chance to play organized or scrimmage ultimate frisbee year-round. It has been growing in membership annually since its inception.

"When we started, we were just looking for structure and organization," said Mike Tomlinson, founder of SUPA. "The idea was sort of a prospering ultimate community. It went from one night a week with six teams to three nights a week. There are also some tournaments thrown in there.

"We were doing only one short event. Now we're doing around 10 or 12."

Along with the tournaments are other opportunities for people to play ultimate frisbee, as members within SUPA organize pick-up games several times a week depending on field and player availability. Such games are discussed and planned within the forums page of the SUPA website, sacultimate.org.

As the demand for more pick-up games has increased, SUPA has done their best to accommodate various schedules and skill levels, according to the head of the board of directors, Roxie Anderson.

"We have more informal pickup, and our community does Saturday mornings where they go and find people at McKinley Park or other places," Anderson said. "We'll have big pickup either Tuesdays or Wednesday nights, and sometimes we have a Sunday game also, which is kind of our beginner pickup. There's something for everybody."

For those who haven't played before or might feel intimidated jumping in without training, the SUPA also offers free beginners clinics. The final session offered for the summer is Sunday beginning at 6:30 p.m. at McKinley Park on 33rd and H st. The clinic will go through the basic rules of the sport, followed by a scrimmage mixed with some veteran players to help instruct newcomers learning on the go.

Along with SUPA's growing recognition within northern California, Anderson said that they have been receiving more incomers from well outside Sacramento, something she said is very encouraging.

"We're getting a lot of players from Stockton, Modesto, Grass Valley, Auburn and all over the county," she said. "We're pretty excited that people know about the league from all over. We mostly use the parks in the Sacramento area, but people will drive more than an hour to be a part of the group."

The SUPA's biggest summer league is getting ready to commence this Wednesday at McKinley Park. Titled "The Summer of Love Spirit League," this year's league name and theme pays tribute to Woodstock's 40th anniversary. Team names and various activities will support the peace-loving theme.

The Spirit League consists of four teams, and all games for the six-week tournament will take place at McKinley Park. The entry fee is $25.

"It's called the spirit week cause it has all the different level of players together," Anderson said. " We'll have some higher level players mix with the beginners, which helps beginners learn a little more. The spirit part is from the spirit of the game, which is being competitive but not at all costs to win. It will also be co-ed, so it should be really fun."

Another major event upcoming for SUPA is the Full Moon Hat Tournament beginning August 8. Although registration is full, there is a waiting list in case players end up dropping out of the competition. The entry fee is $20.

Organized by Tomlinson, the event, he said, is one of his favorites of the year.

"We play under the stars, and we have someone flipping pancakes on the sideline," Tomlinson said. "And one of our members brings organic fruit ... It's kind of a party night, and it's a ton of fun."

More information on both the Summer of Love Spirit League and the Full Moon Hat Tournament, as well as pick-up and other ultimate frisbee events can be found at sacultimate.org.

2nd Saturday weekend doesn't disappoint

2009-07-09T21:14:51Z

Ahhh, yes, it's that time of the month again folks. Second Saturday weekend that is! Although there are great things going on all month long throughout Sacramento, many locals will argue that the second weekend of the month in Sacramento is their favorite time to venture out on the town. In addition to the Art Walk on Saturday, this weekend has a plethora of cool things to check out. And for Sactown, mid-July is looking to bring us some relatively mild weather to boot! Take a look to see if any of these events can lure you to venture out...try something different this week!

Thursday 7.9

Food & Wine: California Grape & Gourmet -- $50 ($70 day of)
Where: Sacramento Convention Center
When: 5:30-8:30pm
Why: A charity event produced by the California State Fair to benefit the Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Fund. This exquisite wine and food tasting event features more than 600 award winning wines and delicious food from nearly 90 of Northern California's best restaurants. Take home a commemorative wine glass and maybe even purchase some of the award winning wines! There will be also be live musical entertainment, an assortment of exceptional cheeses and award winning micro brews (Commercial Cheese and Commercial Craftbrew Competition winners) to enjoy. This is touted by many Sacramentans as “The Best Wine Event in Sacramento” as well it should be!
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Music/Nightlife: DJ Kaskade -- $17 (presale)
Where: The Park Ultralounge
When: 8pm
Why: If you missed him last time, you should really try to make this show. I am not much of an electronic music fan these days but Kaskade really knows how to mix some good music! He’s not your average DJ…
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Music: Beyonce -- $20.75+
Where: Arco Arena
When: 7:30pm
Why: She’s not the best paid celebrity in America under the age of 30 for nothing! Her big debut to fame was back in 1993 (!) with Destiny’s Child, but only after she broke away as a solo act did she really come out of her shell. She is now married to rap superstar Jay-Z and makes over $80 million a year! See what the hype is all about while she’s in town- you’re not likely to leave disappointed.
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Music/Nightlife: Cheese & Olive Oil Pairing -- $45
Where: Cest le Cheese
When: 6:30-8:30pm
Why: Decadent pairings inspired by ancient times. Explore the rich world of artisan cheeses paired with extra virgin olive oils. Laura Martinez, cheese and olive oil connoisseur and author, guides you through California's finest offerings while dipping into timeless and surprising food pairings. Perfectly accompanied by sparkling wine.
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Music/Museum: Night at the Museum featuring the Pyronauts -- $Free w/ admission ($8/7/4)
Where: California Auto Museum
When: 6-9pm
Why: Don’t miss your chance every Thursday during the summer to cruise down to the CA Auto Museum, enjoy the evening, & experience car culture as it comes alive! This Thursday enjoy live music from The Pyronauts, a local surf band who specializes in the sounds of Dick Dale and The Del Tones, The Surfaris, The Ventures and more! Take some time to browse around the museum’s current exhibit “Carved Elegance: Woodies, Wheels, and Waves” while you’re there.
Details: http://www.sacramento365.com/event/detail/39351

Friday 7.10

Music: Concert in the Park -- $Free
Where: Cesar Chavez Park
When: 5pm-9pm
Why: This week features Kate Gaffney & Boulevard Park along with West of Next, Christopher Fairman & The Stilts! If you live and Sacramento and have still not checked out a CIP, you are missing out! Its free family fun that the adults can enjoy too! Afterwards, don’t forget about the weekly concert crawl (Post Concert Specials!!): Show your concert wristband and receive specials at local bars and restaurants. Receive special happy hour deals on food and drinks when you ask for the Concert Crawl Deal.
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Music Festival: Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival --$
Where: Sleeptrain Amphitheatre
When: 2:15pm
Why: The most electrifying carnival to ever hit the summer concert circuit, is back…and bigger. MARILYN MANSON and SLAYER will top the bill on this year’s highly anticipated tour kicking off here in Sacramento! Featuring many of rock’s heaviest bands: Marilyn Manson and Slayer headline joined by Bullet for my Valentine and a special guest; also Trivium, All That Remains, God Forbid and the Jägermeister Battle of the Bands winner, Cannibal Corpse, Job for a Cowboy, Behemoth, Black Dahlia Murder and Whitechapel. In addition to catching a slew of “speaker-shredding performances”, play the newest video games, peruse vendors, attend autograph signing sessions and a host of other interactive activities that will add to the festival experience. Stage sponsor Jägermeister will be sampling their products and providing fun surprises for attendees.
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Special Event: News10 Blood Donor Day-- $Free
Where: News10 Studios
When: 6am & 7pm
Why: The summer months are a critical time for blood banks so we need everyone to be a hero and donate a life saving pint of blood. News10 Blood Donor Day with Delta Blood Bank is the perfect opportunity to do some good, and also have some fun!! Every donor will receive a free t-shirt, as well as a coupon for a pint of ice cream from Baskin Robbins!! In addition, you will also get a coupon for a free cherry limeade at Sonic!! Plus, you can get swabbed to be on the national marrow donor list and the swabbing fee will be waived for this one day only! Thank you for being a hero and helping us save lives. For more information, please visit news10.net.
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Film & Video: MOBS presents, Rock That Uke w/ Ukulele Loki's Gadabout Orchestra -- $5
Where: Guild Theatre (2828 35th Street)
When: Screenings, 7:00pm & 9:30pm; Performance, 8:00pm
Why: The screening of "Rock That Uke" will be accompanied by a live performance by Ukulele Loki's Gadabout Orchestra! Ukulele Loki's Gadabout Orchestra is a Denver based 6 piece chamber-pop band that features ukulele, tuba, trombone, clarinet, glockenspiel, drums, and synth. Additionally, the Director of the film- William Preston Robertson will be in attendance. Robertson has lent his voice to numerous Coen Brothers films and authored the definitive book on the Coen Brothers, "The Big Lebowski: The Making of a Coen Brothers Film!" Come see the movie at 7 and hang around for Ukulele Loki's performance at 8 PM, OR come to see Ukulele Loki at 8 PM and stay for the second screening. About the movie: “A funky, curiously philosophical cinematic love poem that examines the near mystical allure of the four-stringed underdog of the musical world and the recent surge of alternative, post-punk musicians on the American mainland who have taken up the instrument, and have incorporated the ukulele not just into their raucous and irreverent original compositions, but into a counter cultural, post-punk ethos.”
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Music: American Idols Live 2009 Tour -- $40.50+
Where: Arco Arena
When: 7pm
Why: Calling all American Idol fans!! It’s your chance to see your favorite “Idols” live and in person! Only featuring the top 10 contestants: Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Anoop Desai, Danny Gokey, Kris Allen, Lil Rounds, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy, Michael Sarver and Scott MacIntyre, this is sure to be a great show. The phenomenon that American Idol has become is sure to be well received here in Sacramento.
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Saturday 7.11

Kids & Families: Downtown Kids Week -- $Various
Where: Saturday 7/11-Saturday 7/18
When: Various
Why: Families from around the region are invited to join in the fun of Downtown Sacramento’s first annual Downtown Kid’s Week. The Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP), California State Parks, local museums, theatres and restaurants have come together to make Sacramento’s central city the place to be this summer vacation by offering family-friendly events, activities, exhibits and special offers throughout the week.
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Art: Progeny Exhibit w/Artist Talk -- $FREE
Where: 40 Acres Art Gallery
When: 4pm-5pm (Artist talk)
Why: Progeny pairs Deborah Willis and her son, Hank Willis Thomas, in their first official collaboration. Willis is a photographer, educator and curator. Thomas has become known for his stinging critique of advertising and its impact on contemporary life. Consisting of photographs and video, the exhibit is a narrative of their family history, their developments as artists, and the fusion of the two. Exhibit previously shown at the Bernice Steinbaum Gallery, Florida and the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University, New York. This will be an excellent opportunity to get the artists’ perspective before the exhibit opens July 14th.
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Music/Art: 2nd Saturday for Families: Gordy Ohliger, the Banjo-ologist -- $Free
Where: Crocker Art Museum
When: 12pm-3pm
Why: The Crocker aims to bring family fun events to the 2nd Saturday lineup! Banjo-ologist Gordy Ohliger will present a heritage you can hear with his movable museum of antique instruments. Toe-tapping, clap-along music, California paintings and hands-on art bring the early years of the Golden State to life. This is a limited seating event so reservations are required.
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Kids & Families: Butterfly Bash -- $6/5/4
Where: Discovery Museum Science & Space Center
When: 12:30pm-3pm
Why: The Discovery Museum hosts many fun and interactive exhibits for your little ones to enjoy. Have any fans at home of these mesmerizing winged insects? There is really no other insect that I can think of to hold such beauty as a butterfly. There will be cases of local & exotic butterflies on display to peruse. How many butterflies can you spot in our butterfly garden? Also, kids will be able to design their very own butterfly ring to wear.
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Film/Video: Esquire IMAX Theatre 10th Anniversary Celebration -- $Free
Where: Esquire IMAX Theatre
When: 10am-5pm
Why: To celebrate the Esquire IMAX Theatre’s 10th anniversary the public is invited to enjoy a free movie this Saturday! Beginning at 10:00 a.m., the Esquire IMAX Theatre will run eight free shows, up to 400 seats each, of the film Wild California! on the hour each hour. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Make sure to get there early!
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Food & Wine: Common Table: AgFest 2009-- $25-100
Where: Freemont Community Garden/Guild Theatre
When: Tours & workshops, 8:30am-3:00pm; Movie, 2:30pm & 4:00pm; Dinner, 5:30pm
Why: Brought to you by Slow Food Sacramento, Common Table is a day of tours and workshops culminating in a sit-down gourmet dinner in the Fremont Community Garden. Benefitting the Sacramento Hunger Coalition and the Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition, the goal is to raise awareness about local urban gardening and food programs, as well as to advocate for improved city, county and state food policies that enable more locally grown foods in urban locations. The dinner of fresh, seasonal faire will be catered by Magpie Caters. Dinner speaker Braham Ahmadi of Peoples Grocery in Oakland will share his insights on Innovative Solutions for Food Justice. Additionally, the Avid Reader will be on hand selling a variety of books on gardening and the urban food movement, and a live auction will feature an array of culinary opportunities, including local gourmet restaurants that will offer private dinners, private gardening consultations and an opportunity to dine out with a prominent food critic Blair Anthony Robertson. During the day a variety of workshops will be held relating to community gardening, backyard organic gardening, composting, food gleaning and local food swap programs and a special showing of the movie "FRESH" will be showing at the Guild Theater. "FRESH" celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system.
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Classes & Workshops: Macrobiotics Wellness Class -- $20
Where: Arden Hills Resort & Spa
When: 10:30am
Why: Never heard of a macrobiotics diet before? It’s a low-fat, high fiber approach to foods designed for optimal health and longevity through nutrition. Don’t miss this special “Macrobiotics” class to learn how a simple diet rich in whole grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, vegetables and soy products might be the right approach to improve your diet and overall well being for a longer, more healthful life. We can all use a little dose of healthy habits right?
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Sunday 7.12

Kids & Families: Sacramento Street Scenes -- $Free
Where: Old Sacramento
When: 10am-6pm (Every Sat & Sun through August)
Why: The Historic Old Sacramento Foundation in collaboration with the City of Sacramento is proud to introduce a new Street Scene Program beginning this month. Calling upon the talents of musicians, jugglers, storytellers, re-enactors, volunteer fire fighters, artisans, and even some burros, Old Sacramento will offer free, family-friendly and historically educational entertainment every Saturday and Sunday June through August. This Sunday there will be Storytelling, Children's Games, Bowling- Gold Rush Style, Juggling, & Shootouts!
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Special Event: Antique Fair -- $3 Adults/ Children Free
Where: X & 21Sreets
When: 6:30am-3pm
Why: An Outdoor Antique and Collectible Marketplace held the 2nd Sunday of every month!! Hundreds of antique dealers from throughout Northern California selling furniture, textiles, architectural pieces, jewelry, cultural pieces, china and glassware, garden accessories, rugs, art and collectibles of all kinds will be on hand with their quality goods. Browse around and who knows what sorts of treasures you’ll find!
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Theatre: Much Ado About Nothing~ Sacramento Shakespeare Festival -- $18 General/15 Students
Where: William Land Park
When: Doors: 6:30pm; Curtain: 8pm
Why: This is the 24th season of the Shakespeare Festival in Sacramento! Its recommended that you buy your tickets online to avoid the ticket line. Plus, get free parking by showing your printout to the parking attendant. Don’t hesitate to bring a picnic, low lawn chairs and a blanket and enjoy Shakespeare under the stars!
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Keep in mind that all of these events and many more can can be found on Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events. If you have an event you would like to add to Sacramento365.com, visit the website. Its easy and free to add your events!

Also, if you want to mention an event that I didn't squeeze into this little article- add it to the comments below! Have a great weekend!!

Crazy "cool" events this weekend!!

2009-06-04T22:47:02Z

I can honestly say that I am proud to be a Sacramentan. Even more so since I began working on the events calendar for Sacramento at the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau! I have pretty much lived in the Sacramento area my whole life and never before did I realize that there are so many things going on- all the time! This weekend is packed full of Festivals, fundraisers, music & theatre and hopefully by reading this you are prompted to get out and have some fun! And please do note that there are many more things happening that I may not have mentioned...in order to keep these articles concise, I narrow them down to a few events. Feel free to add events in the Comment section at the bottom of the page if you would like to mention one I didn't add. Happy galavanting...

Thursday 6.4

Comedy: Paul Mecurio w/ Jason Downs & Laura Rosenberg -- $6/$4/$3
Where: Punch Line Comedy Club
When: 8:30pm (Showing thru June 7th-also @ 10:00pm Sat&Sun)
Why: He was a writer for the Daily Show with John Stewart. Not sure if he really needs more credits but heres a few others: Comedy Central Presents, The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn, Late Night w/Conan O’Brien, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, Dr. Katz, NBC’s Late Friday…must be a pretty funny guy!
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Art: Sew What? Fashion Show--
Where: Social Nightclub
When: 7pm
Why: Local fashion from Gianna Couture, Marianno Ratto, Stephanie Lozano & more! Hair will be done by Suede Salon.
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Theatre: Hedwig and the Angry Inch -- $18-25
Where: Artisan Theatre
When: 8:00pm (Showing thru June 27th)
Why: This is New Helvetia Theatre Company’s first production at the beautiful Artisan Gallery on Del Paso Blvd. New Helvetia is rethinking theatre in Sacramento. Their goal is to “rediscover forgotten gems of the American Musical while re-examining classic musicals and plays”. Directed by Matthew Schneider, Hedwig is about a fictional rock and roll band fronted by an East German transgendered singer. This musical has become somewhat of a cult classic similar to The Rocky Horror Picture Show with a devoted following.
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Friday 6.5

Food & Wine: 7th Annual Celebrity Chef Challenge--$50 advance/$60 at the door
Where: California Auto Museum (formerly Towe)
When: 5:30-9:30
Why: Ladies & Gentlemen start your engines & drive on down to the 2009 Celebrity Chef Challenge!! Ride along side event emcees Edie Lambert of KCRA Channel 3 & Dennis Mangers of Darrell Steinberg's Office & your favorite local chefs as they whisk past the competition at the 7th annual Celebrity Chef Challenge.
Competitors will have 45 minutes to turn 5 secret ingredients into 3 power packed dishes right in front of your eyes!!! Fans will be treated to a VIP Food Show, Hosted Beer and Wine, Silent Auction, Raffle & 72,000 square feet of automotive excellence! And the Celebrity Judges are...Guy Farris & Melissa Crowley of Sacramento & Co. & Former State Assembly member Lloyd Levine, New This Year!!!
The finest culinary competition on the West Coast just got a little finer with the addition of the 1st Annual InAlliance Car Show that welcomes all makes and models!
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Music: Bucho! at Concert in the Park-- Free
Where: Cesar Chavez Park
When: 5pm-9pm
Why: Free music and family fun! In addition to Bucho, Righteous Movement & Happy Mayfield will be there too. Get there early and bring a blanket to check out the show. The beer garden gets really packed after awhile so its best to get there early- buy two while you’re at it to make it last longer. I haven’t tried the food but there are a bunch of options for eats if you’re hungry too. Afterward, your bracelet can score you discounts a local restaurants and bars.
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Music: Freekbass-- $15
Where: Marilyn’s on K (St)
When: 9:00pm
Why: The guys name is really Freekbass. Or at least that’s what he goes by. He studied bass at Cincinnati's School for the Creative and Performing Arts and never looked back. Influenced by the likes of Larry Graham, Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder, Parliament and Bootsy, you may expect this show to have some funk! Along with Freekbass the band consists of a guitarist, drummer and turntablist. Sounds like a show!
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Saturday 6.6

Food & Wine: 7th Annual Raley’s Grape Escape -- $40 advance/$50 day of
Where: Cesar Chavez Plaza
When: 4pm-7pm
Why: If you like to mingle with friends and meet new ones while sipping on wines and tasting delicious food from local restaurants all while enjoying the sounds of live Jazz…you gotta check this event out! Over 60 wineries (= 200+wines!) and 40+ restaurants will be serving up tastes of their yummy goods for you to enjoy. There’s also a “Chef's Challenge” presented by the Institute of Technology where 4 local chef’s will compete in two rounds to win. They get 25 minutes and a market basket of fresh produce and a cut of meat to come up with the winning recipe.
Details

Festival: Sierra Stampede Rodeo & Festival -- $10 ($25 for weekend pass)
Where: Central Park Horse Arena
When: 8am (Sat & Sun)
Why: If you've never been to a gay rodeo before, you don't want to miss Steer Deco, Goat Dressing or Wild Drag Race…this amateur rodeo attracts cowboys & cowgirls from across the United States! There'll be horse events, roping, steers, and bulls. The Festival's vendor area will include a beer garden, entertainment food & goodies for sale. Rodeo proceeds benefit Saddle Pals, a division of United Cerebral Palsy that uses horses for therapy. This event is brought to Sacramento and produced by Capital Crossroads Gay Rodeo Association. In addition to the rodeo, there will be kickoff events Thursday & Friday nights and afterparties both Sat & Sunday- A whole weekend of same-sex fun!
Details

Music: Jackie Greene in Concert-- $25 advance/$30 at door (subject to availability)
Where: Fairytale town
When: 6pm-10pm
Why: In celebration of Fairytale Towns 50th Anniversary of bringing “musical merriment” and wholesome family fun to Sacramento Jackie Greene and AKALive will be playing on the Mother Goose Stage. Your ticket is for the music only, however, there will be food & drinks available for purchase. This is a great night to bring the kids out- fun for the whole family! Kids can play and adults can enjoy some great music at the same time.
Details

Family: Pops in The Park Concert Series Kickoff-- $Free
Where: East Portal Park
When: 6pm
Why: The Q-Balls will be entertaining the friends & families out this week at East Portal Park. This six man band plays covers of music from the 60’s-80’s- fun, upbeat music great for both kids & adults. Deidre Fitzpatrick from KCRA3 will be the emcee. More than just a fun night out, Pops in the Park raises money for our under-funded neighborhood parks. Since 1995, proceeds from sponsorship, advertising, as well as the food & beverages sales during the events have been used to enhance our neighborhood parks, bring improvements to the neighborhood, provide youth athletic scholarships and make these events possible. Feel free to bring your own food & drink but do know that if you buy there, your money spent is going to a good cause.
Details

Sunday 6.7

Festival: Fiesta Filipino & Health Fair -- $Free
Where: Jose Rizal Community Center
When: 10am-5pm
Why: The Fiesta Filipino is an annual free event that attracts up to 6,000 people from all over Sacramento and surrounding counties. The event features all-day entertainment, food vendors, arts & crafts, local businesses, career fair and a health fair. Community-based health organizations participate in the health fair and offer various health services to the fair-goers for free.
Details: http://www.sacramento365.com/event/detail/38063

Music: Sunday Jazz Concerts in the Park -- $Free
Where: Grant Park
When: 6pm-8pm
Why: The sounds of Jazz are magical in the summer, especially when they are paired with Sacramento's beautiful parks! These concerts are brought to you by the Traditional Jazz Society of Sacramento and will be held at various parks located throughout Sacramento. Each concert will offer the community a chance to come together and listen to a musical form steeped in history and feature some of the best Jazz for miles. All entertainment is courtesy of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society, with children's activities provided by the Department of Parks and Recreation.
Details

Festival: Nike Women's Fitness Festival-- $35
Where: CA State Capitol Park
When: 8am~3pm
Why: Ladies only! This is the largest women’s only event in the region. My understanding is that men can participate, they just can’t compete. So fair game ladies! This event is designed to promote women's fitness and health, along with raising money for critical programs for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. There will be a timed-run for women and a non-timed run/walk for teams and families. Following the races, participants are welcome to listen to live music, visit booths that include salon services, check out the Nike expo, loosen your muscles with message therapists and much more!
Details

Sports&Rec: World Extreme Cagefighting-- $42.50+
Where: Arco Arena
When: 3pm
Why: Sacramento’s very own Urijah Faber, from Ultimate Fitness downtown, is going up against featherweight champion Mike Brown for the title. This is a rematch of their previous clash in 2008. Many claim this fight to be the most anticipated fight in WEC history. I am not much of a fight watcher (I’m a lover! Not a hater…) but I am a big supporter of local people doing big things. Urijah has really made a name for himself in the world of Cagefighting and is known around the world for his lighting-fast hand speed & strong takedowns. Good thing you don’t have to be tall for this sport!
Details

Keep in mind that all of these events and many more can can be found on Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

This week's slew of music, festivals, classes & comedy

2009-04-29T00:51:55Z

Spring is almost over and so begins the onslaught of fun, fabulous things to do during the summer months in Sacramento! It's not quite time to break out the bikinis and flip-flops, but I have spotted some sleeveless tops and open-toed shoes lately...my all-time favorite season in Sacramento is almost here! This week, and particularly this week-end, is already jam-packed with music, festivals and outdoor events with the promise of the heat soon to come. I hope you haven't made plans already...

Tuesday 4.28

Music: Rev Theory-- $12 at the door
Where: Marilyn’s on K
When: Doors- 6:30pm, Show- 7:15pm
Why: You may get an idea for their music-style by the bands they’ve opened for: the likes of Evanescence, Papa Roach, Buck Cherry and Saliva to name a few. Supporting bands for the night include: Divide The Day, Trackfighter, Man Automatic. Four bands for $12 bucks- that's $3 a band!
Info: (916) 273-3269

Wednesday 4.29

Comedy: Norm MacDonald-- $$?
Where: Punchline Comedy Club (Howe & Arden)
When: Doors- 6:30pm; Show- 7:30pm
Why: He continues to regularly tour the country performing his popular stand-up comedy, however, he is perhaps best known for his offbeat delivery of "the fake news" on "Saturday Night Live" for five seasons. Norm MacDonald continues to be a major comedic presence. His totally hilarious impersonations of Bob Dole and Burt Reynolds on “SNL,” were my favorites. However, MacDonald proved that his wit and writing were not to just for small screen. Among others, MacDonald played roles in Billy Madison with Adam Sandler, The People Vs. Larry Flint and the 1999 Andy Kaufman biopic Man on the Moon.
Info: Tickets

Music: Mary Mary-- $40/30 in advance, $45/35 day of show
Where: Crest Theatre (10th & K)
When: Doors- 7pm, Show- 8pm
Why: Urban gospel superstars Mary Mary like to do everything on a big scale. All of their pursuits- musical, spiritual, or otherwise-are larger-than-life: not a single thing is left to chance. Their latest disc melds the twosome's love of truth-grounded gospel music beautifully woven with a colorful patchwork of R&B, pop, soul, jazz, electronic music, and then some.
Info: The Crest Calendar

Thursday 4.30

Music: Tony! Toni! Tone!-- $20
Where: Avalon Nightclub (805 15th Street)
When: 9pm-2am
Why: Attention all children of the late 80’s-early 90’s! If you didn’t listen to Tony! Toni! Tone! when you were growing up, you probably didn’t listen to music. With hits like "It Never Rains in Southern California", these guys had us all saying ”It Feels Good.”
Info: (916) 670-5944

Sports & Recreation: Fight Night Boxing-- $20-$100
Where: Arco Arena (1 Sports Parkway)
When: Parking- 5:30pm, Doors- 6:30pm, Show- 7:30pm
Why: If you are the type that considers boxing a sport, then check this out. This guy is from Woodland! Talk about support local, this guy may need some encouragement from the crowd. Vicente Escobedo (19-1-0, 12 KOs) is going up against Kevin Kelley (60-9-2, 39 KOs). Vicente Escobedo has won his last 10 fights including an impressive 6th round Total Knock Out of previously undefeated Dominic Salcido. Kevin Kelley is a former WBC featherweight champion.
Info: Arco Arena Events

Literature: Meet “Pucci Lewis” Author Margit Leische-- Free w/ Museum admission: $6-$8.50 (Kids 5 & under Free)
Where: California Museum for Women History & the Arts
When: 6pm-8pm
Why: I find it interesting to hear how authors come up with the stories the write, particularly fiction. What inspires them and how much do they really know? Liesche is the author of Hollywood Buzz, the second edition of the World War II era Pucci Lewis series. “The book is rich with drama, historical fact, female sleuths and old Hollywood mystery.” Liesche extensively researched the film industry during World War II and female organizations like Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), which is the setting for this novel. She will give a lecture on the background of the book incorporating documentary footage of the WASP and film clips from the First Motion Picture Unit, featuring Hollywood stars. This should be a very interesting event. Bring your books if you got ‘em! If not, I’m sure there will be some to pick up at the signing.
Info: (916) 653-7524

Friday 5.1

Music: First Friday Night Concert in the Park!--FREE
Where: Cesar Chavez Park
When: Every Friday Night, 5:00-9:00pm
Why: This 15-week concert series will rock Cesar Chavez Plaza every Friday night from 5 pm to 9 pm with the sounds of live, local music. It’s sort of the “unofficial start” to summer for many Sacramentans.
Even in its 18th season, the Concerts in the Park series remains true to its roots by continuing to showcase Sacramento’s local music scene with this free, family friendly event. This season’s line up features a total of 51 local bands including 27 new acts to the park series. The bands reflect a broad spectrum of musical acts including blues, punk, country, rock, indie, soul, pop, reggae and hip hop. And for after the show, keep your concert wristband and receive specials at local bars and restaurants for that night.
Info: (916) 442-8575

Comedy: Chelsea Handler
Where: Community Center Theatre (13th & L St)
When: Doors, 7:00pm; Show, 8:00pm
Why: Handler has performed nationwide as a stand-up comedian and appeared on many TV shows. Most recently, she is known for hosting her own late night talk show on E! titled “Chelsea Lately”. With her style of ridicule and sarcasm, she draws more than a half million viewers with the show despite the fact that her guests often are not A-list celebrities. To give you a little perspective, in a 2008 interview Handler said, "The worse the guests are, the more pathetic they are, the funnier the show is”.
Info: (916) 808-5181

Film: Found Footage Festival--$10
Where: Movies on a Big Screen (600 4th St W. Sac)
When: 7pm & 9:30pm
Why: I am going. This is what sold me: “The Found Footage Festival is a one-of-a-kind event that showcases footage from videos that were found at garage sales and thrift stores and in warehouses and dumpsters throughout the country. Curators Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher (whose credits include "The Colbert Report," "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Onion") will host the screenings in-person and provide their unique and hilarious observations and commentary on these found video obscurities. So yes - that means plenty of live comedy along with the found footage! From the curiously-produced industrial training video to the forsaken home movie donated to Goodwill, the Found Footage Festival resurrects these forgotten treasures and serves them up in a lively celebration of all things found.”~ Movies on a Big Screen
Info: http://www.shiny-object.com/screenings/

Fundraiser: An Affair to Remember--$45 adv/$60 at door
Where: Radisson Sacramento (500 Leisure Lane)
When: 7pm
Why: You may know someone who was a foster child or may have been one yourself. I hear it’s not always the easiest way to grow up. This event is a benefit in honor of foster care youth in transition. Guests will enjoy an exciting night of fine food, live music, and spring fashions while showcasing former foster care youth and their stories. Lots of “celebs” will be there too! A portion of the contributions from this event will be donated to foster care youth that "age out” of the system. The goal is to support 50 foster care youth throughout the Sacramento region.
Info: (916) 440-9703

Saturay 5.2

Festival: California Celebration!!-- $7-$9.50 (Kids under 2- Free)
Where: Sacramento Zoo (Land Park Drive & 16th)
When: 9am-4pm
Why: California Celebration is a fun-filled day all about the rich cultural diversity in our state. Animal talks, cultural groups, live performances and activity stations will fill the Zoo! Bring the kids and get some sun!
Info: (916) 808-3713

Music: The Skinny Singers- Jackie Greene & Tim Bluhm
Where: Marilyn’s on K (908 K Street)
When: 9pm
Why: They’re skinny but man do they have big voices!! These shows always sell out! If you haven’t seen them yet, make sure you make it to this one.
Info: (916) 446-4361

Festival: Indie Sacramento May Market-- FREE
Where: Fremont Park (15th & P St)
When: 12pm-3pm
Why: The purpose behind IndieSacramento is to help spread the word about locally owned businesses and to help Sacramento gain the reputation it deserves as a city with cutting-edge art, crafts, and fashion — plus great local shopping and eats. Some highlights:
* FREE swag bags to the first 150 patrons!
* Shop for hip, handmade goods, clothing, and accessories!
* Enjoy live entertainment!
* Appreciate local food & drink or plan a picnic lunch with the family!
* Attend IndieSacramento's Craft University for craft classes & demos!
Info: IndieSacramento.com

Festival: Dragon Boat Festival-- $50/person, $450/ Table of ten
Where: Radisson Hotel(500 Leisure Lane)
When: 3:30-5:30pm, outdoor reception; 5:30-8:00pm, formal dinner & program
Why: The Dragon Boat is a symbol of unity, civil rights and the future of our Asian Pacific Islander Community. About 2300 years ago, Qu Yuan, a Patriotic Poet and an exemplary for integrity and loyalty, advocated for justice and the rights of the common people. This year, OCA will honor Assemblymember Dave Jones for his commitment to the Asian Pacific Islander Community. OCA will be honoring Dr. Sonney Chong for his many years of community service. This year we are celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival as "A Timeless Tradition, A Culture We Treasure."
Info: (916) 627-5165

Class: Model A Tune Up Class-- $170 (includes instructional materials and lunch)
Where: California Auto Museum
When: 9pm-3pm, May 2nd & May 9th
Why: If you are lucky enough to own one of these bad boys, you probably know a thing or two already about fixing them up. Maybe you don’t. Maybe you want to take on a new hobby. If you’re an antique car junkie, this is a two-part class that teaches how to tune up Model A Fords. The first day focuses on demonstration of tests and measurements. The second day will consist of performing each of the demonstrated tests and measurements on Model As. Students who have a Model A are encouraged to bring their car with them and all checks will be performed on the owner’s vehicle. Students who do not have a Model A will still have the opportunity to assist with tests and measurements.
Info: (916) 442-6802

Festival: Unity & Diversity Music Festival-- $13 Adv/$20 at Gate (Kids 10 & Under FREE!!!)
Where: Southside Park
When: 10am-6pm
Why: The event will have fun & entertainment including a host of vendors, cultural foods, arts & crafts, raffles and prizes. The headliners are Butterscotch, a Sacramento/Davis native and former final contestant on NBC's America's Got Talent; and Mystic Roots, a talented reggae band from Chico. Other performers include: Ras D, Mr. Majestic, The Soulcialites, Ralph Gordon, Orquesta Bakan, Mystic Man & Lakay amongst others. Guaranteed to be a day of family fun and entertainment!! The website requests: NO ALCOHOL, COOLERS or PETS.
Info: (916) 993-3691

Fundraiser: Prelude d’ Elegance-- FREE
Where: Town & Country Village (Fulton & Marconi Avenue)
When: 10am-4pm
Why: A Concours d'Elegance is a show of vehicles that are judged on their elegance and pristine condition. Shriners' Prelude d'Elegance is a sneak preview of extraordinary classic and vintage automobiles, wooden boats, motorcycles and bicycles. Have some fun with their Keystone Cops and the Shriners Paddy Wagon – enjoy informal fashion shows and special discounts at participating stores throughout Town & Country Village.
Info: http://www.shrinersconcours.com/

Sunday 5.3

Festival: Jewish Heritage Festival--FREE
Where: California State Capitol- West Steps (10th and L St.)
When: 1pm-4pm
Why: In conjunction with national Jewish American Heritage Month, the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region* brings a new tradition to Sacramento - the first annual Jewish Heritage Festival. Celebrate all that unites us with traditional food, live music and entertainment, dancing troupes, cultural exhibits and displays, family and children’s activities, a special teen zone and much more.
Info: Jewish Heritage of Sacramento Website

Class: Yoga for Teachers--FREE
Where: It’s All Yoga (2405 21st St.- Between Broadway & X)
When: 2:00pm
Why: As a teacher, you work really hard. And you probably don't get the pampering you deserve. That's why It’s All Yoga is offering a FREE class just for you. In honor of Teachers Week, their very own Linda Wagner will stretch, open and pamper you with yoga! No yoga experience necessary. They have everything you will need - just wear comfy clothes.
Info: (916) 501-4692

All of these events can be found at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events. For more information and details about the venues and organizations involved, click on the title of the events or visit www.Sacramento365.com.

The Best thing about Landpark is...

2009-02-25T00:21:42Z

That's right, Landpark! William Land Park donated to the city of Sacramento over 166 acres of land in the year 1926. Today Landpark is a gorgeous park that includes, a picnic recreation area, a pond, a 9 hole golf course, jogging trails, an amphitheater, Fairytale Town, Funderland Amusement Park, and The Sacramento Zoo all set in the heart of Sacramento's downtown area.

The Sacramento Zoo is a non-profit organization, something that the average Sacramentan may not know, says Lauren Kraft the public relations coordinator for the Sac Zoological Society. The Sac Zoo houses animals of endangered species with the higher purpose of caring and protecting them. They are primarily an educational and conservation zoo.

The Zoo has not seen sharp changes in their attendance. They are primarily a weather driven environment and family oriented. That make them a prime destination for families in Sacramento looking for wholesome entertainment. Today is a beautiful sunny day and during my short visit I saw lots of children and their parents enjoying the ground of the zoo. In 2007 they had over 500.000 visitors due to their temporary penguin exhibit. We are small and rely on temporary exhibit to create variety in our zoo, adds Kraft.

A permanent new addition coming this Spring 2009 is the Conservation Carousel, a carousel that will have 32 lifelike animals. Each animal is hand carved from wood and then hand painted. It will surely prove to be a favorite among our local children.

In addition to the carousel the zoo is already working on what's coming up in 2010. They raised funds for the past 3 years, 1.5 millions dollars to be exact, for the new Giraffe Habitat Renovation Project. The current habitat is over 50 years old and is no longer adequate. The new exhibit will house not only the current 3 female Giraffes but also a male Giraffe, creating the potential for breeding. It will have stalls for each Giraffe and the Barn will house the veterinarian facilities as well as the storing of their food, among other things. The Zoo have done extensive research by visiting other exhibits and habitats around the country. Kraft says that when the new Giraffe Habitat is completed it will be a state of the art facility in the nation.

Remember that our support and contribution help preserves the world we live in for future generations. Come visit and support our Zoo, animals need your help.

Slacklining in the City

2009-02-22T21:50:37Z

Your first question is, "What is slacklining?" Well, it's a mix between chain surfing, tight-rope walking, and trampolining, and it's called a "balance sport."

Slacklining is an up-and-coming activity/sport across the world, and Sacramento. Its popularity is partially due to the simplicity of the sport. A length (at least 60 ft.) of 1-inch nylon webbing, two 15 ft. lengths of nylon webbing, three carabiners, and a couple trees are all that is required to participate.

Initially one might find it difficult to just stand on the line. A little practice will yield big results, however, and before long that same person will be attempting spins and jumps. Excitement grows with each new trick that is learned and many who attempt slacklining quickly become hooked.

Slacklining is closely associated with rock climbing due to the use of climbing equipment and the creation of the sport by Yosemite rock climbers in the late '70's. Since its creation, people of all backgrounds have taken to slacklining and it is no longer not entirely associated with climbing. A complete overview and history of the sport can be found at slackline.com.

Groups are setting up lines in Sacramento fairly regularly in the last several months. Even through the winter (which has been exceptionally sunny) I have seen lines set up in Midtown/Downtown parks. Southside, Fremont, and McKinley Parks are the most likely locations to find slackliners in the city.

If you see a group of slackliners in one of Sacramento's parks, feel free to ask for a try. Slackliners are typically very friendly and willing to teach their sport to newcomers. If balancing sports are not your forté, you're welcome to sit and enjoy the show.

Official/FTC/Nike SB Skate contest April 6th 2008

2008-10-21T04:42:27Z

I was flipping through channels on TV this week end while I was watching my son and I stumbled upon the last leg of the AST Dew Tour on NBC. This is one of the larger action sports contest series in the country, right up there with the X Games. They have everything from FMX to BMX and skateboarding. What caught me was that it is a horrible format and incorrect portrayal of what skateboarding really is. Its like watching beer league softball and wondering what all the rage is about Major League Baseball?

To get more to the point Thrasher Magazine has put on skate contests at real "street" locations in the past and the guys from FTC (skateshop on J street) took that concept and held a contest at Roosevelt park. Ray Maldonado won the check at the end of the day and from the video you can watch linked below, it sure looked like a fun day inn southside park. The video was filmed and edited by Alan Hannon.

Check out the video