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2010 Elly Awards for Adult Theater

2010-10-04T03:21:56Z

The best of local theater talent was recognized last Sunday night at the Elly Awards.

After presenting the young people’s awards, there was an intermission, and then the adult awards were presented.

Selected musicians from the Runaway Stage Productions’ Resident Orchestra played the audience back into the Crest Theatre’s main auditorium. The orchestra had been provided transitional music, played the winners on to the stage and had accompanied the live musical performances all evening.

“Dreigroschen Finale,” performed by the California Stage cast, started the Elly adult theater portion of the evening. The performance showcased the Elly Award-winning costuming by Angelina Reaux. All the musical production performances were great, but this one stood out.

The adult Elly Awards are divided into three categories: comedy, drama and musical.

First up was costume design, set design and lighting design:
Best costume design, comedy, was awarded to Rebecca Ann Valentino for “Much Ado About Nothing” at Solano College Theater. Drama went to Sharon Olson for “Cyrano de Bergerac” at Paul Emery Presents, and the award for musical went to Angelina Reaux for “Three Penny Opera” at California Stage in Sacramento.

The best set design for a comedy Elly went to Virgil Toothaker for “The Foreigner” at Imagination Theater.

The set design award for a drama was won by Michael Baranowski and Pamela Hodges for the Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra production of “Snow Falling On Cedars.”

John Bowles’ set design for “My Fair Lady” at Magic Circle Theatre won for best set design for a musical.

Best lighting design for a comedy was a tie between David Patrick for “The Foreigner” (Imagination Theater) and Nic Candito for “Almost Maine” (Big Idea Theatre).

Best lighting design for a drama was won by Chris Goetzke for the “Snow Falling On Cedars” production at Community Asian Theater of the Sierra.

Chris Guptil, “The Producers” (Solano College Theatre), tied with Erin Briting, “In to the Woods” (Sutter Street Theatre), for best lighting for a musical.

Next was supporting actor, supporting actress and choreography and musical design. Supporting actor, comedy, went to Jouni Kirjola for “The Foreigner” at Imagination Theatre. Supporting actress, comedy, went to Trina Palmer, City Theatre, Sacramento for “Peter Pan, A British Panto.”

For drama, best supporting actor went to Patrick Murphy for “Crime and Punishment” at KOLT Run Creations, Sacramento, and the supporting actress award went to Kelley Ogden, KOLT Run Creations co-founder and producer in the same production.

Kelley Ogden, Brian Rife andPatrick Murphy

The musical supporting actor winner was SKelley Ogden,in the Runaway Stage Production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” The best actress award also went to a Runaway Stage Production, “Footloose.”

Best choreography in a musical went to Lisa Clark-Schmeling for “The Producers” at Solano College Theatre.

Musical direction of “Into the Woods” at Sutter Street Theatre, Folsom, won for Susan Mason.

These awards were followed by a performance of “Betrayed” from Solano College Theatre’s production of “The Producers” by cast member Edward Hightower.

Hightower, who is quite the comedian, went on to win leading actor in a musical. The production also won best director for a musical for Ken Sonkin and best overall production of a musical for Solano College Theatre.

The next awards were for the category of original works. The adapted script award went to Ingrid Laurentis-Wilson for “The Pilgrim’s Progress” at One Way Productions, El Dorado Hills. This also won the production of an adapted script Elly for One Way Productions.

The original script award went to James Wheatly of Celebration Arts, Sacramento, artistic director, for “Petra.” "Petra" also won Celebration Arts the Elly Award for production of best original script.

Sacramento Magazine feature on James Wheatly

Leading actor and actress in each category followed.

The award for leading actor in a comedy went to Stephen Kauffman for the Sutter Street Theatre production of “Harvey.”

Best actress was a tie between Kellie Raines for “Beyond Therapy” (Kookaburra Productions) and Shaleen Schmutzer-Smith, “Deathtrap” (Big Idea Theatre).

Kellie Raines in "Beyond Therapy"

An audience favorite, Mitch Agruss, won the Elly for best actor in a drama for “Krapp’s Last Tape” at Actor’s Theatre of Sacramento. Kristine David won best leading actress in a drama for “Dutchman” with “Petra” at Celebration Arts.

Best leading actor in a musical went to Edward Hightower for “The Producers” by Solano College Theatre.

Allison Johnson won best actress in a musical for “Annie Get Your Gun” at Stockton Civic Theatre.

The final Ellys were the big ones: for direction and overall production.

The best direction Elly Award for a comedy went to Lanny Langston for “The Foreigner” at Imagination Theater.

The Acting Company won the overall production of a comedy Elly for its production of “Steel Magnolias.”

Best direction for a drama went to Vada Russell for “Dutchman,” with “Petra” at Celebration Arts.

“Snow Falling On Cedars” at Community Asian Theater of the Sierra won the best overall production of a drama Elly.

Ken Sonkin won best director of a musical for “The Producers” at Solano College Theatre.

Best overall production for a musical also went to Solano College Theatre for “The Producers.”

The big winner of the night of theaters producing adult productions was Solano College Theatre with five awards. With its win for leading actress in “Peter Pan,” the theater was the No. 2 winner overall after El Dorado Musical Theatre, which won more awards in the young people’s category.

There was a large number of different theaters that won Elly Awards with a great variety of programing. It is a tribute to the high quality of the theater productions in the greater Sacramento region.

This was the 28th Annual Elly Awards at the Crest Theatre. The Elly Awards cover participating theaters in the 10-county region. The Elly Awards are sponsored by the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance (SARTA).

Created 28 years ago by local actors, the Elly Awards program has grown tremendously. In the 1981-82 season, 12 theaters participated, and 27 Elly plaques were distributed. In the 2009-10 season, 83 theaters participated, and 85 Elly plaques were handed out. Named for Eleanor McClatchy, a devoted patron of the arts and former publisher of The Sacramento Bee, the Elly Awards celebrate excellence in Sacramento regional community theater.

It takes 35 volunteer judges to cover the 70-mile radius of Sacramento to see and rate the different categories for each production submitted by the participating theater companies.

There is a standardized numerical rating system. All judging is kept secret, even from other judges. All the judges have varying backgrounds but cannot judge in any category they are active in. The process produced 419 nominations for 2009-2010.

The 2010 Elly Award Show itself was an entertaining event. The addition this year of the orchestra of selected musicians from the Runaway Stage Productions’ Resident Orchestra greatly enhanced the event. The production numbers were first-class, and the show moved right along. It was easy to tell that much of the audience knew or was familiar with the winners. Everyone was very supportive. All in all, it was great fun.

For those who would enjoy seeing live theater but have concerns about the cost, check out any one of the community theater companies that won awards by clicking on the links provided. The SARTA website is a great resource to find shows. There probably is a theater close by in the greater Sacramento region.

For a longer list check out the SacramentoPress.com article, “Elly Nominations Out,” published Aug. 17. Just because they were nominated but did not win does not mean that they are not producing great shows. The Ellys are very competitive, and only so many shows can win.

I would particularly encourage parents to take their children to young people’s theater programing. You can start them on a lifetime of theater enjoyment. Don’t worry – just because it is children’s programing doesn’t mean that it isn’t fun for adults, too.

Come to the Elly Awards next year and see how your favorite production fared.

City Treasurer Russ Fehr rocks with The Newz Makers

2010-08-11T01:21:01Z

There’s a lot more to Sacramento City Treasurer Russ Fehr than you might think. Yes, he knows all about municipal finances and wears a suit at City Council meetings. But he also plays guitar in a rock band with fellow city employees.

Fehr, age 58, is one of six members of The Newz Makers, a city-employee band that started rocking in 2006.

For band gigs, Fehr exchanges his suit for casual garb and goes by the stage name “Luke.” He loves Tom Petty and the Rolling Stones, and was a member of a Sacramento group that was the precursor to the Rutabaga Boogie Band.

Fehr’s band mates are Joe Valenzuela, a police captain; Jim Berg, an information technology supervisor; Tom Moore from Human Resources; Roni Yadao, a procurement division employee; and tree pruner Vince Hernandez.

As the city treasurer, Fehr is concerned about the city’s money. He told The Sacramento Press again and again (and again) that the city does not pay the members of The Newz Makers to play.

The band performs at city events free of charge, Fehr said. Band members do not receive money from tickets to city events. The band does not use city equipment, and members do not practice their tunes during work hours, he said. The band only receives payment when it plays gigs that “have nothing to do with the city,” he said.

Now that the details of the band’s financing are clear, let’s hear from Fehr on why and how he rocks with The Newz Makers.

Sacramento Press: A lot of your reports on city finances are dry. So, I’m a little shocked that you’re a rocker. How do you go back and forth from analyzing city finances and rocking out?

Russ Fehr: It’s difficult because I think it involves different parts of the brain and ... your cognitive processes. So, the transitions sometimes take a little while. In some ways, music is sort of a harmony of mathematics and emotion. The relationships and notes and how chords are structured, and a lot of it is very mathematical. But playing is also a real emotional experience.

(The) approach at work is coldly rational and has to be.

SP: Does your band have any crazy stories about gigs?

Fehr: I think our best story is the very first time we ever played — at Memorial Auditorium. It was for a city event, and it was at 8 in the morning, which is an odd time to be playing music. We’d been together for a couple months; we’d only practiced three times.

It was kind of interesting because growing up here in Sacramento — and watching concerts at Memorial since the mid-’60s and playing in a band since 1966 — one of my lifelong goals was to play at Memorial Auditorium. And now, twice I have been able to do it. It’s a real thrill. So, I think that’s the biggest thing.

But we’ve played at a crab feed fundraiser for the police union at the Newman Center there by Sac State —

SP: Did that get rowdy?

Fehr: Well, we were safe. We were well-protected.

SP: Your band really hasn’t sought much publicity. Why is that? And why are you not aspiring to be in Sacramento Magazine?

Fehr: There’s way too much shameless self-promotion in the world. We’re exposed to it all day long.

We don’t actively seek any publicity. A couple guys in the band still have younger kids at home, and so there are limits on time. My children are in their 20s and in school, so I don’t have that same kind of limit. But we have our website.

I think we’d like to play more ... One thing we don’t want to do is go back to playing 9 till 1 in the morning at the bars.

SP: Were you doing that for awhile?

Fehr: Yeah, it’s been a long time. I’ve done it; I know some other guys in the band have done it in the past. None of us want to do that. We do play occasionally at a bar, but it’s kind of a one-time thing.

SP: How can the general public see your band?

Fehr: In the future — at playing events like the National Night Out, or some of the events that council members host in their districts, or city departments host. We are often asked to play, and when we can, we do. And those are free, open public events.

SP: Can you talk a little bit about what kind of music your band plays?

Fehr: We’re a rock-’n’-roll band. And the set list — we have some songs that are contemporary. It’s a cover band. We play with some originals and do some jam things, but basically it’s a cover band.

I think our songs are really focused in on baby boomer classic rock. Mid-’60s, mid-’70s are the bulk of it. We do some older things. We do some stuff going back to the ’50s, some Elvis, and “Summertime Blues” by Eddie Cochran.

Our singer, Roni Yadao, can just flat-out sing. She’s extraordinary.

SP: Is there anything you’d like to add? Anything else you want to let the public know about the Newz Makers?

Fehr: I’m so grateful that the people I get to play with are just fine people ... It’s just a joy to be 58 years old and still play guitar in a rock-’n’-roll band. I’m not the greatest musician in the world, and there’s probably 30 people or more that can play guitar better than I can that are employed by the city. But darnit, I’m in a band. And I just love it — getting to play, whether it’s practice or publicly.

There’s something about it. And other hobbies have this, but I think music...it takes you away. While I’m playing, nothing else exists.

And all the worries and woes about the economy, and the challenges facing the city ... family issues, health. I’m at the point now where people I grew up (with) pass away.

We were playing Tuesday night, and I was kind of standing over by Vince — and I just couldn’t believe — along with hearing the whole band — how good our guitars sounded. The tone was different, so the parts were coming out crystal clear. We were pretty loud. I got in front of my amp, and I could feel the wind move, coming out of the speakers.

For that four- or five-song set, it’s all there was in the whole world — the band and the music.

It’s healthy; it’s a good thing. I hope people who have hobbies, like gardening or whatever it is, get that same mental break from the real world.

Photos courtesy of The Newz Makers.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Local Journalists Lead "Paying for Content" Panel

2010-06-24T06:36:16Z

The Sacramento Press and The Sacramento Bee co-sponsored a panel discussion titled "Paying for Content" on June 22.

The third floor of The Bee housed 37 people who gathered to listen to panelists discuss paywalls, online revenue and the relationship between consumer and organization.

Independent journalist JT Long moderated.

The panelists were Tim Foster, editor of Midtown Monthly; Michael Sanford, KVIE's vice president for content creation; Geoff Samek, co-founder of The Sacramento Press; Tom Negrete, Bee managing editor for the online edition and production; Ron Trujillo, editor of The Sacramento Business Journal; and Mike O'Brien, co-publisher and owner of Sacramento Magazines Corporation.

The panel started with panelists introductions. Each discussed their website and explained how it makes money.

Foster said Midtown Monthly receives revenue from advertising. Sanford said KVIE relies on membership contributions. The Sacramento Press has four forms of revenue, according to Samek: display advertising, social media consulting, events and sponsorship, and digital advertising website Sacramento Local Online Ad Network (SLOAN). The Bee's website accounts for 15 percent of its revenue, Negrete said, mostly through display advertising.

Trujillo showed where advertising is placed on the Journal's website.

"Where we make our money in the newsroom is exclusive subscriber content," he said.

O'Brien said his magazine has 25,000 monthly subscribers and sells about 7,500 copies at newsstands monthly. The corporation publishes both Sacramento Magazine and Our Wedding Magazine.

"We'll extend our core niche in our print product onto the Web," O'Brien said.

Long asked the panel to attempt to predict how their sources of revenue will change in the future.

"We've gone from analog dollars to digital dimes," O'Brien said. "The big change that we see is the tablets and mobile applications. With the iPhone application, people are paying for content and I know that'll be a key issue for all of us. (Sacramento Magazine) will have our mobile application soon."

Users are in control now and have more choices than ever, Negrete said.

"Also, everybody can be a publisher now," he said. "Our marketing research department is a department with few people, and that should probably grow because that information is going to become crucial."

The topic moved into content when Long asked if the panel used freelance or staff writers, and how subjective the stories are.

"We are almost 100 percent freelanced," Foster said. "And I do worry someone is going to come to me and they're going to want to write about something that is not completely subjective objective. As far as the advertising driving the content, I have to rely on my own ethical rules, and so far I think we've done pretty good about that."

Samek said transparency helps balance bias in articles for his website.

"Citizen journalism is at the core of what we do," Samek said "For us, we see it as a mix of us and the community of Sacramento as the region's storytellers. Now when it comes to objectivity, it's a tricky thing. It's something we can't have in the same way. You'll see transparency as a crucial thing in the future."

KVIE stories and programs are submitted by producers, Sanford said.

"(Our programs) met our editorial standards and were objective," he said.

Audience members then asked questions and offered suggestions.

Questions were directed toward the entire panel and occasionally a specific person.

"How does the legacy of (SacPress) play into how aggressively you go out to new types of revenue?" Cody Kitaura of Sacramento asked. "Are you concerned about SacPress being a consulting business rather than a place they go for news?"

"It comes down to what can we do well, and we try to do that," Samek said. "I don't think that takes away from the SacPress and the branding of it. Why wouldn't we just start a business that's social media consulting? It loops back around to the fact that we became good at consulting because we ran a newsroom."

Sue Wilson of Amador County asked the panelists for their opinions on content sharing.

"I'm wondering what kind of interest there is in terms of someone producing for various local papers and for you guys on multiple platforms," she said. "Is there that interest or do you want that kind of cross pollination among your newsrooms?"

"There's many city magazines in California," O'Brien said. "And all of us, generalizing, have done a story on escaping to Carmel. Why is it that we don't collaborate with others?

“Two answers: one is that we want our own spin. We want to deliver the sensibilities of Sacramento whatever that may be. And second is these publications tend to be entrepreneurial and want to do it their own way."

Trujillo asked how the shared content revenue could be divided.

"I think that cooperation is crucial, and the fact that Sacramento Press is here at The Sacramento Bee — instead this is a step in the right direction," Samek said. "Even if you wanted to compete, local media is facing so much pressure.

“The pie is shrinking. Cooperation is very crucial in this environment. Everybody knows what they do best and overlap isn't that bad."

The discussion ended with discussing whether or not the publications intended on using a paywall.

Trujillo said The Business Journal has a hybrid of a paywall. The Journal's website has free online content, but printed content is viewable only by subscribers. Non-subscribers must wait four weeks to read printed content on the website.

Other panelists said no.

We need the traffic and that just would not work, O'Brien said.

“KVIE is focused on being the premiere storyteller about our region,” Sanford said in an e-mail Wednesday. “It’s important to us that we share this content with as wide an audience as possible – not just on television, but through our websites and social networking sites like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

“Making our content available to everyone in our community regardless of their ability to pay is central to our mission and we have no plans to charge for online content.”

"I don't think a paywall is the answer for us right now," Negrete said.

The discussion was recorded by Access Sacramento. The air date has yet to be determined.

Photos:

1) The Sacramento Bee hosted the panel on the third floor of its headquarters.

2) Panelists (L to R) Foster, Sanford and Samek.

3) Panelists (L to R) Negrete, Trujillo and O'Brien.

4) Panelists (L to R) Negrete and Trujillo.

Photos by Colleen Belcher.

Agnus-Dei Farrant is an intern for The Sacramento Press.

Best of Sacramento Celebrate

2009-11-21T03:47:11Z

"Oh god, this is gonna be a long night," said radio personality Jack Armstrong as he and Joe Getty kicked off the 11th annual Best of Sacramento party on Thursday.

The party, a benefit for the March of Dimes, was full of Sacramento Magazine's notion of the best of what Sacramento has to offer, everything from food and drinks to local media and entertainment.

"It's really a huge honor, it's a reflection of the station I work for," said 'Best TV Reporter Team' winner Edie Lambert. "It's a big compliment to quality journalism."

Booths filled the Convention Center, and lines wrapped around the exhibit hall as attendees took full advantage of the free food, services and other goodies.

Express Event Imaging and Sacramento News & Review offered free photographs gracing the covers of Sacramento Magazine and SN&R, Hoshall's Salon and Spa's fashion show featured dramatic hair, makeup and clothes, and KCRA 3's news team --Walt Gray, Mark Finan, Mike TeSelle, Kelly Brothers, Del Rodgers, Eileen Javora and Adrienne Bankert -- posed for pictures with attendees. The team also swept the media category.

"I heard this was the place to be," said first-time attendee Scott Wood. "I could joke and say there should be more free booze, but I think there's plenty."

Booths hawked products and services while providing freebies that ranged from body waxing to information from the zoo on the difference between apes and monkeys.

"We're glad to be here to let people know that the zoo isn't just for kids, even though we were voted 'best place to take the kids'," said Sacramento Zoo employee Lara Kirkendall.

The event raises money for the March of Dimes, devoted to the safety and care of infants.

"We raised $400,000 for March of Dimes, we had more sponsors than ever before. We are now up to $3.4 million for the charity," said Joe Chiodo, publisher of Sacramento Magazine. "This is our best year yet."

Dozens of attendees bid on silent auction items, the main source of donations.

"We came to support the March of Dimes, we're making our way to the auction tables," said Stephanie Thompson, attending for the first time. "They also have excellent sushi from Sapporo Grill and the atmosphere is great."

For more information, and to see all of the 'Best of' winners, visit the Sacramento Magazine website. For more information on the March of Dimes or to make a donation, visit the March of Dimes website.

The best will come together

2009-11-18T04:49:03Z

The spotlight is on Sacramento at the 'Best of' party hosted by Sacramento Magazine, Thursday at the Convention Center.

The winners from the "best of" categories will show what they've got while attendees can try out the best products, services, and entertainment that Sacramento has to offer. The winner for best candy store, Sees Candy and the winner for best regional winery Bogel Vineyards will be a couple of the participating vendors at the party.

The winners from the eight categories will be showing attendees what they've got, allowing them to sample products, services and entertainment - the best Sacramento has to offer.

Some of this year's winners include , Best New Fun Spot, MIX Downtown, Best Place To Get a Tattoo, Wild Bill's Tattoo and Best Kings Player, Kevin Martin.

"We're excited for the entertainment," Megan Chiechi, marketing director for Sacramento Magazine said. "We have Ryan Hernandez (local acoustic alternative artist) performing, 60 wineries, 70 restaurants, a grand display of a fire engine that people can take pictures with, free massages, Western Feed is making free dog tags, and there will be party bags."

The party will benefit the March of Dimes, the leading non-profit organization for pregnancy and baby heath. Last year's event raised $400,000 for the charity, and they hope to match that this year, according to Chiechi.

"Other chapters of the March of Dimes (around the country) had been doing these 'Best of' parties with city regional magazines in other cities," Chiechi said. "Our local chapter of the March of Dimes originally approached us to start our own 'Best of' party in Sacramento. Thus, the Best of Sacramento Party began."

Sacramento Magazine has been hosting the 'Best of Sacramento' party for the past 10 years.

The silent auction offering goods and services from some of Sacramento's best will begin at 4:30 p.m., doors will open at 5:30, and tickets are $75 in advance and $95 on the day of the party. To purchase tickets to the event, visit the Sacramento Magazine website. To learn more about the March of Dimes or to make a donation visit the March of Dimes website.

Best Restaurants - a different take

2009-07-21T01:54:18Z

It's that time of year again - time for "Best Restaurants," brought to you by Sacramento Magazine.

After reading the readers' picks for each category, it made me wonder whether the results would be different for readers of The Sacramento Press. Our focus has been primarily on events and coverage of things in the Grid, whereas Sacramento Magazine covers a larger demographic including the suburbs.

There were four categories that stood out to me in Sacramento Magazine's Best Restaurants: Best Burrito, Best Pizza, Best Burger and Best Coffeehouse.

I live in the Grid and therefore have my own biases about restaurants that live in Downtown and Midtown. I prefer restaurants in this area to those found in the outlying areas. It would be interesting to see the results had it been limited to only restaurants in the Grid.

Best Burrito went to Chipotle, with Dos Coyotes coming in second and Ernesto's coming in third. Both Chipotle and Dos Coyotes are chains. The Grid has very few chain restaurants, and I wonder if the presence of chains amidst family-owned and unique Sacramento restaurants makes a difference in reader choice. Does the quality speak for itself?

Best Pizza went to Round Table. Granted, Chicago Fire and Zelda's picked up second and third place, but I wonder how a delivery-based chain is even allowed in the running. Did Hot Italian or Luigi's or Giovanni's make it in the top five?

For the category of Best Burger, there are quite a few restaurants that come to mind that did not make the top three. Jim Denny's, Whitey Jolly Cones and Nationwide Freezer Meats were all missing from page 115 for best burger. In-N-Out, however, took first place, the Squeeze Inn (deserving, in my opinion, one of the top three) made second and McDonald's placed third.

For Best Coffeehouses, Starbucks was voted first place, Peet's took second and It's a Grind made third. When I think of good coffeehouses, I think of the unique havens in the Grid. Temple comes to mind. So does Weatherstone and Naked Lounge. If I want ambiance and a coffee or tea that comes in a mug that was washed and that is reusable, I do not go to Starbucks. If I want free wi-fi that does not require a cellular account, I cannot go to Starbucks. If I want a swirled foam design on my latte, I will not go to a mass chain coffeehouse.

My coffee choices come from currently living in the Grid, although I did grow up in the suburbs.

After reading this list, I looked at Sacramento Magazine's website. At the bottom, it reads "Find the best that Sacramento, California has to offer at Sacramento Magazine Online. With fantastic features such as a restaurant guide, an entertainment and events calendar and monthly recipes, you’ll find everything you need to know about exciting Sacramento, California."

Now, I ask you - readers of The Sacramento Press - if you were to vote on Best Restaurants for The Sacramento Press (in the Grid), which ones would make your top three for best burrito, pizza, burger and coffeehouse?

Foodies and wine enthusiasts unite at Raley's 7th annual Grape Escape

2009-06-08T01:52:06Z

Foodies and wine enthusiasts united Saturday at Cesar Chavez Park for Raley's and Seventh Annual Grape Escape, presented by Raley's and Bel Air for an evening of drinking and munching.

For $40 in advance and $50 at the door, ticket-holders took part in a three-hour taste marathon, sampling cabs, chards and merlots from more than 50 top wineries from six counties in Northern California and gourmet appetizers from Sacramento’s favorite eateries.

Award-winning wineries like San Joaquin’s Van Ruiten winery (voted Wall Street Journal’s Best Zin) and Calaveras County’s Twisted Oak winery (Gold Medal winner from the Riverside International Wine Competition) set up shop along with brewery favorites Hoppy Brewing Company and Pyramid Alehouse.

“Wonderful wines, coupled with great bites, made for a fun social outing. The weather was perfect, the vendors all very fun and upbeat, and the crowd was amazingly large. I look forward to next year's event,” said Lori Moody, who attended the Grape Escape.

Tried and true eateries served up menu samplings like Zocalo’s shredded pork and salsa, Mikuni’s popular Fair Oaks Roll and Ruth’s Chris new cold crab and asparagus summer menu offering.

Up-and-coming businesses like Pearl on the River and recently opened de Vere's Irish Pub and Mix Downtown used the event as an opportunity to plant their name in the brains of potential customers.

“We’re thrilled with the attendance and even more thrilled with the weather,” said Sheri Graciano, volunteer coordinator for the event, in reference to the clear skies and cool temperatures that made for perfect weather for the outdoor event.

While somewhat long lines formed at popular booths like Chipotle, P.F. Changs and Barefoot Wine Cellars, the park wasn’t overwhelmingly crowded and the well-organized event kept glasses filled and plates full in an orderly fashion.

Graciano explained that one of the reasons for the smooth flow of foot traffic was Raley’s V.I.P. entrance offered to its wine club members this year, which allowed a large portion of the crowd to enter an hour early.

Despite the numerous food and wine offerings, the majority of the excitement took place during the Chef’s Challenge, presented by the Institute of Technology and emceed by Mark S Allen.

Each chef was given a basket of fresh ingredients and a half hour to whip up a gourmet dish. The first round was a face-off between Grange’s Michael Tuohy and L Wine Lounge’s Ame Harrington. The second round featured Mason’s John Gurnee and Mikuni & Taro’s Taro himself.

The action culminated in a final championship round, where Harrington took first place and second place went to Taro.

Next to the stage, the Institute set up a buffet line with creations by their own skilled students with concoctions like bacon-wrapped almond rolls, pork bruschetta and blue cheese wraps.

A full range of culture was featured at the event with art for sale and on display from Patris, owner of Patris Art Center, and artists from the Capitol Art Center at S12. Makeshift music stages were set up as well featuring up-and-coming local music artists like jazz singers Jackie Bryant and Marcelle.

As 7 o' clock rolled around, the food was devoured and the wineries' bottles were emptied within the three-hour span. However, no one was left empty-handed.

Not only did each ticket-holder receive a complimentary Raley’s wine glass and many coupons for discounts on wine, but many also took home cans of garlic-seasoned olives from Lindsay Snackers, pineapples and watermelons from Raley’s disassembled display, wine openers and back issues of Sacramento Magazine, which also sponsored the event.

A great time was had by all, judging from the smiles underneath their wine mustaches.

For a complete list of wineries, restaurants and artists that participated in the Grape Escape, visit raleysgrapescape.com.

All images taken by Jonathan Mendick