Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "sacramento"

Soul of the City!

2012-02-10T02:55:57Z

New for 2012!! Soul of the City is an engaging dialogue series between the public and the design profession on issues of importance to the community and the region with focus on improving communication, understanding and collaboration (formerly known as the 4th Wednesday Design Dialogue series). Organized by the AIA Central Valley Chapter and the ASLA California Sierra Chapter, the dialogues are listed below for the year and the topics have come directly from the public and the profession from one of our dialogues last year. We look forward to seeing everyone again this year for some engaging conversation! See you at the first dialogue on February 29th, where we will kick-off the series talking about what the Soul of Sacramento is...

FREE ADMISSION!

5:45PM – 7:30PM at the AIACV Gallery: 1400 S Street, Sacramento 95811

Soul of the City Dates and Topics:
February 29th ~ The Soul of Sacramento
What is it? Where is it? Let’s find it and celebrate it! Join us for an introduction to Soul of the City!
Facilitators: Kim Alexander of the California Voter Foundation, Saxon Sigerson, AIA and Jason Silva, AIA

April 25th ~ Urban Open Space
What makes a good place to visit in the urban environment? Where are the best places in our region? Join us for this lively discussion about where it is and where to find it.
Facilitators: Peter Larimer, ASLA and Marq Truscott, FASLA

June 27th ~ Street Food in the City
Appetite on the Run! A discussion on street food and its impact on Sacramento.
Facilitators: Costa Apostolos of Sacto MoFO and writes on, Living in Urban Sac and Catherine Enfield, a food truck advocate who’s written many articles on the subject, founding member of Sacto MoFo, and now has http://www.sacfoodtrucks.net
Food trucks will be present for you to enjoy!

October (Dates to be posted on Facebook):
Urban Agriculture
The best restaurants in town have long preferred local source food, and the public appetite for it has increased steadily. Come to discuss the spectrum of urban agriculture, from edible front yards and urban farming community gardens.
Facilitators: Bill Maynard, City of Sacramento Community Garden Program Coordinator, Claire Napawan, Assistant Professor, Landscape Architecture at UC Davis and Marq Truscott, FASLA

Infill: How to balance the old with the new
A discussion of creating the new in traditonal neighborhoods; balancing respect, sustainably design opportunity and individuality
Facilitators: Bruce Monighan, AIA and Craig Hausman, AIA

Click for flyer
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SacSoul2012
or for more info email Chris Brown at cbrown@dlrgroup.com

Disclosure: Chris Brown, Associate AIA, Co-chair of the Soul of the City Dialogues with the AIA Central Valley Chapter

MUTEMATH at Ace of Spades

2012-02-10T02:22:23Z

"We've got quite a set here," announced MUTEMATH vocalist and keyboardist Paul Meany. "We've been around for eight years. That's a lot of songs to choose from!"

Quite a set it was.

Making an unconventional entrance from the back of the venue with instruments and Christmas lights in tow, the New Orleans electro-alt rock band went on to do a little face-melting for the packed house at Ace of Spades Wednesday night.

The Grammy-nominated four-piece put on a sonic and visual spectacle, covering a massive setlist over more than two hours and sampling a bit from all their studio albums and EPs, including all 13 songs from their latest release, 2011's "Odd Soul."

Aided by tons of frantic, colorful lights and visuals projected on a backdrop, Meany channeled Sting and Coldplay's Chris Martin as he banged on his upright pianos, while new guitarist Todd Gummerman and bassist Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas got nasty on their guitars. Drummer Darren King is one-man show, well known for his relentless energy (and ear protection taped to his head) and pounding skins so hard he broke a snare mid-song.

The band took the energy created on stage and brought into the crowd, too. During the second half of the show, Meany and King played their instruments in the middle of the audience on a small "stage," and Meany went for a ride on a black inflatable raft with lights that was passed from one end of the room to the other on a sea of outstretched hands.

The show's uplifting vibe even inspired one fan to jump on stage, do a backflip and dive back into the crowd as quickly as he had appeared.

Heard outside as I was walking back to my car: "That was the most amazing show I've ever been to!"

Valentine's Weekend Events in Sacramento

2012-02-09T20:29:23Z

Looking for a special way to turn your Valentine’s Day into a memorable holiday? There are myriad options out there, but here are a few highlights for the upcoming weekend:

For the foodie (Fri & Sat 6pm): Let GrubCrawlUSA's Pre-Valentine's Sexy Singles Mingle & Consensual Couples Crawl take you on a taste-tastic tour of Sacramento's finest dining spots. Whether you’re single or paired up, there’s a spot for you—Friday is aimed toward singles & Saturday to couples (so, presumably, if you find someone on Friday you can make a return tour on Saturday!).

For the single lady (Fri 9pm): Stroll Now 100.5’s Mile of Men at The Park Ultra Lounge and take your pick from the area's most eligible bachelors. Stay for the afterparty and get your photo snapped in the photobooth manned by Nicholas Wray.

For the sporty sort (Sat 7am): Rise & shine Saturday morning and get your jog on at Race for Justice: 9th Annual Valentine Run, which begins from Country Club Plaza. This fun run has a kids' race component, plus a costume contest for dogs & humans alike!

For the musical type (Sat 10pm): Make your way to Vega's Nightclub & Sports Bar this Saturday night for Valentine's Heartbreak Hotel. Not only you will you enjoy live music by Barrel Fever and the Fortunite Few, you'll also get to see a live burlesque show and participate in a free pin-up photoshoot by Bad Bones Photography.

For the animal lover (Sun 10am-4pm): Head over to the Sacramento Zoo Sunday afternoon for I Heart Sacramento Zoo and watch the animals receive their Valentines, plus participate in informative talks and peruse activity tables.

For the anti-Valentine (Sun 7:30pm): Movies on a Big Screen notes that around Valentine's Day, they like to screen "some kind of movie that might make your date a little uncomfortable with your idea of romance." This Sunday evening, they feature the 1923 silent classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which, they claim, is a romantic movie (if you remove all of the violence, murder, mayhem, and obsession, that is).

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Find more detail on these events along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Written by Sacramento365.com Assistant Editor, Alison Kranz

Historic City Cemetery tour to celebrate Black History

2012-02-09T02:27:21Z

The Old City Cemetery Committee, in conjunction with the Sojourner Truth Multicultural Arts Museum in Sacramento, will offer a free tour of the Historic City Cemetery at 10 a.m. on Feb. 18 to honor Sacramento’s black pioneers.

“We’ll be featuring a dozen or so fascinating people from Sacramento’s history who were African-American or who affected their experience,” said Dr. Bob LaPerriere, founding member of the Old City Cemetery Committee.

Several guest docents from the Sojourner Truth Museum will be positioned along the tour to speak about Sacramento’s black pioneers. Eric Bradner, volunteer docent with the Old City Cemetery Committee, will lead the tour. Among the stories he will feature are those of five people Bradner said he discovered this year as a result of his research.

All five were members of the Colored Convention, an anti-slavery organization that sought to give black people the right to testify in a court of law.

Each docent will present information and history about "Negro trail blazers" who now rest at the cemetery, Bradner said.

Black barbers played a key role in the abolition movement, he said, and their graves are part of this tour. It was one occupation black men were allowed to do at the time, and one that was often performed by East Coast-educated doctors and lawyers who were unable to find work in their chosen professions.

“Barbers had a secret code, akin to the Underground Railroad,” Bradner said. He said people would pass along information through barbers about people who tried to settle in the area with slaves, and it would eventually get to abolitionists in Sacramento or San Francisco.

Also featured will be a “buffalo soldier” – a black soldier who fought in the Civil War and an opera singer named Anna Madah (Hyers) Fletcher.

Edwin Crocker, a well known abolitionist who acted as the attorney for Archy Lee, the famous fugitive slave, will be visited on tour as well, Bradner said.

Nelson Ray, along with his wife and son, is buried at the cemetery and their story will be presented by William “Malik” McDaniels, guest docent from the Sojourner Truth museum. The members of the Ray family were enslaved in Missouri in the early 19th century, but became separated following the death of the plantation owner.

Although Ray’s son was believed to be between 5 and 10 years old when he was sold to another slaveholder in Texas, the family was reunited decades later in Placerville, where they mined for gold, McDaniels said.

Tour attendees can expect to learn about a man who was among those who sat on the first all-black jury in Sacramento. Also buried at the cemetery is a man who ran an all-black boarding house and a restaurateur, Bradner said.

“We tell stories about people,” Bradner said, adding that it won’t be a boring history lesson. “There are so many great stories in that cemetery.”

The tour should last about one hour and is free, but donations are welcome and will go to repair broken tombstones, LaPerriere said.

The Old City Cemetery Committee conducts free monthly tours of the cemetery on many subjects. The history of labor in Sacramento will be highlighted later this year, Bradner said. Lantern-light tours are conducted three times each year, and private tours can be arranged for various prices.

The Historic City Cemetery is located at 1000 Broadway. Parking is available across from the cemetery on 10th Street.

For a full list of events, click here.

Major League Baseball returns to Sacramento in March

2012-02-09T01:10:39Z

Before the Sacramento River Cats begin the 2012 season in defense of their 10th division title in 12 years, one of the most successful American professional sports franchises will host one of Major League Baseball's most storied champions.

For the first time in half a decade Major League Baseball will be played in Sacramento as the River Cats host their parent affiliate Oakland Athletics on March 31, 2012. Following a successful 2011 season, in which Sacramento won its 10th Pacific Coast League South Division title, the River Cats kick off the 2012 season against some familiar faces who have found success at the Major League level.

The River Cats will host the four-time World Series champion Oakland A's for a fifth time – the first four were sellouts – at Raley Field in West Sacramento.

Since moving to Sacramento in 2000, the River Cats have been one of Minor League Baseball's most successful franchises – winning two Triple-A Championships (2007, 2008), four PCL Championships (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008) and drawing more fans than any other Minor League team over the past 12 seasons.

The roster of former Sacramento River Cats who had successful careers with the A's and the rest of Major League Baseball is an elite one.

Sacramento has graduated more than 200 players to the Majors, including 2002 Cy Young Award Winner Barry Zito, 2002 American League Rookie of the Year Eric Hinske and Dallas Braden, who famously pitched the 19th perfect game in MLB history for the A's on May 9, 2010.Braden, pitcher Brett Anderson, shortstop Cliff Pennington, catcher Kurt Suzuki and second baseman Jemile Weeks are among current A’s players who passed through Raley Field.

The March 31 exhibition game will be the first time a Major League team has played in Sacramento since the River Cats last hosted the A's in 2007. In 12 years, Raley Field has hosted eight Major League games – four between the River Cats and A's (2001, 2003, 2006, 2007), twice against the San Diego Padres in 2001 and the Colorado Rockies in 2004.

The A's will hit the bags at Raley Field against the River Cats just two days after a five-game tour through Japan.

For more information visit www.RiverCats.com/Oakland

Disclosure: Brett Ransford is a Media Relations intern with the Sacramento River Cats.

Mayor Discusses the Human Rights of the Homeless

2012-02-08T04:10:30Z

The possible human rights violations of the local homeless was a main topic of Mayor Kevin Johnson’s press conference Tuesday.

The conference was held to announce the expansion of Bank on Sacramento, a collaboration between local nonprofit organizations, banks and credit unions, to help people receive low-cost accounts and financial advice. Despite the announcement, the topic of homeless rights were heavily discussed.

Catarina De Albuquerque, a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, recently sent a four-page memo to warn Johnson about the possible violation. The current policy of removing the homeless from tent cities denies the homeless safe drinking water and sanitation, which Albuquerque interprets to be a protected freedom pursuant to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Johnson said he is disappointed with what little the city’s done so far to help Safe Ground Sacramento, an allegiance of many different homeless organizations, on their efforts to solve the issue.

“No one has been more upset and disturbed (than me) by the lack of progress that we’ve had with this particular group,” Johnson said. “I think what these folks want is not too much.”

“We’ve made a lot of great strides with homelessness in general,” Johnson said. “We had a goal of 2,400 permanent housing units, we’ve accomplished that goal within a two-year span versus three year, so we’re ahead of schedule on that.”

Despite this achievement, Johnson still believes there’s more that the city and the county can do collectively to find a cite to be used to benefit the homeless.

“I understand their frustration,” Johnson said. “I certainly share it. It’s been one of the areas that keeps me up at night.”

Johnson was also asked about whether he was concerned about the current plan to lease the city’s parking for the next 50 years to one of 13 interested companies, in order to raise $240 million to finance an arena. Johnson replied that there were “no red or yellow flags” and that there is no reason to be concerned.

“We’re exceeding our own expectations to date,” Johnson said. “We didn’t think we’d get 13 people bidding on parking.”

Keep the arts in your heart this Wednesday

2012-02-07T18:18:48Z

At this Wednesday’s Hearts for the Arts Benefit Event (6pm-9pm at Alex Bult Gallery) artists, community leaders, and Sacramento’s finest convene to celebrate and raise funds for Any Given Child Sacramento. This initiative, spearheaded by For Arts’ Sake, strives to ensure that art experiences are accessible to every child in grades K-8.

As a part of this fun, alternative event you can treat your Valentine to a night like no other, all while supporting a great cause and enjoying an evening of art, music, cocktails, and refreshments.

Esteemed auctioneer David Sobon will auction off “heart-works” donated donated by over 24 local artists, including Raphael Delgado, Shane Grammer, and Micah Crandall-Bear. Live music will be provided throughout the evening by Clemón.

All proceeds from the $30 tickets ($40 at the door) go to support Any Given Child.

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Find more detail on this event along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Written by Sacramento365.com Assistant Editor, Alison Kranz

Intro to Photojournalism Workshop Feb. 21

2012-02-07T01:08:27Z

Photographs are an important part of storytelling and can often tell a story on their own. After a brief workshop hiatus, our first Sacramento Press workshop for 2012 will be on photojournalism. (The Journalism Open workshop wasn't a typical workshop for us.)

John Hernandez will teach an introductory photojournalism workshop from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Sacramento Press office called "Introduction to Photojournalism."

Hernandez is a Sacramento-based photographer. He has professional experience in wedding, portrait and social documentary photography as well as various multimedia platforms, including audio slideshows. He has freelanced for ABS-CBN, a Filipino American news channel, and interned at The Sacramento Press. He has a journalism degree and Asian American studies minor from San Francisco State University.

He will discuss photojournalism – what it is and what it isn’t. Hernandez will also talk about equipment, tips for shooting and demonstrate how to make an audio slideshow.

Our office is located at 431 I St., Suite 107, in the Sacramento Valley Station station. We are in the same building complex as Starbucks.

We recommend you find parking on the street, bike or take light rail, as the Amtrak parking lot charges, and we cannot cover the cost of parking.

To RSVP, email workshops@sacramentopress.com. If you RSVP and decide later not to attend, please send us an email to notify us that you will not be coming so we can have an accurate head count.

Thanks, and we hope to see you here!

Sacramento museum day celebration at Sojourner Truth Mulitcultural Art Museum

2012-02-07T00:52:50Z

Well over 800 visitors participated in the Museum Day festivities at the Sojourner Truth Multicultural Arts Museum this past Saturday.

The day’s events included cultural performances, storytelling, arts and crafts activities for children, food demonstrations and vendors displays of ethnic jewelry, greeting cards and well as original works of art.

“We had a beautiful event today,” stated museum director and founder, artist Shonna McDaniels.

“All of our activities today were intended to further our primary mission to educate children and adults about the cultural diversity that has strengthened this nation while providing a platform to develop and showcase artists from culturally diverse backgrounds,” said McDaniels.

The work of McDaniels and resident artist Joe Pollakoff are featured throughout the building. Pollakoff also serves as the curator of the departments of art, history and exhibits.

The museum houses a diverse collection of artifacts dating back to the slavery era and includes a collection of dolls previously owned by slaves.

During the hourly tours of the museum, a very knowledgeable Pollakoff explained how the dolls doubled as hiding places for valuable items that were forbidden to slaves.

“Not only have we found precious metals and other heirlooms inside of the dolls in our collection during the restoration process, one doll contained the set of iron shackles that you see in our display case,” stated Pollakoff to a group of visitors, some of whom were visibly moved by the revelation.

The Florin Arts and Business building features long hallways with spectacular murals depicting the history of black people dating back from Africa through the civil rights era and includes many familiar faces that are recognizable from current and historic events.

Reyna Greenfield discovered the event while searching for an extra credit project as part of her curriculum in a course on culture and diversity in early childhood education.

“I enjoyed the art today; it has been a great experience,” said Greenfield as she was preparing to leave after spending some time viewing the murals and taking the tour.

“During the tour and learned a great many things I did not know about the influence of African-Americans and their art upon the American culture,” said Greenfield.

The Sojourner Truth Multicultural Art Museum was admitted to the Sacramento Association of Museums (SAMS) in 2007 after many years of dedicated work by a long list of local artists led by McDaniels, who is the executive director of the non-profit corporation that holds ownership of its name.

“We have recently begun the process of seeking a permanent home,” stated McDaniels, when discussing what the future holds for the Museum that bears the name of Sojourner Truth, a former slave who escaped to freedom with her infant daughter in 1826. Truth is also famous for being the first black woman in America to win a court case against a white man. The case assisted her in recovering her son, who had been sold illegally into slavery.

“We have grown tremendously since we moved into this location in 1995,” said McDaniels.

“The time has come for us to secure our own facility so that we can be in full control of our mission and our destiny,” she said.

The building that houses the museum has changed ownership several times during the past 17 years and is now currently up for sale. With each change in ownership comes the delicate process of negotiating the role, rights and obligations of the museum vis-à-vis the vision of the new management of the building.

None of those concerns were on the minds of the visitors who were busy enjoying the unique opportunity to learn about history while appreciating the visual and performing arts that were a part of the day’s scheduled events.

The featured youth artists for the day were twin sisters Keley and Catherine Suan. The Suan sisters are up and coming artists who took home two first place and two second place prizes at the Cal Expo Youth Art and Design Expo in 2010.

Both of the young women are determined to pursue a career in art and are now taking college courses to pursue different goals.

“I’m thinking about becoming an art teacher so I can keep my art close to me while still submitting work to galleries,” stated Catherine.

“I am more interested in illustration and animation because I like my art to tell stories,” said Keley.

Both Catherine and Keley were busy throughout the afternoon explaining their artistic techniques and showing their work to potential customers.

The museum is frequently opened for field trips to area schools and community centers that bring classes or groups to take the tour and learn about the struggles and triumphs of people from diverse cultural backgrounds throughout history. The museum’s original focus on African-American history has not changed, but has expanded to include non-white cultures whose accomplishments in art and society deserve more recognition.

The youth representing the After School Program led off the afternoon’s activities at noon. First the Phoenix Park Unity Teens put on a fashion show that featured traditional African clothing and included tribal symbols placed on the skin using various colors.

They were followed by the Phoenix Park African Dance Group. The young dancers put on a well rehearsed and high energy dance routine accompanied by music which featured traditional African drums.

The performances resumed at 1 p.m. with the Azteca Dance Group wearing colorful costumes complete with long feathered headdresses and leg ornaments whose rattling sounds accompanied the drum beats created by a decorated drum played by one of the group members.

The Azteca Dance Group demonstrated a variety of traditional Aztec ceremonial dances and prayers. When it came time for the “friendship dance,” all members of the audience were invited to join in and participate, and most did.

Meggan Mariano and Maria Morge of the Sacramento Black Art of Dance Group performed an elegant dance routine entitled, Spiritual Awakenings, to music composed and performed by jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders.

Following the tradition of black concert dance in American culture, the routine was so inspiring and well done that an encore performance was requested by audience members who gathered up attendees who missed the initial performance.

Sandy Holman of the Cultural C.O.O.P of Davis demonstrated her enthusiastic storytelling skills to a very attentive audience of children and adults alike. Her storytelling included visual displays as well as call and response participation by the audience.

Holman’s storytelling was educational as much as it was entertaining. She told stories about the history of Africa along with anecdotes from her childhood and repeatedly cajoled, encouraged and inspired the children in the audience to read, take care of their bodies and not engage in negative behaviors that would jeopardize their future success.

Holman completed her time by quizzing audience members about the identities of the members of the African royalty she described and rewarding those who remembered the correct answers with a variety of educational items including books on African history.

The AAPACC Hmong Dance group also graced the audience with a routine of traditional dance. Their movements were perfectly coordinated and featured intricate hand movements that matched the agile dance steps set to the fluid traditional Hmong music. The appreciative audience appeared to be somewhat disappointed that the young ladies only performed one routine.

“I really liked the Hmong dancers,” stated Jasmin Vargas, age 8, when recalling what she liked best about Museum Day.

“I made clay dolls and noisemakers and I saw a lot of art,” added Vargas, explaining what she would remember about the day’s events.

The Museum Day festivities included several hands-on stations where children of all ages were invited to join in the fun to create art or participate in educational activities.

Early in the day a group of children worked together to paint a diversity mural that was placed upon the wall for display in the area that was reserved for arts and crafts.

The arts and crafts available included making shakers or drums, handmade pillows, coloring books with themes featuring cultural diversity, and Diwali Diays (candles).

There were also children fashioning figures out of clay, as well as one station where the art of sushi making was being taught and everyone was able to admire their creation before dining on what they made.

One special attraction was manned by Col. Thomas Sherman (Ret.), Executive Director of the Youth Aviation Academy. It featured a computer flight simulator identical to the ones he uses to teach aviation to sixth graders at Harmon Johnson Elementary school in Del Paso Heights.

Col. Sherman explained that he started the non-profit after his retirement to expose children that would likely not otherwise be introduced to the possibilities of a career in aviation. His idea of bringing in children at a young enough age so that they can be inspired to do the hard work necessary to be qualified to become pilots, air traffic controllers or serve as members of the ground crew is just now beginning to develop.

“We people of color don’t get the kind of exposure we need to excel in areas where we’re underrepresented,” stated Col. Sherman when explaining the struggles he went through because he was only one of a few members of his flight school class that did not already have a pilot’s training and license after earning his Electrical Engineering degree and accepting a military commission as a second lieutenant.

The final performer for the day was “Magic Forrest” Barnes, a very well regarded local magician who combines teaching little known facts about African American inventors and pioneers with a variety of illusions and magic tricks.

Magic Forrest incorporated volunteers from the audience into his presentation. Nearly every youngster in the crowd participated in one form or another before he was done.

Magic Forrest frequently mesmerized the crowd with his tricks and had one young lady visibly disturbed with worry when it appeared that he was about to pour a cup of water over her head that somehow turned out to be empty.

During his time before the crowd, Magic Forrest encouraged the children to dream big and think big. His message emphasized the need for kids to stay in school and to believe in themselves.

As the afternoon’s event drew to a close, a number stopped by to retrieve the work they displayed for the event and a group of volunteers began to assist in putting away items brought out for the event.

“I really like what Shonna is doing here at the Sojourner Truth Museum,” stated John F. King, a well regarded and accomplished artist who has been on the forefront of the art scene in the Sacramento Area for over four decades who had art on display during the event.

“Her multicultural approach to this museum is fantastic and is greatly appreciated and much needed here in the south area,” said King.

“Your light really shined bright today,” stated L. Finch, the building engineer of Florin Road Arts and Business Complex, as McDaniels went by busily taking down the artwork that was hung specifically for the event.

McDaniels modestly responded.

“I owe a big thanks to a whole lot of people that made all of this possible, including you, Mr. Finch.”

The Sacramento Press is hiring: Reporter interns

2012-02-06T20:24:20Z

We are currently seeking highly motivated reporter interns to cover local stories in our community.

Your Role:
As an intern at the Sacramento Press, you will be a huge part of our day-to-day success. Function as a writer and cover local beats. Explore a variety of story types – profiles, sports and event coverage, reviews, press conferences and more. Meet story deadlines and generate story ideas. Be a resource for our other writers, encourage and recruit. Form and cultivate relationships with local businesses, clubs, and resource providers (PIOs, librarians, ombudsmen, historians). You will be armed with the resources (digital cameras, voice recorders, professional photographers) to do on-the-scene reporting and really fine-tune your journalism skills. Most of all, this is an opportunity to be creative and find new stories to tell and identify the people who can best follow those stories.

In addition to writing and editing, build skills to:

Create videos that tell stories
Learn how journalists use Twitter
Better understand your audience
Dialogue directly with your audience

These are the skills you will need to be successful in a changing media climate.

Hours
This position is 15-20 hours per week for 15 weeks. If you are a CSUS student you can earn 3 units of credit, per the guidelines for approved CSUS internships. UC students can also earn units for completing the internship. This is an unpaid position.

Location:

Downtown Sacramento

How to Apply:
To apply for this position, send your resume, cover letter and up to three relevant writing samples to colleen@sacramentopress.com.

The Sacramento Press is hiring: Sales, Marketing and Advertising intern

2012-02-06T20:22:44Z

We are seeking a highly motivated Sales, Marketing and Advertising Intern. The successful candidate will assist the Department with various projects and tasks that will give them a well-rounded understanding of business operations.

Your Role:

Distribute marketing materials for Sacramento Press and clients
Coordinate advertising efforts and help design email campaigns for prospective clients
Research thoroughly via the internet for information to create effective marketing plans for clients’ businesses
Compile leads from online and other listings and add them in a database
Assist with client management by making sure our clients receive the highest level of sales and operational customer service
Attend local events to build accounts, including weekend and evening events on occasion
Assist with the creation of persuasive sales presentations using market trends, creative ideas and The Sacramento Press analytics
Assist with the development of cutting edge marketing and advertising campaigns for clients
Perform various administrative tasks for the department as needed

Job Requirements:

Strong interpersonal skills, excellent writing skills, ability to prioritize assignments and multi-task, attention to details, and the ability to work independently. Graphic Design skills a huge bonus (Creative Suite Mac).

Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Business Administration and other related majors are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply:

Send a cover letter and resume to: dina.neils@sacramentopress.com

The Sacramento Press is hiring: Social Media intern

2012-02-06T20:22:03Z

We are currently seeking a highly motivated social media intern for Agency M at The Sacramento Press.

About the position:

The Social Media Intern will have a large role in maintaining and updating our clients' social media accounts, gathering data for regular reports, and helping with strategy. You will be expected to understand the in's and out's of every social media platform we use, and be able to think strategically and apply that understanding.

You are the ideal candidate if you can work independently and as a team member, if you have the drive to go above and beyond what you've been asked, you are creative and love to write, you are "social", you are constantly exploring new possibilities, you are an excellent researcher and you are very responsible.

Your responsibilities will include:

Maintaining and updating client social media accounts
Crafting original content for distribution on client's social media platforms
Live streaming video, tweeting and posting photos at local events
Promoting events on all event sites and across all social media platforms
Gathering data and creating monthly reports for each client
Working with clients to meet their expectations
Photo and video editing

This is a 16-week internship. We want to see you in the office 10 hours a week plus occasional events.

Please apply with the materials listed below:

i. A brief cover letter explaining why you would like this position.
ii. Your resume or the link to your LinkedIn profile.
iii. Links to the social media sites you use.
iv. Anything else that's creative and shows a bit about who you are.

Send to chris.brune@sacramentopress.com.

The Sacramento Press is hiring: Graphics intern

2012-02-06T20:20:46Z

We are seeking a highly motivated Graphics Intern for immediate hire. The successful candidate will assist with various projects that will help them gain real world professional graphic design experience in a fast-paced and deadline driven environment.

Job Description:

The successful candidate will assist with various web and print projects from concept to completion. Our Graphics Intern will work on a wide range of projects including, but not limited too, web banners, club cards, posters and pamphlets. Will support various departments at Sacramento Press including Sales, Marketing, Advertising and Operations.

Requirements:

Must be currently studying Graphic Design at an advanced level or have a Graphic Design degree.
Must have an advanced knowledge of current graphic design principles and practices.
Proficiency with CS3 Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign) is required.
Strong project management skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Must enjoy collaborating, learning from others and working as part of a team.
Proficiency with Macs is preferred.

Location:
Downtown Sacramento

Hours:
The position is 12 hours a week for 4 months. Flexible schedule available. This position is unpaid but eligible for school credit.

How to Apply:
Send a cover letter, resume and samples of your work to: dina.neils@sacramentopress.com

The Sacramento Press is hiring: Editor-in-Chief

2012-02-06T20:18:34Z

The Sacramento Press is seeking a dynamic editor-in-chief to oversee the day-to-day operations of the newsroom. This position will play a key role in expanding the presence and reach of The Sacramento Press into the surrounding media market.

We’re looking for someone who is ambitious, confident in their ability to learn quickly, and focused on creating compelling content for the local communities. Excellent writing and reporting skills and good editorial judgment are essential.

The ideal candidate will bring lots of ideas for new ways to present stories online, through text, photos, or videos.

Experience in using a content management system is a plus, as is experience in podcasts, editing video, conducting and moderating panels. Experience working with technology teams is also preferred. Ability to edit HTML and other light coding would be outstanding.

Ideal candidates will have:

Passion for journalism and an understanding of how it can transform a community

At least three years previous newspaper and/or other publication experience

A bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university

At least two years editing experience

Experience with online publications

A deep understanding of the demands of 24/7 websites

Experience leading a team

Ability to edit copy quickly and always improve stories

Understanding of how to promote stories via social media

Ability to speak confidently when appearing on TV and radio

Enthusiasm to create and sustain relationships with stakeholders and neighborhood leaders

Excellent news and editorial judgment

Strong diplomatic skills and ability to interact with journalists at all levels of the newsroom

Excellent organizational skills and ability to work under pressure

Proven ability to break news and generate outstanding story ideas

Excellent communication and presentation skills

Enthusiasm for working with a technology team to envision the future of news

Light coding skills and competence at HTML manipulation

Your job responsibilities will include (but are not limited to):

Make Sacramento a better place to live
Maintain engaging and relevant splash pages that are refreshed daily
Seek out ways to incorporate graphics such as surveys, charts, video, etc. in content
Write editorials
Will help maintain site and produce weekly electronic newsletters
Track daily and weekly deadlines
Compile monthly analytics and reports
Adapt to changing organizational forms and help other department heads meet goals
Supervise, train and develop a staff of two reporters, an intern coordinator and up to six unpaid interns
Plan scope and content of all editorial content and assign stories
Ensure content is factually accurate, and does not violate copyright laws or contain libel
Identify and pursue ways the Sacramento Press can increase editorial outreach into local communities
Responsible for quality of online content and layouts
Curates journalism workshops

The Sacramento Press offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including medical, dental and vision plans.

This is a fast-paced role in a high potential growing company. This is a unique opportunity to be a critical piece of our growth. This position is located in Sacramento, CA.

Compensation:
This is a full-time contract-to-hire position.
Upon hire, it is a full-time salaried position.

Ready to apply? Submit your resume, portfolio or clips and any other helpful information to colleen[at]sacramentopress.com.

The Sacramento Press is hiring: Advertising Coordinator

2012-02-06T20:16:29Z

We are currently seeking a highly motivated Advertising Coordinator to join our growing company. This position will be in the the sales department. This role will ensure that our customers receive the highest level of sales and operational service. The Advertising Coordinator will also be responsible for driving new business revenue.

This fast-paced role is a unique opportunity to be a critical piece of our growth. This position is located in Sacramento, CA.

Your Role:

Generate revenue from a broad range of products including online banner advertising, social media engagement, online advertising bundles and daily deal offers.

Create persuasive sales presentations using market trends, creative ideas and company’s analytics; participate on calls and face-to-face meetings to pitch.

Analyze campaign performance statistics and recommend optimized media solutions.

Foster relationships with with decision makers, salespeople and mavens in the Sacramento market.

Attend regular local events to build accounts, including weekend and evening events on occasion.

Serve as internal contact for clients for all Sacramento Press, SacMix and Deal Ticket products.

Phone coverage and various administrative tasks as needed.

Job Requirements:

- At least 2 years of experience in sales and/or customer service.
- Experience with online and/or interactive advertising and media a plus.
- You are a self-starter who is comfortable working in a start-up environment that changes rapidly, and you have a strong desire to learn.
- BA/BS degree preferred with strong computer skills.
- An amazing personality and the ability to close sales.
- Ability to sell multiple products and juggle tasks efficiently.
- An excellent attention to detail.

Compensation:
This is a full-time position with a base salary
Commissions on all sales
Health, Dental, Vision Benefits, 100% covered in 90 days
Travel & Entertainment Account

How to Apply:

Email resume and cover letter to emily.griggs@sacramentopress.com.

Love means never having to say your sorry, but just in case...

2012-02-06T18:23:51Z

When it comes to the most romantic day of the year, traditional gifts of roses and heart shaped boxes of candy still dominate the market, but for those ladies and gentlemen looking for a more unique way to show their affection, consider the gift of food and fun by giving your special someone tickets to the Sacramento Chef Challenge.

Tickets are only $25 each and include:
• Chef Challenge competition
• Gourmet food sampling
• Wine and Beer tasting
• Cake War presented by Cakegrrl.com
• Live Music
• Raffle and Silent Auction Prizes

“When you’ve celebrated 30 Valentine’s Days together it can be difficult to find a really special gift,” says Rancho Cordova resident Linda Allen, “I was truly surprised when I received tickets to the Chef Challenge from my husband last year for Valentine’s Day– it was such a unique gift. It was actually like getting two gifts, because I got to attend the event and spend time with him!”

Valentine’s Day is a chance for everyone to spread the love, which includes friends and co-workers. Even business owners can show their employees and VIP customers how much they care by giving the gift of culinary excellence. Sacramento Chef Challenge tickets make it simple to express appreciation for customer loyalty or employees’ hard work, and there is the added benefit of community support, because 100% of proceeds from the event go to benefit programs for people with developmental disabilities.

For tickets and more visit www.chefevent.com or call 916-381-1300 x170.

Chocolate melts and roses wither, but memories remain. So, make some great ones at the 1oth Annual Sacramento Chef Challenge!

The Sacramento Chef Challenge is the annual benefit for INALLIANCE, a nonprofit organization that provides support to people with developmental disabilities. This event would not be possible without the support of our sponsors: AtMyTable.com, Cakegrrl.com, CC Myers Inc. Charitable Foundation, Cuisine Noir Magazine, Downtown Grid, EarthSmart, GFBB Benefits, Preferred Meats, Yelp, and 101.9 The Wolf.

Disclosure: Jessica Bean is an employee of INALLIANCE.

Experience Sacramento Museum Day this Saturday

2012-02-02T00:17:59Z

Want to check out some of Sacramento’s wonderful museums but have not yet had the time or budget to do so? Mark your calendars for this Saturday and head out to the 14th Annual Sacramento Museum Day.

A record 28 museums are participating this year, including newcomers the Center for Contemporary Art and the Sacramento Children’s Museum. 26 participating museums are offering free admission all day (10am-5pm; last admission at 4pm), and the Sacramento Zoo and Fairytale Town are offering half-price admission in order to offset parking control and security costs.

Sacramento has a wide variety of Museums featuring everything from art, science, and history to children’s exhibits, wildlife, and more.

If you’re having a difficult time narrowing down the options, take these suggestions into consideration:

In order to have sufficient time at each spot, it is recommended to visit no more than two or three Museums for the day
Many of the Museums are within walking distance of one another so, if you plan accordingly, you can park only once and still make your way to two or three spots. Check out the map.
If you will be taking your car, be sure to read over the Parking Suggestions to make sure your day goes smoothly and you avoid any tickets or fines.
If you don’t want to drive, but don’t live within walking distance, consider taking Regional Transit! A great way to avoid the hassle of parking on a crowded day.
Keep in mind that Sacramento Museum Day is a very popular event and that, due to safety reasons, some museums need to limit the number of admissions.
Consider attending Museums that are less well known to avoid crowds at some of the more popular spots (such as the Sacramento Zoo, Railroad Museum, and Fairytale Town) and to check out something you may not otherwise have gone to see!

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Find more detail on this event along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Rachael Lankford is the Managing Calendar Editor for Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Body Fit Challenge Offers People a Chance to Shed Pounds

2012-02-01T19:14:15Z

California Family Fitness (CFF) today announced that its’ next Body Fit Challenge (BFC) will begin Saturday, February 25, and interested individuals are encouraged to sign-up. The BFC is an eight-week long group training program, in which the participants are coached by a trainer through twice weekly group workout sessions, and educated on exercise habits, nutrition and lifestyle changes.

“The Body Fit Challenge has been a great success for our members since it first started three years ago,” said Randy Karr, president of California Family Fitness. “Throughout the duration of the BFC, participants have shed more than 35,000 pounds. We are very proud of the BFC, and are thrilled to be a part of such a life-changing program for so many people.”

At the end of the eight week program, prizes are awarded to the participants who lose the highest percentage of body weight at each CFF club, as well as the top male and female participants company-wide.

“I was hesitant at first to try the Body Fit Challenge because I was insecure about my ability to life weights. But, I decided to give it a try and I’m so glad I did,” said Liz Ramirez, CFF member and BFC participant. “My experience was amazing, and my trainer was phenomenal. She was positive, encouraging and motivated me to try harder every day. In eight short weeks I lost 36 pounds, and I feel better than I have ever felt before in my life.”

To find out more about California Family Fitness’ upcoming Body Fit Challenge, please click here. Both members and non-members are welcome to participate in this program.

Disclosure: Justin Dyke is a public relations professional representing California Family Fitness.

Local Man Fired for Feeding Cats

2012-02-01T08:01:05Z

Larry Ottoviani officially lost his job after seven years with the 7Up Bottling Company for doing the one thing that helped him counteract the anxiety in his personal life.

That one thing was feeding hungry cats.

“I love cats and don’t like to see them go hungry,” Ottoviania said. “When I’m feeding cats I can forget everything else for awhile.”

Ottoviani had been warned several times by his supervisor not to feed the cats. The official termination notice dated Jan. 4, 2012, stated that Ottoviani violated his “last chance agreement not to feed the cats on company time and/or company property.”

While Ottoviani does not deny feeding cats, he denied doing so during company time and on company property.

What was it that Ottoviani felt a need to momentarily forget about, even if it meant risking his job?

He is the father of a dependent adult child with severe physical disabilities and has also been coping with the effects of a debilitating illness afflicting his wife.

During the past year, his wife’s condition required several hospital visits as well as some extended stays. And after a tumor had been found on Ottoviani’s right kidney it required the surgical removal of that kidney.

Fortunately, job-related medical insurance covered most of the costs. Since the loss of his job, Ottoviani says he doesn’t know what he’s going to do. Even with COBRA, a health benefit provision that provides temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates, Ottoviania admits “I don’t know how I’m going to afford to pay the $400 monthly premiums.”

The 7 Up Bottling Company, a subdivision of the Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group with headquarters in Plano, Texas is a beverage production facility governed by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration.

According to company spokesperson Jason Genthner, “The FDA states that we must ensure that the grounds around the food plant under the control of the operator shall be kept in a condition that will protect against the contamination of food. Over the years we have seen an increased presence of feral cats on our property.”

Ottoviani believes that if it weren’t for him, at least in part, there would be far more cats on and around company premises.

In 2008, two local animal advocates, Linda Silva and Nicole Hutchinson, discovered Ottoviani feeding cats. When they saw how many cats there were, they immediately began working with Ottoviani on what is commonly referred to as TNR --Trap/Neuter/Return.

Alley Cat Allies, a national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats maintains a website that identifies TNR as the humane, effective approach for feral cats. Feral cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and ear tipped (the universal symbol of a neutered and vaccinated cat), and then returned to their outdoor home.

The organization states that another aspect of TNR is that kittens and other cats that can be socialized are not returned but instead adopted into homes. These procedures stabilize colonies of cats since altered cats no longer produce kittens.

Hutchinson enlisted volunteers from the Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) to sweep and clean up shards of broken glass in an unused area adjacent to the 7Up Bottling Company before launching an aggressive trapping program.

Hutchinson said that between August 2008 and December 2009, 71 cats were trapped and brought to the Sacramento SPCA which runs low-cost feral cat clinics on the first and third Sundays of every month.

The costs for altering the cats were paid by donations from the volunteers and from and grant funds. Ottoviani took home some of the tame cats and kittens, later finding homes for them. He kept the ones he couldn’t find homes for.

In 2006, there was a similar cat feeding incident involving a farmhand employed at the Cornell University Animal Science Teaching and Research Center in ~~Hartford, CT~~ Harford, N.Y..

John Beck was fired for feeding cats on the premises according to a story posted on the Best Friend Animal Sanctuary Network webpage. Beck filed a 20 million dollar lawsuit against Cornell University, which then filed a motion to have the lawsuit thrown out.

Beck admitted that his lawsuit was a long shot and that it was filed “for the principle of the thing.”

“How do you fire somebody for feeding cats?” Beck asked.

Ottoviani still believes he did the right thing. “I acted according to my conscience”, he said.

Linda Silva agrees. “Larry didn’t just feed the cats”, she said, “He went beyond the call of duty and took responsible action. It’s unfortunate that this would lead to the loss of his job.”

Editor's note: Corrections have been made to this article after publishing.

Super Bowl hot spots in Sacramento

2012-02-01T03:40:48Z

For football fans still suffering from the San Francisco 49ers’ devastating loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game, the Super Bowl may have lost some of its sparkle. But with Sacramento’s great bar scene, one can’t help but be drawn to the festivities.

The Giants face the New England Patriots in Sunday’s game, a rematch of the Super Bowl game four years ago in which the Giants ended the Patriots’ perfect season. The Sacramento Press found these spots to celebrate – or drown your sorrows.

BarWest Burgers & Wings
2724 J St.
476-4550
19 flatscreen televisions, one 10-foot projection screen

At BarWest, the festivities start at 9 a.m. with an eating contest. The brave can take on the “Hot Mess,” a concoction that General Manager Ryan Pierini said has only been conquered once before.

Contestants have 30 minutes to finish the plate – English muffins piled with six eggs, six slices of bacon, six sausage links and country potatoes, covered in Hollandaise sauce. Participants must sign up with the bar by Saturday.

Winners do not have to pay for their food, and they will receive a gift certificate. Anyone who attempts the feat, Pierini said, will receive a consolation prize – a “Super Bowl shot” of their choice.

“We hope to make this an annual tradition,” Pierini said.

Bud Light and Coors Light Girls will be on hand, passing out “bar bucks” good for $1 off beer.

Ink Eats and Drinks
2730 N St.
456-2800
Four televisions

If beer isn’t your thing, perhaps Ink Eats and Drinks will draw you in. The restaurant and bar is running margarita specials on Sunday as part of a promotion with Jose Cuervo Platino tequila.

The Platino Girls will be on site from 3 - 5 p.m., said Jocelyn McGregor, marketing and promotions manager for Ink Eats and Drinks.

In addition to $3 appetizer plates, various fruit-flavored margaritas will be available for $5, and a Jose Cuervo Tradicional “touchdown shot” for $3. For $6, patrons can have a Pabst Blue Ribbon with a shot of Jose Cuervo Tradicional, McGregor said.

Monkey Bar
2730 Capitol Ave.
442-8490
Two televisions

Get started early with Monkey Bar’s happy hour special, ending at 2 p.m. A bottomless mimosa for $10 and Absolut Bloody Marys for $5 are available, and various drink specials will be available throughout the game, Manager Stacey Stell said.

The Depot Video Bar
2001 K St.
441-6823
34 televisions

The Depot Video Bar may have the best shot at a great view for the game with 34 televisions. Each one will show the game, said employee Tim Shaw.

The bar will run happy hour specials throughout the day, including $1 draft domestic beers and $3 pitchers of Miller, Shaw said. Pizza and peanuts will also be on hand.

Streets of London
1804 J St.
498-1388
Three televisions, including a big screen behind the bar

The typical happy hour fare will be offered during the game at Streets of London, Manager Brooke Tachibana said. Customers can enjoy a 20-ounce beer for $4 or get a pitcher for $11. Well cocktails are available for $3.50.

R15
1431 R St.
930-9191
14 televisions

If football alone isn’t enough, R15 will have the Budweiser Girls on hand to give out T-shirts and hats, said Manager Chris Randone.

“We’re going to have some beer,” Randone said. “The game will be shown on every single one of our TVs.”

R15 will also offer its usual bar appetizers, including pizzas, sliders and quesadillas.

Alley Katz
2019 O St.
442-2682
Seven televisions

Starting at noon, Alley Katz will offer happy hour pricing for patrons. Bartender Jon Alford said to arrive early for the best shot at staking out a spot. The bar has seven booths, and extra cocktail tables will be brought in to accommodate the Super Bowl crowd.

“We’ll have our $30 beer towers,” Alford said. “They are a yard tall and have their own taps – kind of fun if you have a group.”

Alley Katz has more than 200 different beers available, as well as a full bar and a variety of appetizers and sandwiches available for under $12.

The Golden Bear
2326 K St.
441-2242
One television

Many northern Californians had hoped to see a local team playing on Sunday, but San Francisco 49ers fans still have a place to watch the game.

“What we’re really hoping to offer is a safe haven for disappointed 49ers fans,” said co-owner Kimio Bazett, a lifelong fan. He added that a surprise drink special will be available for anyone who comes in wearing 49ers gear.

The Golden Bear’s football fare will be a general, all-American barbecue party, Bazett said.

“Our chefs are whipping up something crazy,” Bazett said, and added that they’ll offer $1 off Miller High Life, to keep with the American beer theme.

Where will you watch the game, and which team do you want to see take the win?

CROCKER ART MUSEUM & ACCESS SACRAMENTO present - "A Place Called Sacramento" - Thursday 6:30 PM

2012-01-31T06:28:49Z

Access Sacramento is excited to kick off PCS 2012, our thirteenth year, on this Thursday February 2nd at the wonderful Crocker Art Museum. If you would like an opportunity to see all 10 films on the big screen in the museum's theatre, now's your chance. It's a one night only event and rare chance to see all the films from 2011 together again. We hope to see you there!

The Crocker Art is pleased to present an encore screening of the 2011 "Place Called Sacramento" film festival. Friends of Access Sacramento, PCS filmmakers and fans are invited to celebrate, again, the 10 short films first premiered last October at the Crest Theatre.

Crocker Art Museum

216 O Street

Thursday February 2, 2012

Show starts at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets: $4 for Crocker Members

Advance tickets: Non-member $8.00 (online at crockerartmuseum.org or Admission Desk)

At the door: Non-members $10.00

"A Place Called Sacramento" (PCS), is the original, local scriptwriting and short film production project for local writers and producers. PCS challenges local scriptwriters, new and experienced, to write 10-minute scripts about the people, places, and events that make our community such a unique place to live (entry forms and submission guidelines are available online at www.AccessSacramento.org. The deadline for script submission is 5pm Tuesday April 10, 2012 in the Access Sacramento office. The Crocker screening serves as the official launch of the 13th annual "PCS" production process.

Want to know more about making a movie this summer? Do you have a good story but need to write a script? All scripts entered are reviewed by local professionals and 10 are selected. These 10 scriptwriter/producers are then introduced to volunteers, actors and technicians at The PCS "Cast and Crew Call" Wednesday, May 23, 2012. Production teams are formed and shooting - editing commences during the summer months. Finally, after weeks of hard work and great fun, friends gather at the World Premiere to a packed house at the CREST Theatre 1:00 PM on Sunday, October 7, 2012. All films are family friendly. The PCS production process is unique to Sacramento.

To view the films completed for the 2011 & previous PCS film festivals, go to the web site www.AccessSacramento.org. In the twelve years of PCS, over 119 short films have been created.

Access Sacramento is a nonprofit, community media organization building better communications between individuals and groups in Sacramento County for 25 years. With our TV studio, radio and television production equipment, media lab, and mobile production truck, we train and manage volunteers, programming cable radio and television channels 17 & 18.

CONTACT: Ron Cooper, Executive Director, Access Sacramento

4623 T Street, Suite A - Sacramento, CA. 95819

(916) 456-8600 ext. 112

Disclosure: Ron Cooper is Executive Director of Access Sacramento

Good, good, good, good vibrations: Consummate cast overcomes overlong, disjointed script in Capital Stage's 'In the Next Room'

2012-01-30T14:10:52Z

With a title like "The Room Next Door, or the vibrator play," audiences might well expect a jolt or two – and not of the AC variety the newfangled electric gadgets of the late-19th century were known to occasionally deliver.

For those looking for a bit of shock and awe from J Street's "bold, intimate, live" theater, the current Capital Stage production of Sarah Ruhl's comedy does not disappoint. Though Ruhl's script goes for the gag switch a few too many times, and changes polarity with unsettling frequency, the uniformly strong cast led by Michael Stevenson, Elena Wright and Katie Rubin shine brightly and consistently.

Playing through Feb. 26, "The Room Next Door" is set in the late-19th century when the country was getting wired up, and men and women were getting buttoned up. As men's and women's fashions were adding layers and layers of floor-length outer and undergarments (fabulously designed here by costumer Gail Russell), so too were they masking their most primal emotions and desires in what was perceived as civility.

Dr. Givings (well-played with appropriate restraint by Stevenson) is a respected New York gynecologist who proudly refers to himself as a "man of science." His clinical bedside manner is respectful but wholly detached as he prattles on about the accomplishments of Ben Franklin and Thomas Edison and their contributions to the electrification of America while matter-of-factly applying what looks like a hand-held floor polisher to his patients' nether regions.

Convinced of the therapeutic value of the experimental contraption (which he believes cures a host of female-centric ailments, including "congested wombs" and the resulting "hysteria" they cause), Givings offers quick two- or three-minute applications (isn't that always the case?) to "release the juices downward."

He promises the women (and their husbands) who visit his home-based "operating theater" that they will see immediate results.

Among those calling on the good doctor are Mr. Daldry (a suitably stoic Alexander) and his wife, Sabrina (Rubin). Daldry is concerned that his wife is no longer the woman he married and that "there is very little sympathy between us."

"You have no idea what a source of anguish my wife's illness has been to me," he says, pausing just a moment before thinking to add, "And to her, of course."

Other concerns dominate the Givings household as well. Givings' wife Catherine is unable to properly nurse the couple's newborn daughter, who is losing weight. Offering the same clinical compassion to his wife as he does to his patients (whose moans and occasional cries to "God" go unnoticed), Givings flatly tells Catherine, "Your milk isn't adequate."

As he explains, he's not leveling blame, just stating the medical facts.

The grateful Mr. Daldry offers the services of their maid, who recently lost her own newborn, and is willing to serve as a wet nurse.

Frustrated by her inability to properly bond with her baby daughter, as well as with her husband, the always prowling, cat-like Catherine increasingly looks to her husbands' patients for conversation and more. One might think the Givings' home, which begins to feel like Grand Central Station in the second act, would annoy after a fashion, but Wright (in a marvelously antsy, even "hungry" performance) delivers a Catherine who doesn't mind the constant interruptions, but welcomes them to escape her passion-free home life.

"Experiment on me!" Catherine pleads to her husband, longing to witness the bright lights some of her husband's patients have reported seeing during their treatments. Essentially, she, too, would love to be blinded by science.

The era's repressed sexuality is repeatedly used as a punch line throughout the first act, as Sabrina's early trepidation evolves into a daily sprint through the Givings' parlor and into "the room next door" for longer and longer sessions.

These scenes become repetitive and merely stretch out what is already an overlong second act in which one wants to shout out, "Yeah – we get it! The vibrator is getting them off!" The larger joke (one that is also overused) is that the doctor seems oblivious to what his "treatment" is actually doing.

Adding to the bloated second act, and its deviation from massage-and-tickle farce to a more-serious treatise touching on everything from interracial relationships, gender preferences and death and dying, is the focus on two new characters – Elizabeth (Victoria Alvarez-Chacon), the Daldrys' African-American maid who is nursing the Givings' baby, and Leo Irving (Kirk Blackinton), an artist whose recent breakup during a European sojourn has resulted in a stifling creative malaise.

Those who love the vibrator of the title will love what the doc comes up with to alleviate Leo's artist's block.

Under the direction of Peter Mohrmann, there's really not a false moment delivered by the cast. Even in the most-absurd "Saturday Night Live" sketch-like moments of the play, they are true to their characters and rise above Ruhl's material. During the show's quieter scenes, such as in the climax (no pun intended) when Givings and his wife shed convention (and a good many layers of their wardrobe) to finally make a true emotional connection, Stevenson and Wright are absolutely mesmerizing.

Rubin, too, is very good – especially in her scenes with Wright in which the ladies let themselves into Givings' locked operating theater to do a little AC/DC experimentation on their own.

Alvarez-Chacon, who delivers her predominantly poignant lines as mandated by the script, seems a bit out of place. Her character seems like she's on loan from another play. It's not her fault – she, too, does the best she can with Ruhl's occasionally unruly script which is somewhat of a letdown following the pace and comedic tone of act one. Also, a case could be made that her character's speech about sexual satisfaction being best achieved through relations with a flesh-and-blood husband versus a power tool is a bit racist.

At Elizabeth's suggestion of such a scenario, both Catherine and Sabrina pooh-pooh the very thought, as if white, well-to-do women couldn't possibly understand the sexual honesty an "earthy" housekeeper of color such as Elizabeth takes for granted. One could also argue that Ruhl is saying that all lower-income African-American women have a genetic trait that makes slipping and sliding to Morris Day & The Time's "Jungle Love" second nature. Either way, it presents uncomfortable stereotyping.

Whether those who go to "In the Next Room, or the vibrator play" do so for pure titillation, for a glimpse at 19th-century sexual mores, as fuel for a discussion on playwriting, or simply to witness actors on top of their games, there are plenty of reasons to plug in.

JUST THE FACTS
WHAT: The Capital Stage production of Sarah Ruhl's "In the Next Room, or the vibrator play"
WHERE: Capital Stage, 2215 J St., Sacramento, Calif.
WHEN: Plays Jan. 25-Feb. 26, 2012, with performances at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 7 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays (special Valentine's Day performance at 8 p.m. Feb. 14)
HOW MUCH: $20-$32; call (916) 995-5464, or go online at www.capstage.org
DIRECTOR: Peter Mohrmann
CAST: Michael Stevenson (Dr. Givings); Elena Wright (Catherine Givings); Katie Rubin (Sabrina Daldry); Greg Alexander (Mr. Daldry); Shannon Mahoney (Annie); Kirk Blackinton (Leo Irving); Victoria Alvarez-Chacon (Elizabeth)

Broadacre Coffee debuts live music

2012-01-30T03:27:35Z

Broadacre Coffee hosted their first live music night this past Friday night, featuring the musical talents of Exquisite Corps and Garrett Pierce, along with dj sets by Nico Turner and Sister Crayon's Terra Lopez and Dani Fernandez. Over 100 people turned out for the all ages show, making it a huge success. The next show at Broadacre will be February 24, so mark it on your calendars!

Sacramento Theatre Company Cabaret Series revue aims to 'Make 'Em Laugh'

2012-01-28T12:13:36Z

Remember when musical theater was called musical comedy?

True, dramatic plot turns have consistenly been essential elements in most of the Great White Way's all-singing, all-dancing productions. From the issue of racial discrimination explored in Jerome Kern's landmark "Show Boat" (1927) to the gritty realities of abortion, rape and suicide facing teenagers in Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater's "Spring Awakening" (2007), musicals often have featured some measure of conflict.

Maybe it's the rose-colored opera glasses audiences tend to slip on when looking back, but some still bemoan Broadway's shift away from happy-go-lucky book musicals in which the most-serious issue was the question of who's taking Laurey to the box social.

The truth is even after the musical scale tilted toward heavier fare (think "Evita," "Les Misérables," "Phantom of the Opera," "Side Show," "Parade," and "Spring Awakening"), most every tuner – no matter how dreary the score – continues to feature at least one or two songs that provide some measure of comic relief.

During this cold midwinter, Sacramento Theatre Company presents more than just a few LOL numbers in "Make 'Em Laugh: Broadway's Best Comedy Songs," its latest Cabaret Series revue.

Set to run Jan. 26-28, 2012, "Make 'Em Laugh" is geared to leaving audiences humming (and not bumming) as they exit the STC lobby by showcasing songs from such carefree shows of yesteryear as "Guys and Dolls," "Wonderful Town" and "Once Upon a Mattress."

Directed by STC Producing Director Michael Laun, with musical direction by Sam Schieber, "Make 'Em Laugh" features Jessica Crouch, Christine Nicholson, Madeleine Wieland, Robert Irvin, Devon Hayakawa and Laun. Accompaniment is provided by Schieber (piano) and Kellen Garcia (bass).

"Make 'Em Laugh" plays at 7 p.m. Jan. 26, 8 p.m. Jan. 27, and 2 and 8 p.m. Jan. 28. Tickets, priced at $25, are available by calling (916) 443-6722, or by going online at www.sactheatre.org. Please note that $12 student rush tickets go on sale 30 minutes prior to performances (subject to availability).

"The Grey" - Part 2: Interview

2012-01-27T09:23:33Z

INTERVIEW: DIRECTOR JOE CARNAHAN AND ACTOR FRANK GRILLO

[NOTE: THE INTERVIEW CONTAINS SOME MILD PLOT SPOILERS FOR “THE GREY”.]

Recently, in San Francisco, I had a chance to chat with co-writer and director Joe Carnahan and actor Frank Grillo about their new release “The Grey” which opens this week. The film, which is reviewed in a separate article, tells the story of a group of oil workers whose plane crashes in the Alaskan wilderness, where they find themselves stalked by a pack of almost mythically large wolves. Joe is a Sacramento native and we’ve known each other for several years through the local film community and the Sacramento Film and Music Festival.

As we were setting up for the interview, Joe happened to make a self-deprecatory joke about his own intelligence, which led to an interesting opening:

Tony: You see I would counter that right away. I watched “The Grey” a few weeks ago - I don’t like to read production notes before seeing a film and I knew virtually nothing going in – but I knew it wasn’t going to be “Alive” meets “Cujo”… [they both agree] … because I don’t think you’re capable of writing a script that’s that one dimensional.

Joe: Right. You may hate it for its other dimensions but it won’t be mono-dimensional.

Frank: [laughs]

Tony: The other things you’ve written – even a film like “Smokin’ Aces” which is a ‘shoot-em-up’ has a very intricate story.

Joe: “Smokin’ Aces” to me, the construct, was Iraq. I based the movie on Iraq. It starts with misinformation, it leads to this kind of heedless violence, a bunch of people who shouldn’t die do, they make a better deal at the end, and it’s over – that’s it.

Tony: Let’s come back to the war topic later. As I said, I watched “The Grey” knowing nothing about it and had to write my comment for the studio, and I said this isn’t a film about men and wolves, this is a film about life and death, and going out on your own terms.

Joe: Yes. 100%.

Tony: So, I was intrigued as to whether when you read the short story if it came out of nowhere and grabbed you or if you were already thinking of this as a subject you wanted to tackle.

Joe: No, you know what Tony, I responded to the short story because I was on “Mission Impossible 3” and I was going to quit before I was fired. I had run my course on that and here I was presented with this very simple, spare, kind of bare bones survival story - versus where I was at that moment which was a big star, big franchise, big studio, with a big budget at 33 years old and feeling I didn’t deserve any of that….

Frank: No, by the way you do.

Joe: …at the same time “The A-Team” represents me finishing that business on “MI3” – doing a big popcorn movie. So it [“The Grey”] appealed to me in every way that it could, because its simplicity was beautiful to me. But then Ian [Ian Mackenzie Jeffers who co-wrote the screenplay and wrote the short story “The Ghost Walker” on which it is based] did a draft of his own short story and I took that, and over the next 4-5 years rewrote it, fashioned it, and fine-tuned it.

[Joe continued by describing how, with the passage of time, topics which might not have developed quite so readily in a more rushed circumstance, including religion and spirituality, evolved as the story became more polished.]

Tony: So, you guys met on “Pride and Glory” [for which Joe co-wrote the screenplay]?

Frank: A little before that.

Tony: [To Frank] When this first came to you, did you see the script first or was it still an idea? How close was it to the final script?

Frank: I think it was fairly close to what we actually shot by the time I saw it.

Joe: Yes, I gave it to you in September and we were shooting in January.

Frank: Yeah. He had seen some of “Warrior” and I had said to him “I want to work with you, just whatever it is, find me something, I’ll do anything – I’m a huge fan” and he sent me this script. He said to me “January we’re shooting this movie and that’s the role!” And he could have had anybody he wanted for the role, obviously, and he said “It might take me some time but you’re doing the movie – January – don’t take a job!” And I said “Joe, I can’t…” He said “January, don’t take a job! Go gain some weight, beef up, this is what we have to do.” And there we were in January.

Tony: Although underneath something like three parkas…

Joe: Yeah – I had three parkas on but Frank didn’t!

Frank: [laughs]

Joe: You said you wanted the role pal!

Tony: It’s such a neat story and neat characters. I was interested in what drew you to it. The Ottway part [Liam Neeson’s character] is interesting – he’s watched somebody who didn’t have the opportunity to go out on her own terms and he respects that opportunity when it arises. There’s a scene in the wreckage where a guy is dying and the others are saying “You’ve got to do something” and he goes over and says [paraphrased] “You’re going to die – but that’s OK” You don’t see that often.

Joe: No. You see a lot of people killed but you don’t see a lot of people die.

Frank: In the original script – and at first I was kind of upset that we took it out – but when he says that to him, my character says “What are you doing?” But there was such a rhythm, there was such a gorgeous poetic rhythm to the connection that these two guys had that if I had interjected, interrupted, and taken it away from that, it would have destroyed the scene. And that’s my favorite scene in the movie.

Tony: It reminds me - and I don’t think this is a comparison you’ll dislike [to Joe] given that you say you don’t see people die very often - it reminds me of Giovanni Ribisi in “Saving Private Ryan.”

Joe: Which is a brilliant death scene.

Tony: It’s the best scene of the movie.

Joe: And he says “Tell me, tell me what’s wrong” and the blood is almost black and he’s asking for his mother.

Tony: And he basically instructs them to overdose him on morphine. He’s a medic….

Joe: Right, he’s a medic, he knows he going to die. But that’s … anytime there’s a Spielberg comparison, I am firmly in your camp.

Frank: I got a chance to work with him and he said when he saw that scene he actually went back and wrote more for Giovanni earlier in the movie, so there would be more of him in the movie.

Joe: Oh, wow!

[The three of us then went off on a tangent for a minute or two about Giovanni Ribisi’s career starting as a child actor in the sitcom “My Two Dads.”]

Tony: In “the Grey” it seems to me that there were at least quadruple threats: There’s the location that they’re in, there’s the lack of any kind of supplies they would need to survive in that location, the climate obviously, and the wolves. But this isn’t about the wolves, the wolves are just part of that.

Joe: Tony, you see that – but you’re literally one of the only people that has ever said that, right there.

Tony: It’s an obstacle, of which part just happens to be the wolves. They could have just been eyes in the distance and mysteriously, every now and then somebody dies and you never know how they die. It’s almost a MacGuffin.

Joe: Right – they’re as close to a MacGuffin as a traditional film like this would have. Because essentially it’s a plotless movie.

Tony: In fact, to some extent, the whole bundle of obstacles: location, supplies, climate, wolves altogether are a MacGuffin.

Joe: Absolutely

Tony: It’s just there to cause these people to think about the meaning of life.

Frank: Exactly. That’s an accurate reading of the script. You asked what attracted me to the film. As a middle-aged man – this is what I think about all day.

Joe: And also that the wolves are just a force of nature – like the cliff, like the blizzard, like the river.

Tony: Have you been following the news – the timing is really interesting.

Joe: Oh – OR7 – the wolf that’s crossed into California. Yeah, I invited him to the premiere. It’s a very elaborate joke, a very elaborate stunt when he shows up and around his neck he’s got a little pass, a VIP pass.

Frank: It’s a great story

Tony: You clearly wanted something more profound than an action film and you succeeded. But do you worry about the apparent dichotomy between what films are and how films are marketed?

Joe: You know what, Tony, I don’t because what I would like, in fairness to an audience, this is something where I’d like them to cast as wide a net as possible – to get people who are even casual genre fans, who are casual Liam Neeson fans into the theater. Because I swear to God it will become the water cooler talk for days to come. I really believe that. What I’ve said about this film, my ultimate goal, is that it plays for you for longer than the two hours it took to watch. That’s what I want – because I think so much of movies today are just disposable experiences.

Tony: I guess my question is that we’re sitting here saying this is a profound movie about life and death and the human experience….

Joe: Right.

Tony: …so do you worry that the people who do in fact want to see a profound movie about life and death and the human experience are not going to come and watch “The Grey” based on the trailer somebody’s cut of the film that makes it look like “Alive” meets “Cujo”?

Joe: No. Unfortunately, if those people you just described were in the majority, we wouldn’t all be about to speak Mandarin in the next ten years. You know what I mean? If we had that level of engagement or that level of high mindedness, without trying to sound snobbish or arrogant about it, if those kinds of people were in the majority then I think it would be a radically different marketing angle.

Tony: If you think of film classics like 1936’s “Modern Times” or 1957’s “12 Angry Men” – those were mainstream films because you didn’t have studios, indies, direct to cable, and all those kinds of things, so those were films people were going to watch. They were deep films – but they were either social satires or social commentaries. We’ve had this conversation before – now you see things like “Lions for Lambs” [written by Joe’s brother Matthew Michael Carnahan] which is a brilliant piece of writing and “In the Valley of Elah,” and films like “The Company Men” about unemployment and layoffs. I’ve heard it said that folks on the left don’t want to go and see these stories and be reminded of what they already know and folks on the right don’t want to go and get lectured by Hollywood.

Joe: Yes.

Tony: So, do you think there’s a political divide – is it that we’re telling the wrong stories or are we telling the right stories but telling them too soon?

Joe: Well listen, you mentioned “Lions for Lambs” and “In the Valley of Elah” – those are movie about hot button issues. My brother had written “The Kingdom” which in a lot of ways to me was a knock on the Saudis and the Saudi royal family. It was meant to be, not a condemnation but he was certainly taking a shot – it wasn’t just this kind of prosaic look at a different culture – he was going after them. But if you don’t mix in gunfights it becomes this almost geopolitical…whatever. I found, and I got this from my benefactor Ridley [Scott] – I loved the filmmaking in “Black Hawk Down” but it became very jingoistic. And the part about the Somalis and what they were dealing with … and I understand why that was jettisoned. I get it, but it was also a case of looking at how much more money that made than a film like “Lions for Lambs” which was more about talking points.

Tony: If you get me on “Black Hawk Down” we’ll be here all day. But “The Kingdom” and “Lions for Lambs” are an interesting comparison because they’re both good scripts and they both have a lot to say politically….

Joe: Yes.

Tony: ...and I don’t remember the box office….

Joe: “The Kingdom” made a lot more money.

Tony: “The Kingdom” has a lot of shooting and action and “Lions for Lambs” is more like a play

Joe: Yeah, it’s a three act play. It’s a play.

Tony: So if you want to have political content and you want to get something out there and you want to hit a mainstream audience….

Joe: Good luck

Tony: …do you have to disguise it as something else?

Frank: I think you do.

Joe: Oh, absolutely.

Frank: You have to, not sneak it in, but you have to….

Joe: It’s everything short of sneaking it in. It’s very difficult to come straight at somebody with that kind of argument being that political, spiritual, whatever it may be that you’re trying to tackle. In this country more so than any other in the world – we love to slap labels on as quickly possible. And if you’re doing that it’s a “specialized” kind of film.

Tony: [To Frank] In the film, you’re the tough guy’s tough guy. It reminded me of this kid I knew at summer camp who was tough and would never let his guard down – and then I saw him break down completely riding a roller coaster.

Frank: That’s a great analogy.

Tony: Did you know those guys growing up or were you that guy?

Frank: I wasn’t that guy – I was on the other end of it. But I did know those guys and I also spent some time visiting some jails around New York because I wanted to talk to some guys on the other side of that reality. And they all seemed to be the same – you’re right – it’s the big bully who goes on the roller coaster and that was my jump off point. It’s such a cool journey that this guy makes and we all know those people. And how did I get to the point where my hands are always up and I’m threatened all the time. When you’re afraid you get angry and Diaz [his character in the film] is angry all the time. Why? Because he’s afraid all the time. And it was a gift to me as an actor to get to explore this character.

Tony: The amazing thing about “The Grey” is that I don’t think there’s a weak link in the film. The problem with an ensemble movie is that there’s often a character that you want to get eaten by a wolf early on in the movie just so that you don’t get to see him for the next hour. And this movie doesn’t have that.

Joe: I think you really do come to fall for those guys and you appreciate those guys and you pull for them. And that’s as it should be.

[At this point we discussed several characters and their unusual paths in the movie, including specific outcomes for some of them.]

Joe: But there’s bravery and heroism that isn’t always obvious and that you don’t see coming from a mile away

Frank: But we can talk about this all day – this guy [his character] finally got a chance to be part of something. That’s the beauty of it.

Joe: Yeah – absolutely man

Tony: What’s next for you Joe?

Joe: If I get any real run off the Grey, if it allows me to do something else, I’d like to put all those chips toward “Killing Pablo.” For me that particular project is like this vastly undernourished orphan and I need to get this kid a meal.

Tony: That’s Pablo Escobar?

Joe: Yes. I’ve been to Colombia three times, I’ve been to Medellin three times and I love it – as attrition goes it getting pretty close. Somebody asked me why do you want to make that project so badly and I was interviewing this 78 year old man who was there at the time it happened, and I asked him if he remembered anything that day, when they got Pablo. And he said “I was sitting in my house and I thought it was an early winter thunder storm” because the level of gunfire was such that the guy couldn’t discern individual shots and I thought “I’m ****ing making this movie!”

Tony: And anything back in Sacramento – are we going to see you back in town?

Joe: Tony if I could just get, and I’ve said this before – what you need is a full time film commissioner and we need to quit dicking around. And in that City which is one of the great untapped shooting locations – in two hours you can be in the snow, you can be on the river….

Tony: And the neighborhoods can be anywhere.

Joe: Dude, the Fabulous 40’s – all you have to do is switch the cars out and you could be in the 1950’s. I would love to do it. I think the City has to get a lot more aggressive about what it wants to do. You know Kevin Johnson kept the Kings – and that would not have happened with Heather Fargo, they would have been gone. So if he can apply that kind of determination to getting movies shot there….

Tony: You know the “For Arts Sake” manager just left, this week.

Joe: Really? Well you know I’m looking for a job!

Disclosure: The author is co-director of the Sacramento Film & Music Festival and Joe Carnahan is a former special guest of that event.

"The Grey" - Part 1: Review

2012-01-27T09:22:47Z

The Grey
Directed by Joe Carnahan

The promotional materials for “The Grey” would probably cause you to believe that this is a “Jaws”-like adventure, with sharks replaced by wolves. And that’s certainly an easy way to sell a movie – but the truth is somewhat more complicated and worthy of greater respect.

This isn’t just a movie about men and wolves, and the conflict between them after a plane of oil industry workers crashes in the Alaskan wilderness. Underneath that surface, it’s more about life and death and our ability to determine our own fate. Liam Neeson plays Ottway, a man whose job is to shoot wolves and remove other threats to the men who work in this desolate place. But he’s also a man with tragedy in his past and consequently empty eyes. When the plane goes down, it triggers in him the need to survive – not so much because he has things to live for, but because he isn’t willing to let anybody or anything else dictate his fate.

It’s an interesting and quite profound premise for what might otherwise seem like a shallow action adventure. But it’s also in keeping for co-writer and director (and Sacramentan) Joe Carnahan, who tends to favor stories that are more complex than they appear.

Some detractors have complained that the behavior of the wolves in “The Grey” is unrealistic, but this isn’t a nature documentary. And the wolves themselves are not the only complication in the men’s lives, existing as they do alongside the extreme cold, remote location, and lack of supplies that they're faced with. As such, the wolves are simply a part of a bundled obstacle, and no more or less a force of nature than the blizzards and low temperatures. They exist as a test within the context of the movie, increased to almost mythical size and actions. They're simply something to be overcome - and they might just as easily have been bears, ghouls, or invisible beings.

Within this premise are some of the best on-film encounters with death – not simply in the sense of the staged violent ends that we've come to expect from the action genre, but philosophical contemplations of what it means to recognize and sometimes accept death, even when it isn’t sought out. And these are genuinely thought-provoking moments: As Carnahan himself said during a recent interview, “...it will become the water cooler talk for days to come. I really believe that. My ultimate goal is that it plays for you for longer than the two hours it took to watch. That’s what I want – because I think so much of movies today are just disposable experiences.” And it succeeds.

The outcome is quite remarkable in that he’s made a film that can satisfy those who are simply looking for a solid roller coaster action adventure, but also those who like to ponder the deeper meaning of a film and the lessons it might evoke, over dinner afterwards, or the next day. It might even cure a dysfunctional family’s inability to choose a movie that appeals to both the parents and the teenagers.

Disclosure: The author is co-director of the Sacramento Film & Music Festival and Joe Carnahan is a former special guest of that event.

'Forbidden Broadway' vet Selby sings praises of Cosmopolitan Cabaret's game-for-anything cast

2012-01-27T03:04:26Z

William Selby remembers well when he first heard about a little cabaret show that was generating buzz among New York theater fans.

“I was a full-time actor at the time, and I had a roommate who was a waiter at this place – Palsson’s (Supper Club) on West 72nd Street,” Selby said. “He came home one night raving about something called ‘Forbidden Broadway’ and did a number for me.

“I fell off the bed laughing – I knew I loved it right then and there.”

Selby wasn’t the only one who embraced Gerard Alessandrini’s concept of a satiric revue that both celebrated and skewered musical theater.

Since its opening 30 years ago this month, “Forbidden Broadway” played almost continuously in New York (after more than 9,000 performances and 20 editions) before closing in 2009. Additionally, Alessandrini’s parodies of both popular and pompous Broadway tuners have spawned a worldwide cult fueled by a continuously updated score and countless tours and special engagements.

One such production, directed by Selby, opens in Sacramento Jan. 27 for an eight-week run at California Musical Theatre’s Cosmopolitan Cabaret.

Selby joined his first “Forbidden Broadway” cast in 1985 when he was selected for a Washington, D.C., production.

Just as he imagined, Selby found it was love at first spoof.

Beyond the joy of performing twisted versions of the Great White Way’s greatest hits to wildly appreciative audiences, Selby said he became a part of something more permanent than a Playbill listing.

“One of the nice benefits of being part of ‘Forbidden Broadway’ is that it’s a family,” he said. “I’ve made some of the truest friends I’ve had.”

“I’ve always come back to it because I love it,” Selby continued.

After 15 years of playing dozens of theater legends in their best and worst roles from San Diego to Singapore, Alessandrini and producer John Freedson suggested Selby join the team’s directorial staff.

“By that time, you know what works,” said Selby.

Since making his directorial debut in Minneapolis in 2001, he has led shows in New Orleans, Chicago, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Long Island, N.Y., and at sea onboard a Regent Seven Seas Cruise Lines voyage.

The production at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret marks his 15th show at the helm.

While he said he keeps “pretty busy” with “Forbidden Broadway,” both as a director and performer, the Emerson College alumnus continues to take acting gigs that are far from his “FB” roles, including playing the prompter opposite Keith Baker in “Barrymore.”

Selby said working on both sides of the “Forbidden Broadway” footlights gives him invaluable insight on what works – and who works – on stage.

He said he was quick to pick the four performers ultimately selected for Sacramento’s production from the L.A.-based auditions.

“I know in the audition if they can do it – it’s a matter of confidence,” Selby said.

Freedom from fear of failing is an important trait shared by successful “Forbidden Broadway” cast members, he continued. Most of those who try out aren’t professional impressionists, “But as we always say, you don’t have to be a great impersonator, just be willing to try.”

Selby gushed about the way his cast (Marc Ginsburg, Jerry Lee, Jessica Reiner-Harris, Melissa WolfKlain) has shed all self-doubts and vanity to take on the diverse numbers (and costumes) demanded of “Forbidden Broadway” performers.

Jerry Lee and Jessica Reiner-Harris have River City roots, and WolfKlain recently spent eight months at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret performing as the soubrette in “A Grand Night for Singing,” and Cindy in “Suds.”

Ginsburg is a Philadelphia native and former New Yorker now living in Los Angeles ~~Sacramento~~ .

“These guys have totally nailed it,” Selby said of the quartet that escorts their audiences through a whirlwind tour of classic and contemporary musicals from “Hello, Dolly!” to “Hairspray,” and from “Man of La Mancha” to “Jersey Boys.” “Even after all of these years, I don’t take the show lightly. They have to perform the numbers as if they’re actually doing the original shows.”

Selby stressed that one does not need to be a fan of said original productions – or musical theater in general – to enjoy a “Forbidden Broadway” revue.

“You don’t even need to be aware of all of the shows,” he said. “The costumes alone are hysterically funny.”

Selby said Alessandrini and his creative team are very conscious that their audiences aren’t all New Yorkers with easy access to the Times Square TKTS booth, and dismiss more-obscure titles from their list of shows ripe for mocking.

One of the things his New York-based team does in tailoring a “Forbidden Broadway” show for a particular city is to look at what tours recently played in that area. (“Mary Poppins,” which recently played at the Sacramento Community Center Theatre under the California Musical Theatre banner, is featured in Sacramento’s “FB” revue.)

But he also said they try not to underestimate audiences as they’ve found audiences in the hinterlands who were crazy for numbers culled from lesser-known shows.

Call “Forbidden Broadway” a parody, a spoof or a mock-musical, but Selby said it’s not an all-out farce.

“You can play it too broadly,” he said, switching gears to offer up an example of a Carol Channing impression gone awry.

“It can be grotesque,” he said. “There’s a level, and you have to keep that level.”

It’s a balancing act his current cast has perfected, he said.

“They’ll give you what you ask for – they’ve found capabilities even they didn’t know they had.”

Selby said all four shine as newly minted mimics.

“Jessica does a tremendous Patti LuPone. Marc’s Mandy Patinkin … well, I was proud of mine, but his is better. … Melissa – her Carol Channing is so funny. ... Jerry is a terrific Robert Goulet. These four have very strong voices.”

Along with kudos to his cast, Selby applauded the California Musical Theatre/Cosmopolitan Cabaret creative team, including Executive Producer Richard Lewis, Artistic Director Glenn Casale and ~~Company Manager~~ Cosmopolitan Cabaret Associate Producer Marlene Shire-Anderson.

“I’ve decided this is the best team by far that I’ve ever worked with,” said Selby. “They dot every ‘I,’ cross every ‘T.’”

JUST THE FACTS
WHAT: “Forbidden Broadway,” a musical revue parodying classic and contemporary musical theater hits from “Man of La Mancha” to “Wicked.”
WHEN: Jan. 27-March 18, 2012 (7 p.m. Wednesdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays)
WHERE: Cosmopolitan Cabaret, 1000 K St., Sacramento
TICKETS: $33-$43; call (916) 557-1999 or go online at www.tickets.com
FOR INFO: www.calmt.com

Editor's Note: Edits have been made to this article after publication.

Doom Bird Performs The Crocker Art Museum's Thursdays 'Til 9 Series

2012-01-25T22:27:09Z

NAG meeting tackles big issues

2012-01-24T21:44:11Z

Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group members cautiously welcomed the new leader of the Midtown Business Association Monday evening at their monthly meeting and took the opportunity to express their frustrations with the organization.

About 40 residents, business leaders and presenters attended the meeting – a high turnout, according to Bill Burgua, attendee.

Elizabeth Studebaker, the new executive director of the Midtown Business Association, said her first focus is on trash removal, and that aggressive changes will be made. She also addressed concerns about the growing number of bars and restaurants in Midtown.

“There’s a very strong perception that the neighborhood has been taken over by the hospitality industry,” said Burgua. “You are up against a really dim view from the people in the neighborhood.”

Studebaker said she’ll work hard to repair the relationship between residents and the MBA, but she asked for time and assistance from the community.

She also announced the search for a maintenance manager to oversee the removal of trash, graffiti and the overall appearance of the business district.

In regard to the proliferation of liquor providers in the area, Studebaker said she’s in search of a healthy balance of businesses, with a focus on small businesses.

“MBA can’t decide who opens a business here, but we can be a communication tool,” Studebaker said.

David Brent, interim director of the city’s Department of Utilities, presented proposed increases to water and waste water rates. The increases would fund a program to replace or rehabilitate the aging infrastructure.

The water treatment plant on the Sacramento river is operating with the original pumps from 1920. Many miles of pipeline are more than 100 years old and are in danger of failure, Brent said. He added that it’s a necessary investment to avoid the risk of flooded houses, closed businesses and sewage backups.

“All our lives, we’ve turned on the water or flushed the toilet without any thought as to how it gets there or where it goes,” Brent said.

The proposal included a 10 percent increase for each of the next three years to unmetered water rates, and an average 15 percent increase to waste water rates. The total increase would add approximately $20 to the average customer’s bill each month by the final increase in 2014, according to Brent’s proposal.

The proposal goes to the City Council on Feb. 21.

Sacramento Police Department Lt. Bill Champion and Norm Colby with the Department of Transportation addressed the growing incidences of copper theft around Sacramento. Some of the hardest-hit targets have been street lights, traffic signals and parks.

“For every foot we put in, they pull out three,” Colby said.

Champion and Colby asked residents to be vigilant and to contact police if people are seen in electrical boxes that don’t seem like they belong. Also, the public should note any missing access covers, as they likely indicate a theft has occurred.

Colby said he’s working to replace the current electrical access covers with locking lids. So far, 400-500 have been purchased, but with 80,000 lids in Sacramento, it is a long, expensive project.

The cost to replace the missing copper is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Champion said cameras have been set up to catch thieves, but a better way to tackle the problem is with recyclers and scrap metal dealers.

“If they have nowhere to take it to sell, it becomes worthless,” Champion said, adding that dealers should be required to check identifications and take thumbprints from sellers.

Central city parking was addressed by Greg Sandlund, associate planner with the city of Sacramento. Sandlund said efforts are being made to modernize parking requirements for new businesses and housing developments. He said his office is looking to provide alternative, smarter ways to provide more parking in the neighborhood, such as scooter or bike parking.

Residents voiced frustrations about the current parking situation and said the city needs to incentivize business owners to share private parking, particularly at night when many lots sit empty.

“Old neighborhoods are dense, and this creates an issue where residents at night can’t get anywhere near our houses,” said Karen Jacques, member of NAG. “It’s a convenience issue and a safety issue.”

Teresa Jackson, with the Department of Parks and Recreation, presented proposed changes to the ordinances that govern special events. Jackson said current codes haven’t been updated since 1995, and the Special Event Ordinance Committee was formed to streamline the process.

The committee is a collection of business owners, event planners and neighborhood representatives.

The proposed updates will make it easier for event planners to understand the “do’s and don’ts” in Sacramento.

Among the changes is a proposal to increase the time needed to file an application from 20 days before the event to 60 days, a process that will allow for better community notification, Jackson said.

The decibel level of special events was also addressed. The acceptable levels would be increased, but the Special Event Ordinance Committee wants to require event planners to pay for an event attendant to monitor sound, Jackson said. She added that police officers now carry decibel meters, and planners will be fined if city resources are used to close down an event.

The next agenda committee meeting will take place on Feb. 6, and the next general NAG meeting will be Feb. 21. Meetings are usually held at the Hart Senior Center, located at 915 27th St.

Creativity Revived

2012-01-21T01:04:05Z

Growing up, sometimes we forget to exercise our creative activities. For some, our creative drive dies right along with the hand-me-down car from Grandma senior year in high school. Sometimes our creative energy is put on the backburner as stresses and responsibilities of being an adult such as finding a job, keeping a job, paying bills, the mortgage and providing for our families take over… or our creative energy fades away completely.

Here in Sacramento, we love each other. We support each other. Seriously, we do. Just stop for a moment and think back on how many creative projects, ideas and businesses that have thrived in the last decade or so. Regardless if the doors of any of these ideas or businesses are still open or not, the point is... they made it happen. There is no denying the inspiration of such creative ventures have spread faster than a California wildfire during a dry, hot heat wave.

The latest album you’ve had on repeat is your best friend’s band. The last film you watched was your boyfriend’s short film that was screened at the local art collective spot. The earrings you are wearing are handmade from a local designer bought from the boutique your neighbor owns. Within the last few years Sacramento has built a pretty comfortable and welcoming cushion for the our creative class to fall on.

We were fortunate enough to have events like SellOut/Buyout, which was a combined art and trade show that called for local artists and designers. For some, Sellout/Buyout was how we were introduced to many of our favorite local designers and artists today. Annually, Sacramento hosts Launch, an art, design and music festival. Launch highlights some of the most talked about local artists, musicians and designers. Both events like Sellout/Buyout and Launch were opportunities for artists of any avenue to showcase their creative pursuits and network with like-minded people.

Julie Cassotta, 29, a Sacramento native who recently discovered her talent and love for handcrafting jewelry, recently said goodbye to an 8-5 office job to pursue more satisfying opportunities. She admits she used to do a great deal of creative writing when she was younger that she no longer does. She is also a graduate from the Elite Academy pursuing hair and makeup, but hasn’t been using those skills as much as she would like to these days.

For the last 14 years Julie has learned the art of repairing and building custom guitars at her family owned shop, SonFather Guitars, alongside her brother, Jesse and her Father, Dave. All those years working intensely with her hands has acquired her precise skills that have helped her with her jewelry designs, as she works towards a collection of hand crafted one of a kind pieces of jewelry that includes a bevy of necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets.

For Julie, what started out as a creative hobby for herself now has her pieces for sale at Bows and Arrows Vintage clothing store in midtown Sacramento as well as her Etsy online shop, Real Life Dollhouse.

Julie's pieces are reconstructed, mixing different types of materials together such as vintage charms with modern, and she has taken the time to share some information in the interview below regarding her new jewelry designing success, and how it has revived the creativity back into her life.

Question: What inspired you to start designing jewelry?

Answer: Initially, I was frustrated with buying cheap jewelry that fell apart and not being able to afford some of the rad jewelry that I was seeing online and whatnot. I started remaking pieces that had broken or lost parts or were out of date, etc. Then one day I was looking for a lion necklace and couldn't find what I was looking for so I decided to use my inlay knowledge and make something myself. A light bulb kind of went off in my head and it just took off from there.

Question: When did you realize your creative endeavors could become more than a hobby?

Answer: I started posting some of the pieces I had made on my blog and had received great responses. I figured it was time to take it seriously and put together a collection and start an Etsy store.

Question: You know you've found the perfect material to incorporate into one of your pieces when...........

Answer: …… I find something interesting or just catches my eye really. If there's something I'm looking for but can't find, I'll try to make it myself.

Question: Do you have a plan of attack when you start creating pieces such as sketching ideas or do you just dive into it?

Answer: Both really. Sometimes I have a clear vision of what I want to make and other times, more often actually, I just look around at what I have and start piecing things together. Especially when working with natural materials like stone and wood, sometimes they have a mind of their own and will only let me manipulate them so much.

Question: You also repair guitars at your family owned custom guitar shop, SonFather Guitar. Explain how working there has influenced or helped your jewelry design?

Answer: Well, I've been working with wood from a very young age because of the shop and my father being a woodworker. The inlay aspect of guitar building has always been an interest of mine and has become a skill I have developed and specialized in for over 10 years now. The influence it has had on the jewelry is very literal and apparent, I basically use the same materials, mostly scraps or samples that we've had lying around for years. I started with the lion piece that I made for myself, then I started making similar ones for friends then I just kind of developed a "let's see what else I can do" mentality about it.

Question: Your Soapstone, Heartbeat Wooden Double Finger and Ebony and Turquoise statement rings are featured in your Etsy Shop. All very unique, and obviously hand crafted. Tell us about the work that goes into those pieces compared your reconstructed pieces.

Answer: The wood and stone work is definitely more unique and personal. A lot more work is involved. It takes time and planning, templates, samples, test runs, etc. The reconstructed pieces are simpler, easier, the kind of thing I put together sitting on the floor in my living room watching a movie. Those are more about having a good collection of interesting items to work together.

Question: Do you favor making one style of jewelry over another?

Answer: I love both really, the ones that I wear the most myself are the reconstructed ones, they're a little bit more casual, easy to wear with many different things. The statement pieces have to wait for the right occasion but they're more challenging for me to make so I take a bit more pride in those pieces.

Question: Do you have a favorite local designer(s) that createhandmade items? ( jewelry, clothes, accessories, etc.)

Answer: I have a friend in San Diego, Georgina of Trevino Joyeria, who makes fantastic jewelry. Also, Tessa Parks has been making some really rad stuff lately, although I'm not sure if she has any for sale yet.

Question: What direction do you see your jewelry designs going?

Answer: I honestly have no idea, I'm inspired by all kinds of things all the time, I think it will always be changing and evolving. I'd like to learn how to do some metal work, so maybe things will go that direction? I don't know. I'm not much of a planner. I just do things and see what happens.

Hopefully for some of you who have shelved your canvases in the depths of your closet or let dust collect on your camera in the recent years, remember why you had those items in your pocession in the first place. Make time for your long lost creative activity or try a new one you never imagined you had in you. Who's next, Sacramento?

A look at historic Old Florin Town

2012-01-20T06:34:52Z

Only 10 miles from downtown is an area used to be known as the strawberry capital of the world: the Old Florin Town District, according to its locals. The ongoing revitalization efforts in the area shows acknowledgment of its historic past.

“The goal is to make Old Florin Town a destination,” Sacramento County Department Transportation Senior Land Architect James Schubert said.

According to the "Sacramento County Florin Vision Plan" in 2002, the county and the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) started revitalization efforts in the district.

Since then, two district gateway landmarks were installed: one on Florin Road and Florin-Perkins Road and another on Florin Road and Power Inn Road. A windmill is on each site, which is symbolic of the area’s agricultural history.

Schubert added that the windmill is part of the first phase of the project. Phase two is to start by 2013, which includes street widening and beautification. A water tower will also be built near the railroad tracks, Schubert said.

Some of the members in the Florin Historical Society were born and raised in the Florin area, such as 62-year-old Judette Kara Rippetoe, a Florin area resident. Her family owned a general store built in 1943 called Kara’s Drive In, which is now the location of the Vietnamese Catholic Martyrs church. She said she remembers checking out people’s groceries when she was 8 years old.

Buddhist Church of Florin member John Nishida said that, before World War II, there was a big Japanese community in the area. A Sansei, or third-generation Japanese American, his grandparents were residents in the area before World War II.

“The Japanese were famous for strawberries,” Marcie Stamm, member of the Florin Historical Society since 1981, said.

Above is a Florin Sacramento area map from 1942, with names of Japanese families' locations in the area. Old Florin Town was established in 1875.

Here are current photos of Old Florin Town District – its historical infrastructure, newer establishments, residents and its guests.

Here is the link to the photo of the original school and more information on Old Florin Town.

(Above) The Buddhist Church of Florin was established in 1919, and this was the original building the members used.

Paula Deen to do live show at Community Center Theater

2012-01-20T04:20:43Z

Paula Deen – best known for her traditional southern cooking on the Food Network – is coming to Sacramento for a live show on Feb. 3.

While Deen will cook at the Community Center Theater that evening, she’ll focus on what she said she cherishes most about fame – meeting people she never would have met in her life as a bank teller.

“I’ll just visit with people,” Deen said. “It’s kinda like coming into my living room, us getting to know each other. People come in and forget everything that irks them.”

Deen will appear on stage with her husband, Michael Groover, whom she describes as shy, funny and a great cook.

“He has got the keenest sense of humor,” Deen said. “He’s one of the funniest men I’ve ever met.”

She said she’s looking forward to the trip to Sacramento, but her schedule will force the visit to be brief.

The appearance coincides with a donation made by the show sponsors, Smithfield and Safeway, as well as the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, to the Sacramento Emergency Foodlink. Deen’s live show is part of a nationwide tour during which donations will be made to several organizations.

Pork will be on the menu for the evening, but fans shouldn’t expect her live show to mirror the cooking shows for which Deen has become famous.

“If you are expecting to come away with a Julia Child cooking degree, you’ll be disappointed,” Deen said.

In addition to three television shows featured on the Food Network (“Paula’s Best Dishes,” “Paula’s Home Cooking” and “Paula’s Party”), Deen is a restaurateur and cookbook author. It’s a family business, Deen said, and she often collaborates with her two sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen.

“The best part of a family business is working with family,” Deen said. “And the worst part is working with family.”

Sure to be a topic of conversation is Deen’s recent revelation that she has diabetes. While her website promises new, diabetes-friendly recipes in the future, Deen said the six weeks during which her shows are shot are not a snapshot of her daily fare.

“We don’t eat in the south like people think. We eat a lot of vegetables,” Deen said, adding that she uses a lot less butter in her cooking than people commonly believe.

Deen recently topped Maxim magazine's list of television’s sexiest chefs, a title that she said she thought was a joke, initially.

“My breath was knocked out of me,” Deen said. “I was shocked. I loved it!”

As for what’s ahead for Deen, she said she’s working on many projects, but isn’t able to discuss them yet.

“The biggest is yet to come in my career. That’s all I can say,” Deen said.

Deen will personally make the delivery of pork products at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 3, said Mary Meagher, director of public relations and development at the Sacramento Emergency Foodlink.

“Our food closets will greatly appreciate the protein items,” Meagher said. “Through 140 partner agencies, we serve 100,000 people each month. We’re very happy that Sacramento is one of the stops.”

Tickets are still available to Paula Deen’s live show at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3 at the Sacramento Community Center Theater.

Resilient Kings rally back to defeat Pacers 92-88

2012-01-20T02:52:03Z

The Kings returned home after a tough five-game road trip to beat the Indiana Pacers 92-88 in a hard-fought battle at Power Balance Pavilion Wednesday night.

“I don’t know how, but somehow this group found a way,” Kings head coach Keith Smart said. “I don’t know how we did it, but this group has some resilience. They fought, they found a lineup that got us back into the game, and they closed it out. And that’s what I’m trying to get us to become: a team on any given night.”

On their eventful road trip, the Kings went 1-4 while earning their first road win, along with setting a new franchise record with only 23 points of the first half in a 99-60 rout by the Dallas Mavericks.

Sacramento came into Wednesday night with a 5-9 record, much due to their problem of making shots on the floor, and the league-worst shooting percentage at just 39.6 percent.

Despite their shooting woes continuing and only shooting 30.1 percent from the field against the Pacers, the Kings found a way to come back from a 14-point deficit going into the fourth quarter and come out with the victory.

Much of the win can be attributed to the zone defense that Smart turned to in the fourth, smothering the Pacers and only allowing eight points to be scored in the entire quarter.

“Our staff did a good job this morning in our meeting and saw that we could possibly play a zone,” Smart said after the game. “We were able to pull it out and get in the zone. The zone kind of kept them from posting our guys up, and it kept them from penetrating. It kept them on the perimeter. That’s what turned the game around.”

After trailing 80-66 after three quarters, the Kings eventually took an 88-87 lead when forward Francisco Garcia made two free throws with a little over two minutes remaining in the game.

Up by three at 90-87 with 5.6 seconds left to play, Smart decided to intentionally foul Pacers forward Danny Granger. Granger was called for a free throw violation while trying to intentionally miss the second attempt to get the ball back after making the first.

Garcia then made two free throws to seal the four-point victory for the Kings, ending their three-game losing streak.

Garcia and the rest of the Kings bench played a huge role in the victory, outscoring the Pacers bench 39-20. Garcia led the bench with 16 points, including 10 in the final quarter while rookie point guard Isaiah Thomas once again provided a spark while playing 20 minutes off the bench.

“They respect me. That’s the first and foremost,” Thomas said. “They respect me on and off the court. They know what I can bring, and I can’t let them down when I get in and get significant minutes.”

Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins recognizes the play of Thomas and understands the spark he provides the team every time he enters the game.

“Isaiah has been big for us all season,” Cousins said. “The more he plays, the more big plays he provides us.”

Thomas finished with eight points, one rebound, one assist and two steals. Five of Thomas’ eight points came in the fourth quarter.

Smart made a change in the starting roster, giving fourth-year forward Jason Thompson the nod instead of J.J. Hickson and was rewarded with Thompson’s hustle that provided nine points, nine rebounds and one assist in the first half. Thompson was only able to add one rebound to his numbers in the second half due to limited minutes.

“I’ve been very pleased with him,” Smart said of Thompson. “I’ve given him certain dynamic rules to follow, and he has been very, very good with what he’s doing, very patient. He’s being decisive. If he doesn’t have a move, he gets rid of the basketball and gets into the next play.”

Cousins once again dominated the boards, finishing with 13 points, 19 rebounds and two assists. En route to tying his career-high 19 rebounds, Cousins set a new franchise record for most offensive rebounds in a half with 10 hauled in during the first half.

“Once I’m zoned in, I’m going after everything,” Cousins said. “I’m not out there counting. I’m just trying to get everything that comes my way.”

In total, the Kings hauled in 30 offensive rebounds to go along with their 23 defensive rebounds. The Kings also made it to the free throw line 41 times but only made 68 percent from the line.

The Kings head back on the road for a three-game road trip starting with the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. The team will return home to take on the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.

Photos by John Hernandez

Crocker Presents Lecture on Saint Sebastian & LGBT Culture on January 26

2012-01-20T00:21:20Z

The Crocker Art Museum will welcome William U. Eiland, director of the Georgia Museum of Art, for a lecture on the imagery of Saint Sebastian and its cultural meanings for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender viewers on Thursday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. The lecture will be held in conjunction with the exhibition “Florence and the Baroque: Paintings from the Haukohl Family Collection,” an exhibition of paintings and sculptures from the largest privately-held collection of the period in the United States. Tickets are $6 for Museum members and $12 for nonmembers.

Eiland’s lecture, titled “Slings and Arrows of Outrageous Fortune: Queering Saint Sebastian,” will focus on two paintings in the exhibition, differing images of Saint Sebastian by Felice Ficherelli and Onorio Marinari. Eiland will discuss the facts and legend surrounding Sebastian's life and how the Roman soldier eventually became a revered saint whose agony has been appropriated and even eroticized.

The recipient of the James Short Award from the Southeastern Museums Conference and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries, Eiland is a trustee of the International Council of Museums and has held various posts with the American Association of Museums and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Eiland lecture is being supported by Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl under whose auspices the exhibition has been generously lent to the Crocker Art Museum. Haukohl is a co-founder of the Medici Archive Project, which is a charitable foundation in Florence, Italy cataloging and researching over 300 years of original documents surrounding the Medici family in Europe. He is also President of The Vero Group of Houston, Texas.

Regarding the topic of St. Sebastian, Sir Mark commented, “The history and study of St. Sebastian has been of serious interest, research and an ongoing scholarly pursuit of mine for over 30 years. The evolution of St. Sebastian in today's popular culture—as evidenced in works by Damien Hirst, Pierre and Gilles, and many others—is an important redrawing of how the Saint's images come forward and are perceived as being relevant to numerous audiences, not just the ecclesiastical world."

Tickets for the lecture are available for purchase at crockerartmuseum.org, the Museum Admission Desk, or by calling (916) 808-1182. Open Art is part of the program series Thursdays ‘til 9.

The Crocker Art Museum was one of the first art museums in the U.S. and is now one of the leading art museums in California. Established in 1885, the Museum features one of the country’s finest collections of Californian art, exceptional holdings of master drawings, a comprehensive collection of international ceramics, as well as European, Asian, African, and Oceanic art. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday–Sunday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Thursdays. For more information, call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Saturday: Verge Ahead into 2012

2012-01-19T20:28:22Z

Verge Center for the Arts has remained a consistent hub of creativity for Sacramento since they first opened their doors as a private art gallery in 2009. In 2010 they expanded into their current space—a 22,000 square foot warehouse in Downtown Sacramento—and organized as a nonprofit. Now home to 30 resident studio artists, plus extensive gallery and event space, Verge continues their mission of exposing Sacramento to the contemporary art and artists of the region.

2011 was a particularly big year for Verge. Among many other achievements, they had a more-than-successful Kickstarter campaign ($9,165 raised on a $7,500 goal!), won the First Place award of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission and Sacramento Region Community Foundation’s Arts Innovation Fund, and Executive Director Liv Moe was named Arts Executive of the Year at the Arts & Business Council’s “Prelude to the Season” event.

This Saturday, celebrate Verge’s 2011 successes and help them “Verge Ahead” into 2012 at the “Verge Ahead Success Party” (6pm-Midnight at Verge, 625 S Street, Sacramento). If you have yet to check out this innovative local arts spot, there’s no better time than this!

In addition to exploring the studios of resident artists, you’ll be able to play “Art Golf” (each hole is specially designed by a Verge artist, and be sure to try for a hole-in-one at the Sac365 hole!), get your photo taken at the photobooth for instant sharing of the fun on your social media networks, see live performances by a multitude of bands (Mom, Christine Shields, Fine Steps, Gentleman Surfer, and Ganglians), and dance the night away to tunes spun by DJ Scott Soriano and DJ Hailey. If that’s not enough, arts collective Future Art Notables will take over the temporary gallery with their installation “Assorted Spaces”, which allows viewers to walk among the pieces, fully immersing themselves in the art.

And, don’t worry, tasty beer is provided for the evening by local brewers Ruhstaller, as well as coffee from Insight Coffee Roasters (each $15 ticket includes two refreshments!). Plus, receive free giveaways throughout the night, and a little something extra if you're among the first 50 to arrive.

Come enjoy this soiree and celebrate Sacramento’s burgeoning arts community.

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Find more detail on this event along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Written by Sacramento365.com Assistant Editor, Alison Kranz

Eateries and "Drinkeries" wanted for Sacramento Chef Challenge

2012-01-18T19:00:41Z

2012 marks the tenth anniversary of our region’s premier culinary competition the Sacramento Chef Challenge, and organizers are inviting local restaurants, wineries, breweries and specialty shops to showcase their fare at the June 23rd event.

The Sacramento Chef Challenge is a culinary extravaganza featuring two live cooking competitions, lavish food, wine and beer sampling, live music, raffle prizes and more. The event is expected to draw a crowd of over 1000 guests in celebration of INALLIANCE, a local nonprofit that has provided support to people with developmental disabilities for 60 years.

“Our vendors draw a huge crowd each year by providing a variety of samples to our guests,” says INALLIANCE Executive Director Diana DeRodeff, "It is a great way for both fledgling and established companies to connect with community members, while supporting the organization.” Most event booths are free of charge, and vendors have the opportunity to win prizes.

The Sacramento Chef Challenge will see some exciting changes for 2012, including live entertainment and a new venue. The event will be held outdoors at INALLIANCE, where both vendors and guests will have a little more room to move. “We have just outgrown our old venue,” says DeRodeff, “And, we are eager to share our beautiful campus with the community.”

INALLIANCE has been in the Sacramento area since 1952, but few people know about the nonprofit’s work, because they tend stay in the background promoting the abilities of their participants. The programs INALLIANCE provides to people in the community focus on independence, quality of life and choice. “People with developmental disabilities are very capable. When given the opportunity they flourish, and that makes for a happier and a healthier community,” says DeRodeff.

The Sacramento Chef Challenge will be held on Saturday, June 23, 2012 beginning at 4:30pm, and tickets are only $25. If you are interested in becoming a vendor or purchasing tickets, visit www.chefevent.com or call 916-381-1300 x 170.

Disclosure: Jessica Bean is an employee of INALLIANCE

Clunie Center saved by donations from community

2012-01-17T23:56:10Z

East Sacramento residents and businesses succeeded in preventing the closure of the Clunie Center at McKinley Park, which was scheduled for later this year, Mayor Kevin Johnson announced Tuesday.

The center was slated for closure in June because of budget shortfalls, with the McKinley library likely to follow.The Friends of East Sacramento, a nonprofit organization, set forth a plan to take over management of the facility three years ago, Johnson said. He added that under nonprofit management, the facility will save $20,000 in operating costs each year.

“Sometimes you have to draw a line in the sand and not let something you truly value disappear,” said Cecily Hastings, publisher of Inside Publications, and co-founder of the Friends of East Sacramento.

The organization needed to raise $45,000 to cover the transition and operating costs for this year. Sizable donations came from Wells Fargo Bank, Soroptimists of Sacramento, Haven Lending, Freeport Bakery and Mercy General Hospital, Hastings said. City Councilman Steve Cohn said he committed $5,000 from city funds and made an additional, personal donation of $1,000.

Community members, neighbors and small businesses also contributed to the cause.

Marissa Cruz lives in the neighborhood and said she helped raise money to keep the Clunie Center open. She said she uses the park five days per week and visits the library an average of three times per week.

“I’m really happy it’s staying open,” Cruz said, adding that it is a cause she’s been following closely.

An additional anonymous donation of $15,000 will go to a fund dedicated to pay for renovations to the building. Hastings said a total of $60,000 is needed to pay for renovations, above the $200,000 in labor she said will be donated.

Hastings said she expects the center to be self-sufficient and does not anticipate the need for a fundraising drive of this scale in years to come. Plans include marketing of the facility and a full-time manager – a position that has been vacant for five years.

“This serves as a great example as to what other parts of Sacramento can do,” Johnson said, adding that facilities like the Hagginwood Community Center can stay open under similar management.

After the press conference, Johnson briefly answered questions about the strong mayor initiative, the struggle to have a new sports facility built in Sacramento and his upcoming trip to Washington, D.C., for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He will leave immediately following Tuesday’s scheduled City Council meeting.

Johnson said Tuesday that he expected a decision about the strong mayor initiative that evening. He said the city manager runs the city right now, and reports to nine bosses, a system that is ineffective.

“What we are asking tonight is for the people to have the ability to vote on this in June,” Johnson said.

Local Comic Creator of 'No Apparent Reason'

2012-01-17T19:35:49Z

'No Apparent Reason' is a book created and written by Frankie Vanity and the WNG. It’s a wonderful creation of an original world from the mind of Frankie Vanity and her creative team the WNG who help with editing, layouts and story ideas. It's about an eclectic group of misfits in college and their misadventures along the way. It is set in New Orleans and has Paranormal Investigators, a bit of supernatural and pop culture references. The book draws on life experiences and relays those experiences through humorous, fun and crazy characters.

Frankie Vanity, tell the readers a little about who you are?
I am a costume designer, event coordinator, public relations, artist and writer to name a few. I am a single mother who has had an eclectic life. I started writing when I was in high school with poetry and journals. I still love to write the old fashion way with a book and pen, mostly in my journal or one of my poetry books. I am a geek at heart and hopeless romantic.

Who or what inspired you to write you own comic book?
I have been writing in a journal for years and have several books of poetry. A few years back I was writing movie reviews for a website and it got me thinking about writing a novel. I started creating a character bible and writing story ideas down. Last year it popped into my head that maybe I should make this story and characters into a comic book. I present my idea to one of my best friends, Scott Armstrong, and he loved it! He then had me write down my ideas and characters and 3 months later, here we are!

Have you always been a fan of the comic book world? If so, how did you get involved?
I have attended my first convention in the early 90’s, TimeCon. I love Sci-Fi and comics. My first comic introduction was Batman and then Watchmen and V for Vendetta. About 10 years ago I dated someone who was a vendor at comic and anime conventions. And my love was renewed for comics. I love Lenore, Batman, Gotham City Sirens and various vampire comics.

In your own comic book, where did the idea for your characters?
Many of the main characters are pieces of me and loosely based on people I know. There are some characters that my team help created and they helped me fine tune others. But Raven, Kat, Austen and Vlad have been up in my head for years. It is amazing to see it come to life!

'No Apparent Reason' was written and created by you and WNG. How did you get involved with WNG? What is it?

The WNG is a group of friends who are now my creative team. We have been meeting up once a week to talk comic books, movies, music and whatever else comes up. They are my anchor.

I read that you have many popular artists in Hollywood and throughout the comic world create the art for your cover. Can you name some of those people? How did you get them to create your cover(s)?
After spending many years in the comic world through the conventions, you make a lot of friends. When I started talking to them about the idea, they actually jumped at the chance. I can’t release too much of what the future holds, but I will say that Paul Allen, who is the artist for “Brains” has agreed to do our second cover. We have artists lined up for at least the next 4 covers as of this time.

When is your book coming out and how many books do you have lined up for release?
We are debuting the comic in February 2012 at Gallifrey One. We are doing a run of 100 issues with a one of a kind lithograph created for the release only at the convention. Then we will have the general release to the comic stores. It should be hitting the comic stores about the week of February 22. We will have a list of the local shops that will be carrying it on our website http://www.fornoapparentreason.net We aren’t resting on our laurels though. We are going straight into creation and production of issue #2 as we speak. The goal is to have it debut at a convention in May.

Were do you get the funding to distribute the books?
We are getting the funding through Kickstarter. It is a website where you can announce your project, and people will donate money to your project. They receive awards for their pledges, such as t-shirts and autographed books.

Although this book is based in New Orleans is there references to Sacramento?
New Orleans is the perfect setting because of the mystique around it, but we are grounded here in Sacramento. The house they live in is based on a very popular “haunted house” here in Sacramento. A lot of our fan base is here, and we are glad to be a part of the Sacramento culture. We are planning to attend one of the Sac-Con’s later this year! Also, most of the readers will recognize the names of our artist & colorist as they have been staples of the local conventions for years, all local.

Do you have another projects besides the comic book?
I currently have several other projects. I work for Callson Manor as costume designer, it is a local haunted house. I just recently acted in an local upcoming independent film called -" Rikki...the Vampire of Sacramento" segment of "Mondo Sacramento" by Desperate Visions. I play Rikki’s mother and the film releases in early Spring 2012. I am also head of Randori Productions wardrobe department , which is also local . We will be filming “Rocket Patrol in spring. I am also doing some bit acting for them as well

Where can we get in contact with you?

We can be reached at our Facebook page, or directly at noapparentreasoncomic@gmail.com
Kickstarter : http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/278064209/no-apparent-reason-comic-book

Website : http://www.fornoapparentreason.net/ contact: noapparentreasoncomic@gmail.com

Anything else you would like to add...

We can’t wait for the comic book to come out so that everyone here can experience it. The Sacramento arts community has fully embraced us and for that we are grateful. We hope that everyone will check it out, and that everyone enjoys it. This has been a labor of love from everyone involved. Thank you.

Johnson campaigns gave over $35,000 to create “Strong Mayor” friendly conversation

2012-01-17T16:21:57Z

Tonight, inside the Sacramento City Hall, supporters of Kevin Johnson’s latest “Strong Mayor” plan, this time called “Checks and Balances”, will ask council members to place their measure on the June 2012 ballot. If enacted, the proposal would drastically change the way local government functions in Sacramento, and it vaguely lays out a path towards a citizens ethical advisory committee and separate redistricting committee. Johnson has argued that it is the people of Sacramento need this change to foster a new era of accountability and transparency at city hall, so with that in mind let’s take a look at some of the groups who are promoting the plan in the local media-sphere, and who is funding them.

In June of this year, “Open Sacramento, The Coalition for Accountable, Efficient and Transparent Government” received over $35,000 from Johnson and his reelection campaign. You can read the entire public filling here.

Before they were “Open Sacramento”, the same group was known as “Sacramentans for Accountable Government.” While “Open” hasn’t updated their website in quite some time, “Sacramento2020.org” has borrowed their rhetoric nearly verbatim.

“Sacramento2020.org” is run by Chris Tapio, the president of a company called “Legislative Strategies”. Tapio’s company has the same address and phone number as “The Sacramento Public Policy Foundation”, a non-profit that has worked on five of the mayor’s largest projects; Think BIG Sacramento, Greenwise Sacramento, Sacramento Steps Forward, For Arts’ Sake Sacramento, and Sacramento First. Tapio even lists himself as SPPF’s Executive Director.

If you think that I’m stretching to make the connection between Tapio, the mayor, and Sacramento2020.org, consider this; Tapio was the mayor’s appointee to the Sacramento Charter Review Committee the first time the Strong Mayor plan was presented back in 2009. Plus every single press release that I’ve received from Sacramento2020.org came for Chris Tapio himself.

Tapio was even a featured contributor to the Sacramento Bee’s “Issue of the Week” that covered the Strong Mayor proposal. The Bee, for whatever reason, didn’t feel that it needed to disclose that Tapio works for the mayor.

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Perhaps if this new proposal wasn't so heavily promising to rein in a new era of accountability and transparency WHILE AT THE SAME TIME using all the worst tricks that have caused voters to distrust nearly everything that comes from politicians, observers such as myself would have so much distrust in the motives behind its supporters.

If you would like to see more information visit ranSACkedmedia.com where we have larger pictures and more links to the websites mentioned in this article.

Disclosure: Gonzalez owns ranSACkedmedia.com

Sacramento Music's Numbers Game

2012-01-17T03:51:30Z

Music promoters in Sacramento gathered Sunday evening to discuss the need to create more local venues and how this would help the local music culture thrive. Time Tested Books hosted the Living Library discussion, called, “The State of Live Music in Sacramento.” Many panelists said that creating more venues in Sacramento is vital and find the city’s regulations to be a huge obstacle.

No chairs were empty, and a crowd stood for the whole two hours of the event. When the moderator, local writer/music fan Dennis Yudt, asked if anyone present was a musician, more than half of the attendants raised their hands.

Yudt spent the first hour and a half prompting the five panelists with questions – music promoters Jerry Perry (who once ran a popular venue called The Cattle Club), Brian McKenna (promoter of many local bands, including Hella), Mindy Giles (who was once vice president of Alligator Records and was marketing director for Tower Records) and Rick Ele (who hosts the “Art for Spastics” show on KDVS). Also with them was Olivia Coelho, co-founder of the music venue and vintage shop Bows and Arrows.

When Yudt asked the panelists what Sacramento has that other cities don’t, Perry had great things to say about the local artists. When looking for Sacramento’s new great band each year, he said he finds 10 or 20 that are up to par.

The conversation quickly switched to what Sacramento lacks, and for all the panelists, it’s a key way of presenting these artists to bigger audiences.

“There’s a 1,500-seat venue that’s the missing link,” McKenna said.

McKenna outlined this missing link as a transition for bands to go from smaller venues to big shows – not necessarily a “huge building to fill every night,” but a new venue open to all genres and all audiences.

Everyone on the panel agreed that supporting the city’s culture and opening more music venues could help revitalize K Street and would be a step toward turning Sacramento into a world-class city.

Ele said that he could easily brainstorm 80 venues in Portland, but not even two dozen in Sacramento, which he finds extremely problematic.

“If (Portland) can rise from the joke of a scene that they were,” Ele said, “there’s no reason Sacramento can’t, too.”

Perry expressed a lot of frustration with the city’s regulations on entertainment. He said that many restaurants would be selling food and alcohol without any trouble, but once live entertainment was involved, suddenly people would worry about minors drinking alcohol.

“What makes you think we’ll let them drink?” Perry said. “They treat us like children…. I wish the city would open their eyes and support us.”

McKenna agreed with Perry’s point, and he said that it is important for the missing link to be all-ages and still provide alcohol.

“Adults don’t want to come out if they can’t get alcohol,” McKenna said, “but it’s the kids that really bring new enthusiasm for music.”

Coelho said she knows this venue struggle firsthand. She explained how tough it was for her to present live music at her store, Bows and Arrows, legally. The process consumed a lot of time and money, sometimes leading to paying bands out of pocket.

“It’s incredibly expensive to make sure bathrooms are up to date and to have sprinklers,” Coelho said. “(It costs) tens of thousands of dollars just to have amplified music in your place.”

Coelho spoke of one victory she had for Bows and Arrows, where she was able to save money by asking the city to allow her one security guard instead of the required two.

When she pointed out that her venue is small and that two guards for so much as two attendants was unreasonable, they listened to her plight and agreed with her.

“Sometimes (the city) will be more responsive than we think they will,” Coelho said.

Despite this victory, the “one-size-fits-all” entertainment permit has to be renewed every two years, even if nothing has changed with the establishment. The application fee is supposed to cover the cost of time the government gives to investigate a venue, she said, and the renewal is $1,400.

“I would be so sad to not be able to bring live music to people,” Coelho said.

Once Yudt finished his questions, the panel turned to the audience. Many hands filled the air to offer ideas and brainstorm new strategies for helping Sacramento’s music culture. One audience member suggested that they file petitions against certain regulations, while another said that the panel could easily be the founders of a special interest group.

One audience member, Michael “LP Sessions” LaPlante, pointed out that theaters in San Jose have several months of off time, and that they supplement income with live music performances. LaPlante said that The Sacramento Theatre Company, Wells Fargo Pavilion, and B Street Theatre could easily do the same.

“We have lots of diverse music in this town,” LaPlante said. “Venues and presenters and bands need to get together and organize.”

Yudt closed by thanking everyone for coming to the event. He asked that they take action to help Sacramento’s music culture, even if it’s something as small as bringing a new friend to a live performance.

“Everyone can have a say to institute change,” Yudt said. “Young, old, regardless of genre… tonight, we’re all in the same genre.”

The next Living Library will be held Febuary 19th, and will have beer historian Ed Carroll, author of “Sacramento's Breweries,” discuss Sacramento’s brewing heritage.

'Aliens With Extraordinary Skills': All they need is love

2012-01-17T02:08:55Z

photographs by Barry Wisdom

Everyone wants to be appreciated for who they; for their personalities, for their accomplishments, for their talents – for their “extraordinary skills.”

On the surface, “Aliens With Extraordinary Skills” – Saviana Stanescu’s seriocomic play now on stage at the B Street Theatre – is a story of the new generation of immigrants who are coming to America.

Some, like Nadia (Stephanie Altholz) and Borat (John Lamb) have landed with less-than-legal credentials and are on the run from the INS.

Lupita (Rinabeth Apostol), a wannabe actress from the Dominican Republic who pays the rent by working as an exotic dancer and renting out her living room, is more pragmatic. She has followed the rules and holds a Green Card.

Also in the mix is Bob (Brian Rife), a recently divorced former musician, who connects with Lupita via Craigslist in order to buy her used couch (and provide a handy love interest).

Stanescu, herself a Romanian immigrant, focuses on what she knows.

In her center ring are Nadia and Borat, professional clowns from Eastern Europe who have given their trust (and most of their money) to an unscrupulous agency responsible for arranging work visas on behalf of “aliens with extraordinary skills.”

But the duo soon discovers the circus they were told had hired them does not exist, and with no employer to sponsor them, the INS has politely told them to drop their dreams, pick up their luggage, and exit coast left.

The chronically upbeat Nadia, who has recently been orphaned, and can’t bear the thought of returning to the “unhappiest country in the world” where she can’t realize her dreams of making people laugh, follows Borat to New York City.

More than a land of endless McDonald’s PlayPlaces where happy-go-lucky, balloon animal-loving kids and their parents frolic, it’s also the home of her “Sex and the City” idols. Nadia may want to bring laughter to the Big Apple’s populace, but she would also love to have a Mr. Big bring her a perfectly brewed cup of coffee to her Manhattan bedroom.

Once in New York (well represented by Catherine Frye’s scenic design), Borat finds refuge in the basement of a fellow immigrant, for whom he participates in an illegal cab-driving operation, and Nadia plants herself on Lupita’s couch, suggesting they could be like “sisters.” Enter Bob, six-pack in hand, who is slow to let go of his claim on Lupita’s couch and slower still to let go of the notion that he’s God’s gift to women.

From the first few scenes, one is inclined to feel smug in the feeling that the storyline is an express train to predictability.

But what might seem to be another made-for-TV plot featuring a bumpy romance sprinkled with mild laughs and even milder conflict, actually develops into a charming, heartfelt play that’s more amusing, moving and surprising than typical Hallmark Channel fare.

Credit director Buck Busfield’s well-balanced cast, and Altholz and Lamb in particular, for extending both the highs and lows of Stanescu’s script.

Altholz, who, like Lamb, is a graduate of the B Street’s apprenticeship program, and a current company member, is both sweetly funny and sad as the fresh-faced, rainbow sock-wearing naïf whose innocent desire to make others laugh is shaken by the harsh brutality of New York’s flip side.

In handling Nadia’s accent, Altholz’s expert vocal modulations – which are showcased during her squirrel-and-dog balloon animal playlets – simply make one laugh. Call them guilty pleasures, but they’re just goofy bits that serve to leaven more serious moments and they’re welcome.

Borat, too, transitions from what looks to be a static “clown,” into a more fully developed character with a clearer set of priorities. The leather jacket-wearing, cell phone-snapping Borat is revealed to be a much more sensitive and family-oriented than his initial wild-and-crazy, vodka-swilling, Green Card-hungry persona might suggest, making the show’s longest (and most satisfying) journey.

During the course of Lamb’s time on stage, one can almost see the Lupita-chasing Borat’s heart grow three sizes larger. This is an impressive achievement considering the organ Borat spends most of the play working to triple in size.

As Lupita, Apostol offers a more serious performance from start to finish, providing a no-nonsense center for the dreamers who enter her orbit. She, too, has her dreams, and in one the play’s poignant moments, psychs herself up for another “performance” at the club where she dances by repeating the mantra that it’s simply a role she’s playing. Lupita also is changed by her association with Nadia and Borat, realizing that what she needs may not have been what she wanted.

In the larger sense, we see that the word “aliens” in the title is more than a reference to citizenship, but to a sense of belonging.

Not only are Nadia, Borat and Lupita “aliens” in the legal sense, but are alienated from their dreams, emotions and – most importantly – from real, human connections.

Beer-guzzling Bob, though an American by birth, is also alone amidst the bright lights of the big city. Despite his bravado and easy-going (though sometimes obnoxious) personality, Bob’s over-eager attempts to jump back into the saddle are merely avenues to escape loneliness.

Kudos to Rife for being able to transform Bob from irritating has-been musician to hero – a Dudley Do-Right who is actually as sweet and loyal as the wide-eyed Nadia.

B Street acting interns Katie Rose Krueger and Stephen Rowland, who play the INS agents in pursuit of Nadia and Borat, are a Greek chorus of sorts, popping up to provide a bit of narrative and wardrobe-changing help here and there.

They provide the perfect support for leads Altholz, Lamb, Rife and Apostol, who easily move the audience from giggles to gasps. One might even want to change the title from “Aliens With Extraordinary Skills” to “Actors With Extraordinary Skills.”

JUST THE FACTS
WHAT: The B Street Theatre's production of Saviana Stanescu's "Aliens With Extraordinary Skills"
WHEN: Jan. 15-Feb. 26, with performances at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays; 2 and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 5 and 9 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays
WHERE: B Street Theatre Mainstage, 2727 B St., Sacramento
CAST: Stephanie Altholz (Nadia); John Lamb (Borat); Rinabeth Apostol (Lupita); Bob (Brian Rife); Katie Rose Krueger (INS agent 1); Stephen Rowland (INS agent 2)
DIRECTOR: Buck Busfield
HOW MUCH: $18-$30; $5 student rush
INFORMATION: (916) 443-5300, www.bstreettheatre.org

B Street's Stephanie Altholz: 'There's no other place I'd rather be'

2012-01-15T13:22:57Z

photographs by Barry Wisdom

People around the world may burn the Stars and Stripes, hang our leaders in effigy and protest the U.S. government’s involvement in everything from the assassination of foreign leaders to the selection of Miss Universe finalists, but the United States remains a top destination for those seeking a better life.

And whether one is an illegal immigrant from Moldava or Russia, a Green Card holder from the Dominican Republic, or even a divorced good ol’ boy from the Deep South, nothing embodies the American Dream like New York City.

It’s a story old as time, a song as old as rhyme, but given a fresh chorus by playwright Saviana Stanescu, herself a Romanian immigrant, whose quartet of struggling dreamers find their paths crossing in her 2008 dramedy “Aliens With Extraordinary Skills.”

Stephanie Altholz, who plays Nadia, a classically trained clown (her “extraordinary skill”) from Moldava in the B Street Theatre’s Mainstage production of “Aliens” (opening Jan. 15), said it’s easy for her to relate to the young woman’s cockeyed optimism and unabashed desire to succeed at her craft while taking a bite out of the Big Apple.

“Nadia has this line: ‘I feel like it’s impossible to die here.’ She’s so naïve,” said the 25-year-old Altholz, accentuating and stretching out the word “naïve” like an articulated Gray Line tour bus. “She’s obsessed with ‘Sex and the City,’ and even when she discovers it’s not what she’s seen in movies or on TV, and she finds it’s still a very, very tough city, she still loves it. Her romantic side is unstoppable.”

“I love her – I do.”

Like Nadia, Altholz set her sights on NYC as the epicenter of creative fulfillment.

“I was always interested in acting,” said the Illinois native, whose family – guided by her airline pilot stepfather – landed in Sacramento midway through her high school career. “I just knew that was what I wanted to do. I remember being in the seventh grade (in Arizona) and being told I couldn’t take drama until the eighth grade, and being furious about it. That was my first memory of desperately wanting to do it.”

“I was the youngest in the family, and I’m sure there’s some sort of psychological reason for my wanting to be the entertainer in the family,” said Altholz. “When people were fighting I made them laugh – or wanted to – at all costs. I always felt appreciated for it, never vilified for it. I never felt I should shut my mouth. I’m lucky. I know a lot of people aren’t.”

Following graduation from Sacramento’s Rio Americano High School, and a string of classes taught by local theater guru Ed Claudio, Altholz enrolled in the two-year program at New York’s New Actors Workshop.

While at the lauded New York school co-founded by director Mike Nichols, she was immersed in a mix of Stanislavski-based “Method” training and improvisational theater skills – as well as a myriad of New York-centric life experiences understandably absent from the school’s catalog and the Time Out guide.

“I worked in restaurants, went on auditions, lived in ‘interesting’ places,” said Altholz. “You get hard when you live in New York – things stop fazing you so much. I lived in the Bushwick neighborhood in Brooklyn, right on the border of Queens. It was terrifying, it was unsafe. Once, somebody got shot on my stoop.”

“I was home and I heard the gunshots and there was a dead body,” Altholz remembers. “There was a break-in when I was home, my roommate almost got attacked. Then there was the time my brother was visiting and taking a shower, and the bathroom wall crumbled into the bathroom. I look back at it now and it sounds awful, but at the time it was just another story. I adapted pretty quickly.”

Altholz said she would keep such tales of the city from her mother as long as possible (“No need to make her worry.”), but there were many. While perfect fodder for a late-night chat show visit with David, Craig or the Jimmys, she knew some of her acting school anecdotes might not elicit foot-stomping laughs or thunderous applause from mom and dad.

“My mom, who has a PhD, always emphasized education,” said Altholz, whose older siblings are both doctoral candidates. “But she understood very early on I wasn’t a dilettante, that I wasn’t dabbling in acting. She knew it was something I wanted to do the rest of my life. My parents were always supportive and were 100 percent behind my decision to pursue theater.”

But also like Nadia, Altholz herself occasionally had cause to rethink her choices.

“I think it’s the greatest city in the world, but sometimes I hated it,” admitted Altholz. “Like when you forget to pick up your prescription and you have to get back on the subway at 10:30 p.m. when you’re sick with a cold, and someone shows you his penis on the way to the pharmacy.”

Despite the hardships, Altholz embraced Gotham and piled on as many or more positive experiences as negative ones, including working with the Dutch West sketch comedy/web video troupe, and performing at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater in Chelsea where she had the opportunity to rub elbows with the likes of Bobby Moynihan, who went on to NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.”

Nadia’s naivety extends beyond her New York state of mind, and her desire to satisfy artistic desires, said Altholz.

“She feels the same way about love,” said Altholz. “She wants to fall in love, live in the city and meet her Mr. Big. And New York, more so than any other city, can take so many shapes and provide so many things. It’s a character of its own. It really is a magical city – as cheesy as that sounds.”

The spell cast by New York City lasted two years beyond her 2006 graduation, but by the end of those 24 months Altholz was feeling restless.

“I moved back to California because I wasn’t doing what I wanted to do,” she said. “I wanted to act. And I defined being a successful actress as someone who made their living doing it.”

Like Dorothy Gale, who discovered all her heart’s desires could be found in her own backyard, Altholz found her own scarecrow, tin woodsman and lion in the personages of the B Street Theatre’s Buck Busfield, Jerry Montoya and Dave Pierini, who auditioned Altholz for the company’s internship program while she was still in New York.

Her internship, which included stints with the B Street’s traveling children’s troupe, a Mainstage debut in 2008’s “A Christmas Carol,” and occasional trips up very tall ladders for tech work, led to her selection as a full-fledged company member and the title role in “Extraordinary Things: Through the Eyes of Anne Frank.”

Last year, she put her New York-forged improv skills to good use as part of the B Street’s “B on K” improvisation performance at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret.

Altholz solidifies the connection between her and Nadia a bit further.

“I think we both have been through a lot and both in the end have a sort of unswerving feeling of what we want and what’s going to get in our way. But it doesn’t change the prize that we have our eye on.”

“I am in my definition of success, so I’m very happy and blessed to have found the B Street Theatre,” she continued. “I love every person here. There’s no other place I’d rather be.”

JUST THE FACTS
WHAT: The B Street Theatre's Mainstage production of Saviana Stanescu's "Aliens With Extraordinary Skills"
WHEN: Previews 5 p.m. Jan. 14 and 2 p.m. Jan. 15; opens 7 p.m. Jan. 15; continues through Feb. 26 with performances at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays; 2 and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 5 and 9 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays
WHERE: B Street Theatre Mainstage, 2727 B St., Sacramento
DIRECTOR: Buck Busfield
CAST: Stephanie Altholz (Nadia); John Lamb (Borat); Rinabeth Apostel (Lupita); Bob (Brian Rise); Katie Rose Krueger (INS agent 1); Stephen Rowland (INS agent 2)
TICKETS: $18-$30; $5 student rush; $10 preview performances
INFORMATION: (916) 443-5300, www.bstreettheatre.org

'The Giver' to open on B Street Family Series stage

2012-01-14T13:46:48Z

“Imagine there's no countries ... It isn't hard to do ... Nothing to kill or die for ... And no religion, too ... Imagine all the people living life in peace.”

In “The Giver,” playwright Eric Coble’s adaptation of Lois Lowry’s 1993 Newberry Medal award-winning novel, John Lennon’s concept of a Utopia free of conflict where all the people share all the world has come to pass.

There have been a few compromises on the way to this “same” new world, however. Yes, war and want are things of the past. But there is also no passion, no feverish love — and no choices.

Genetic engineers have even rendered all people colorblind as a means to further homogenize a once-disparate (and desperate) society.

Opening Saturday, Jan. 14, as part of the B Street Theatre’s Family Series, “The Giver” looks at the flipside of such a reality – a view of the emotional turmoil facing children who have been taught to conform since birth, and who are then faced at the dawn of adolescence with integrating their emerging gifts as individuals.

“This is a coming-of-age story about a boy deciding his own fate, and the consequences that come with it,” said director Laura Baker. “This is also a show about censorship, about choice. If we take away the ability to choose, we take away what it means to be human.”

“We follow Jonas (Grant Jordan), who has just reached the age of 12, and is assigned the coveted position of ‘Receiver of Memories.’ Through this knowledge that he receives from the previous receiver, who’s now called ‘The Giver’ (Gary S. Martinez), it changes his life and society entirely.”

“He’s absolutely frightened by it,” continued Baker, 23, a B Street artistic associate who graduated from the company’s internship program for directors in 2011. “His society doesn’t understand what it means. It’s a position of honor, but not of power. It sets you apart, so it’s something to fear.

“They spend their childhoods being part of a group. They don’t know how to be individuals.”

A change of pace from previous B Street Family Series offerings that have been heavy on laughs and history lessons, “The Giver” has been called controversial due to its comparatively mature subject matter.

It’s a label that Baker doesn’t completely agree with.

“We don’t give kids the credit they deserve,” said Baker, who recommends the play for ages 10 and older. “It’s a story that they can fully relate to.”

JUST THE FACTS

WHAT: The B Street Theatre's Family Series production of "The Giver," Eric Coble's stage adaptation of Lois Lowry's 1993 novel
WHEN: Previews 1 p.m. Jan. 14; opens 4 p.m. Jan. 14; continues through Feb. 19 with performances at 1 and 4 p.m. Saturdays, and 1 and 4 p.m. Sundays
WHERE: B Street Theatre B3 Stage, 2727 B St., Sacramento
DIRECTOR: Laura Baker
CAST: Grant Jordan (Jonas); Gary S. Martinez (The Giver); Brittni Barger (Lily); Erika Lecaj (Fiona/Rosemary); Brandon Alexander (Asher); Jason Kuykendall (Father); Elisabeth Nunziato (Mother/Elder)
TICKETS: $13-$22 ($7-$10 preview)
INFORMATION: (916) 443-5300, www.bstreettheatre.org

photographs by Barry WIsdom

California's new wine country: Sacramento

2012-01-13T06:33:55Z

Sacramento’s wine industry received a boost last month with the approval of an ordinance that promotes agricultural tourism, a move local wineries said they are excited to see.

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in December to adopt new zoning code amendments that will potentially foster growth of Sacramento’s wine industry. The changes will take effect in just a few days.

Among other things, the ordinance provides the grape growers of a certain size the right to produce and bottle their own wine; gives wineries the ability to open small tasting rooms in agricultural zones; and eliminates the requirement for conditional use permits for private events, with restrictions based on the size of the property.

“It promotes people growing local and buying local,” said Don Nottoli, supervisor for district 5.

The presence of wineries in Amador, El Dorado and Yolo counties increased dramatically in recent years, but Sacramento county’s growth has been minimal, a fact the Board of Supervisors addressed with the ordinance.

According to the Sacramento Bee’s SacWineRegion.com, there are 43 wineries in Amador County, 54 in El Dorado County and 16 in Yolo County, including industry giant Bogle Vineyards. Sacramento County has just 13.

“We feel this is an important step to encourage economic growth, job creation and keep tourism dollars in our county,” said Nottoli in a press release on Dec. 14. “By reducing regulatory obstacles, we can help Sacramento County become an important part of the wine tourism industry.”

According to the Sacramento County 2010 Crop and Livestock Report, more than $92 million in wine grapes were produced in the region that year, the most valuable agricultural commodity in the county.

These amendments allow for a more streamlined process and will save businesses thousands of dollars and as much as two years in permitting time, Nottoli said. The money, previously spent on permits, can be invested into growing the businesses.

“One of the things we’ve seen is that Sacramento’s culinary tourism has increased dramatically,” said Mike Testa, senior vice president at the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau. “If we put the same attention into our wine industry, the tourism package is something we can certainly sell.”

Testa added that groups attending conferences in Sacramento often make day trips to wine country, and Sacramento should be making every effort to keep them here.

Revolution Wines, at S and 29th streets in Midtown, is an urban winery, said owner Gina Genshlea. In addition to the tasting room and bistro that serves snacks and small plates, the grapes are crushed, pressed and fermented on-site.

Genshlea said she thinks it would be great to have more wineries in Sacramento because it would give visitors to the area a reason to stay in Sacramento rather than travel to Napa or Sonoma counties to taste wine.

“One of the reasons we expanded is there isn’t a wine trail in Sacramento,” said Craig Haarmeyer, winemaker and co-owner of Revolution Wines.

The winery will mark its second year on S Street this spring. Several varietals are produced at the facility, including an award-winning port and a zinfandel, with grapes sourced from Amador County.

“It’s part of our model to highlight local fruit,” said Genshlea, adding that they produce approximately 2,500 cases of wine annually, along with another 2,500 that they bottle for clients.

Frasinetti Winery in south Sacramento, established in 1897, once had its own vineyards, but grapes are now sourced from the Central Valley, Monterey, Napa and Sonoma counties, said Gary Frasinetti, winemaker.

Frasinetti said he would welcome the increase of local wineries because it would make Sacramento more of a destination.

In the mid 1980s, the family converted the old winemaking facility into a restaurant and banquet venue, a process that took several years.

Today, Frasinetti Restaurant has the capacity to host events for up to 200 guests, and many of the restaurant’s dining tables are located in some of the 12 converted square, concrete fermentation tanks of the original winery.

“The restaurant is a vehicle to get people out here,” Frasinetti said. “If they come out here to eat, they can taste our wines.”

The tasting room offers free wine tasting and a large gift shop. The winery produces 10,000 cases annually, and Frasinetti said the chianti, cabernet sauvignon and merlot are the winery’s most popular varietals. Wines are only available for sale at the winery.

Scribner Bend Vineyards, located in the Sacramento Delta, has been open for eight years.

Owner Mark Scribner said the ordinance will give the region’s wine producers the opportunity to sell their appellation to the public.

Scribner Bend’s best-selling varietal is the tempranillo.

Scribner added that the ordinance will help to create a coalition of vintners and growers who can better represent the industry.

“If you look at all the other wine-growing regions, they have multiple wineries,” Scribner said. “That’s what creates the magic.”

Ways to spend your MLK, Jr. Day in Sacramento

2012-01-12T21:22:34Z

Not everyone has this coming Monday off (alas!) but for those that do, Sacramento has a few options for using your day off to celebrate the man it honors—Martin Luther King, Jr.

MLK365 is presenting the 31st Annual March for the Dream, which includes a peaceful march (choose to begin from the Oak Park Community Center, Grant High School, or Sacramento City College) that convenes on the Sacramento Convention Center for an afternoon of celebration. There will be something for all ages and interests—vendor booths, kids’ crafts & activities, entertainment, an art village featuring local artists, and more.

The Crocker Art Museum is opening their doors for their free Holiday Monday program. Monday’s event—“MLK Day – Lift Every Voice”—is a music-infused celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr, with regional choirs performing throughout the day. The event concludes with a screening of Not in Our Town, a documentary about the movement to stop hate.

If you think both those celebrations look fun—and you're also looking to listen to some jazz—consider signing up for Sacramento Wine & Nightlife Tours' MLK Day Experience & Smooth Jazz Celebration. This event meets for the March in front of Sac City College, attends the Celebration at the Convention Center, and then shuttles you to "Lift Every Voice" at the Crocker. From there, the shuttle will take you out to the Old Sugar Mill to enjoy musical performances by Tony Elder & Westbound Groove, Cynthia Douglas, DJ Rock Bottom, and more. This is a great way to make the most of your day!

Also open for the Holiday Monday, though not MLK-themed, is the Discovery Museum Science & Space Center, which is celebrating the opening weekend of their new Blast from the Past Exhibit. Kids can enjoy a day of hands-on fun learning all about dinosaurs! There’s a Dinosaur Train creative play area, dinosaur bone replicas on display, a “dino-nest” photo opportunity, and a dinosaur diorama craft.

If you are looking to give back with your day off, consider one of Hands On Sacramento’s volunteer opportunities for MLK, Jr. Day of Service.

Disclosure: Written by Sacramento365.com Assistant Editor, Alison Kranz

Michael Jackson lives on with "The Immortal World Tour" by Cirque du Soleil

2012-01-11T22:58:58Z

Michael Jackson: "The Immortal World Tour" by Cirque du Soleil opened to chants of “Michael! Michael!” The near sell-out crowd at Power Balance Pavilion on Tuesday night sat almost breathless through two hours of a show that had the feel of a Michael Jackson concert, but with the incredible performances for which Cirque du Soleil has become revered.

An awe-inspiring collection of contortionists, acrobats and dancers from around the world took the stage in this moving tribute to an artist whose music, moves and iconic image will forever define pop music, with a soundtrack that spanned Michael Jackson’s incredible career.

The show easily transitioned from a thrilling rendition of “Wanna Be Starting Something,” with dancers and acrobats careening across the stage in tribal wear, to the tender “Ben,” a tribute to Jackson’s love of animals, with performers in elephant costumes swaying gently to the ballad.

The backdrop was formed by a compilation of screens that flashed images from Jackson’s music videos and appearances, along with photos of the artist and a live video feed of the show.

Jackson’s tragic death in 2009 left his fans stunned and saddened, just three weeks from the start of his “This Is It” tour. For enthusiasts of the late artist, the show brings in elements from the ill-fated tour, including a reenactment of a routine that features soldiers in robot suits dancing to “They Don’t Really Care About Us” and an impressive array of musicians who worked with Jackson throughout his career.

The first act ended with “Thriller,” and the stage filled with dozens of performers in a foggy graveyard scene that revived the famous moves of the King of Pop. There were times when it seemed that Michael Jackson himself would appear on stage.

In the “Human Nature” performance, artists in multicolored LED costumes were suspended in front of a backdrop of the night sky and appeared to float and fly as a 3D image of a young Michael Jackson, perched on a crescent moon, hovered above the stage behind a sheer curtain.

One of the most impressive performances came from Jean Sok, a French amputee whose break dancing was featured throughout the show – including the incredible way he manipulated a basketball with his only foot.

For some, the most memorable performance may have been that of Australian Felix Cane, whose scantily clad pole dance to “Dangerous” was received in awed silence by the crowd.

Following a video of young Michael Jackson singing “I’ll Be There,” the grand finale was a multi-cultural blend of dance, acrobatics and music, with a melange of some of Jackson’s most famous songs. And as the performers took their bows to “Man in the Mirror,” the mime who lead led us through the journey to Neverland Ranch, shed his cap to don a fedora and single silver sequined glove, striking the pose Jackson immortalized – head tilted down and one arm raised in salute.

The overwhelming theme of the show was Jackson’s passion for social and humanitarian causes, and his voice narrated parts of the show.

Casual fans of the artist may not receive “The Immortal World Tour” as well as other Cirque du Soleil shows, as the focus is definitely on the music and dancers rather than the acrobats and contortionists.

The show runs in Sacramento for just two nights, and tickets are still available for the second show on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Cirque du Soleil’s “The Immortal World Tour” heads next to the Bay Area, performing in San Jose this Friday through Sunday and in Oakland from Jan. 17-18.

Bikers rally at the Capitol

2012-01-11T19:42:12Z

Two bills were on bikers’ minds Monday as they rallied at the Capitol.

Hundreds of California motorcyclists, drivers and passengers, showed up for the yearly motorcycle rally sponsored by the American Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education (ABATE) Monday morning.

They gathered on the Capitol building’s south-side in support of two bills that would change the state’s helmet law and throw out the motorcycle-only checkpoints.

Legislators were scheduled to vote Monday afternoon after rally.

For results, CLICK HERE>>>

Journalism Open Workshop Jan. 17

2012-01-11T01:13:59Z

Need a push getting started on your article for The Sacramento Press Journalism Open 2012? We've got a workshop for that.

Bring your story ideas and questions about the writing contest to our Journalism Open workshop Tuesday, Jan. 17.

We will go over how to enter photos: standalone or accompanying, judging criteria, past winners and how to develop your stories by including sources and doing research.

The workshop will be from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at The Sacramento Press office.

Our office is located at 431 I St., Suite 107, in the Sacramento Valley Station station. We are in the same building complex as Starbucks.

We recommend you find parking on the street, bike or take light rail, as the Amtrak parking lot charges, and we cannot cover the cost of parking.

To RSVP, email workshops@sacramentopress.com. If you RSVP and decide later not to attend, please send us an email to notify us that you will not be coming so we can have an accurate head count.

Thanks, and we hope to see you here!

Emotion in music

2012-01-10T02:11:26Z

Ricky Berger pours out her heart and soul through her music at Harlow's on November 25, 2011.

Kings late-game struggles lead to 104-97 loss to Magic

2012-01-09T23:09:19Z

The Sacramento Kings failed to close the game as they fell to the Orlando Magic 104-97 on Sunday at Power Balance Pavilion.

The Kings were unable to capitalize on Magic big man Dwight Howard’s foul trouble. Howard started the game but was forced to leave the game at the 10:20 mark in the first quarter after two quick fouls on Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins.

Howard didn’t return until midway through the second but was quickly forced to leave the game once again as he was called for a bump foul on Cousins for his third foul of the night.

Howard only played 20 minutes all game and was held scoreless until he made a layup and made a free throw after the foul at 6:35 remaining in the game for his first points of the game. Howard also didn’t have his first rebound until there was 8:00 remaining in the game.

With Howard out, Cousins was able to make his mark on the court and give the Kings a 21-19 lead after the first quarter. Cousins finished 10 points, five rebounds and one block after the first quarter.

Cousins also found himself in foul trouble, getting called for his third foul with 1:42 remaining in the first half.

Kings fans also had a fright as they saw star point guard Tyreke Evans go to the floor in pain after coming down on his ankle. He was helped into the locker room with just under a minute remaining in the first half. Evans returned to start for the Kings in the second half and led the Kings in scoring with 28 points, eight assists and three assists.

Down 47-49, the Kings were still in the game even with guard Marcus Thornton not recording any points yet. Thornton didn’t make his first basket until the 10:35 mark in the third quarter. Thornton then hit the team’s first three of the night with 6:13 remaining in the third quarter, bringing the Magic’s lead to 65-61.

Thornton finished with 10 points in the third quarter, helping maintain just a two-point deficit as the Magic led 81-79 after three quarters of play.

Sacramento tied the game at 87-87 with 5:39 left in the game, but struggled defensively down the stretch, being outscored 17-10 the remainder of the game to lose 104-97.

“Late in the game we reverted to some bad basketball,” new Kings head coach Keith Smart said. “We stood on one side of the floor, and you can’t do that against good teams like this.”

Cousins also observed problems with how the Kings played late in the game and recognizes that they have some work to do but have already made progress during this young season.

“We have to get better at late-game situations, and keep our composure, and make some more moves,” Cousins said. “We are making a lot of strides. Just from the Knicks game to now, we are a whole different team. We just got to continue to work, and it’ll turn around.”

Kings rookie Jimmer Fredette finished with only two points, one rebound and one assist in 14 minutes of play.

Guard Jason Richardson led the Magic with 22 points, with Sacramento native Ryan Anderson contributing 19 points of his own. Anderson attended Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills, Calif. before going to the University of California, Berkeley.

Like Evans, Thornton also went down with an injury early in the fourth quarter but later returned down the stretch.

“That’s the uniqueness of this team,” Smart said. “Guys are hurt, and they want to play. These guys have a heart and a desire to make this franchise better. I commend those guys for being hurt and wanting to come back in and play.”

The Kings now head on the road for eight of their next nine games, including five consecutive games starting on Tuesday against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Kings are 0-3 on the road this season.

“Getting our first win on the road, getting that monkey off our back — we just got to just come back with positive plan and just get it done,” forward Jason Thompson said. “Just take it one game at a time. It’s going to be a long road trip.”

Photos by David Alvarez

2012 Sactown concert update: Black Keys, Delta Spirit, Preservation Hall Jazz Band

2012-01-09T21:02:02Z

Call it "15 for '12." Since Sac Press announced 12 can't miss concerts for 2012, the calendar has gone slightly bonkers with a trio of exciting announcements for the coming months, and there's no way we can leave them off the list.

As many of you may have heard already in this morning's announcement, the haymaker of this list is The Black Keys, bucking the perceived trend of "big name acts passing over Sacramento." Their rise over the last couple of year has been meteoric, circumventing pop trends by injecting blood-in-the-mud blues rock into the mainstream in a way that has arguably never been done before - you'd probably have to go back to the heyday of Zeppelin. Songs like the beer-swilling sing-a-long "Howlin for You" made "Brothers" a mainstream smash, setting the stage for the recently released "El Camino." It's the kind of edgy, distorted throwback blues you don't expect to hear at stadium concerts and venues the size of Your-Name-Here Arena, but their popularity is a testament to the need for an alternative to the normal sounds of mainstream radio rock. As drummer Patrick Carney recently told Rolling Stone, "Rock & roll is dying because people became OK with Nickelback being the biggest band in the world." Consider the Black Keys the antidote to rock and roll's imminent death...? With Arctic Monkeys. Saturday, May 5. Power Balance Pavilion, 1 Sports Pkwy. $49. www.powerbalancepavilion.com.

Also coming to town is the venerable Preservation Hall Jazz Band, an audible history book of the only truly American form of music. They're out on their 50th Anniversary tour, as a version of the band has been performing at New Orleans' Preservation Hall and touring the world for that same amount of time. Several members have come and gone, but by their dedication to the very roots of jazz and top-notch musicianship, they remain one of the most storied institutions to be found anywhere in the country. And as you can see from their tour schedule, they don't roll around just anywhere! If there really is a "if you only own one jazz album, get this one" out there, it might have to be the two disc "Preservation," which features guest vocals from Tom Waits, Yim Yames, Ani DiFranco, Merle Haggard and many more. Friday, February 3. Three Stages at Folsom Lake College, 10 College Pkwy, Folsom. $25-$49. www.threestages.net.

Let's top it off with Delta Spirit, a piano-driven wallop of a rock act hailing from San Diego, who put on incendiary live shows wrought with primal rock and roll gusto and soulful, emotionally thundering balladry. They're touring behind their upcoming self-titled third LP, of which front man Matt Vasquez says "we found the sound that we’ve been looking for, that we’ve been growing into, and as soon as we hit on it, we ran with it." This is a guy know to run recklessly on stage from one amp to the other, with guitar in hand and harp-on-the-rack mounted on his shoulder - one part Mick Jagger, another part Neil Young, another Johnny Ramone. Hold onto your knickers! Tuesday, May 8. Ace of Spades, 1417 R St. www.aceofspadessac.com.

Swimmers at McKinley Park take the plunge for a good cause

2012-01-09T05:03:22Z

During the hot summer months, Clunie pool, located in McKinley Park in Midtown Sacramento, is the place to be. But this past Saturday, swimmers could be seen jumping off the diving board and swimming in water during cold winter temperatures.

Swimming during the winter months may seem crazy, but Sacramentans came out for a special cause.

The city Department of Parks and Recreation has been making cuts in the aquatics department for several years now, increasing shutdowns of city pools.

Sierra Voss, 27, who has been lifeguarding for 10 years, has seen firsthand the changes that have been happening recently.

"Last year we had black out days, where once a week each pool had to be closed down for the day. And the hours of recreational swim had to be altered, and a lot of people weren't happy with that."

Along with the cutback of hours, programs have also been altered or have completely subsided.

"Our hours have drastically been cut but also closing of the pools makes swim team and swim lessons limited,” explains Samantha Matranga, a lifeguard of six years.

During the 2011 aquatic season, there were only six pools open: Johnston, McClatchy Park, George Sim, Doyle, Clunie and Pannell Meadowview.

"There is a good possibility that this upcoming season there will only be three pools open and we wanted to do as much as we could to keep more pools open," explains Terri Matal, Recreation Supervisor of Aquatics and Adult Sports.

The aquatics department recently teamed up with giftstoshare.org, a non-profit organization that supports the City of Sacramento's park, recreation, cultural, educational and neighborhood improvement programs to help raise money for the department.

Along with giftstoshare.org, the idea of a polar plunge to help fundraise and raise awareness was mentioned.

"A lot of the polar plunges are timely with the start of the New Year. I thought it would be a great winter event for the community, but also to call attention to the current budget situation with the city pools," explains Matal.

With the pool at a crisp 48 degrees and the outside temperature only a few degrees higher at 51 degrees, participants were up for a challenge.

Residents of all sizes and ages came out to Clunie to show their support as well as participate.

The city made sure that safety came first with three lifeguards on deck, a warming station and the pool chlorinated and regulated.

Two cousins who came together had different views on jumping in the water.

"I'm not scared at all to jump in," said Bobby Goforth, although his older cousin Erin Horrell who is normally a park patron but not a regular at the pool confessed, "I'm a little scared to jump in."

The fist plunge took place at 10:20 a.m., with patrons having the choice of the diving board, slide or off the side of the pool to enter the chilling water. Many of the plungers jumped in several times, seeming invincible to the icy cold water.

Along with the plunge, participants were also able to enjoy refreshments, face painting and a fun polar bear walking around.

Besides the fun that the event brought, it is important to remember the reason for the occasion.

City pools in Sacramento are not only a great way to stay cool during the summer, but they help our residents with employment, swimming lessons and recreational events to help kids stay out of trouble when school isn’t in session.

"The one thing I love about my job is the camaraderie amongst my coworkers, but also that I'm able to provide a service that can help kids from wandering the streets and keeping them out of trouble," explains Matranga.

This polar plunge was started to raise money for the city, with hopes that it will continue as an event the community can participate in on an annual basis.

"I'd love to see this event happen every year. Regardless of whether people swim or just watch, I think it's a great idea," explains Voss.

For more information on the current aquatics budget, visit http://www.cityofsacramento.org/parksandrecreation/recreation/aquatics/pools.htm

To make a donation you can visit www.giftstoshare.org.

Disclosure: I worked for the Aquatics department of the CIty of Sacramento as a Senior Lifeguard for the 2004 and 2006 seasons.

Interview with photographer Oscar Benjamin aka ‘Compassionate Wolf’

2012-01-06T04:22:21Z

I was inspired to interview Oscar Benjamin because of all that he has accomplished. So many friends and colleagues told me how dedicated he is at being a successful photographer and columnist. I was so glad he took the time to enjoy our annual Christmas party, where there was lots of food and drink, and we enjoyed watching him sing karaoke. It was a great time.

Before the party started, I sat down with Benjamin. Before we knew it, a half hour passed and I realized this was going to be a great article.

Tell me a little bit about yourself. What do you do?

I can say I’m a photographer, but that would be too simple of an answer. I'm also a writer, and I'm also a radio host. This is my 10th week of my show called 'The Hour of the Compassionate Wolf'. It's a show where I play television music, video game music, all types of music. I also talk about my adventures in Hollywood and people I have met in the industry, the notables I've met and the tons of stories I have to tell.

What is the origin of the name Compassionate Wolf?

In the late '80s and early '90s, I was just starting out doing photography, and I listened to this station that's still in existence but was more popular back then, called KMEL. It's in the San Francisco the Bay Area where I used to live. So there was this show on KMEL called 'Love Lines' and it was on Mondays to Friday nights. Evan Luck was the DJ.

This was the beginning of hip-hop, and back then the music was high-energy. I started analyzing the show and thought...."Ok, how do people get on the show? How do they break into the whole radio thing?" I began to notice there was a common denominator, which was the use of pseudonyms, like false names and names they created just being on the air, air names. Evan Luck is an air name also. Needless to say, there was this character on there called The Surfer, and I started using him as an inspiration and thought...."Ok, how can I get on the show?"

So I thought,....."Ok, I consider myself a wolf, but I'm not the typical wolf". People think aggressive when they think of wolf. I’m different because I have compassion, and I came up with the name 'Compassionate Wolf'. It's like a contradiction, but it's fascinating and it rolls off the tongue. I knew it would be a name that got me on the show. I started writing the station and Evan started reading the stories.

It helped because I had a background in journalism, so I wrote stories more literary compared to anyone else. So I created a niche for myself, and Evan calls me and says: “Hey, you want to be one of my characters on my show?” I said, “Of course.” I started broadcasting live with Evan at the Club Mirage in San Francisco. So that’s how Compassionate Wolf got started and I just kept the name because people recognized the name.

I started the Compassionate Wolf Production doing photography, event photography, weddings and celebrity events, red carpet events, anything and everything to do with photography.

How do you differ from other photographers and journalists?

This is not meant to be a jab to other photographers, but I noticed in my travels to L.A. and San Francisco and other parts of the country that photographers and..........................this is difficult to say without coming across as pompous or arrogant.......but most photographers lack certain social skills and lack of sense of style and presentation. They think, well, I’m not being photographed, but I think the whole point of presentation is important especially at a red carpet event. You want to grab the attention of whatever celebrity you’re screaming at. They will focus in on you because you’re different from everybody else. I always wear a suit when I travel to conduct interviews or take photos. This is how I perceive myself, and this is how I want people to see me as well.

If I'm in a very competitive market, I have to secure whatever edge I can.........with presentation, style and not fearing approaching or talking to people. I also think eye contact is very important, as well as projecting confidence. First impression always counts, and I think a lot of people forgot about that. It's not like I'm the cat’s meow or anything like that, but if I'm trying to secure a job in a tough industry, I do think it's very important. So I think that's what makes me stand out from the rest.

What schooling did you take to get started in photography and writing?

It's a funny story. I’m also an artist. I also draw and paint, but I don’t really talk about it too much. Anyways, besides that, this goes back to junior high school when I began to study the anatomy.

I would have my friends stand there for three or four hours while I drew them, and they’re getting really tired. You can see the expression, like I need to move now. So I picked up a camera and took several pictures at different angles so they would not have to stand there and I could draw from the photos. I thought...."Wow, this is pretty fun!" This is how I introduced myself to photography.

Then while attending Castro Valley High School, I was the editor and photographer of my high school paper. My family moved from New York were I was born, the biggest city in the U.S., to Oakland then Castro Valley.

Why do like living in Sacramento?

I like Sacramento because it's very centrally located. If you need to run to the Bay Area, you can run there, or if you need to get to Reno, you can. Not only that, it's the Capitol of the state, and it's also cheaper to live here. The cost of living here is a lot more affordable. I think it’s a great place to live.

What makes you proud?

The path that I’m on in the entertainment business not relative to anyone, and yet I am breaking down the doors in a manner that is very original. I’m approaching it as a writer. I am able to access the people I want to interview. So at the end of the interview, I will talk to them off the record and establish a lot of good contacts.

Who has inspired you?

Mick Garris. I eventually want to thank him because he's an inspiration to me.

Why did you create 'The Hour of the Compassionate Wolf' radio show?

It's a means to an end and it brings me back to my roots of when I started off in radio. I always had the desire to return to radio and it's also a way to get my name out there more. I would say I have a lot of irons in the fire that I'm juggling, but it's an exciting way to live your life where you’re literally losing so much sleep and you’re running around so much that you’re like......"Wow, I never have a chance to breathe".

I wouldn't trade it for the world because it's exciting. Like last week I was in L.A. for the Video Game Awards covering that and then at your party, and then tomorrow at the TFO thing. I’ll be interviewing and photographing an aspiring actor one day and then his or her career goes up because of my photography. It's exciting.

Who is you favorite actor or actress?

One that I have talked to when covering a story is Zachary Levi. He's such a gentleman, and he's fantastic. He's a great guy and he's a lot nicer than his character on 'Chuck' the TV show. He's 10 times better, he's very cool. He seems to enjoy the press as company and he's just a great guy.

Whats your favorite science fiction movie?

'Inception' was a great film. It was more science fiction than science fantasy. Like 'Star Wars' is as good as they are. It was science fantasy. We don't have too much peer science fiction in films except for maybe the exception to 'Prometheus' coming out next year and of course 'Gattaca' was a great movie. '2001: A Space Odyssey', that was science fiction. It may seem like I’m being a nitpicker, but it really bothers me that science fiction is not portrayed correctly on the screen.

What do you think science fiction is?

It’s basically an exploration of.....or maybe I would say, speculation of whether it's our future or past or present. It's taken from a hard scientific viewpoint where science is correctly researched and you extrapolate from today’s conditions to possibly the future. 'Gattaca' is a good example of that.

Do you read a lot of science fiction novels?

Yes, I do. I have a favorite author, Harlan Ellison, and I read a lot of horror too, like Stephen King. 'Rendezvous with Rama' is my favorite classic by Arthur C. Clark. It would make for such a great film. It would be hard to do, but it would be a great.

Where can people get in contact with you?

Facebook would probably be the best. All of my information is on that page.

Thank you so much Oscar AKA 'Compassionate Wolf' for your inspiration and sharing your story with all of us!

Edit by- Elisa Houg and Paul Dale Roberts

Keith Smart named Kings head coach

2012-01-06T01:08:08Z

The Sacramento Kings named Keith Smart head coach Thursday, promoting him from his position of assistant coach after firing Paul Westphal Thursday morning.

“Keith will bring a new perspective to the team as we try to move forward with the season,” Geoff Petrie, chief of basketball operations, said in a press release. “He’s very well prepared and will assume the job with some new ideas and new approaches of his own. We’re all excited and looking forward to working with him.”

Westphal was let go after about two and a half seasons where the Kings’ record was 51 wins and 120 losses. This season began with a win over the Los Angeles Lakers Dec. 26, but the Kings had only won two games going into Thursday’s home game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The 47-year-old Smart served as head coach of the Golden State Warriors last year, and he has either played or coached professional basketball for 22 years, according to the release.

“I had a chance to work for Paul Westphal in the brief time that I’ve been here and really enjoyed it,” Smart said. “He was very supportive every step of the way. I want to thank Geoff Petrie and the Maloof family for giving me this opportunity. I’m looking forward to implementing a few new things with what we want to try to do with our basketball team. Hopefully, they’ll respond to what I want them to do, and I believe they will. I think our players will be excited with some of the ideas that I have for our team moving forward.”

In the release, Westphal said he asked for Smart to be added to the coaching staff last year.

“When I asked Geoff to add Keith Smart to our staff, I knew that he would be a tremendous asset going forward,” Westphal said. “Keith has my respect and blessing as he assumes the position he is exceptionally qualified to fill.”

Kings fire Head Coach Paul Westphal

2012-01-05T20:22:00Z

The Sacramento Kings fired Head Coach Paul Westphal Thursday, citing a record of 51 wins and 120 losses in a little more than two seasons, team officials said in a press release.

“I want to thank Paul for all of his effort on behalf of the Kings,” said Geoff Petrie, chief of basketball operations. “Unfortunately, the overall performance level of the team has not approached what we felt was reasonable to expect. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Westphal will be replaced by Assistant Coach Keith ~~Kevin~~ Smart, but Kings officials did not say whether the appointment is permanent.

“I would like to thank the Maloof family for the incredible opportunity they gave me to participate in the attempt to bring the Sacramento Kings back to prominence,” Westphal said in the release. “While the job is far from finished, I am proud of the strides we were able to make.”

The season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 26 was a resounding victory for the Kings, but lackluster performances followed, and a tiff played out in the media between Westphal and the Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins over an alleged request from Cousins to be traded, to much criticism from fans.

“Geoff Petrie and his staff have been nothing but honest and supportive throughout my time here,” Westphal said in the release. “They are first class in every way, and I wish them nothing but success. My hope is to see the fans of the Kings and the city of Sacramento rewarded with many years of great basketball.

“Finally, I want to thank my loyal staff and players for their efforts in attempting to climb out of the hole we shared. Nothing comes easy in the NBA, and I know they will not rest in their efforts to rebuild this team.”

Editorial Note: A spelling correction was made to this article after it was published.

Photo essay: Sacramento's stunning public murals

2012-01-05T04:01:22Z

In a city that boasts a thriving community of locally owned businesses, artists, musicians and writers, it’s no wonder that Sacramento has a stunning array of public art displays that have taken the form of murals on the sides of buildings throughout town.

The works are concentrated in Midtown and downtown Sacramento, where the eclectic collection of stores and businesses creates the ideal canvas for some of the most visually impressive pieces of public art.

Local artist Skinner – born Warren Davis III – said he thinks Sacramento needs more work like the mural he painted on the side of the Java Lounge on 16th Street near Broadway. Skinner said he’s commissioned to do work all over the world – including a project he’ll begin in May in Japan – but it’s difficult to get permission for work in Sacramento because he thinks the people who approve the work, like the City Council, are too conservative.

“I’d paint for free, because I want Sacramento to be more beautiful,” Skinner said. “I’d like to see more support for our local art scene.”

Skinner named the mural at 24th Street and Broadway as one of his favorites in the city. The piece was done by Alex “Cabron” Forster, said Skinner, and depicts “Ishi,” a Native American believed to be the last member of the Yahi people, holding a gold nugget in each hand.

At 1700 Capitol Ave. is an old-fashioned grocery store scene that has become the identifying mark for Grocery Outlet. Store owner Mindi Admire said people refer to her store as, “You know, the building with the mural,” and that when she purchased the business, she wanted to be sure the mural would stay.

“It’s really important to the community,” Admire said, adding that the work was recently restored by one of the original artists, Michael Stanford.

Dimple Records on 16th Street at Broadway boasts artwork by Shaun Turner and Dan Osterhoff, who did the piece in 2008 for the store’s previous inhabitant, R5 Records. The mural depicts music legends Miles Davis and Billie Holiday.

The California Conservation Corps on 24th Street has a mural that faces the light rail station. According to Susanne Levitskey, public information officer for the CCC, it’s a great location, because it catches the eye of young people on the train and gets them interested in the corps.

“The mural not only showcases corps people, but it advertises what we do here,” Levitsky said, adding that artwork like theirs has become a tradition throughout the organization in California.

The work was done in the late ’90s by a group of CCC members.

Mary Kawano, owner of Sugar Shack Boutique on J Street, said she wanted the look of graffiti art on her shop because it went well with her fun, edgy store. She chose Anthony Padilla to paint her mural a few years ago, in part to give back to the community by supporting local artists.

Kawano said she thinks her storefront might inspire other business owners to support spray-can artists and give them a canvas for their work without defacing any buildings.

She said she hopes to have Padilla come back to update the mural with new outfits on the girls in the image, with one who represents Kawano herself and the other being a “Midtown edgy girl.”

The Masonic Temple building on J Street near the Lincoln Highway was the home of a mural done by Stephanie Taylor, but was destroyed by weather and time. Taylor’s piece, copied from original artwork on display at the Crocker Art Museum, “Sunday Morning in the Mines,” has been digitally reproduced and is back in place on the Masonic Temple.

Jack’s Urban Eats on 20th Street near Capitol Avenue in Midtown is the home to this mural. Unfortunately, no one could be reached at the restaurant for comment.

Michael Brown, owner of Capitol Dawg on 20th Street near L Street, said he had the mural on the back of his building done just about a year ago. Most of the work was done by Shaun Turner.

“I asked him for a little color, a little nostalgia, and to have the words ‘Capitol Dawg’ on the piece somewhere,” Brown said. “I let the artist do what he wanted. I think he winged it.”

Brown said he’s really happy with the piece, and added that an unexpected benefit has been that the mural has been untouched by taggers. The blank wall on the backside of his restaurant had previously been a popular spot for graffiti, but he said he thinks taggers respect the artwork.

The Alhambra Theatre may be closed, but this Midtown mural pays homage to “the showplace of Sacramento,” located off of 25th Street near J Street.

This piece on HR Sports Cards at the corner of 10th and W streets is still in progress. Artist Irubiel Moreno has taken the project on with a collection of other artists. The mural depicts figures from various religions, including Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, and was intended to create a message of unity.

Fox 40 covered the first stages of this mural project in August.

The Art in Public Places program, as part of the Sacramento Metro Arts Commission, works primarily with public projects in new construction, said program director Shelly Willis. Upcoming projects include the Elkhorn Tower in north Sacramento and a test project to paint a large utility box at 20th and J streets.

Willis said the review process for any public piece is extensive, since the program is funded with public money. She said that while her focus is on public work, she is also a resource for artists and business in the private sector who wish to commission artwork.

In 2009, the Art in Public Places program put together the Franklin Urban Plein Air Project, a temporary art project on Franklin Boulevard. The 22 pieces were painted on storefronts by as many different artists, but unlike most of the city’s mural work, these are on a much smaller scale.

“These murals were purposefully meant to engage people at the pedestrian level,” Willis said, adding that Franklin Boulevard was once voted the ugliest street in Sacramento, but is gradually becoming a more beautiful place.

Do you have a favorite mural in Sacramento? Please share below in the comments.

Redevelopment agencies lose in the courts

2012-01-05T03:54:12Z

In what has been called a David versus Goliath victory, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday in favor of Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to disband redevelopment agencies in California, and opponents of redevelopment in Sacramento wasted no time to celebrate the success.

“After years of opposition to redevelopment activities, the abuse of government power and confiscation of property for private use, our day finally came,” Moe Mohanna, a local real estate developer, said Tuesday.

The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday to uphold the redevelopment “elimination” bill, but struck down the bill that would have allowed agencies to make “continuation payments” to stay in business.

The two bills were passed as part of the 2011 state budget and caused a flurry of activity for redevelopment agencies across the state.

The California Redevelopment Association and the League of California Cities quickly challenged the new laws in court.

Meanwhile, redevelopment agencies got to work coming to terms with the possibility that they would have to either “opt in” to a new program – which would require annual payments in the millions of dollars – or submit to having their agencies phased out permanently.

In Sacramento, the City Council and the county Board of Supervisors chose to keep the Sacramento Housing and Revelopment Agency active by agreeing to the required “continuation payments” outlined in the legislation.

If the court had upheld both bills, the SHRA would be preparing to make the first of those payments due in 2012 – an estimated $22 million total – to keep the SHRA going.

The ruling to uphold the elimination bill, however, is more than a game-changer for redevelopment agencies – it’s a game-ender.

“We’re shocked,” La Shelle Dozier, executive director for the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency said Wednesday. “Obviously this is not the outcome that the agency was hoping for.”

Dozier said the SHRA sees the court ruling as one of the “worst possible scenarios” – and one the legislature never intended.

“There was never any anticipation that over 400 agencies would have to unwind over night,” Dozier said. “It was anticipated that some (agencies) would opt to dissolve, but some would opt to continue activities – which is what we had opted to do.

“I think the severing of the two bills in the court was a huge blow to redevelopment agencies,” Dozier said.

Sacramento projects stalled by the legislation while the courts were sorting things out now come to a screeching halt – including the affordable housing portion of the 65-acre Township 9 project and the remaining phases of the Paso Del Nuevo housing project.

“The issue is that, even if the deadline (to dissolve) is extended (by the legislature), there will be a stay on redevelopment activities,” Dozier said. “I don’t anticipate that they will allow us to move forward on any projects while they are figuring out a new redevelopment plan for the state.”

Now that the decision has been handed down, redevelopment agencies will start the process of dissolving – but leaders at the the California Redevelopment Association (CRA) and League of California Cities said Thursday they aren’t finished fighting yet.

The (California Redevelopment Association) and the league vowed to work with state legislators immediately to develop legislation to revive redevelopment, Kathy Fairbanks, California Redevelopment Association representative, said in a press release Thursday.

Opponents of redevelopment agencies see the court ruling as a step in the right direction for the state and for Sacramento, Mohanna said.

“Our neighborhoods, our schools, our police department and many other governmental agencies will now have more funds to provide essential services for our community,” Mohanna said, “rather than a few select private developers that play the game with redevelopment money.”

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Classic “Sunset Boulevard” to Screen at the Crocker on January 5

2012-01-04T19:25:10Z

The Crocker Art Museum will screen the Academy-Award-winning classic “Sunset Boulevard” on Thursday, Jan. 5, at 6:30 p.m. One of the greatest movies about Hollywood ever made, this film is at once film noir, dark comedy, high melodrama, and scathing satire. Tickets are $5 for Museum members and $10 for nonmembers, not including Museum admission.

One of the most successful films of its era, “Time” described it as a story of "Hollywood at its worst told by Hollywood at its best." Gloria Swanson stars as a faded silent screen goddess who dreams of a box-office comeback. William Holden is Joe Gillis, a cynical small-time writer who becomes entangled in her deluded world.

Film scholar Kristen Anderson Wagner will introduce the film and provide a sneak peek of Film Frame features to come in 2012.

Director Billy Wilder’s “Sunset Boulevard,” an ideal example of the Baroque aesthetic on the big screen, is presented in conjunction with the exhibition “Florence and the Baroque: Paintings from the Haukohl Family Collection.” The exhibition features Italian painting and sculpture from the 16th through 18th centuries to Northern California. On view at the Crocker through February 12, 2012, this exhibition is drawn from the largest private American collection of Florentine Baroque painting and features works by key artists such as Cesare Dandini, Jacopo da Empoli, and Francesco Furini.

This screening is part of the Museum’s monthly film series, Film Frame, which occurs every first Thursday evening of the month. Presented in collaboration with local festivals and organizations, films relate to the Crocker’s exhibitions and collections as well as relevant issues in film, art, and society. Screenings are accompanied by commentary from film makers, enthusiasts, scholars, artists, and local arts partners. Watch trailers and learn more about upcoming films at crockerartmuseum.org.

The Crocker Art Museum was the first art museum in the Western U.S. and is now one of the leading art museums in California. Established in 1885, the Museum features one of the country’s finest collections of Californian art, exceptional holdings of master drawings, a comprehensive collection of international ceramics, as well as European, Asian, African, and Oceanic art. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday–Sunday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Thursdays. Every Third Sunday of the month is “Pay What You Wish Sunday.” For more information, call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Sacramento: Is there an app for that?

2012-01-04T05:09:07Z

I downloaded five Sacramento-specific mobile apps to review to find out if there is truth to the famous slogan "There's an app for that." I had a mixed bag of results, with some useful and some novelty.

Midtown Sacramento
Price: Free

The app encourages its users to explore Midtown, helping them find parking, taxi service, restaurants, boutiques and other needs. It also keeps users up to date with neighborhood events, sales and friends' updates and tweets through an in-app tab for Twitter and Facebook.

Upon opening the app, I was pleased by the clean outline showing 12 different icons representing the different options to choose from: events, eats and drinks, entertainment, galleries, health and beauty, nightlife, shopping, specials, parking, transportation, banks and ATM, and services.

The events feature of the app shows past, current and future events in the Midtown area, with descriptions, photos, ticket prices, contact info, driving directions to the venues, and what I liked the most: the option to integrate an event to the users' calendars.

Have one too many to drink and no one to drive you home? This app lets the users, through its transportation option, easily pick a cab service, complete with addresses and contact information of the companies.

The parking feature of the app shows public parking in the area on a map. It also allows users to get directions to the parking lot through the phone's GPS. This is one of my favorite features of the app, although I would want to see the following improvements: display parking hours, number of parking spots and price information.

I was disappointed that most of the stores featured in the app do not have descriptions other than their addresses and phone numbers. It would be nice to know the different services or unique items the stores have to offer before heading down to visit. Most of them have "Description to come" as their description.

Pros: It's free and has tons of features on everything in Midtown.
Cons: It lacks information on most stores, there’s no Yelp integration with stores or a way to review them.
Bottom line: Get it, it's free! It is very helpful in finding things to do in Midtown to live, play and party.

Ease of use: 5/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Practicality: 4/5
Interface: 4/5

Ibreathe: Sacramento
Price: Free

Ibreathe displays air quality information for 15 areas and cities in the Greater Sacramento region. Users can toggle from a map to list view of the areas with their corresponding air quality grade for the day's and week’s forecast. Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails and the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District provide the data for the air quality ratings.

The app shows a map of Sacramento and surrounding areas. The user has an option to view particulates or ozone rating for the 15 areas and cities divided, which are divided in 10 different sections. Each section is represented by a color representing air quality: Green is good, yellow is moderate, orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups, red is unhealthy, purple is very unhealthy, and magenta is hazardous. This information is all included within the app, and it gives a complete description on what each color or warning means.

I find this app to be very useful for people who have asthma or other health conditions where air quality is a concern. It also gives do's and don’ts for people with respiratory problems if they are in an area of unhealthy air quality level.

The feature I like the most is the ability to program the app to send its users notifications if air quality for the areas they have picked reaches a dissatisfactory air quality level.

Pros: In-app information is extensive, from health effects to tips on how to spare the air.
Cons: Lack of in-app ability to tweet or forward advisories to contacts.
Bottom line: Get it. It's free and helps users be aware of the air quality.

Ease of use: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Practicality: 4/5
Interface: 4/5

Traffic Sacramento
Price: 99 cents

The description of the app says it "displays the traffic cameras provided by the California Department of Transportation." Through this feature, the app aims to shorten commuting time for Sacramentans by allowing them to view traffic for more than 30 freeway and street intersections.

It is true that the app displays the traffic through the cameras. It is just a shame that it is not a live video feed, but a still image of the freeway. The app developers were careful not to indicate this information on their app description, because for most, like myself, it is a dealbreaker between a novelty and a useful app.

The photos displayed are usually a minute or two off current time, with some, such as Interstate 5 at 25th Avenue being delayed by days (The photo showing is time stamped Dec. 18, 2011 as of Tuesday.)

The app also crashed twice in five days of use.

Pros: You have an app that takes pictures of freeways.
Cons: No video feed.
Bottom line: Do not buy unless developers make live video feed available.

Ease of use: 2/5
Uniqueness: 3/5
Practicality: 1/5
Interface: 2/5

Iradar Sacramento
Price: 99 cents

The app provides a map of the Sacramento region with animated radar readings provided by the National Weather Service, similar to what TV news reporters use to tell the weather forecast.

It claims to be an easy way to see the weather on the app description, but I find this untrue. A regular Joe is better off with the built-in weather app provided on most smartphones, which is straightforward in giving the weather forecast for the day and the week.

If you are interested in meteorology, the app does provide graphic and color-coded dBZ or decible measures of reflectivity provided by the radar. The color represents degree of rainfall. What those numbers mean is not included in the app. The users have to Google search them themselves.

The lack of information on how to use the app makes it really frustrating. I even checked the developers’ website for information on how to use the app, but to no avail.

Pros: Great graphic interface.
Cons: No instructions on how to use or interpret readings.
Bottom line: Stick with the built-in weather app on your phone unless you know how to read weather radar.

Ease of use: 2/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Practicality: 1/5
Interface: 4/5

Transit Guru Sacramento
Price: $1.99

The app provides schedules for the Sacramento Regional Transit District's rail and bus routes, provides an offline map of Sacramento with bus and train information.

The app provides departure and arrival time for the chosen route. I like that it not only tells the users how many stops the bus will make from departure to arrival, but also shows on the map the locations of each stop, the user’s current position and the option to set an alarm for a certain number of minutes before arrival time.

The users can also favorite a route for quicker access. Two offline maps are also provided: a central city map, showing routes within downtown, and a system map showing routes for the rest of the city. These two maps are useful to have just in case a cellular network is not available or for iPod touch users with no data service.

Another great feature of the app is quick access to train advisories by selecting the advisories tab. Unfortunately, there is no automatic notification option for this feature. Users have to manually check for advisories. These advisories can be information on delayed train arrivals, which is always good to know.

The only problem I came about using the app is with its Yelp integration. The feature is supposed to find nearby restaurants, boutiques and other attractions from the user’s current train station. When it works, it’s great, but when it does not, the stores featured can be as far as Massachusetts.

Pros: Offline and online map availability.
Cons: Yelp integration needs work.
Bottom line: For $1.99, if you use public transit daily or twice a month or more, this is a must-have.

Ease of use: 4/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Practicality: 4/5
Interface: 4/5

If you have a Sacramento-specific mobile app, please let us know on the comment section below.

Photos: New Year's Eve with Mickey Avalon

2012-01-03T07:10:46Z

Hollywood rapper Mickey Avalon headlined a New Year's Eve show at Ace of Spades on Saturday.

Supporting Avalon on the bill were 2ME, Richard the Rockstar, and producer Big Chocolate.

Photos by Steven Chea.

What happens when Sheriff K9's retire?

2012-01-03T03:01:18Z

The Sacramento Sheriff's K9 Association held a fundraiser and demonstration Sunday at Pet Food Express on Fair Oaks Blvd.

Along with meeting the K9's, getting to rub a K9 belly and meet their handlers, goers had the opportunity to purchase the new 2012 SSDK9 calendar loaded with dynamic images of the dogs and their handlers by XSiGHT Photography and Video.

Ike, one of twelve active K9’s in the unit, has seen his fair share of rough and tumble, part of the job as a K9. Deputy Pomerson, Ike’s partner and handler, related how Ike went over a fence after a bad guy and punctured a lung. With the punctured lung, Ike still latched on to the bad guy until deputies apprehended the perp. Ike’s chest swelled to almost twice his normal size and he was rushed to medical care and saved. After a two week recovery, Pomerson related, Ike eagerly went back to work.

Pomerson shared tales of his partner, such as how he slides back and forth in the back seat responding to calls.

“It seems the more he (Ike) is tossed around in the back, [the] more he’s excited and ready to get the bad guy when we arrive at the scene.”

Pomerson also explained the toll the tossing around takes on the K9’s, giving them an average of five to seven workable years. When the K9’s retire, “they get to de-stress and just enjoy the rest of their life as a pet and adapt well,” stated Pomerson.

We got to tag along while Pomerson gave Ike a bath at the pet store. Even though the water was nice and warm, Pomerson agreed Ike would much rather be getting wet in the river.

When Ike retires, Pomerson will purchase him from the county for one dollar plus tax, and Ike will enjoy his retirement as the family pet. With Ike’s retirement, Pomerson will get a new K9 partner. At that time, Pomerson explained, the hardest part for Ike will be not going to work.

On their off days they do absolutely no work related things at all, and when it’s time to go back to work and Pomerson dons his uniform, Ike gets all excited.

“Even when I chirp the alarm on the car or move the car around, Ike gets all excited thinking it’s time to got to work,” said Pomerson.

A large portion of the fundraising proceeds are dedicated to the retirement needs of the K9’s who served their community. The fundraising calendar is a wonderful way to get to know the beautiful and talented animals that protect and serve our community.

If you are interested in donating and being involved with the SSDK9 association, their site has all the information and details you need to get engaged. Be sure to check out SSDK9 Association fundraising golf tournaments and marathons as well.

SSDK9 Demo/Fundraiser from SacMav Rapid Media on Vimeo.

Deputy Amos talks about the K9's>>

Wallpaper. at Ace of Spades

2012-01-03T02:48:13Z

A couple hundred people wanting to get an early start on 2012 partying headed down to Ace of Spades on Friday, where Oakland musician and frequent Sacramento visitor, Wallpaper., headlined an eclectic bill.

Starting the show was Chaotic Fusion, a drummer and DJ duo. DJ Oasis spun radio hits – "Teach Me How To Dougie," "Ghosts 'n' Stuff," "Last Resort" – while Radio 94.7 on-air personality Casey Lewis drummed along to the beat.

Performing next was Oakland-by-way-of-Panama Latin rap duo Los Rakas. Rhyming in Spanish over dancehall and hip-hop beats, the up and coming young pair were well-received by the slowly growing crowd.

Headliner Wallpaper. took the stage next, with the men of the group dressed to the nines in cheap tuxedos.

Wallpaper. is the solo project of Eric Frederic, who performs as Wallpaper. vocalist Ricky Reed.

Frederic received a music degree with a focus in composition from the University of California, Berkeley and now creates poppy party songs with lowest common denominator lyrics.

"That's a grown ass woman with a grown ass," is one example from the song, "Butt2Butt” (feat. Too $hort).

Although his two LP’s are called "Doodoo Face" and "#STUPiDFACEDD," the songs are well-produced and have sharp hooks. MTV uses Wallpaper. songs on shows like Jersey Shore, and sometimes this type of music resonates with everyone (see: LMFAO).

Kicking things off with the song, "Shotgun," Reed worked to establish a connection with the Sac crowd early, referencing past visits to the city.

"We're gonna take you right back to Press Club, Town House, Luigi's!"

Flanked by two drummers, a standing percussionist in the back and a female vocalist/dance partner, Reed and Wallpaper stayed hyphy the whole set and made sure the crowd did too.

At one point Reed lamented the fact that it was the day before New Year's Eve, and had the crowd do a mock countdown before performing the catchy, "Okay."

Later it was a short cover of Prince's "1999," played with a ukulele, before another sing-along ditty, "FUCKING BEST SONG EVERRR."

After Wallpaper. came back on stage for the encore, Reed let the crowd know that the band has a tradition where they finish a bottle of Jameson before coming back on.

Stupid, but fun.

Not bad for New Year's Eve eve.

Photos by Steven Chea

Kings defeat Hornets in second win of the season

2012-01-02T21:25:56Z

The Sacramento Kings ended a three-game losing streak Sunday night in a 96-80 win over the New Orleans Hornets.

Guard Tyreke Evans led the team with 27 points, scoring 13 points in the third quarter. Evans was also a force on the defense, and along with guard Marcus Thornton, who scored 25 points, helped the team dominate the second half of the game.

Noticeably absent from the court was center DeMarcus Cousins, who had been listed as a probable starter in the game. Kings Head Coach Paul Westphal issued a release before the game in which he said Cousins was asked to stay home after he demanded to be traded. Despite his absence, the Kings dominated the Hornets.

Westphal said he does not know if Cousins will make the road trip with the team.

The Kings were outscored by the Hornets in the first two periods and went into halftime down by 2 points. The team came back to the court in the third quarter to score 30 points to the Hornets’ 18 and kept the lead for the rest of the game.

Hornets center Emeka Okafor and forward Trevor Ariza each scored 6 points in the first quarter. They both continued to be productive on the court throughout the game, but their efforts were not enough to stop the Kings.

“What a difference a day makes,” said Westphal. “Even when we were missing shots, we were playing good basketball.”

The Kings went into the game shooting just 61 percent this season at the free throw line, but shot 86 percent Sunday night. The Kings barely edged the Hornets in field goals, shooting 41 percent to the Hornets’ 40. Still, it was enough to boost the team to a much needed win as they head out on the road.

The win improved the Kings’ record to 2-3, while the Hornets fell to .500 with a record of 2-2.

Forward Francisco Garcia made his first appearance of the season, and made back-to-back three point shots to start the final quarter of the game.

“I just feel good to be out there,” Garcia said. “I’m happy for my team. We work so hard every day.”

Westphal said he thought his team spaced the floor better, and that Evans and Thornton blended well together on the court.

“We did everything coach wanted us to do. We got to find a way to pull it together,” Evans said.

Evans had been struggling this season when he went into the game -- he was shooting just under 50 percent at the free throw line -- and was booed by fans in Saturday night’s game against the New York Knicks.

“You have to play this game with an attacking, light-hearted intensity,” Westphal said of Evans, adding that he told Evans to go out and have fun before the game.

The Kings play their next game against the Grizzlies in Memphis on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

To see a slideshow of the images from Sunday's game, click here.

New 'To Catch an Error' contest starts today!

2012-01-02T00:04:11Z

The Sacramento Press’ “To Catch an Error" contest has ended for the month of December. We are excited to announce our winner, Steven Chea!

Chea received a total of 46 points for catching minor spelling and grammar errors in stories by community contributors and editorial interns.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

If you missed last month’s contest, it’s time to start hunting again. Beginning today, we will wipe the slate clean and start our January contest. January’s winner will receive two tickets to see Paula Deen in the meet and greet section. One runner-up will receive a $15 gift card to Monsoon.

The deadline for entries will be midnight on Jan. 31.

See below for complete rules. If you have any feedback or questions about the contest, please email support@sacramentopress.com.

What is the contest all about?

"To Catch an Error” is a monthly contest that we hope will improve the quality of content on our site. We know mistakes are inevitable, but we want to do our best to eliminate as many as possible.

That’s why we're asking for your help to catch errors in articles on The Sacramento Press! Each month, we want you to submit any spelling, grammar or factual errors you catch to contest@sacramentopress.com.

Errors will be accepted until midnight on the last day of each month (unless stated otherwise). Throughout the month, errors will be evaluated and corrections made to articles at our discretion.

At the beginning of each month, we will announce the winner from the previous round along with the errors he or she caught, wipe the slate clean and start all over!

Errors will be assigned different values, using the following point system:

* Minor grammar and spelling error = 1 point
* Misspelling name of person = 3 points
* Factual error = 5 points
* Error in editorial intern story = 3 bonus points
* Error in staff reporter story = 5 bonus points

Note: The Sacramento Press follows Associated Press style for most spelling and word usage.

Each month, the person with the most points will receive a prize, a merit badge on his or her profile and a little bit of social media love. Prizes will vary from month to month.

Official contest rules

Eligibility: To be eligible, contestants must be registered as a user on The Sacramento Press.

Note: The same person cannot win two months in a row.

Deadline: All errors must be submitted by midnight on the last day of each month, unless otherwise stated.

How to enter: You can enter as many times as you like each month, and multiple entries can be submitted at the same time. Entries must be submitted by e-mail and will not be accepted through social media or as comments on articles.

To submit an error, send an email to contest@sacramentopress.com with the following:

* Your first and last name, along with your Sacramento Press user name
* A link to the story where you found the error
* Copy and paste the entire sentence or paragraph as it appears in the article, along with the error

If clarification is needed, a Sacramento Press staff member will follow up with you. When an error is submitted to us, a reply will be sent, verifying the number of points earned within 24 hours.

Submit errors as soon as you catch them! If an error has already been caught and a correction issued, points will not be given for the error.

Corrections: Errors will be verified by the Editorial and Community Outreach departments, and normal editorial correction policies will be applied. We will edit minor spelling or grammatical errors. More serious errors, such as factual inaccuracies, will be investigated on a case-by-case basis. Please note, we are under no obligation to issue a correction for every error submitted.

Note: The Sacramento Press has the final say in all errors being submitted.

Prizes: Prizes will change every month, and we reserve the right to change a prize at any time without notifying contestants.

Good luck!

A thank you to our talented community contributors

2012-01-01T02:19:45Z

Another year has passed and it’s time for reflection. The Sacramento Press has been lucky to form new relationships with some very talented contributing writers and photographers while strengthening our relationships with contributors who have been with us all along.

Our region had many notable events that will forever ingrain 2011 in Sacramentans’ minds.

When the “99 percent” occupied Cesar Chavez park and when Gus Vina left his post as City Manager, our community contributors were there to report. When the first cars inched their way down K Stree t and when the Sacramento City School Board considered relocating campuses, our community contributors were ready with notepads and cameras.

Our community contributors live and breathe the issues that impact our region and are truly the essence of The Sacramento Press.

This year, we reached a milestone that we are very proud of. In September, the 10,000th article was posted on our site. It would not be possible to reach that accomplishment if it weren’t for our dedicated community contributors.

Earlier in the year, some of our best contributors were recognized in short videos.

As one more small token of appreciation, we have put together digital showcases of articles and photographs posted by our Top Contributors.

Below are the community contributors who have gone above and beyond, working closely with us and submitting high-quality content that we are proud to recognize.

We hope you’ll take a moment to see what they have accomplished throughout the year! Click on the names below to see individual splash pages.

Aaron Davis played a significant role in helping us reach 10,000 articles this year. Aaron briefly worked in the Community Outreach department, supporting our contributors while continuing to contribute himself. He is a man of many talents, writing about everything from Osama Bin Laden’s death and the infamous Kings relocation debacle (yes, in the same article) to playing April Fool’s jokes on our readers. We can’t wait to see what he will write about next.

Alejandra Gonzalez is a woman about town who has embraced the essence of Sacramento. This
year she captured everything from wine-swirling at Grape Escape to tutu-twirling of the Sacramento Ballet. Whether it’s tea parties, fundraisers or concerts, Alejandra is our go-to gal for all things culture.

Amabelle Ocampo delves deep into important issues affecting our region, such as the Occupy movement. She isn’t afraid to explore delicate subjects like foster care or cancer and manages to write about them eloquently.
She balanced the seriousness by perfectly capturing the playful spirit of events like Wanderlust and Fashion’s Night Out.

Barry Wisdom has an eye for theater photography, which is almost guaranteed to come with a list of shooting restrictions. However, given a few minutes or only a dress rehearsal to work with, Barry always manages to capture the heart and emotion of every performances, putting the viewer right in the moment. His photo essays tell stories better than any article can.

Bill Burgua has truly honed his skills as a theater reviewer this year, and his passion for theater is simply contagious. He has a standing invitation to review performances at the many theaters he frequents, where we are proud to send him on our behalf. His reviews are often
boasted proudly on theaters’ websites.

David Alvarez’ talents run the gamut. Whether it’s a somber parade honoring our soldiers, a lively cultural festival or sporting event, David knows how to capture the perfect shot to convey the energy of the moments he shoots. He often serves as both the writer and photographer at the events he covers, which can be a difficult feat, but he manages to do it well.

Elaine Johnson’s feisty MidLife GridLife article series has given us an exclusive and intimate peek into her personal life. This year her readers have been privy to her first date mishaps, her relationship highs and lows and her thoughts on being called a “cougar.” We never know if we’ll laugh or cry while reading Elaine’s work and are always left wanting more.

It is almost impossible to describe the enthusiasm Kati Garner has for photography with just a couple of sentences. Her passion for the subjects she shoots run deeps and her photos speak to our readers. She kicked off the year with a stunning image of the Wells Fargo Center and ended it by lighting up our site with images of local holiday displays. In between, she treated us to the shots of the zoo and Fairytale Town’s newest critters, moving tributes on 9/11 and frame-worthy images of local scenery. Kati is unstoppable!

Much to our delight, Mary Nares has become our go-to writer if there is a choral performance in town; we know we can count on her. She often teams up with Kati Garner to review choral performances and together they make a dynamic duo. A member of a local choir herself, Mary has been welcomed with open arms to local groups’ performances who enjoy her writing as much as we do.

Mark Needham is an expert on all things black and purple. His devotion to the Kings is infectious, and we know we can always rely on Mark to go where the action is happening. This year, he took that enthusiasm to Raley Field, where we proved to be an equally fantastic River Cats writer. We’re grateful that he has chosen The Sacramento Press to express his enthusiasm for local sports.

If you’ve ever driven by the scene of a crime or an accident and wondered what’s happening, it’s almost guaranteed that the Maverick Photography team, made up of Ed Fogle and his team of photographers can tell you. The talented team live and breathe breaking news and are always at the forefront of the action. The Maverick team has filled an important gap on our site.

Patricia Willers’ passion for two topics became apparent this year: She loves beer and music. She reviewed notable concerts like Cake and American Idol Live! and sipped brews at Oktoberfest and the California Brewers Festival. This year, we were lucky enough to have Patricia become a copy editor for our community contributors. Her talents have helped developed the skills of our contributors’ and we’re happy to have her as part of our team.

Randy Miramontez was on fire covering big-name acts this year. While photography is his area of expertise, he collaborated with himself (writing and shooting) on close to 20 concerts at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort and a
handful of others at Power Balance Pavilion. Despite his packed concert schedule, Randy somehow finds the time to operate a local blog, Sac and Beyond (http://sacandbeyond.com/). He has grown his impressive portfolio immensely as both a writer and photog since we first met him.

Rik Keller's photos are a treat for the eyes. He has a knack for turning ordinary shots into exquisite pieces of art that make you stop and stare. Whether it’s a mobile food truck festival or a subdued protest rally, Rik has a knack for finding the beauty in every scene. He has given us a whole new appreciation for local surroundings.

Ron Nabity started out the year by impressing us with his drool-worthy shots of Dine Downtown menu items. Ron spent the rest of 2011 exciting us with his action shots of our local sports teams, the Capital Airshow and the Amgen Tour of California. He conveys the exhilaration of the moments he captures through his still shots, putting our readers right at the sidelines with him.

Rorie Oliver built an impressive archive of articles this year, covering everything from the legendary Beach Boys at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort to the community events like Picnic Day and the Sacramento International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. Rorie gives every story, no mater how small or large, the same amount of dedication and enthusiasm.

Sandy Thomas is new to our pool of Top Contributors and we are lucky that she found us. She often collaborates with writer Trina Drotar and the pair have proved to be a very gifted duo. Together they have tackled powerful stories like poetry readings and a holiday blues concert fundraiser benefiting children in need.

To say Steven Chea’s photos are stunning is an understatement and, in fact, it might be impossible to find an adjective that appropriately describes his work. While he produces top-notch photos every time, his concert photos are the true gems in his portfolio. Steven is on his way up to big things in the photography world.

Trina Drotar’s words have helped delivered the impactful messages of the local poets and artists she has covered. While writing is not her full-time job, she gives every story her all as if it were. We are looking forward to seeing what the pair will collaborate on next year.

Last but certainly not least, we can’t forget about our weekly columnists. They have continued to educate us and give us something to look forward to on a weekly basis.

The “Pet of the Week” series, written by the Sacramento SPCA’s Julianne Byer, has helped place the local animals featured in loving homes.

“Real Relationships” is an article series dreamt up by contributor Janna Haynes, has helped solve readers’ relationship dilemmas and has weighed in on important issues many are dealing with but are hesitant to talk about.

The Sacramento Public Law Library’s weekly article series, “Ask the Law Librarian”, has proven to be a valuable resource for readers facing legal dilemmas.

Officer Michelle Lazark has put a friendly and welcoming face to law enforcement, inviting readers to ask her questions in her weekly “Ask Officer Michelle” series.

We would also like to give a shoutout to Ann Freeman Clement. It didn’t make sense to lay out a page with events that already passed, but we want to thank you for never missing a week of posting your thorough local guide to all things music.

Thanks to every single contributor who has posted an article in 2011. You are the very foundation of The Sacramento Press, and we can’t thank you enough for all that you do.

Happy new year to everyone from all of us at The Sacramento Press!

12 for '12: Sacramento concerts on tap for the new year

2011-12-30T01:38:10Z

Around this time last year, I came at you with the top ten concerts of 2010 – and oh boy, were there some gems on that list.

2011 was also a fine year for concerts here in Sactown (Davis Music Festival, Dawes, Trampled By Turtles, the Silent Comedy, Blind Pilot, etc.), but right about now, I feel like I might go all Ndamokung Suh on the next “2011 Year in Review” list I happen across. Seriously, at this point we could probably put together a Ten Worst Ten Worst Lists List.

So, here’s a better idea: Let’s look ahead to some 2012 concerts on the books that you can’t afford to miss. Because guess what, our calendar is loaded heading into the New Year.

(Yes, a ton of these shows are at Harlow’s, but it’s still the best venue in town)

And yes, the world is supposed to end on December 21, but this list only gets you through about March, so at least you’ll be able to see all of these shows before the music stops permanently (?).

Concrete Blonde – January 20 at Ace of Spades - Yep, still playing! With X touring with their original lineup as well, call it a mid-‘80s punk rock renaissance! If it will keep the Good Charlottes of the world in hibernation, we’re all for it!

The Wood Brothers – January 31 at Harlow’s - Fans of Davis’ The Devil Makes Three would be highly interested, as would fans of Yonder Mountain String Band. And The Band. And the White Stripes.

Wilco – February 1 at Mondavi Center - Finding the common ground between their avant garde freakouts and beautifully alluring alt rock sensibilities is Wilco’s 2011 gem “The Whole Love.” Jeff Tweedy is the kind of guy who can make the gutter and some needle tracks seem oddly appealing. There has always been a deliberate, twisted and enigmatically narcotic haze hanging over this Chicago outfit’s tunes, and indeed over their entire persona. Abrasively raw one minute and autumn-meadow lovely the next, Wilco is perhaps the greatest think-piece of this generation – and a stop in Davis is equally puzzling, but no less welcome.

MuteMath – February 8 at Ace of Spades - They haven’t nailed it as big as the similarly themed Muse yet…we’re just not quite sure why.

Diego’s Umbrella – February 9 at Harlow’s - They have a song to which the only lyric is “moustache.” If you need me to say more, I’m not going to…except that this Bay Area gypsy Pirate polka funk outfit is a crotch punch of a good time.

G. Love & Special Sauce – February 23 at Harlow’s - For those keeping score at home, that’s three shows in three years at Harlow’s for the hip hop bluesman who hails from Philly, and can rock the rhymes as well as he smooches the harmonica. I think we can officially call this a standard stop for G., who recently stretched his wings by penning a front porch piece of country blues treasure in “Fixin’ to Die,” produced by the Avett Brothers.

Blitzen Trapper – March 5 at Harlow’s - When these guys announced a co-headlining tour with 2011 Americana band d’jour Dawes, it looked liked the t-shirts were already printed up with a Harlow’s date on them. Sadly, that date never happened. Most of the attention last year fell to Dawes, but BT’s new album “American Goldwing” is, well, gold! It’s dirt floor bar country meets electro indie lounge rock, served up hot and grungy and just a tiny bit weird.

311 – March 7 at Ace of Spades - Say what you will about 311 (I’d actually like to say a few things about Nick Hexum that are not fit to print), but they have a now almost ridiculous amount of longevity for a rap/rock/reggae/funk combo. Listen to Fishbone and you’ll understand where 311 came from, but that doesn’t explain how they lasted past the Sublime heyday, the rap rock craze and all the other fads past to stick around this long. Come original? I guess so. Either way, catching them at Ace of Spades ought to be a pretty cozy treat.

Playing for Change Band – March 11 at Three Stages in Folsom - It began as a simple concept: Street musicians all over the world were recorded playing and or singing the same song (“Stand by Me,” “One Love,” “Gimme Shelter,” etc.) in their own style, but at different times, with the results mixed together into a global cornucopia of sonic bliss. Next step in the progression: Stage show!

Umphrey’s McGee – March 18 at Harlow’s - They’ve been tagged as “the next Phish” since about 2004, and in that time have zigzagged the country several times over, but this will be their first ever stop in Sacramento. Simply put, it is hard to find six more talented musicians playing together anywhere in the world. Running the gamut from Pearl Jam to King Crimson to Yes, their 15 minute jams are incendiary, but are wrapped in a songwriting sensibility that belies many of their contemporaries. If there is a truly “can’t miss show” on this list, it is this one. Your brain won’t soon recover. Nor will your hips.

The Bad Plus – April 18-21 at Mondavi Center - A power trio playing jazz, or a jazz trio trying to dip into rock and roll. Who knows, who cares…

Sacramento Music Festival – Labor Day Weekend - Much has been made about the rebranding of the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee/Jazz Festival, in the attempt to help it regain its former glory and make it a more generationally accessible event. Will it work? Who knows, but it should be fun to see the “first ever” installment of the “new” event. So far, it looks like the usual suspects, but we’ll see…

Say hello to 2012 at these New Year's Eve nightlife events

2011-12-29T22:06:32Z

Can you belive 2011 is practically over? New Year's Eve is this Saturday and if you're still searching for plans, we here at Sacramento365.com have gathered up some activities for you.

If you're looking for a great, family friendly New Year's Eve experience, complete with fireworks, be sure to head to Old Sac for the New Year's Eve Sky Spectacular.

But, for those of you who are looking for some adult celebrations--no kids allowed--here're a few options to greet 2012 (see even more in our Top 10 & Holiday Event Section). Sacramento nightlife is kickin'!

1. New Year's 2012 Bash with Mickey Avalon: Ace of Spades, 7pm
Hailing from Hollywood, Mickey Avalon is known to the world as one of the hottest underground American rappers and has become a fan-favorite.

2. New Year's Eve Gala: Chicago: Davis Musical Theatre Company, 8pm
Ring in the New Year with Broadway favorite: Chicago. The Tony Award winning performance of the “truth-is-stranger-than-fiction” play is opening for a special preview, accompanied by a catered buffet dinner, champagne, dessert, party favors, a live DJ, and more.

3. Townhouse New Year's Eve Party: TownHouse Lounge, 8pm-2am
On the 365th day of the year, The Townhouse presents a very special NYE party with some of your favorite DJs on both floors: Electro/House/Progressive with Mike Diamond & My Cousin Vinny & Indie/Pop/Dance with The X-GVNR (Pop Freq, Get Wet) & Jon Droll.

4. NYE at the Hyatt Regency: Hyatt Regency Sacramento, 8pm-2am
Start the evening with a cocktail in the acoustic lobby lounge listening to the sounds of Quinn Hedges and Ryan Hernandez, then enjoy a gourmet four course meal in Dawson’s, followed by the big event in Sacramento’s largest nightclub with DJ Rated R and the Cheeseballs.

5. New Year's Eve 2012: The Golden Bear, 8pm
What better way to welcome 2012 then spending your evening partying it up at The Golden Bear? There is no better way! Live and direct--DJ Crook on the 1s and 2s spinning all your favorite joints and jams. Cheers with a champagne toast at Midnight, plus take advantage of New Year's Eve drink specials all throughout the night.

6. NYE 2012 Celebration: MiX Downtown, 8:30pm
Celebrate the end of 2011 and the start of 2012 inside Sacramento's favorite rooftop nightclub and lounge, which is also celebrating its third year of amazing parties and fabulous events. Complimentary champagne at Midnight, party favors, and lush decorations get you in the mood for a hands in the air night of dancing and partying with friends.

7. New Year's Eve Bash with John Nemeth: Torch Club, 9pm
John Németh is a rising blues star; a singer steeped in the tradition and reminiscent of B.B. King, Ray Charles and Junior Parker, and a harmonica player of riveting intensity and virtuosity.

8. NYE Dance Party with DJ Larry Rodriguez: Fox & Goose, 9pm
DJ Larry Rodriguez's Dance Party celebrates its 15 year anniversary on New Year's Eve with round, warm sould & funk. DJ Larry Rodriguez is bringing some of Sacramento's favorite dance party kings Mike C. and Tim Matranga to round out the night.

9. Roaring '20s NYE: Crescent Club, 9pm
Take a trip back in time to America's glorious Prohibition Era as you celebrate the New Year with gangsters, glamour, and gambling. The evening’s entertainment includes a Speakeasy Casino, Ballroom Swing Dancing, Gypsy Jazz, Blues, & Cabaret, featuring live music by the notorious Crescent Katz.

10. D30 New Year's Eve with DJ Serafin: District 30, 9pm-3am
In addition to the innovative sound of DJ Serafin, enjoy a huge balloon drop, dazzling confetti rain, complimentary champagne toast at Midnight, delectable confections at Midnight, and complimentary party favors.

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Find more detail on these events along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Rachael Lankford is the Managing Calendar Editor for Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Sacramento Santas of Christmas past

2011-12-29T06:01:41Z

Every holiday season, Sacramentans enjoy their presence in malls, churches, parties and other venues as they sit on their chairs and take pictures with kids eager to tell their Christmas wishes – they are the many faces of Santa and Mrs. Claus.

One of these Santa Clauses is Stefan Michael Philpott, 53, a painting contractor who lives in Yuba City. He has played the role during the holiday for three years. He worked as a Santa at a local Walgreens in his neighborhood in Yuba City and also for the Midtown Business Association at the MARRS building.

For Philpott, he said he tries to prepare himself for the questions kids might ask him about Santa.

Philpott said that kids have asked him, "Where is the real Santa?" to which he answered, "At the North Pole with the elves making presents for kids."

The best part of being a Santa though, he said, is when the kids think he is the real deal.

"My mom said I'm taking on a family tradition," Philpott said. His father did Santa work before for 25 years.

He said that some people he knows through his day job have not recognized him when he dons the beard, even when he approached and talked to them. It is partly because he uses his Santa voice, he said.

The kids’ wishes are much simpler this year, he said, compared to previous years when he had kids with multiple items in their list, such as a bicycle and an Xbox. This year, for most kids, wishes were for one item under $100.

For 40-year-old maintenance supervisor Scott Carpenter, working as Santa this year, he said he had the same experience with kids from low-income families requesting practical items. He said some kids did not ask for toys, but items for their rooms, such as a bookshelf or a lamp, while kids from higher-income families asked for more expensive items, he said.

"One thing that is similar and true ... is the children's excitement," Carpenter said. "I walked in the room, and it's like a rock star walked in the room."

Through Renoir Staffing Services Incorporated, he has worked as Santa at Christmas parties in apartment homes for two years.

Driving from his home in Davis to Sacramento already dressed as Santa, he said people have tried to get closer to his car and waved at him smiling trying to get his attention. He said that this helps him get in the mindset that he is Santa Claus for the kids he is visiting.

Carpenter said his sons, 10-year-old Max and 5-year-old Leo, enjoyed watching him dress up as Santa – walking around the house in his tank top and Santa pants while putting on makeup and a false beard.

"They understand that I'm working, and they understand that what I do and what Santa is are two separate things," Carpenter said.

He said working as Santa Claus not only helps with his expenses during the holiday season but is also a rewarding job with kids giving Christmas cards and drawing pictures of him.

Carpenter said now that his Santa work for this year ended, he misses hearing the kids' unpredictable questions and wishes. The toughest question he had was, "Why does your beard look fake?" to which he answered, "The more you believe in him, the more real I look."

Going back to his regular work, Carpenter said he carries with him the same skill set that he has working as Santa Claus: people skills.

Another person who donned a red costume, minus the beard, is Gail Nelson. She volunteered as Mrs. Claus for Girl Scouts Heart of Central California. This year is her third year volunteering.

She said that she wore her Girl Scout pin as well, to let the girls know that she was once a Girl Scout. Nelson is the secretary for the Girl Scouts Alumni Association.

Kids often asked the 72-year-old resident of Rocklin, when she was volunteering as Mrs. Claus, how she got down from the North Pole, to which she answered, "Santa has a few extra sleighs, so he enlisted one sleigh and driver to bring me down to Sacramento because the Girl Scouts had asked for a Mrs. Claus."

Nelson told the kids that finding Sacramento was not hard at all because the sleigh has GPS. She said, "The parents are funny. They get a kick out of this."

She said the hardest thing she had to explain was why she couldn’t let the girls see the sleigh she came down with. She just said it was being serviced.

To prepare for the part, Nelson said she did research on Mrs. Claus and read all that she could find on the character. She made sure that her red Mrs. Claus dress was pressed and clean, and she wore a perfume that smells like vanilla.

Now that Christmas has passed and the new year is a few days away, these men and women who played the vital role in the merriness of the holiday had to put their outfits back in their closets, and wait to wear them again for Christmases to come.

Roaring into 2012 at the Crescent Club

2011-12-29T02:10:40Z

Earlier this year, Woody Allen allowed all those who desired to take a step back into Paris in the 20’s with his hypnotizing film, “Midnight in Paris.” This New Year’s Eve at midnight, an underground speakeasy in Sacramento will play host to another world as well. The Crescent Club Speakeasy in Old Sacramento will host a Roaring 20’s party from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Upon entering the concealed back door through the Firehouse alley, visitors will enter an enchanting underground world complete with prohibition era cocktails and appetizers.

Music for the evening will be the Crescent Katz. The six-piece group has performed in the past at events such as the New Orleans Jazz Festival and the French Quarter festival. Throughout the night a Burlesque dancer will perform as well, bringing vogue old and new to the evening, considering the recent popularity of Burlesque groups of all kinds.

The speakeasy will also serve as a speakeasy casino for the night. Visitors ringing in the New Year will receive $500 of gambling “cash” upon arrival and are encouraged to dress for the occasion by donning flapper or gangster attire. Prizes will be awarded for the best dressed flapper, the couple with the finest attire and the person who wins the most money at the casino. Champagne and appetizers will be served at midnight in celebration of the new year.

The Crescent Club is located at 1150 Firehouse Alley in Old Sacramento. The speakeasy shares its ownership and management with the Café Americain just up the stairs and hosts live music; namely gypsy swing, jazz and blues; every Friday and Saturday night.

Buy tickets for the New Year’s Eve event by visiting the Crescent Club website. Currently there are less than 20 tickets left at $50. If tickets remain on December 31, tickets will be sold at the door for $65. In addition, a New Year’s Eve dinner will be hosted by the Crescent Club Speakeasy and Café Americain starting at 6 p.m.

For those who dare to be involved in the illicit activities at the Crescent Club this Saturday night, be sure to read the fine print on your registration. Without the password, you may find entrance to this secret and exclusive night in the 20’s unattainable.

The Beatles are in town! Broadway Sacramento's "Rain" delights--for one week only.

2011-12-28T18:27:09Z

Travel back through time with Broadway Sacramento's Rain, a Beatles tribute show that began as an offshoot of the Broadway production of Beatlemania. Rain ran on Broadway for 300 shows and 8 preview performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in New York City and has also been a hugely successful national tour for years. Together longer than the Beatles, Rain has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance.

This multi-media show begins by taking us away to a time when four young men stepped on stage at the Ed Sullivan show and changed music as we knew it. Rain chronicles the journey America took with the Beatles, showing us footage of screaming fans, interviews, and historical happenings that changed us all.

Looking around the room, I saw three generations of Beatles fans, all singing along, dancing, and screaming like it was 1964. When it came time for the last number to be performed, I didn’t want the show to end. And neither did anyone else, Rain went on to perform two encores.

This show is the next best thing to seeing the Beatles. Who knows, you might just learn a new song or two!

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles continues at the Community Center Theater through January 1. Show times: Wed 8pm; Thurs 2pm & 8pm; Fri 3pm & 8pm; Sat 2pm & 8pm; Sun 2pm.

The Broadway Sacramento season continues with West Side Story (Jan 24-Jan 29), Mamma Mia! (March 13-March 18), Million Dollar Quartet (April 17-April 22), and Wicked (May 23-June 17).

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Written by Sacramento365.com Intern, Aimee Steffen
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Al Stewart presents pre-Christmas treat to fans at Harlow's

2011-12-27T09:03:36Z

Photographs by Barry Wisdom

There's a wee bit more gray in the thinning hair of Scottish singer-songwriter Al Stewart, but the 66-year-old performer best known for such hits as "Year of the Cat" and "Time Passages" presented a note-perfect pre-holiday show to a packed crowd at Sacramento's Harlow's Dec. 18.

His wry sense of humor was on full display – as was his guitar virtuosity – as he shared the stage with fellow guitarist David Nachmanoff.

The long hair from the mid- to late-'70s may be gone, but his voice and nimble fingers seemed to have been frozen in time.

Here are some shots from the Dec. 18 show – frozen in time.

Photo essay: Cold Christmas nights and warm brightly lit Sacramento homes

2011-12-24T00:26:55Z

During the cold winter nights, the colorful Christmas lights on homes around town bring warmth to the hearts of passers-by. Each decorated house, big and small, has its own charm – front lawns filled with Santa Claus balloons and figures, brightly lit reindeer, colorful candy cane lights, and even cartoon penguins and bears. Some homes have lights overflowing their rooftops and trees, and some have their lights dance to the tune of Christmas carols. Cars slow down in amazement, smiles on their occupants’ faces, as they gaze at the festive decorations.

Here are the photos from some of the houses Kalyn Ruijters and I took around our neighborhoods – East Sacramento, South Sacramento, and Elk Grove.

On Kalyn’s walk and search for Christmas decorated homes Wednesday evening, she ran into a crowd of merry men and women all geared to brighten up the East Sacramento streets. It was 7 p.m. when, snowmen on wheels, Santa-sleigh tricycles and other Christmas-inspired bicycles paraded from 41st Street to 45th Street as part of the 5th Annual Nite Brite Parade. Here are some of the photos from the colorful event.

Downtown Sacramento Christmas Lights Photos

2011-12-23T20:57:51Z

It’s that special time of year on Capitol Mall and Old Sacramento, Christmas lights are up inviting people to walk a few blocks and the Capitol Christmas Trees decked out in all its splendor. Over the last several years, it appears as if more lights have gone up to enrich the overall experience as an inviting destination to visit and enjoy. The Wells Fargo Center has done a fantastic job with a beautiful tree in the lobby and twinkling lights inside and out.

Merry Christmas!

Disclosure: Read more at: http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/ or http://zwahlenimages.com/blog/

Reduce waste this holiday season

2011-12-22T17:40:50Z

More residential waste is created during the holiday season than any other time of the year, so the cities and counties in the Sacramento area are encouraging residents to recycle as much as possible.

Americans throw away 25% more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s holiday period, the California Department of Resources Recovery and Recycling (CalRecycle) reports. This extra waste amounts to 25 million tons of garbage, or about 1 million extra tons, per week nationwide. With this in mind, local governments are urging residents to reduce, reuse, and recycle during this holiday season.

"The amount of garbage sent to the landfill increases dramatically during the holiday season," said Doug Eubanks of Sacramento County’s Department of Waste Management and Recycling. "We can change the traditional holiday habit of tearing open presents and throwing away wrapping paper and cardboard. We can recover these materials if residents use their curbside recycling program. Recycling holiday paper is a better alternative than burning it or throwing it into the trash.”

In addition, the number of empty bottles and cans soars during the holidays. About 100 million plastic water bottles will end up in the trash statewide during the holiday season. If recycled, those water bottles could be used to make 48,000 sweaters, or 220,000 square feet of carpeting, according to CalRecycle.

“Tons of empty beverage containers are also generated during this time of year and these cans, glass and plastic bottles should also be recycled,” said Eubanks.

Most residents can put holiday waste paper -- greeting cards, gift boxes and wrapping paper -- in their curbside mixed recycling program. Phone books and calendars also are accepted in the mixed recycling container.

All mixed paper -- which includes cardboard, advertising mail, catalogs, paper boxes, newspapers, computer paper, old calendars and other “clean” household paper -- can be recycled in curbside recycling programs.

The paper should be placed in the mixed recycling container and set out on the curb on regular recycling pick-up days. For those who do not have a curbside recycling program, there are drop-off sites located at many grocery stores, schools, and non-profit organizations, which accept most items.

For more information on recycling programs, visit http://www.holidayrecycling.com.

Disclosure: A former journalist, Dell Richards is the principal of Dell Richards Publicity. Richards works with Ross-Campbell, Inc., a marketing and media production firm specializing in cause-related issues. Holiday Recycling is one of their campaigns.

Christmas celebrations, Sacramento-style

2011-12-22T00:43:49Z

As always, Sacramento steps up to the plate with holiday events of all sorts. At Sacramento365.com, we see a lot of events come through the site every day. Though there are myriad options in our Holiday Event section, we've narrowed down the list to 10 to get help you pick your Christmas Eve & Christmas Day festivities.

Christmas Eve Events:
Sure, the night before Christmas should be spent snuggled in bed waiting for Santa Claus, but why not get out and about during the day. Here are some options to keep you entertained around town:

1. Free Admission at Fairytale Town & Sacramento Zoo:
FTT 10am-2pm; Zoo 10am-1:30pm
Treat the kiddies to a day out while both Fairytale Town & the Sacramento Zoo offer free admission to all guests. The Zoo encourages participating in their pajama party, so you needn’t even change

2. Downtown Holiday Ice Rink:
St. Rose of Lima Park, 10am-6pm
Located outdoors near Westfield Downtown Plaza, the Downtown Holiday Ice Rink is the perfect holiday experience for the young and young at heart.

3. It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play:
Capital Stage, 11am
Inspired by the classic American film of the same title, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play is performed as a 1940s live radio broadcast in front of a studio audience.

4. Holiday Film Screenings: It’s a Wonderful Life:
Crest Theatre, 1:30pm, 4:30pm, & 7:30pm
If you can’t make it to Cap Stage’s live performance (see above), you can still catch the original film rendition live on the big screen at the historic Crest Theatre.

5. Theatre of Lights:
Old Sacramento, 6pm & 7:30pm
A symphony of lights, sounds, and visual effects will take the audience back to a time when the beloved poem "The Night Before Christmas" was first introduced in Sacramento in 1857.

Christmas Day Events:
Looking to entertain friends & family in town after your regular traditions are over? Or just looking to get out of the house after so much family time? Sacramento doesn’t disappoint. Here are a few options for

1. Christmas Brunch:
Hyatt Regency, 10am-3pm
Enjoy this holiday season with all of the trimmings. Join for a bountiful buffet brunch featuring breakfast items and traditional holiday favorites.

2. Christmas Day Supper Cruise:
Empress Hornblower, 3:30pm-6:30pm
Join Hornblower for Christmas Day with your family and celebrate the season with a delicious meal, relax and enjoy the holiday. The Cruise includes traditional holiday dishes, festive music, and beautiful views of the Sacramento River.

3. Bah Humbug!:
MiX Downtown, 8:30pm-2am
Get out from under your tree and continue the holiday partying at this special Sunday Circus night. Spend the evening with your "other" family at Mix Downtown!

4. Christmas with Arden Park Roots:
Harlow’s, 9pm
Join reggae/rock/punk band Arden Park Roots for a festive Christmas show.

5. Asylum:
Barcode Nightclub, 9pm-1:30am
Featuring resident DJ Bryan Hawk, Asylum is a night of the best cutting edge goth, industrial, nu-darkwave, EBM dance music.

Find more detail on these events along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Rachael Lankford is the Managing Calendar Editor for Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

The Occupy movement struggles to resonate within the black community

2011-12-22T00:33:31Z

For the past few months cities across America have seen crowds of protestors taking to the streets angered by the state of the U.S. economy in the wake of noticeable corporate greed, Wall Street failures, and home lending corruption scandals to name a few gripes. In what has become known as the “Occupy Wall Street” or “OWS” movement, citizen discourse has largely become a protest of “We won’t take it anymore” politics, against the widening wealth divide and continued mistrust of a political system. A type of corporate-political combo agenda that has seemingly sold out main street Americans for the greater catered interest of the top one percent richest people. Now this does not on its surface mean that the masses of people are demanding a total change of the three branches of government, however people from every sector of civilian life are demanding more accountability in the way politicians and corporations do business.
Many of the captions of the Occupy movement has been one of that focuses on grievance oriented whites against the system. This scene is something that is not new to the rank and file of black Americans who themselves know the routine to what demonstrations can do. Blacks once led marches of change across the south during the height of the civil rights movements of the 1960’s when institutional racism was formidable on the social issues stage. In the decades since 60’s, blacks have continually had a reason to gripe about many of the same issues that the Occupy movement demonstrators are now protesting about. Conversely, critics and pundits alike have been asking why has there not been much larger support and inclusion among the black community to join in with these mass demonstrations across the country.

When I am in the communities of Del Paso, South Sacramento, or Oak Park and ask some of the black brothers and sisters what they think about the issues of OWS or locally organized Occupy Sacramento (OS), and whether or not they feel more blacks should be out on the streets joining this movement, many are conflicted. Some feel as though that other people (mostly politically conservative whites) want to blame President Obama for this country’s political and economic mess, when in fact Obama inherited more on his presidential plate than any other president to come into office during his first term. “I am tired of white folks blaming someone other than themselves for what’s happenings, they had Bush in office for what 8 years” says Mark Livingston. Others such as Kenyon Davis thinks that the problems can’t be easily solved in the manner the protestors are taking action, “I think at the end of the day, these protests are not going to change anything”. Davis sentiment’s seems to be what most blacks are saying about the organization of these protests to really affect this change.

Examining the economic state of the black community, blacks are no better off after the emergence of Obama than when Bush was in office. In some cases segments of blacks are in worse shape. As the cycle of jobs leave areas of the Sacramento valley region so do more opportunities for mainly underserved and less represented groups such as blacks. Studies continue to show that black men in America with bachelor degrees still have a harder time finding upwardly mobile jobs and careers than do their white counterparts with only a high school diploma. Therefore it is no surprise when asking blacks to join such movements as OWS that there is little to no action on the side of the vast majority of black people.

It is quite clear that there is a dire need to increase and improve the level of job and economic opportunities in all communities, however, as the jobs go so do the opportunities for those men in disenfranchised and isolated communities. The problem with the Occupy movement is that there has not been one single leader or voice that can articulate and influence what are the key demands for this change movement. Rather it’s an autonomous leadership model with an underside of freedom, liberty, and justice as its motto for an all people’s revolution. The result being that it allows for as many individual leadership voices as there are grievances. While black leadership on the other hand has pretty much stayed out the fray, you can find pockets of black contribution, activism, and support within the ranks of the Occupy movement. Traditional community action oriented and black run organizations such as the NAACP and Urban League, have only partially galvanized black member support and that visibility is minimum at best in Sacramento.

The national face of the Occupy movement has largely been one of a frustrated white, middle class, college educated, and unemployed demographic group. If the message of OS is to transform the traditional barriers that are now affecting the majority white protestors of this movement, than it must see that these same barriers have limited blacks and other Latinos from gaining a advantage before the economic crisis hit.

Christmas gifts under $20

2011-12-21T06:58:43Z

Christmas is a time of giving and receiving, but the former may prove challenging – especially when you need financially friendly ideas. Even when it’s the thought that counts behind a gift, you still need to look like you’ve thought about it, and socks don’t always leave that impression.

To make this Christmas challenge a bit easier, The Sacramento Press looked at local stores in Midtown that have some fun options, each of them under $20.

The Beat

Location: 1700 J St.
Store hours:
Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

The Beat is an independent music store that sells all genres, new and old. Here, a unique gift can be bought for the music lovers on your Christmas list.

Vinyl records
Suggested for: Lovers and collectors of old music.

Price range: $10 - $20
“Vinyl records transcend all age groups,” said Jeff Tyler, 47, manager of The Beat. He said that a vinyl record is perfect for the dad or grandpa who wants to reminisce their yester-years by listening to the soundtracks of their lives. Tyler asked, “Who does not want to relive their childhood?"

For $16.98, a shopper can give the unique gift of Michael Jackson’s “Farewell My Summer Love” vinyl record. It can be framed, or played on the freshly dusted record player.

In the rare vinyl records section, shoppers can find albums by the likes of The Beatles, The Platters, Green Day and Madonna. Tyler also said that there is a resurgence of interest in vinyl records among teenagers this year.

"The parents are going to know what they are,” said Tyler, “because they played them when they were younger. Grandparents will know, and teenagers are learning."

Band poster
Suggested for: Lovers and collectors of new music.

Price range: $15 - $20
These posters are just as collectible and decorative as the vinyl records above. One example is this 30 inch-by-30 inch 3 Doors Down board poster, sold for $20 and perfect for that special someone.

Metro Electronics

Location: 1831 J St.
Store hours:
Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Metro Electronics is the place for electronic parts. Any geeks who wants to build their own computer can find something they need here. There are no widescreen TVs, video games or iPod accessories. Instead, they offer parts for TVs, radios and other electronic devices, and a wide range of do-it-yourself kits for building radios, burglar alarms, LED displays and other doohickeys.

Roulette wheel
Suggested for: Any teen or adult who’s run out of things to solder.

Price: $19.95
For the adults who love soldering and making objects light up, the store carries LED mini kits, including a roulette wheel. Once built, the LED lights randomly light up a number, much like the ball on the real thing. There are other potential gifts like this for the same price, including a “riding Santa,” with lights that flash in a way to animate Santa on his sleigh.

Tyranomech
Suggested for: The people who keep taking your radio apart so they can put it back together.

Price: $16.95
A solder-less mechanical motorized wooden kit, Tyranomech is perfect for teenagers who enjoy challenges outside of Lego products. Builders follow the instructions to piece this wood dinosaur together, so that it can walk (or really wobble) across your table or counter. Batteries are not included, but there’s enough change with your $20 budget to cover that.

The store’s general manager, Bob May, 58, said that this toy is perfect for kids who want to get into basic robotics, because the kit includes real gears and motors. He also admitted to putting some of these together himself, and said they can make adults feel like kids again.

"They are different," May said. “You can say, ‘I built that’ instead of, ‘I bought that.’ ”

If a dinosaur isn’t quite what you need, there’s also an Automech for the same price, which rolls on wood wheels rather than waddles on wood legs.

Trés Chic Boutiqué

Location: 2228 J St.
Store hours:
Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

A fun and friendly apparel store, Trés Chic Boutiqué has been in operation for 18 years. The owner, Susan Tiesing, 53, is proud of the fact that most of the store's special-occasion dresses are one of a kind. If you shop for something here, you won’t have worry about someone finding and wearing the same dress.

“We want our customers to have something unique and individual,” Tiesing said.

Here are some examples of items they have “in stock” now.

Guitar pick earrings
Suggested for: The girl who needs more casual (but stylish) earrings.

Price: $19.99
The funky guitar pick earrings’ fun and playful design goes well with casual denim outfits, Tiesing said. They come in red, blue and purple – but they won’t be in the store for long.

Scarves
Suggested for: Girls who wanna have fun.

Price: $19.99
This lavender scarf is a great gift for style and weather alike. Made from 100 percent pashmina, the silky material can be worn with casual or formal attire.

Fingerless gloves
Suggested for: Girls who wanna have warm hands.

Price: $15
Fingerless gloves with attached mitten are great for anyone caught texting all the time. The gloves’ fingerless tips make it easy to type when needed, and the attached mitten can be used for additional protection against the winter cold.

Vintage-inspired gloves
Suggested for: Sophisticated women, and those who think they’re sophisticated.

Price: $18
These vintage-inspired gloves are perfect for adults, according to Tiesing, because of their muted color, showing sophistication and maturity. The polyester and cotton materials are stretchable, making them comfortable to wear.

The Book Collector

Location: 1008 24th St.
Store hours:
Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

This used book store has more to offer than today’s world will admit. The store carries more than 20,000 used books, which are mostly under $15, making it a great place to find what your bookworm friends and family want. Here’s a perfect example:

“The Adventures of Peter Cottontail” and “The Adventures of Mr. Mocker”
Suggested for: Young readers and read-to-ers.

Price: $5 each
These old and worn books still have enough life in them for kids to read along, making them great Christmas gifts. Store owner Rachel Hansen said adventure stories of personified animals are classics that kids from the ’40s and ’50s enjoyed, and the kids of today will enjoy, too.

"When a parent gives a child a book,” Hansen said, “then it's not just the gift of the book, but the gift of time."

Christmas is a perfect time for these books, she said, because with bedtime stories, parents and their children can spend that special time together reading the books and enjoying each other’s company.

Peradice

Location: 918 24th St.
Store hours:
Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday noon - 4 p.m.

A card and gift store that opened in June, Peradice carries greeting cards, candles and other home goods. Lighthearted and bright, the store has plenty to offer to its customers.

“Doofus and Darling’s Manners for the Modern Man”
Suggested for: Your guy friend who sometimes doesn’t get it or your boyfriend who could learn a thing or two.

Price: $12
A fun book on a funnier subject, this book tells what it really means to be chivalrous in this day and age. Best used as a joke gift rather than as a manual.

Candle tins
Suggested for: Anyone who needs to relax this Christmas. In other words, anyone.

Price: $8
These scented candle tins come with scents like “coconut milk mango” and “tangerine teakwood.” They’re handy items when you need to cover another scent or finally have enough time to take that long, relaxing bath.

Handmade earrings
Suggested for: Moms, sisters, girlfriends, wives and any jewelry-loving female with pierced ears

Price: $18
These earrings were handmade by local Pam Nichols, a friend to the store Peradice, and come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Doilies are included with purchase.

Cuffs

Location: 2523 J St.
Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.,
Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Cuffs is a fun place to find both new and vintage clothing. The store has clothes and accessories for men and women, some clothes are fashionable and cute, and some are downright kinky. Let’s start with the kinky.

Toddland underpants
Suggested for: The one you know will laugh the loudest.

Price: $18
These men’s boxers come in playful prints, from owls to tuxedos. Comfortable, practical, and not a reason to smirk.

Vintage ties
Suggested for: Males who plan to look sharp in their suits.

Price: $12
These ties come in different colors and styles, and all are very classy.

“They all have their own back story,” said Kaitlyn Hester, 21, a clerk at Cuffs. “We just don’t know them.”

Mighty wallets
Suggested for: The one who keeps forgetting to pay you by “losing” his wallet.

Price: $15
Their mighty wallets are named for their strength and eco-friendly impact. Children often try to tear the demo wallet, twisting and wringing and biting, yet the wallet stays intact. It’s small and snugly and fits into your pocket while holding your cash. They come with different designs, from “Star Trek” to red flannel.

Mixed Bag

Location: 2405 K St.
Store hours:
Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

The self-proclaimed “one-stop gift shop” – for kids, at least. Mixed Bag is packed full of fun toys and goofy joke gifts, quite a few of them falling in the $20 price range. Here’s some of the highlights.

FuzzyFriends slippers
Suggested for: Kids who fit them and fiancés who need them.

Price: $19.95
These silly slippers take the form of ladybugs, bumblebees and other cute animals. They’re great for little ones who want both new slippers and new toys, and in this weather, no one needs to have cold feet.

Sock-It-To-Me socks
Suggested for: The one who’s tired of argyle.

Price: $8.50
Yes, we just went there. But these socks can get away with saying, “I thought of you when I saw these.” With patterns from bicycles to mustaches, these socks give a better connotation to “funky.”

Even if you woke up this morning to find that Christmas is creeping up on you, there’s still time to give. Make that Christmas (shopping) list, and don’t forget to check it twice. The only thing better than finding a gift that keeps on giving, is being that gift yourself.

The article is co-written with Ellen Dominguez

Preventative measures in gang violence discussed a year after barbershop shooting

2011-12-21T04:53:01Z

Additional efforts will be made by the Sacramento Police Department and Sacramento Sheriff's Department to prevent youth involvement in gangs by promoting interactions between police officers and the youth. The mayor is calling this approach a paradigm shift, and it will be part of Sacramento's first comprehensive plan for gang prevention, Mayor Kevin Johnson announced Tuesday at the Boys & Girls Club on Lemon Hill Avenue.

The emphasis of the program will be heavy on prevention and intervention instead of just enforcement and incarceration, according to the mayor.

Johnson said the program will focus on school literacy enrichment, strengthening the relationship between the Sacramento community and law enforcement, supporting workforce readiness programs and job training, and promoting regional collaboration.

The COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) program provided funding for additional deputies in taking on this task.

Undersheriff Mark Iwasa said that community interaction and youth level intervention is important in solving the gang problem.

Deputy Chief Dan Schiele said that every contact law enforcers have with the public is an opportunity to be a role model and that youth interaction is one of the priorities.

"I grew up in Oak Park, and anytime we saw a police officer, we ran, because we always thought we were in trouble, even though we're not in trouble," Johnson said. "You don't want a community living in fear."

He said that, through the program, he will challenge law enforcers to be proactive in interacting with the youth, and make sure the first interaction with them is not negative, in order to build trust.

A vigil was held outside the venue after the press conference in commemoration of Monique Nelson's death anniversary, a gang-related death that was known as the barbershop shooting.

"There is nothing we can do to bring back her life," Johnson said. "But we made a commitment that her death won't be in vain."

He said that within the four-month period after the shooting, all four shooters were arrested. He added, "Justice was served."

Nelson’s brother, Richard Anthony Nelson was at the press conference Tuesday and said, “Hopefully we can stop this (gang violence) in our area, because it really destroys families.”

In the next couple of months the mayor said that the Gang Prevention Task Force he formed will put an implementation team in place that will be in charge in making sure that the program’s goals are achieved within the next three years.

Downtown Construction Photo Update Fall 2011

2011-12-20T04:33:41Z

“Seventh & H" SRO - 7th & H Street, $47.4 million project.
Expected completion date, Spring 2013

626 I Street Rehabilitation Project - $19.4 million.
Expected completion date, Sept. 2012

La Valentina Station - 12th Street between D and E streets, $27 million project.
Expected completion date, summer 2012.

Sutter Medical Center - L & 29th Street, $600 million project.
Expected completion date, late 2012.

Read more at: http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/

A Unique Gift that Supports the Community

2011-12-19T19:12:40Z

For anyone who is still looking for unique holiday gift ideas, the Northern California nonprofit INALLIANCE may have just the solution- tickets to the "Sacramento Chef Challenge" at 4:00 p.m. Saturday ~~Friday~~ , June 23, 2012.

The well known culinary extravaganza features two live culinary competitions, food sampling, wine and beer tasting, live music, raffle prizes and more! But, the best part is-100% of proceeds go to programs that support people with developmental disabilities!

"2012 marks the 10th anniversary of the Sacramento Chef Challenge, which means we will be pulling out all the stops and slashing ticket prices,” says INALLIANCE Executive Director Diana DeRodeff.

INALLIANCE provides work and life skills training, supported employment services and assistive communication for people with developmental disabilities. “Our mission supports the belief that people with developmental disabilities have an absolute right and responsibility to be fully participating members of the community, and the Sacramento Chef Challenge is a way for us to raise vital funds for our programs while connecting with the community in a fun and positive way,” continues DeRodeff.

Rancho Cordova resident Anthony Paradiso has attended the event for the past four years and says, “I look forward to the Chef Challenge every year. It is exciting and offers a huge variety of food, wine and beer! I love a good competition and the chefs put on a great show.” Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased online at www.chefevent.com or by calling INALLIANCE at 916-381-1300 x170.

“There are many food events out there, but I support the Sacramento Chef Challenge because it is a quality event that benefits a great cause,” adds Paradiso. To learn more about the Sacramento Chef Challenge, purchase tickets and see photos from past years visit www.chefevent.com today!

Disclosure: Jessica Bean is an employee of INALLIANCE

TV for the Holidays - Access Sacramento Channel 17

2011-12-19T18:53:44Z

Show the NBA you don't need their back-to-back B-ball to enjoy the holiday spirit. During those lulls in family "How have you been?" catching up, endless high calorie snacking, and playing (breaking?) the kid's brand new toys, enjoy local holiday programming made by your neighbors right here in Sacramento County. Here's the schedule of special events - a "snapshot" of our Christmas weekend programming on Channel 17 and streamed on our web site at www.AccessSacramento.org - ENJOY - Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

“Celebration Of Lights” – 9:00am

“Kid’s Corp Christmas Special” – 11:30am

“Giving – Winter Wonderland & Raley Field” – 12:00Noon

“Terry Moore Christmas Special” – 12:00Noon

“Dancing With The Stars” – 1:00pm

“Veteran’s Day Parade” – 3:00pm

“Happy Rhythm 2011 Christmas” – 4:30pm

“LiveWire! Santa Christmas Special” – 5:00pm

“Sacramento Dances – Let’s Dance Ballroom’s 2011 Holiday Gala” – 7:00pm

“Club Karo’ky Xmas Show” – 8:00pm

“Christmas With Sister Swing” – 9:00pm

“The Crib (stage play)” – 11:00pm

Sunday, December 25, 2011

“LiveWire! Santa Christmas Special” – 9:00am

“Sacramento Dances – Let’s Dance Ballroom’s 2011 Holiday Gala” – 11:00am

“Club Karo’ky Xmas Show” – 12:00Noon

“Christmas With Sister Swing” – 1:00pm

“Agape Christian Fellowship Xmas Special” – 4:00pm

“Giving – USAF Band of the Golden West” – 5:00pm

“Happy Rhythm 2011 Christmas Special” – 7:00p

“Celebration Of Lights” – 7:30pm

“Chinese Culture 25th Anniversary Celebration” – 10:00pm

All cablecasts will be on Comcast/Surewest Channel 17 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, Pacific Daylight/Standard Time. What? You don't have those services? Not to worry, you can also view the programs on our website at www.accesssacramento.org, at the times listed above. Feel free to share this schedule with your friends! Most of the above programs are also posted on Comcast "On-Demand" channel 1 under "Get Local" and "Access Sacramento". Thank you for your support of local community and public access television in Sacramento County.

Disclosure: Ron Cooper is Executive Director of Access Sacramento

Photo Essay: Sacramento Kings' Fan Fest - 15 Nov. 2011

2011-12-18T08:43:15Z

The Kings were welcomed to a packed Power Balance Pavilion on Thursday night following their Media Day. They were divided into two teams who played four games up to twenty points each. The crowd was pleasantly delighted by the performance of their Kings, cheering for rookie Isaiah Thomas and Francisco Garcia. The final count of the games broke even at 2-2, but overall the crowd won knowing that their Kings have returned.

Local Boys & Girls Club hosts celebration of 50,000 at-risk youth receiving gift of sight

2011-12-17T22:38:59Z

In recognition of the VSP Eye Pledge campaign reaching its goal to provide more than $19.2 million worth of free eye exams and glasses to 50,000 at-risk youth across America, the Boys & Girls Clubs Teichert Branch in Sacramento and VSP Vision Care (VSP) hosted a fun-filled celebration Friday.

Karolina Maluga, development manager of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento was on-hand to receive a giant gift certificate for 50,000 free eye exams and glasses on behalf of Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. Local Boys & Girls Club members also enjoyed an eye-opening tour inside one of VSP's state-of-the-art, 45-foot mobile eyecare clinics.

In the online campaign that kicked off in mid-August, Rancho Cordova-based VSP Vision Care, the nation's largest not-for-profit vision insurance company, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America partnered to encourage people across the country to visit www.SeeMuchMore.com and take the free VSP Eye Pledge. For each pledge made, a gift certificate for a free eye exam and glasses was directed to a local Club child in need.

Nearly 900 local children throughout the Sacramento region are receiving free eye exams and glasses courtesy of the VSP Eye Pledge campaign.

VSP Vision Care and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America launched the free campaign to encourage consumers to take care of their vision and reinforce the message that eye health is an important part of overall health.

"Each eye exam and pair of glasses that a club member receives represents a new opportunity for that child to achieve his or her goals," said Sharon Hemphill, senior director of health and life skills at Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "With the generosity of partners such as VSP, Boys & Girls Clubs of America is able to fill the void of critical services, such as eyecare, that many of our members simply do not have access to."

"The success of the VSP Eye Pledge campaign speaks to the generosity of local communities," said Kate Renwick-Espinosa, chief marketing officer of VSP Global. "Fifty thousand people across the country took a pledge to not only care for themselves and their families, but to help direct care to a child in need. Witnessing the positive impact that this campaign has made in the lives of so many children is extremely fulfilling for all of us at VSP and we are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of America who helped make this a reality."

Disclosure: Alex Sigua is a Public Relations Specialist with VSP Vision Care

Watch "Dancing with the Capitol Stars" Sunday 5 PM on Access Sacramento Channel 17

2011-12-17T07:19:18Z

In case you missed it, or want to see it again, tune into Access Sacramento's Channel 17 - (Comcast and Surewest Cable) this Sunday, Dec 18th from 5:00-7:00pm and see the Sacramento Press Club's "Dancing with the Capitol Stars"!

Hear our MC, Dennis Mangers open with an amazing rendition of "Let's Face the Music and Dance" and enjoy his quips through the show.
Ooh and aah at our dancing stars who tango'd, foxtroted and waltzed their way across the stage in their battle for the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy. (Starring: Edie Lambert, Lloyd Levine, Roger Niello, Alyson Huber, Fiona Ma, Ed Fletcher, Brian Joseph, Juliet Williams, Judy Lin, Kevin Riggs, Karen Skelton & Christina Anderson)
Delight in the insightful and sometimes outlandish comments from our judges (Dan Walters, Cristina Mendonsa & Ron Cunningham.)
Laugh out loud at Senator Darrell Steinberg's comedic look back at the Sacramento Press Club's 50th Anniversary (and yes, he really did sing!!)...
And you won't want to miss the honoring of a giant in journalism, Columnist George Skelton.
Event produced by Sharon Gerber and Six Degrees Productions

For those not within TV range in Sacramento County it will also be streamed live on www.AccessSacramento.org. Spread the word - no one should miss this unique show! If you're not near a TV this Sunday the show will also run on these dates/times:Monday, December 19th @ 9:00amTuesday, December 20th @ 1:00amSaturday, December 24th @ 1:00pmSaturday, December 31st @ 10:30pmFriday, January 6, 2012 @ 8:00pmSaturday, January 7th @ 12:00pmSunday, January 8th @ 4:00am All cablecasts will be on Comcast/Surewest Channel 17 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, Pacific Daylight/Standard Time, unless otherwise specified. What? You don't have those services? The Internet stream is not video on demand. Thank you for your support of The Sacramento Press Club as well as local community and public access television in Sacramento County.

Happy Holidays!

Disclosure: Ron Cooper is Executive Director of Access Sacramento

Light up Midtown -- the winners

2011-12-17T06:08:08Z

Light up Midtown – the second annual event designed to bring holiday cheer to Midtown storefronts – crowned a winner on Dec. 14. Tres Chic Boutique, a dress store on J Street, claimed first prize for the second consecutive year.

The runner-up was French Cuff Consignment, a secondhand store also on J Street, and third place was awarded to Cheap Thrills Costumes and Party Clothes, a vintage clothing and costume shop on L Street.

Fifty participants competed in the contest to create “the most whimsical storefront,” which is three fewer than last year, said Heather Philpott, events and communications manager with the Midtown Business Association.

For winning, Tres Chic Boutique has $1000 in advertising grants, money that comes from the “12 Days of Midtown” event budget, Philpott said. Second and third place received $500 and $250, respectively.

Tres Chic has a window filled with white twinkle lights, framed with icicles. High-heeled shoes and an old-fashioned Santa, dressed all in white, complete the display.

“It’s about being creative, being whimsical and getting lots of lights up,” Philpott said, adding that the pretty windows helped to get the public vote, but the stores that won did so because they were able to get the word out to voters about the competition.

The display at French Cuff Consignment is a gingerbread dog house and Santa holding a note that reads, “All I want for Christmas is a puppy,” said store owner Corey De Roo. White lights and two Christmas trees frame the scene.

De Roo said she spent about $30 on the display, including several stuffed puppies. Once the holiday season ends, the stuffed animals will be donated to the Yolo County SPCA to be used for promotional work when live animals cannot be present.

Winners can spend their advertising grant anywhere, Philpott said. The owners can submit their invoices, and the MBA will pay the bill.

“I haven’t decided where to advertise,” De Roo said, “but I’ll use the money in a productive way to help inspire people to shop locally.”

Cheap Thrills Costumes and Party Clothes has a storefront with a bit of everything, said store owner Todd Aylward.

“We used lots of lights and dressed the mannequins up in holiday stuff,” Aylward said.

On one side of the storefront, one mannequin is dressed like a nutcracker, and another looks like Father Christmas. The other side features mannequins in party attire, a disco ball and a pair of checkered legs coming up out of the floor.

Aylward said he spent about $100 on the display and added that he plans to participate next year.

Voters this year had an additional incentive to cast their votes – one lucky winner’s name will be drawn to receive a gift certificate for $100 from any Midtown store, Philpott said.

The Light up Midtown competition will return next year, and Philpott said the MBA hopes to attract even more participants.

Editorial Note: A spelling correction has been made to this article after it was published.

Pets invited to Santa’s Workshop in Midtown!

2011-12-16T20:24:29Z

Skip the crowded malls this Saturday and bring your wish lists and your camera down to the MARRS Building to visit Santa’s Workshop! Santa and his elves have opened up their workshop for the past two Saturdays and this Saturday they are inviting the whole family, even the pets!

Residents and visitors are invited to visit Santa’s Workshop at the MARRS Building from 11am-4pm. Pets are welcome to come down from 2pm-4pm. Grateful Dog Daycare will even be on hand to give the photogenic pooches a special treat.

The MARRS Building is located in the heart of Midtown at 20th & J Streets. MARRS retailers invite all, big and small, to join them at this festive event. Retailers at MARRS include Pete’s Coffee, Mr. Pickles, Sacramento Comedy Spot, Azul, Luigi’s Slice, Denim Spot, LoungeON20 and Asha Yoga.

“We are excited to offer Midtown families and visitors the opportunity to meet Santa here at the MARRS Building as part of their Holiday festivities,” said MARRS developer Michael Heller.

Families and their pets will have the opportunity to take their own photos or they can purchase an instant photo for $5 from the on-site photographer. Children are also encouraged to bring their letters to Santa and place them in Santa’s Mailbox for express journey to the North Pole.

Parking will also be FREE during all hours of Santa’s Workshop thanks to the City of Sacramento, who is providing Midtown with FREE Street metered parking all day on weekends and after 4:30 p.m. on weekdays through December 25th.

Please check out marrs-sactown.com for more information specific to each event.

Disclosure: Heather Philpott is the Communication Coordinator at the Midtown Business Association and is a producer of the annual Halloween festivities.

183 foster youth receive holiday gifts and stockings

2011-12-15T23:20:12Z

Ninety-six women donated 133 stockings and 150 gifts through United Way’s Women in Philanthropy so 183 local foster youth, and those emancipated, would have holiday wishes fulfilled. Fifty foster youth in Sacramento County’s Gifts From The Heart program received the holiday gifts they requested. United Way’s Women in Philanthropy and community members also filled stockings for 133 current and emancipated foster youth with United Way’s $en$e-Ability project funded partners: Amador-Tuolumne Community Resources, Child Abuse Prevention Council of Sacramento, Koinonia Family Services and New Morning Youth and Family Services.

“Some of these kids are scared, suddenly removed from their homes during what is supposed to be the happiest season of the year,” said Lisa Watts, chair of United Way’s Women in Philanthropy. “Others have experienced years of pain as they bounce from one foster home to another and now prepare to live on their own. United Way’s Women in Philanthropy gives women across the region a tangible way to touch these kids’ hearts during the holidays.”

United Way’s Women in Philanthropy brings women together to foster the future, preparing foster youth for a successful adulthood. A dynamic group of businesswomen, homemakers and community leaders, Women in Philanthropy members raise funds, hold drives and provide trainings focused on helping foster youth rise to their dreams. The group also is a partner in United Way’s $en$e-Ability project, helping foster youth become financially self-sufficient through financial literacy courses and individual development accounts that provide a matched savings program. For more information, visit www.yourlocalunitedway.org/wip.

Sacramento County’s Gifts from the Heart is an annual holiday gift-giving program that operates on donations and benefits children and seniors who are in the Department of Health and Human Services’ system of care. For more information, call (916) 875-2027.

Disclosure: Kristin Thébaud is the marketing consultant for United Way California Capital Region, as well as other local nonprofits and philanthropic companies.

Crest to host holiday film fests for fans of camp, Capra and corpuscles

2011-12-15T12:20:26Z

For those whose Christmas season isn't complete without watching Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed stroll through Bedford Falls warbling "Buffalo Gals," Sacramento's Crest Theatre is bringing director-screenwriter Frank Capra's 1946 Liberty Films classic, "It's a Wonderful Life," back to the big screen for nine holiday screenings Dec. 22-24.

It's just one of three yuletide-themed events scheduled for the 975-seat art deco movie palace during the week leading up to Christmas.

Also on tap: the G-rated "Santa's Cool Holiday Film Festival" (Dec. 17 and 18), a syndicated package of "Greetings from the Theater Management" trailers, vintage TV segments, cartoons and the so-bad-it's-good 1964 theatrical feature "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians."

And for those who prefer strychnine to egg nog, an adults-only (18 and older) holiday movie edition of the Crest's long-running Trash Film Orgy series will showcase the 1984 UK slasher flick "Don't Open Till Christmas," along with live pre-show entertainment, including a "Trash Santa" accompanied by a posse of scantily clad elves, games, prizes and a full bar (Dec. 17).

While the Crest has established a successful tradition of showing a much-beloved, classic Christmas title each holiday season, general manager Sid Garcia-Heberger said slotting a quirky, retro festival featuring a lesser-known cinematic centerpiece like "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians," or scheduling a decidedly edgy attempt at counter-programming such as TFO's holiday show, is "a roll of the dice."

"We've been showing 'It's a Wonderful Life' for the last 20 years, and in the early years business was OK, but not fantastic," said Garcia-Heberger. "But in the past five or six years, when we've been alternating 'It's a Wonderful Life' with 'White Christmas,' they seemed to really catch on."

Helping ticket sales along has been the Crest's recent partnership with social media outlets, whose heavily discounted offers like Groupon's recent 50 percent-off deal for "a movie outing to 'It's a Wonderful Life' with large popcorn and large drink" resulted in more than 1,000 $9 admission/concessions package purchases.

"But this year's festival shows are new for us," Garcia-Heberger said. "It's hard for us to gauge at this point."

But Garcia-Heberger, an admitted Christmas fan whose family's own holiday traditions include listening to the 1947 Lux Radio Theatre production of "It's a Wonderful Life" while on local road trips, said she's hopeful that the nostalgia factor and innocence of Santa's Cool Holiday Film Festival, and the "irreverent Christmas fun" of the TFO holiday show, will capture the attention of both the unapologetically sappy fans of Dec. 25 like herself, as well as those whose take on the holiday season is more "snarkly" than sparkly.

Among that latter group – who are unlikely to queue up for a chance to tearfully watch Zuzu's dad "paste" her precious flower's petals back into place, but are eager to embrace a humor-laced '80s film featuring a serial killer out to off anyone donning red velvet and fur ("Fur is murder," after all) – is TFO Productions co-founder Christy Savage.

"I'm pretty damn excited about our TFO show this month," said Savage, who formed TFO Productions with fellow artists/filmmakers Darin Wood and Amy Slockbower in 2001. "I think it'll be a fun TFO show, it's pretty ridiculous. I'm more excited about Christmas than I have been for ages."

Though the six to 10 annual TFO shows have consistently proven popular – especially those featuring films by Russ Meyers, Roger Corman, and anything with a zombie – Garcia-Heberger is guardedly optimistic about the TFO show.

"The TFO audience is definitely not your general John Q. Public," she said. "They are seeking out unusual, different things for their entertainment."

In the beginning, she said the Crest had expected TFO audiences to be primarily 20-somethings. But as the series continued, they saw that TFO ticket buyers were generally in their late-30s or early-40s.

Garcia-Heberger said she and her TFO partners thinks the Crest finally has the perfect mix of salty-and-sweet holiday treats this year, and that there really is something for everyone.

The shows in detail

Described as "the funkiest, silliest and least emotional movie experience you'll have this holiday season," Santa's Cool Holiday Film Festival is a cornucopia of Christmas hors d'oeuvres ranging from such tasty tidbits as the Fleischer Studio's original Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer animated short, to a main course that rockets a kidnapped St. Nicholas to the Red Planet where he must outwit the Martian high command in order to return to Earth and save Christmas.

With its cardboard robots and television-antenna Martian headgear, "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" is ripe for mockery, and one of the best jibes was delivered by orbiting space janitor Joel Hodgson and his robot pals (and fellow Satellite of Love castaways), Crow and Tom Servo, in a nonstop stream of sarcastic comments during their screening of the film on a December 1991 episode of "Mystery Science Theater 3000."

That episode was later included on Rhino Theatricals' 1988 DVD release "The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection – The Essentials."

In 2010, Cassandra Peterson (aka Elvira, Mistress of the Dark) added her own twisted take on "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" when her "Elvira's Movie Macabre" series put the bite on the what has been called one of the worst movies ever made. Like "MST3K's" mock-fest, Peterson's television "roast" is now available on DVD.

In 2005 – more than four decades after the film's theatrical release – Roadside Amusements published Lou Harry's novelization of Glenville Mareth's screenplay – proof, of a sort, that "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" (and its peppy theme song, "Hooray for Santa Claus") will live forever as successive generations discover what can be best described as Flash Gordon meets Kris Kringle. As a special treat, Roadside Amusements' hardcover book also includes a stocking stuffer: a DVD copy of the movie.

Also on the Santa's Cool Holiday Film Festival bill: two of Max Fleischer's classic pre-War theatrical cartoons, 1936's "Christmas Comes But Once a Year," in which "whimsical inventor Grampy creates a whole Santa’s workshop worth of toys for some poor orphans," and 1944's "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," a charming adventure that should not be confused with the 1964 Rankin/Bass TV classic.

But the Crest's cool yule lineup doesn't end there, fans of Christmases past will get to set their Wayback Machine dials for additional stops in the 1950s and '60s to visit such cathode-ray icons as Ozzie and Harriet Nelson and their sons David and Ricky, ventriloquist Shari Lewis and her sock-puppet pal Lamb Chop, and marionette Howdy Doody and his comrade, Buffalo Bob Smith.

Rounding out the roster of retro shorts are a series of "Greetings From The Theater Management" trailers that were made for cinema audiences in the days when filmgoers came dressed in suits and dresses, and looked forward (literally and figuratively) to take in a widescreen VistaVision spectacular, and not straight down to focus on a 2-inch cell phone text.

Like Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," the premise of Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" has seemingly been adapted a million or so times, with each retelling focusing on how the suicidal protagonist has positively touched the lives of those in his orbit - and how his life has truly been wonderful. Among the latest TV shows receiving the "IWL" treatment was the Syfy network's "Warehouse 13."

And also like "A Christmas Carol," the sentimental "It's a Wonderful Life" has spawned its own roster of parodies, including "Saturday Night Live's" uproarious "lost ending" sketch featuring Dana Carvey as a revenge-minded George Bailey, Jon Lovitz as the evil Mr. Potter, and Jan Hooks as a club-wielding Mary Bailey.

The Trash Film Orgy's holiday show may feature an honest-to-badness movie ("Don't Open Till Christmas"), but it may be the "extras" like the "Trash Santa" and his bevy of comely elves that may turn out to be the real stars of the show.

"There will be a Santa's workshop where you can make crafts, have your picture taken with the sexy elves, and have a drink at the bar," said Christy Savage, co-founder of TFO. "And if you come in costume, you can save a dollar on admission."

Savage said audience members are encouraged to "play along," and embrace the interactive nature of the event.

"It's all about fun," she said. "It's an adult, interactive type of fun, in which we encourage audience participation – even heckling."

Just the facts

Santa's Cool Holiday Film Festival | 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 17 and 18 | Featuring "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians," Max Fleischer's theatrical cartoons "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1944) and "Christmas Comes But Once a Year" (1936), plus additional shorts. | Regular admission prices apply ($6 for first show of the day – all seats; $9.50 for afternoon and evening shows – $6 for children, seniors and students)

Trash Film Orgy Xmas | 10:30 p.m. (doors open for pre-show festivities at 10 p.m.) Dec. 17) | 18 and older only | Featuring the movie "Don't Open Till Christmas," plus art-and-crafts, "Trash Santa" and his sexy elves, and more. | $10 admission ($9 if in costume)

"It's a Wonderful Life" | 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22-24 | Starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Henry Travers, Thomas Mitchell | Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes | $9.50 general admission; $6 seniors/students/matinees (Groupon alert: everyone who purchased a Groupon deal for this film may exchange their Groupon certificate for a specific show time and a concession coupon in person at the Crest during regular operating hours.) | Advance tickets available online at www.tickets.com.

Directions to the Crest

For more info: (916) 44-CREST

Sacramento's booming comic book business- part 1

2011-12-15T07:26:38Z

The digital age revolutionized the way most people consume print products. But for comic book enthusiasts, the comic book business has remained relatively untouched by the swing toward digital products, said area retailers.

The Sacramento Press hit the streets to sneak a peek at Sacramento’s comic book industry- visiting six stores. Each business has carved out its own niche – as part of a community of stores that support each other – in a city with a surprising number of comic book retailers.

A-1 Comics
5361 Auburn Blvd.
331-9203

Hours:
Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday noon - 6 p.m.

A-1 Comics has been in business for nearly a quarter of a century. It’s Sacramento’s largest comic book store, said Manager Jared Rudy.

The store specializes in hard-to-find classics and back issues, but also sells tabletop games, graphic novels, anime and manga, toys and figurines. The store is housed in an old bank building, and the bank vault is used to store the most valuable comics.

“We have a terrific back issue section, and everyone here is a specialist in something different,” Rudy said.

The clientele is primarily male, but Rudy said he sees more females in the store than ever before. They are mostly interested in anime and manga – both types of Japanese comics.

One customer travels from Reno each month, because he said he can’t find any good retailers in Nevada, said Rudy.

A-1 also has an online eBay store where it sells a number of rare collectibles, including a “Fantastic Four” comic featuring the Hulk from 1971 that is listed for $2,750 and a “Turok: Son of Stone” book, printed in 1954, for just under $5,000.

Store management uses a pricing guide to determine the value of a single comic or a collection, and Rudy said the store is successful because of a reputation for being honest and fair.

Big Brother Comics

1722 J St.
441-6461

Hours:
Monday through Saturday 11 a.m - 8 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m - 6 p.m.

Big Brother Comics spent its first year in the K Street Mall but made the move to J Street approximately five years ago. The store focuses on graphic novels, Marvel and DC comics, but also has a significant following from customers who play “Magic” – a card game most often compared to the “Dungeons & Dragons” fantasy role-playing game.

Manager Christopher Alvarez said recent superhero films have revitalized the industry and have developed a curiosity for new comic book fans.

At 32, Alvarez said he’s a good representative of their average customer. The comic book business hit a boom in the ’90s, and that generation continues to support the business. Alvarez added that for many young people, it’s a great way to spark an interest in reading.

Alvarez said digital comics are relatively new and have yet to be embraced by comic book enthusiasts, but they can be purchased for e-readers.

“Our customers are interested in a physical product,” Alvarez said, adding that they receive new books each Wednesday, and that brings regular customers in on a weekly basis.

Empire’s Comics Vault
1120 Fulton Ave. Suite K
482-8779

Hours:
Monday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tuesday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Wednesday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday noon - 5 p.m.

Empire’s Comics Vault, owned by Ben Schwartz, offers an opportunity for local artists and comic book writers to break into the comic book business. In addition to his storefront that sells mostly modern, American comic books, Schwartz operates a small publishing company, ECV Press, that prints comic books created locally. The website offers information about how to become an artist or writer with the company as well as links to free digital comic books.

“He draws together the local community of artists and writers because he’s very passionate about it,” said Ronnie Ledesma, marketing consultant for the store.

Ledesma said Schwartz sets his business apart from others through a podcast about comics, pop culture and comic-related films. Schwartz also hosts the Sacramento Comic Book Creators group every Tuesday at his store, where artists and writers can hone their skills.

The store carries a large stock of back-issue comics and graphic novels, but staff refer most tabletop gamers to Great Escape Games.

Empire’s Comics Vault has an interesting mix of customers. Mick Martin, a Sacramento blues musician, is a frequent customer, and members from the local band Seeker are regulars as well. Film students from Natomas recently covered the relaunch of DC Comics – and it’s all because of the the community Schwartz has created with his business, Ledesma said.

For Ledesma, his favorite comic book series is “Fantastic Four.”

“When I started reading, it was very accessible,” Ledesma said. “ ‘Superman’ was too cheery, and ‘Batman’ was took dark. ‘Fantastic Four’ was just right.”

World’s Best Comics and Toys
2608 Watt Ave.
973-8973

Hours:
Monday and Tuesday noon - 7 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m. - 7 pm.
Thursday through Saturday noon - 7 p.m.
Sunday noon - 6 p.m.

World’s Best Comics and Toys, has been in its current location since 1999. The store has been in two other locations. The original downtown location, opened in 1985.

"I have always liked reading, and I always liked artwork," store owner Dave Downey, 49, said. "This is a combination of the two."

Downey said that when he was an 8-year-old kid reading comic strips, he would get impatient because of the short stories in the strip, which prompted him to transition to reading comic books.

He said that in his store, Marvel and DC comics are the bestsellers. Marvel comic titles such as “Spiderman,” “Fantastic Four” and “The Avengers,” and DC comic titles such as “Batman,” “Superman” and “Wonder Woman,” which are all superhero stories, are some of the titles from the two main comic book publishers.

A lot of people, he said, know the characters of the DC and Marvel comics because of the movies made about them. Despite the popularity of the superhero characters in mainstream movies, people who do not read the comic books are often surprised to find that comic books are still in print, Downey said.

"You do yourself a disservice if you just zero in only on Marvel and DC," Downey said. "You get a lot more variety if you also read independent."

The store also carries comic books from independent publishers such as Image, Darkhorse and IEW, and since they are creator-owned, produces very individualistic styles of art and storytelling, Downey said.

Kathleen Partington, a 26-year-old customer at the store, said she reads mainly titles from DC comics and independent titles from Vertigo and Image. “Wonder Woman” was the first comic book she read. Partington said that she likes the store because it focuses mainly on comic books and keeps back issues of old titles.

"A lot of the unique things laying around here jar people's memories, (and) give people a tinge of nostalgia when they come in," Downey said.

Besides comic books, the store sells Japanese-imported toys, action figures, classic lunch pails and vintage toys.

The oldest of the vintage toys he has for sale is a Felix the Cat toy from the 1920s.

The store also buys used collectible toys and comic books.

He said that although he carries a lot of other items in the store, it focuses on the comic book collecting community. It also carries graphic novels.

Although superhero-themed comic books are the type of stories most of his customers buy, Downey said he also sells action and adventure, western, romance, comedies and horror-themed comic books. He said the “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic is very popular with his younger audience.

"There is something for everybody," he said.

Manga, Japanese comic books, are also available in the store, such as “Naruto” and, “Sailor Moon I.”

He said that although most of his customers are mid-20s to mid-40s men, 50 percent of his customers who buy Manga are women.

The store also offers a comic saver service, where customers make lists of comic book titles they like, and when those titles arrive at the store, they are tagged with the customers’ names and are ready to be picked up every Wednesday at 10 a.m. The store will also order a comic book for the customer if it is not in stock.

Comic book collecting supplies are also available, such as bags, boards, boxes and title dividers.

Jump to part 2

Sacramento's booming comic book business- part 2

2011-12-15T07:22:24Z

Metropolis Comix
8241 Bruceville Road
689-2009

Hours:
Monday through Friday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Metropolis Comix started out as a comic book store but has branched out to include graphic novels and collectible card games as well, store owner Christopher Neary said.

Neary, a resident of Elk Grove, once worked for another comic book store for seven years, and in June 2009 he opened his own store, Metropolis Comix, with co-owner Bill Amaral, 55.

DC and Marvel comics are the best sellers in the store, with a growing popularity of comic books from independent publishers, Neary said.

"Most people think that the typical comic book customer is some guy that lives in his mom's basement," Neary said, adding that said that’s not true with his customers.

The majority of the store's customers, he said, are professionals such as nurses, state workers, radiologists and lawyers. Some of his customers are college students, while the majority of the collectible card-gaming crowd are high school-age customers.

"A lot of them still read the superhero comic book they read when they were younger," Neary said.

Some, he said, are transitioning into reading independent titles with more complex narratives. Horror-type comic books are popular in the store, such as “The Crossed.”

Neary said that in Metropolis Comix, they get to know their customers very well in order to provide them with the types of comic books they might like.

“We add the personal human touch to the comic experience,” Neary said. “We know everyone’s name, their likes and dislikes.”

Through the store's comic book subscription program, he said, the customers receive a weekly email of the new comic book title releases and other items that will be available for the following week.

The subscribers enumerate all the comic book titles they want to follow, and the store sets those comic books aside under their name, to be picked up the following week.

New comic book titles are available Wednesdays.

The comic books in the store are put it clear plastic sleeves and boarded, for archival protection. Customers in his comic subscription program get discounts on their purchases based on the number of comic book titles they have on their list, starting at 10 percent and going as high as 35 percent.

"When creating the place, we didn't like the whole dark dungeony foreboding comic store. We wanted something that is open and clean," Store Manager Matt Benamati, 30, said.

The store has a couch for comic book readers to sit down and read their purchased comic books.

"It adds greatly in creating the welcoming home atmosphere of the store," Kylie Palmer, a 22-year-old store clerk, said.

Palmer said that the first comic book she read was “The Walking Dead,” which the TV show of the same title is based on. She said a lot of people do not know that the show has its comic origin.

She recently got into reading DC comic book titles, with “Catwoman” and “Batman” being her favorites.

The store had a ladies night event two weeks ago, where sparkling ciders were served and selected books were discounted for female customers.It was an effort, Neary said, to show that the comic book scene might seem male-dominated, but it is for everybody.

"Let's just not put discount on the girly stuff, like Twilight and manga comic books, but also on comic books that had strong women protagonists," Palmer said.

Horror and thriller were the genres the women who came that night were interested in, Neary said.

"They were tired of reading Cosmopolitan articles on 'how to please your man 5,000 different ways,' " Neary said. "They wanted to read something different."

The store also carries collectible card games such as Yu-Gi-Oh! and Magic: The Gathering. Free tournaments are held at the store. On Fridays, Magic: The Gathering tournaments are held at the store, and Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments are held on Tuesdays. More information on tournaments and events is available on the store's Facebook page.

Posters, T-shirts, superhero action figures, gaming mats for collectible card games and comic book archival supplies are sold at the store.

Great Escape Games
1250 Howe Ave.
927-0810
Hours:
Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. - midnight
Sunday noon - 6 p.m.

Great Escape Games sells board games such as Settlers of Catan, RPGs (role-playing games) such as Dungeons & Dragons, collectible card games such as Yu-Gi-Oh!, miniature war games such as Warhammer 40k, and, a year and a half ago – comic books.

"Imagine playing as Wolverine instead of just reading his story," store manager Jeff Beemer, 37, said, of a HeroClix miniature game where you can play as a comic book character.

He said that the game scene is similar to the comic book scene, because both readers and players uses their imagination and suspend their disbelief in order to enjoy the fantasy world.

Beemer said the store stopped carrying comic books in an effort to concentrate more on featuring game products.

The store also provides customers 7,000 square feet of exclusive space for tabletop games for free and two private rooms for RPG and board games.

One of the store’s most popular games is Warhammer 40K, a miniature war game, Beemer said.

Beemer explained that these types of games uses miniature figures, which the owners paint to their liking, and play on a tabletop against an opponent. The roll of the dice determines movement and/or attack of the figures on a turn-based gameplay mode mimicking a battle scenario. A measuring tape is also used to determine distance of a figure's movement on the table or if a figure’s attack range, is at reach of the opponent’s figure. The goal of the game is to eliminate the opponent’s army.

"We carry a huge selection of board games as well, not just your Monopoly," Beemer said. "Games that Walmart or Target don't usually carry."

There are board games available based on popular movies and TV shows, such as “Star Wars” and “Star Trek,” but also there is Yu-Gi-Oh!, which is a card game and a cartoon show, Beemer said.

Chess clubs also come in the store every Tuesday night to play, Beemer said, and every Wednesday night, some customers who enjoy playing live role-playing games – where people dress up as warriors, mages and the like and play as those characters – build their makeshift weapons, such as foam swords and shields made from boxes, at the store. More information on their events and products are available on their website.

He said that playing games is a long-lasting hobby, with gamers coming together in a space like the one they provide as often as every week, playing with friends, and painting and building their miniatures.

Matt Bess, a 25-year-old Warhammer tabletop game enthusiast, said there is a misconception that people who play these types of games are nerdy. "There are people from all walks of life," he said.

This article was co-written with John Hernandez

Autumn Sky to Perform at the Crocker on December 15

2011-12-13T00:58:28Z

The Crocker Art Museum will host local indie darling Autumn Sky for a night of original folk and pop on Thursday, Dec. 15. Sky is an award-winning, multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter from Sacramento. She will play songs from past releases and her soon-to-launch sophomore album, "The Hallelujah Chorus.” The concert will take place in the Museum’s Setzer Foundation Auditorium at 7 p.m.

At 23 years old, Sky has been playing for Sacramento crowds for over six years and has garnered much local acclaim for her lively and engaging shows. Her unique style mixes pitch-perfect and deeply emotive vocals with indie and pop sensibilities. She released “Diminutive, Petite EP” in 2007, followed by her debut album “All Which Isn't Singing” in 2008. Sky has performed at the California State Fair, Downtown Sacramento’s Concert in the Park series, and the Crest Theatre. Most recently, she received the Outstanding Singer-Songwriter and Readers’ Choice Artist of the Year awards at the 2010 and 2011 Sammie Block Party and Music Awards.

Tickets are $6 for Museum members and $12 for nonmembers. Tickets can be purchased at crockerartmuseum.org, the Museum Admission Desk, or by calling (916) 808-1182.

The Crocker Cafe will offer a themed drink special that evening in honor of the concert. The “Sky Crock-tail,” a Skyy Vodka dirty martini, will be available for $7 from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

Playlist is part of the Museum’s Thursdays ‘til 9 program series. The Crocker is open every Thursday until 9 p.m. for film screenings, social gatherings, concerts, and art happenings presented in collaboration with regional art groups. For more information, call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Heatwave loses in close match

2011-12-12T22:30:55Z

The Sacramento Heatwave lost in a close game against division rivals the San Francisco Rumble Sunday evening at Natomas High School with a final score of 105-100.

Despite the loss, and even though the game started two hours later than scheduled due to lack of a referee, the Heatwave put together one of their best games of the season, said Head Coach and team owner Reggie Davis.

The Heatwave went into the game hoping to shut down Rumble point guard Derek Foster, and in that, the team was successful, Davis said. Foster scored just six points in Sunday’s game.

“Foster is a prolific scorer and can put 30 points on the board,” Davis said before the game. “My goal is to not let him be too effective tonight.”

The Rumble took an early lead, and a series of fouls against them sent shooters to the free throw line often. The Heatwave had difficulty passing the ball, and the Rumble took advantage – the first quarter ended with the Heatwave down by 10 points.

In the second quarter, Heatwave guard Jason Washington scored 15 points and he helped to guide his team into the lead for the first time with just two minutes left in the half. The Heatwave scored 38 points in the quarter, while the Rumble added only 20 to its score. The two teams went into halftime with the Heatwave leading 53 to 45.

After the half, the Heatwave players returned to the court, but seemed to have lost their groove, tacking on only 21 points to the Rumble’s 33 points in the third quarter. The team faltered at the free throw line, missing four of six attempts, including two missed shots by power forward Michael Selling.

Sports fan Gary Weinberg, at his very first Heatwave game, said he already noticed a pattern with the team- they would come out strong, but then look lost on the court.

Down by four points at the start of the final quarter, the Heatwave came back strong, but three minutes in, the Rumble led by 10. The Heatwave recovered and were within two points of taking the lead with just over a minute left on the clock.

In the final seconds of the game, Heatwave shooters missed two crucial shots and turned the ball over to the Rumble, which ultimately took the win.

Going into the game, the Heatwave looked to avenge a playoff loss to the Rumble in 2010, said Davis, who called the match last year a “hotly contested game.”

“They played the best they’ve been playing,” Davis said. “I’m very happy with the way they performed this evening.”

The Heatwave heads out on an extended road trip and will play its next home game at 5 p.m. on Dec. 18 ~~7 p.m. on Jan. 27~~ at Natomas High School, located at 3301 Fong Ranch Road.

Editor's Note: The Sacramento Press editorial staff has edited this article to reflect a correction in the date of the next home game.

Aerojet announces sponsorship of simulated space program at Powerhouse Science Center

2011-12-12T19:22:17Z

The Powerhouse Science Center and Aerojet today announced a $1.5 million gift from Aerojet, that will launch the new science complex’s cutting-edge simulated NASA space mission program, to be named the Aerojet Challenger Learning Center.

The current heavily-used 17-year-old Challenger Learning Center is in full operation at the Discovery Museum Science & Space Center, which will relocate and become the Powerhouse Science Center when the new facility opens in 2014. Recently honored as one of the nation’s most successful Challenger Centers, Sacramento’s Challenger adventure inspires future astronauts with suspension-of-disbelief scenarios and problems, challenging students to apply the math, science and communication skills learned in the classroom to “real-life” situations.

Aerojet strives to influence and attract this nation’s next generation of rocket scientists, astronauts, doctors and teachers, and has partnered with Powerhouse to encourage students to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This major contribution highlights the company’s commitment to enriching the Sacramento region and championing STEM education for the future workforce.

“America’s many successes in space exploration have always benefited from the tremendous sources of technical talent graduating from our educational institutions,” Aerojet president Scott Seymour said. “Continued successes will require the same from future generations and our partnership with the Powerhouse Science Center and Challenger Learning Center will serve to inspire today’s youth toward that end.”

“Since 1997, Aerojet and the GenCorp Foundation have committed approximately $500,000 in support for our highly successful Challenger Learning Center at the Discovery Museum,” Powerhouse interim executive director Michele Wong said. “Now, as Discovery grows and expands into the Powerhouse Science Center, we are honored that Aerojet has stepped up to be our first title sponsor. The new Aerojet Challenger Learning Center at the Powerhouse will be the most advanced of the 54 Challenger Centers worldwide.”

The new Aerojet Challenger Center will be located on the Powerhouse Science Center campus in the Earth & Space Sciences Center, which will also include a 150-seat full-dome planetarium theater and interactive exhibits that focus on the relationship of the four spheres: air/atmosphere, water/hydrosphere, earth/lithosphere/ and life/biosphere. Exterior experiences will include water conservation, green energy and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

Located on the scenic banks of the Sacramento River, the Powerhouse Science Center is situated in the River District at 400 Jibboom Street. In addition to the Earth & Space Sciences Center, the Powerhouse campus will also include innovative, hands-on exhibit halls, science laboratories and classrooms, robotics programs, an artificial wetlands, outdoor stage and screen, a restaurant with riverfront views and more. The center has nearly completed its pre-construction phase and will begin breaking ground in 2012.

For more information on the Powerhouse Science Center, including how to become a Founding Partner, visitpowerhousesciencecenter.org, email info@PowerhouseScienceCenter.org, or call (916) 853-0343. Visit the center on Twitter, Facebook and Flickr.

A selection of Powerhouse Science Center images can be viewed at dreyfussblackford.com/powerhouse.

Disclosure: Jeffrey Weidel is a Vice President of Halldin Public Relations in Roseville.

The Nutcracker Ballet delights at the Sacramento Community Theater

2011-12-12T07:50:13Z

For ballet enthusiasts and those new to the experience, this is one presentation that should not be missed.

Ron Cunningham’s “The Nutcracker” is a traditional interpretation of the ballet he’s been directing for 24 years in Sacramento. Visually stunning sets create the scene for a ballet performance that will delight young and old alike.

Accompanied by the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra, this holiday classic boasts performers of all ages, with over 500 children, including Molly O’Dell,10, playing Clara.

O’Dell’s enthusiasm is infectious as she, along with her Nutcracker Prince, takes the journey from a joyous Christmas Eve into an enchanting dreamland.

The first act is charming and belongs fully to the children as the story unfolds. The sets are spectacular as the seemingly opaque backdrop becomes translucent to reveal another scene in the background.

The second act is a complete departure from the first, as the seasoned cast of dancers enchant the audience with an array of performances. In the “Candy Cane” dance, Richard Smith gives an incredible, almost circus-like show, while Mother Ginger’s “Macarena” elicits laughter as her nine children pour onto the stage from under her skirt.

“The Nutcracker” does not disappoint, and the years of dedication are evident in the performances given by the stars of the show- the “Snow Queen,” the “Sugar Plum Fairy” and “Her Cavalier,” portrayed by Alexandra Cunningham, Amanda Peet and Stefan Calka, respectively, on Dec.9 at opening night.

Each show promises to be a slightly different representation, as many of the performers will dance the part of several characters throughout the ballet’s run.

The show was highlighted beautifully by the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s original score. Under the watchful eye of artistic director Ron Cunningham, who also plays "Dr. Drosselmeyer" in the prologue, not a single beat is missed.

It’s quite a feat, especially with so many children, but Cunningham wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s a labor of joy,” said Cunningham, who said he thinks he is the only artistic director in the country to work directly with children.

The show runs through Dec. 23 at the Sacramento Community Theater with a total of 13 performances. Tickets are available from $39 to $630 at a range of prices from www.sacballet.org.

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Photography by Barry Wisdom

Editor's Note: The Sacramento Press editorial staff has edited this article to reflect a correction in ticket prices and a link to purchase tickets from The Sacramento Ballet.

Baking with heart, one cookie at a time

2011-12-12T05:34:07Z

For the holidays, Plates Cafe and Catering is serving Christmas cookies, baked and prepared by the women in St. John's Shelter Program for Women and Children.

St. John's provides shelter, education and childcare to homeless women with children.
As part of the shelter's six- to 12-month training program, Plates Cafe and Catering, located at 14 Business Parkway, serves as an on-the-job training site for the shelter, where the women perform restaurant positions such as cooks, waitresses and hostesses, Stuart Edgcombe, 46, Chef at Plates Cafe and Catering, said.

"It's more than just cooking," Edgcombe said. "It's teaching them life lessons."

Teresa Kamekona, 39, said her experience at Plates Cafe and Catering taught her to be accountable, manage her time better and work with other people again, but most of all regain her self-esteem.

"It felt good to be needed," Kamekona, a recent graduate of the training program, said. She said, people depended on her, which pushed her to do her best.

"You can see the joy in the women's eyes as they learn cooking skills from Chef Stu," Pasta Queen owner Susan Korec, 52, said. While renting space for her pasta business at Plates, she has seen how the women work on various kitchen tasks, Korec said.

Pasta Queen's products are also sold at the store, with parts of the proceeds going back to the training program.

Edgcombe said he and trainee Monica Ward, 37, came out with a list of different cookies that remind them of their childhood Christmas memories.

"It's a great experience for the girls to make all these different cookies," Edgcombe said. "It's another activity they can be exposed to, be responsible for and be a part of."

The Christmas cookies featured are Mexican wedding, ginger snap, chewy sugar, thumb print and chocolate chip. He said their chocolate cookie is available year-round, and is one the bestselling items in the store.

"It's the All-American cookie," Edgcombe said. "It does not matter if it is Christmas, Easter or Thanksgiving."

He said they included the ginger snap cookie because, like cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, it is associated with and the holidays.

"The bite of molasses and ginger says Christmas to me," Edgcombe said. He said that these cookies, because of their “snap” or crisp, are best paired with coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

Out of the five Christmas cookies, the chewy sugar cookie, he said, is the most Christmas-styled with its red, green and white sugar sprinkles.

"What makes our cookies special goes beyond the dough, sugar, chocolate chips, ginger or any of the other ingredients," Edgcombe said. "It represents memories of Christmas past."

All of the proceeds from the Christmas cookie sale, like their other products at Plates Cafe and Catering, go toward the St. John's Shelter Program for Women and Children.

The Christmas cookies, can be ordered through their website, and will be available for pickup starting Dec. 19.

Prices for the cookies are still to be determined and will be posted on their site.

Plates Cafe and Catering, which opened June last year, also serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Marching bands, sports cars and beauty queens featured in Sacramento's annual Santa Parade

2011-12-11T21:34:47Z

photographs by Barry Wisdom

It wasn't the glitziest parade on the block, and more ads passed by than during a Talladega Superspeedway Nascar event, but the smiles that beamed from the shoulder-to-shoulder spectators at Sacramento's 2011 Santa Parade are the stuff that Christmas dreams are made of.

Presented Dec. 9 by D&H Special Event Management, the capital city's 29th annual holiday tradition once again delighted young and old with an eclectic lineup of merry marching bands, a spate of sports cars, a bunch of Boy Scouts, a gaggle of Girl Scouts and a Santa in a pear tree. (OK – a Santa in a horse-drawn carriage.)

Horses aside, chances are if it had an internal-combustion engine, it traversed the parade route. A two-story grocery cart, sponsored by Save Mart Supermarkets, provided an impressive visual and provided a distinct counterpoint to the mini CHiPs cart that also "roared" past. Along with the novelty vehicles, there were ample examples of high-powered parade staples, including a volley of vintage Chevrolet Corvettes (many of which squired local pageant winners) and siren-blasting police cruisers.

In addition, equestrians mounted up, beauty queens charmed, the Sacramento River Cats' mascot Dinger waved, and KCRA news anchor/reporter Walt Gray donned his motocycle leathers to enliven the Saturday-morning event which launched at the corner of Ninth and I streets, and completed its rectangular route at the Westfield Downtown Plaza Ice Rink at Seventh and K streets.

KCRA and the now-defunct Weinstock's department store founded the parade in 1983, with D&H taking the reins in 1991.

Today, some 16 "presenting partners" sponsor the event, including Westfield Downtown Plaza, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Macy's and Sactown magazine.

Limitations not stopping their bell ringing efforts

2011-12-10T17:36:46Z

“It’s getting cold out here.”

Kelsey Cottle uttered this while ringing The Salvation Army bell outside Macy’s at Sunrise Mall. Yet her fellow bell ringers did not care--they were having the time of their lives.

“Yeah, they’re having fun,” Cottle said.

Meet Carl Virgin and Eulogio Lizarraga--the jubilant bell ringers. Both have cerebral palsy and are confined to wheelchairs, but they do not let it deter their efforts to give back.

“It just a good time for them to get out and people to see them,” said Cottle, who is Carl’s personal attendant through S.T.E.P. (Strategy To Empower People) services. “It’s great that they get to see them so happy and that they can do this (volunteer) like everybody else.”

Cottle recruited Carl for the bell ringing opportunity last year.

“My church talked about a need to volunteer in your community,” she recalled. “So I thought of him (Carl). I came to him and his roommate at that time about ringing the bell, and they were very receptive to that idea. I talked to their families and the people from S.T.E.P., and they all agreed that this would be a good thing for them to do.”

This year, Carl recruited his current roomate, Eulogio, to ring bells for a two-hour shift, all the time smiling and spreading some holiday cheer to all of those who walked by their red kettle.

“You can tell when they’re happy,” Cottle said. “Even though they can’t use words as much, they can get their feelings across.”

And the donors appreciated their hard work.

“I wanted to come by and say hello to them,” said Theresa, who came with her daughter to donate to the kettle. “It means more to me to see them, with their challenges, volunteering their time. It was great to see (them).”

Cottle said Carl and Eulogio may ring the bell again before the end of this Christmas season. But, without a doubt, they will be back ringing next year.

“We’ve talked about it,” Cottle said. Then turning to Carl and Eulogio, she asked, “Are we coming back again?”

“Sure,” Eulogio said … with a smile.

Disclosure: Syd Fong is the public relations director for The Salvation Army of Sacramento County. For more information about The Salvation Army, log onto www.salarmysacto.org or join the facebook page www.facebook.com/salvationarmysacramento

Oak Park Church works to make a difference to end youth violence

2011-12-10T03:04:35Z

For many Oak Park residents crime and violence has long seemed as if it has become a way of life over the past two decades. Oak Park is a community rich in neighborly tradition and serving as a staple of black culture for many within Sacramento, yet hard times over the years has made life more challenging for this ever growing racially diverse community. Gang violence has affected the area and young people have become vulnerable to making fast drug money when jobs are scarce. This is why the timing could not have been more perfect than when the leadership of Kyles Temple AMEZ Church recently invited members of the community to attend a forum against violence and its affect’s on the community. Ewell Wood, one of the forum organizers feels that despite the hard times of the community it is time to take the community back. “We live here, and it’s up to us to make sure we take care of where we live, who else can do it”, says Wood. However if Wood and others of this local church has it’s say of things then things will be sure changing for the better when it’s all said and done. Around the neighborhood you see once model homes that aren’t as well kept as they use to be, closed down store fronts, and few and fewer variety of afterschool and summer programs that give kids something to do in a positive way.

This is why Wood with the help of other members of the church went to work to host the forum by inviting speakers from a variety of organizations and community professionals to come out and speak on such things as jobs for youth, the dangers of drugs, gangs, drinking and driving, domestic violence, and life behind bars. All of the topics centered upon a keep it real message that struck to the core of what not to do with personal choice. Churches such as Kyles Temple have become overwhelmed with trying to serve the needs of the community beyond traditional spiritual healing and worship. “The task of church leadership is greater now than in the past, and we are required to step up to the plate”, adds Wood. Speakers at the event represented a variety of organizations and agencies including WEAVE, MADD, Kaiser, Youth Authorities and Detention, and Sacramento City Services among others.

The purpose of the event was to galvanize the community that there are resources available and hope is not all lost even during very tough economic times when so many social services are being cut. ‘I want to know what I can do to help my son stay away from gangs, which are a big problem in my neighborhood”, says Betty Dowdy who attended the event with her 13-year old son De’Ante. The message for mothers such as Ms Dowdy is to never give up, that as a community that it will take the African proverb of ‘It takes a village to raise a child” to solve the problem. As one of the included speakers, I spoke on behalf of my efforts working with MADD and helping spread the word with more blacks that there is a impact that drinking and driving has within the black community and urban neighborhoods as much as it does in suburban ones.

Business investment doesn’t come around often in communities such as Oak Park and so residents have to look to other resources to serve their needs and Kyles Temple is one of those resources that is making a change for the better in Oak Park.

The California Museum Hosts Star-Studded Event

2011-12-10T01:45:46Z

Limos filled with celebrities lined J Street for the 2011 California Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony at the Memorial Auditorium Thursday.

The first ceremony in Sacramento was in 2006. The prestigious event was established by former California first lady Maria Shriver. The event was created to honor legendary people in California who encapsulate California’s “innovative” spirit.

Many of the inductees were no stranger to the limelight. Rob Lowe, Lucy Liu and previous inductee Clint Eastwood, among others, graced the red carpet this year. The crowd cheered for the diverse group of inductees as they made their way down the red carpet.

The 2011 inductees were astronaut Buzz Aldrin, The Beach Boys, Nobel Prize-winner Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, community activist and author Father Gregory Boyle, entrepreneurs and Gap Inc. founders Doris and Donald Fisher, basketball superstar Ervin “Magic” Johnson, disability rights advocate Ed Roberts, Grammy Award-winner Carlos Santana, novelist Amy Tan, and California Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Traynor.

Previous inductees have included James Cameron, Barbra Steisand, Levi Strauss, Harvey Milk, Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel, Ansel Adams, Steve Jobs, César Chávez and Walt Disney.

Fans lined the streets to maybe catch a glimpse of a celebrity or two. Kids yelled, “Ma-gic! Ma-gic! Ma-gic!” as Johnson exited his limousine. While many of the event-goers avoided the red carpet, others posed for pictures and were whisked away for interviews.

Beach Boy fans had album covers and various memorabilia waiting to be signed. Although many were able to snap quick pictures of those in attendance, Santana was rumored to have entered through the back door, leaving many music fans disappointed.

Some of Sacramento’s dignitaries were also in attendance: Gov. Jerry Brown and first lady Anne Gust Brown, Mayor Kevin Johnson and, despite his battle with Parkinson’s disease, Wells Fargo regional vice president Chevo Ramirez, who is known for his charitable contributions to good causes in Sacramento.

During the ceremony, all inductees received the California Hall of Fame medal, named Spirit of California, created by the Los Angeles artist Robert Graham.

The California Hall of Fame exhibit opened today at the California Museum and will feature the newest inductees. The California Museum is a nonprofit organization and is funded by museum admission, facility rentals, gift shop sales and donations.

In order to attend the celebrated event, party-goers had to purchase a California Hall of Fame membership, with proceeds benefiting the California Museum.

Iceland celebrates North Sacramento's 21st tree lighting with free skating

2011-12-09T06:59:44Z

The North Sacramento Chamber of Commerce may have thrown its annual holiday tree lighting a 21st birthday party Dec. 8, but even the adults who donned skates, munched cookies and quaffed hot chocolate eschewed the slightest trace of yuletide cynicism in favor of youthful Christmas-morning smiles.

Hosted by Iceland, the men and women, boys and girls who laced up courtesy of the venerable Del Paso Boulevard ice rink, barely noticed when the switch was thrown, and pumped current through the strings of multicolored lights that formed the "tree."

Those who didn't hit the ice themselves, found plenty of pre-Christmas cheer in picking out rinkside vantage points to watch singles, couples and entire families merrily go 'round and 'round covered by nothing but a starry, starry night.