Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "sacramento zoo"

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

A weekend of love in Sacramento

2012-02-08T05:44:22Z

Has it been a while since you’ve gone out on a date? Perhaps you are you looking for something different to do? However you would like to spend this Valentine’s weekend, let The Sacramento Press be your guide.

Valentine’s craft day
Thursday
Sacramento Public Library
4235 Antelope Rd., Antelope
3 - 4 p.m.
Free

Children and teens are invited to make their own paper valentines with candy roses. The library will supply all the necessary materials.

According to Teen/Adult Librarian Justin Azevedo, this event was organized by the teen volunteers.

“They wanted to organize an event for other kids and teens,” Azevedo said. “It’s a fun and easy way to make unique valentines just in time for Valentine’s Day.

For more information, visit the website or call 264-2700.

The Grown & Sexy Couples Night Out III
Thursday
Sekou’s BBQ
455 Bercut Dr.
7 -10 p.m.
$40

T-Mo Entertainment is hosting this Valentine’s weekend event with a live DJ, dancing and newlywed games.

According to organizer Terry Moore, there may be an event where people are blindfolded and hold hands with another person. They will have to guess if the other person is their mate, which Moore explained, will determine if they know what their mate’s touch feels like.

“Couples can get together and have a clean, nice time,” Moore said. “It’s affordable, and it’s relationship building. It might be the only mixer that Sacramento has for couples like this.”

For more information, visit the website or call 208-7638.

It’s All About Love
Saturday
Vox Sacramento
1818 11th St.
4 - 9 p.m.
Free

Artists who volunteer with Vox, a nonprofit art gallery, will showcase their work for this gallery opening.

Artists include Artistic Director Jill Allyn Stafford, who will be showing her collages, and Christian Cinder, whose paintings will be on display. All of the art is available for purchase and will be displayed for the duration of the event.

In addition, poet and CSUS English teacher Cynthia Linville will host “A Marathon of Love Poems.”

“Twenty local poets read poems of love, lust and heartache,” Secretary/Treasurer Eric Sweiven said.

Sweiven recommends arriving at 6:30 to claim a seat for the poetry reading, which starts at 7, as seating is limited.

For more information, visit the website.

Port, Wine and Chocolate Lovers Weekend
Saturday - Sunday
Old Sugar Mill
35265 Willow Ave., Clarksburg
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
$20

The Old Sugar Mill, which houses eight wineries, is hosting a two-day event that will feature two live bands each day and chocolate tastings with wine pairings.

Event coordinator Mary E. Tye said that what people may not know is that the wineries will not only be serving desert and port wines but they will also have their full listing of wines available.

According to Tye, there will also be food available for purchase from Elk Grove’s Baguettes Deli and The Pasta Queen, a local Italian food delivery service.

“It’s a great day to share with your friends or sweetie,” Tye said. “And to enjoy some good wine.”

Tye said that they had about 2200 - 2500 people over the last two days when they held the event last year.

For more information, visit the website or call 744-1615.

I Heart Sacramento Zoo
Sunday
The Sacramento Zoo
3930 West Land Park Drive
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Children up to age one are free, ages 2-11 are $7.25, seniors are $10.50, general admission is $11.25

Sacramento Zoo teen volunteers organized this second annual event where they make valentine-themed paper mâché treats with nontoxic paint. These are put in the animals’ cages, where the crowd can see. Depending on the animal, different spices are put in the treats to attract the animals.

According to Public Relations Coordinator Tonja Swank, there will be a Zookeeper or Zoo teen volunteer present at each exhibit to take questions from the audience.

“You can come with your family,” Swank said, “to see animals do something you might not see on a regular day at the zoo.”

For more information, visit the website or call 808-5888.

Valentine's Dinner at The Firehouse Restaurant
Tuesday
1112 Second St.
5 - 10:30 p.m.
$125 per person

The Firehouse Restaurant is offering a five-course dinner and a vegetarian/vegan dinner, prepared by Chef Deneb Williams. Menu items include pancetta-wrapped asparagus, lobster bread pudding and cherry lamb chop.

The vegan/vegetarian menu will offer a vegan asparagus bundle, vegan flatbread trio and a vegan beet carpaccio salad.

The Firehouse Restaurant’s Marketing Specialist Christi Ballard said the ambiance and lighting is why it continues to be voted Sacramento's most romantic restaurant by Zagat.

“The quiet elegance of The Firehouse is unmatched,” Ballard said. “The cuisine is exceptional and our customer service unparalleled.”

Reservations are required and valet parking is available.

For more information, visit the website or call 442-4772
Valentines Dinner at Il Fornaio Restaurants and Bakeries
Tuesday
400 Capitol Mall
1179 Galleria Blvd, Roseville
5 - 10 p.m.

To celebrate its Italian heritage, Il Fornaio will be serving food from different regions of Italy as part of its Festa Regionale menu at the Roseville and Sacramento locations.

This month’s region is Lazio, where Rome is located. Menu items include roasted salmon with fresh vegetables, slow-braised oxtail and vegetarian items such as Roman style gnocchi and whole wheat raviolis with Swiss chard.

A three-course tasting menu is available, where guests choose one item from each course, for $31.99 per person.

For more information, visit the website or call 446-4100 for the Sacramento location and 788-1200 for the Roseville location.

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.

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.

Pandamonium at the Zoo

2011-07-12T23:37:03Z

I visited the Sac Zoo today to check out the re-opened Panda exhibit. Three were hanging around sleeping and scratching. They are "foxy" looking. Only one was being photogenic for me. The other two were hidden on tree limbs.While at the Red Panda Exhibit be sure to stop by Greater Sacramento chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers (Greater Sac AAZK) booth where you can create a Red panda craft or purchase “lucky bamboo”. All proceeds from the bamboo will go towards the conservation and education efforts of Red Panda Network.

While there I checked out Jingaa, the Sumatran tiger born March 18, 2010. She weighs about 100 lbs and will soon be the same size as her mom at 190 lbs!

I sat down with a hotdog basket for lunch near the giraffes. I swore to myself I wouldn't take anymore photos of the giraffes. This one was begging for it:

The Sacramento Press Streaming Live at Sacramento Zoo's King of Feasts

2011-06-22T20:25:44Z

The Sacramento Zoo will be hosting King of Feasts - Wine & Food Luau which will take place at the zoo 6 - 9 p.m. Saturday. Escape to a tropical paradise where you’ll be surrounded by exotic animals as you taste diverse cuisine from Sacramento-area restaurants, wineries- and breweries.

Enjoy walking around the zoo, listening to the sounds of Hawaii, watching traditional hula dance- and partying at the Tiki lounge. Participating restaurants, wineries- and breweries include: 4th Street Grille, Chops Steakhouse, FatCat Scones, Kru, Mochii Yogurt, Zócalo, Hoppy Brewing Company, Pyramid Alehouse, River City Brewing Company- and many more.

Presale tickets are $50 per person, and $45 for zoo members. Admission at the door is $60 per person. if you can’t make it to the event, The Sacramento Press will be live-streaming video of the event via Ustream. Video will appear in this article starting at 6p.m. Saturday and continue until the end of the event.

Free live streaming by Ustream Free video chat by Ustream

Sacramento Zoo's 10th annual King of Feasts

2011-06-20T04:49:48Z

If you’re a fan of Hula-Hoops and a variety of local food, wine and beer, then the Sacramento Zoo’s 10th annual King of Feasts Wine and Food Luau – which will be held Saturday at the zoo – is for you.

“The luau is held all over the zoo,” Tonja Swank, public relations coordinator for the Sacramento Zoo, said of the 21-and-over event. “We line the different restaurants, wineries and breweries along different areas of the zoo. Some will be lined along Big Cat Row where the hyenas, snow leopard and where the larger cats are.”

Participating restaurants include local favorites such as Zocalo, Taylor’s Kitchen, Kru and Chops Steakhouse. Swank said attendees can expect to find sample-serving sizes of food since the luau is a tasting event.

John Ruffaine, co-owner of Giovanni’s Old World Pizzeria, said this is the fourth year his restaurant has participated in King of Feasts. He said his business will be providing three pizza options.

Their meat-lover’s option is the Don Giovanni, a pizza topped with homemade Italian sausage and red roasted pepper. Their vegetarian option will be pesto pizza, topped with fresh tomatoes and pine nuts. They will also be serving a traditional cheese pizza. He added that all their pizzas will be topped with extra virgin olive oil.

“We always have a lot left over, and we give it away to people at the end (of the night),” Ruffaine said. “There is no better marketing than being generous,” Ruffaine said.”

Desserts will be provided by Vic’s Ice Cream and Cupcake Craving, among others. Mulvaney’s B&L will be serving a seasonal fruit sorbet, said general manager Andy Kingsbury.

The Hoppy Brewing Company, will be providing beer, including Liquid Sunshine Blonde Ale, Hoppy Face Amber Ale, Stony Face Red Ale and Total Eclipse Black Ale, said marketing manager Scott Patterson.

Amador Cellars Winery will be pouring their 2008 petite sirah, the 2008 syrah and two styles of zinfandel.

Shaun Kelish, tasting room manager of Bogle Vineyards, said their winery will be furnishing four types of wine for the event: the 2010 sauvignon blanc, the 2010 chenin blanc, 2009 merlot and the 2009 cabernet sauvignon.

Kelish said Bogle Vineyards is also donating a 2008 merlot 3-liter, 3-magnum bottle of wine, equivalent to four regular bottles, for silent auction.

The Na Aikane Ukulele Club will be performing, along with the Kaulumele Polynesian Dance Group who will also moderate the adult Hula-Hoop contest, Swank said.

It is the second year in a row that organizers of King of Feasts have gone with a luau theme, Swank said.

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $60. Pre-sale tickets purchased during zoo hours or by phone are $50. Zoo members pay $45 pre-sale.

All proceeds will got to the Sacremento Zoo’s general fund.

Zoo to stay put for the time being

2011-02-23T01:39:54Z

Sutter’s Landing will not be the future site for the Sacramento Zoo.

That determination was made during a City Council workshop Tuesday afternoon. The workshop was called so the council members could be brought up to date on the current status of the zoo – currently located on 14 acres in Land Park – and where it will be in the next 40 years.

The workshop was called by Councilman Rob Fong following a feasibility study released last July.

For now, the council has decided to keep the zoo in Land Park.

“I think it’s pretty obvious that we’re not going to be looking at putting the zoo anywhere else in the short term,” Fong said, adding that the “short term” means anywhere in the next 20 years.

Zoo officials addressed the council, saying that the zoo will only remain sustainable for the next 20 years unless the zoo is relocated or changes the scope of its programs.

That change could be anything from a new site to an expansion into William Land Park or a different scope of programs at the current site.

A previous idea of moving the zoo to Sutter’s Landing – atop a former landfill – by the Sacramento Zoological Society Long Range Planning Committee is too costly to be feasible, according to staff.

The Sacramento Zoo has been known for its large animals, said Mary Healy, executive director of the Zoological Society. She added that some of the most popular larger animals – including elephants, bears and a hippopotamus – are no longer at the zoo.

Some of the animals were moved to make space for giraffes, and the hippopotamus died.

“With 14 acres, we’ll never be getting some of those animals back,” she said, adding that a 14-acre zoo would need to feature smaller animals, but with better, more involved experiences for visitors.

By contrast, Oakland’s zoo is about 45 acres.

One example of a more involved experience is the zoo’s current program that allows supervised feeding of Giraffes, which Healy said is very popular.

Council members agreed that keeping the zoo in Sacramento is important to the city, as it is a regional attraction that draws approximately 500,000 visitors each year from more than 20 countries.

“I would hate to see the zoo leave this area,” said Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy. “It is a quaint urban zoo, and we want to make it bigger, and we want to make it better.”

Any plan to make the zoo bigger or better still needs to be determined, and numerous concerns and problems will crop up in any proposal.

Building an all-new zoo at another site would be costly, keeping the zoo in its current location might not be big enough going into the future, and expanding the current site might strain traffic and parking in Land Park, a spot resident and Land Park Volunteer Corps President Craig Powell said is already maxed-out for dealing with traffic.

“Broad popularity comes with its own set of impacts: heavy traffic and congestion, particularly on weekends and holidays, severely limited parking and major competition for space among park users,” Powell wrote in a letter to City Council.

Parking is one of the Zoological Society’s top concerns after visitor safety, and ensuring there is enough public access to the zoo is a priority as well.

After the two-hour meeting, the City Council directed city staff and zoo officials to come up with a plan for what is required for the next 20 years in the current Land Park site.

“If that doesn’t work, or if there’s controversy, it might accelerate looking at other options in the longer term,” said Councilman Steve Cohn.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Sacramento Museum Day 2011

2011-02-08T00:41:11Z

Over 25 museums participated in the annual Sacramento Museum Day this Saturday February 5. On the first Saturday of February for the past 13 years Sacramento has opened many museums to the public free of charge. Some places are always packed while other museums don’t experience such problems.

I chose two locations to visit this year. One of them I knew would be packed (the Sacramento Zoo) and the other I wasn’t sure (Crocker Art Museum).

As I was getting off Interstate 5 I knew the Sacramento Zoo was going to be packed. Traffic going west on Sutterville Road was backed all the way to the freeway. I ended up going to the zoo the back way from Freeport Blvd. It didn’t really matter traffic was backed up and parking spaces were at a premium.

(Sacramento Zoo entrance)

None of this prepared to what we saw moving up to the Sacramento Zoo. Hundreds of people were lined up to get into the zoo. It seemed like a zoo inside and outside. Like other people with small children I dropped off the people I was with at Fairytale Town and headed to the Crocker.

I heard parents waiting to get into the zoo yelling instructions to their kids but it didn’t really matter on this beautiful sunny day a child is going to run and not stand still in line. Unless Sacramento Museum Day is expanded to Sacramento Zoo Weekend the zoo will be the most popular place to be on any given free admission day.

The Sacramento Association of Museums (SAM) has done a great job over the past decade to coordinate this event. This year Umpqua Bank sponsored the event presented by SAM. Sacramento Museum Day is a great venue to showcase the wealth of art, history, transportation, science and wildlife Sacramento has to offer. Many of the museums are well known and in some cases close to each other but as the number of museums expands you can also attend regional museums like the Folsom History Museum as well as Woodland’s Heidrick Ag History Center.

The Gottfried Helnwein: Inferno of the Innocents exhibit had just opened the previous weekend and I’ve wanted to see it. Gottfried Helnwein’s art addresses several themes including images reminiscent of World War II and its effects it had on his native country of Austria. Although born after WWII in Vienna Austria the exhibit at the Crocker Art Museum seemed to be WWII inspired. His exhibit runs until April 24

A couple of his art pieces reminded me of Marilyn Manson and Rammstein art covers. Helnwein in fact did the cover for Rammstein’s Sehnsucht as well as working with Manson on art in The Golden Age of Grotesque album.

The exhibit at the Crocker Art Museum contained many Helnwein's pieces that were enormous. No photography was allowed of Helnwein’s work but there were a couple of pieces outside of his main exhibit that did not have that restriction.

Although I went to see Helnwein exhibit I ended up spending hours at the Crocker viewing other exhibits.

The Crocker also had special activities for Museum Day including an interactive space with art-inspired games at the Art Education Resource Room. Hands-on art on the Second Floor Ballroom was also being demonstrated by a couple of the museum’s volunteers. Several other activities also took place throughout the day.

I’m not sure how long it takes to tabulate the number of people that attended this year’s Sacramento Museum Day but I wonder if it was more than last year’s 85,000.

Photos by David Alvarez

This holiday, don’t give garbage

2010-12-16T16:49:35Z

Give Smart Sacramento promotes waste free experiences in place of traditional holiday gifts

What was your favorite holiday gift of the past? Was it a sweater from J.Crew three years ago? Or maybe it was the CD-Man you got in ’95? I’m guessing it was something that hasn’t gone out of style or become obsolete. My favorite gift in recent memory was a family membership to Fairytale Town. I will always remember the time spent with my children and my family at Fairytale Town, because the memory will never go out of style, be shoved in the back of the closet or go in the "Goodwill" pile.

This year, the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities is challenging you to replace at least one out of every five gifts you plan to give with an experience gift. Using CalRecycle funds, the City has launched Give Smart Sacramento, a program focused on reducing the amount of waste collected this November and December. Our goal is to collect 200 tons less solid waste and 325 tons more recyclables during the holidays.

Local organizations have joined Give Smart by offering discounts towards gifts that don’t produce waste. Promotions include annual passes to California State Railroad Museum, Fairytale Town and Funderland, tickets to “A Christmas Carol”, tickets to Sacramento Kings and more! Sacramento has so many wonderful activities for families to enjoy together. This is the perfect time of year to take advantage of these experiences and support local businesses.

In addition to giving waste free gifts, we can also reduce solid waste by reusing ribbons, bows, and gift bags year after year. Most wrapping paper and packaging material is also recyclable, as are bottles and cans generated at holiday festivities. Styrafoam and packing peanuts are not recyclable.

Visit GiveSmartSacramento.org for a complete list of partners and recycling tips.

Sacramento Zoo Photo Safari

2010-08-23T02:10:08Z

On a surprisingly cold morning the Sacramento Zoo was already receiving guests early on Saturday morning. A Zoo Photo Safari Class was taking place with Pat McKown serving as the instructor on the third, in a series of four photography classes offered this summer on the Sacramento Zoo campus. The class was geared toward learning how to photograph zoo animals and compensating for exhibits housing avoiding some photography obstacles such as bars, netting and glass. There were 14 people taking the class and many questions were asked during the lecture part of the class. Pat McKown’s photography helpful tips were quite useful. Students brought their digital cameras and I think many of them learned more about their camera during the lecture than they had since they’ve owned their cameras. Cameras used by class participants ranged from small digital cameras with 3X zoom to full blown digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras.

Ann Geiger, zoo educational director, met me at the zoo entrance and led me to the classroom where the class had already been taking place. As we walked to the classroom Ann indicated that these classes were made possible by a grant from GenCorp. Anne explained that there was also a similar class for students sixth grade and up. She also talked about the Sacramento Zoo Docent program. The Docent program is made up of volunteer educators, older than 18 years and who’ve had Sacramento Zoo training. They provide tours, station walks and other services to zoo visitors. Classes for the program will start again in January 2011 and go into early March. This program requires a lot of training before becoming a Docent. Log on to the Sacramento Zoo website to learn more about this program and other volunteer programs. Programs are also available for teens and currently there are about 50 teen volunteers who work at the Zoo mostly on weekends.

The photography class included topics such as whether to use flash or not. Pat recommended that flash, in order not to startle or bother the animas, should not be used when photographing the animals. I noticed many zoo visitors violating this rule but at the same time most don’t know that it can be a nuisance. Optical vs. digital zoom was discussed; ISO and other photography terms were explained. The most interesting topic, in my opinion, was taking pictures and trying to compensate for bars, netting and glass structures between the photographer and the animals. I will be interested in viewing the final product when pictures from this Safari are posted on a zoo website.

(The giraffe exhibit)

Pat’s expert knowledge of both subjects (photography and zoo animals) was very helpful for the students. I overheard several of them, as they were taking pictures, saying things like “I keep getting reflections off of the glass housing. I just have to be patient and get closer to the glass enclosure”. This comment was made in reference to McKown’s suggestion to get close to the glass in order to avoid seeing reflections on the photos. The patience part was, I believe, the hardest thing for the students to heed. Most animals do not like to pose for pictures, they tend to move the second you press the shutter release button. I noticed that if they seem to be posing it’s because they’re asleep. Patience however allows the photographer to take the picture as the cage or netting is out of focus and the animal comes into full focus. It comes in handy as you wait for your model to move and seemingly pose for you. Patience is one of the hardest qualities to attain whether it’s in photography or life but it pays off in either facet. Patience in photography is all about, as Pat put it, “capturing the moment”.

As students broke into smaller groups and eagerly walked from the classroom to the zoo I had a chance to speak with Pat McKown for a few minutes. This was the third Photo Safari class that she’s taught this year with one more class scheduled in September. I asked how she got started doing these classes and she said, “I had been a Docent on a regular basis. When I came back from a trip to Africa I did a presentation and this eventually led to a grant”. The grant was passed on to the Sacramento Zoo. Pat’s experience in photography is immeasurable and her enthusiasm is apparent making the class quite enjoyable.

I followed one group of students out to their Safari Adventure. I ran into other students at different sites and all seemed to be enjoying the shooting and challenges posed by exhibits behind glass, net, wires, cages and other zoo visitors. Capturing the moment seemed to be in everybody’s mind as they moved from one exhibit to the next.

(The challenges of cage wire at the lion exhibit)

(Compensating for glass enclosures at the anteater exhibit)

(At the flamingo exhibit)

(Below are other animal exhibits)

Pat’s lecture and tips are a good foundation for a Zoo Safari. This foundation can be applied to taking pictures of your children as well. There are dozens of other topics that were covered in class and if you’re interested log on to the Sacramento Zoo website and sign up for the September class before it fills up. Also, look for other classes offered to people of all ages.

We've got a winner!

2010-08-05T19:03:10Z

The lucky winner of our Deal Ticket Sweepstakes is Lauren Edvalson!!!!!!

A little bit about the winner:

Lauren currently holds a position within The Sacramento Bee’s advertising department, where she specializes in developing multimedia advertising campaigns to drive sales and awareness for her clients in the arts and entertainment industry. Lauren also serves as vice president of corporate support for the AMASV (American Marketing Association, Sacramento Valley Chapter) fostering relationships with marketing executives in the Sacramento region. When Lauren is not working, she manages her own business as a stylist for the Stella & Dot jewelry.

Congratulations Lauren! By spreading the word about Deal Ticket, Lauren has won the ultimate local prize package:

-Brand-new Apple iPad with 3G
-Four greens fees for Ancil Hoffman Golf Course
-Family pass for four to The Sacramento Zoo
-$20 off to Red Lotus
-$100 towards A. Jaffe jewelry from Roger's Jewelry
-Sacramento Kings basketball signed by Jon Brockman
-Sacramento Kings limited edition poster

Because she put forth a valiant effort in spreading the word about Deal Ticket and accumulated an astounding 111 points, we’ve also named a runner-up in the Sweepstakes. Congratulations to Gina Beltran! Gina will be receiving a $50 gift card to her favorite local retailer and a $50 gift card to her favorite local restaurant.

If you haven't signed up yet to receive Daily Deal e-mails, all you have to do is go to the Deal Ticket home page and sign up by giving us your e-mail address.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Deal Ticket Sweepstakes!

Photo is of Lauren Edvalson

Save money and win big in Deal Ticket Sweepstakes

2010-07-22T19:48:35Z

We are excited to announce a special opportunity and want our users, as part of The Sacramento Press community, to be the first to take advantage.

How would you like to save 51-90 percent on Sacramento's top restaurants, salons and businesses every day? Well, now you can! We introduce to you: Deal Ticket.

It’s really easy to sign up and start saving. Every day, we feature a fantastic deal from a local business. That deal is featured for one day only. You click to buy the deal and save money by doing so. All you have to do is sign up for the daily Deal Ticket e-mail so you don’t miss out on deals you’ll love.

To give you an idea of what's in store, we have great deals at Tuli Bistro (60 percent off), Evan's Kitchen (58 percent off), Article (67 percent off) and the L Wine Lounge (55 percent off) - all lined up for just the first week! To get started on the savings, just visit the Deal Ticket website and enter your e-mail.

Plus, it gets even better. Starting this week, we're giving you multiple chances to win tons of prizes (including an Apple iPad) just for spreading the word about Deal Ticket. See the complete rules and details below.

If you sign up to receive daily Deal Ticket e-mails, you will have another chance to win big in a whole new sweepstakes starting next week. Keep an eye out for details here next week or, if you are a Sacramento Press user, you will get an e-mail with complete details.

Thank you for your continued support of not only us, but Sacramento's local businesses.

HOW TO ENTER THE DEAL TICKET SWEEPSTAKES

Now through Aug. 4, 2010, enter the Deal Ticket Sweepstakes and be entered into a drawing to win the ultimate local prize package:

-Brand-new Apple iPad with 3G
-Four greens fees for Ancil Hoffman Golf Course
-Family pass for four to the Sacramento Zoo
-$20 off to Red Lotus
-$100 towards A. Jaffe jewelry from Roger's Jewelry
-Sacramento Kings basketball signed by Jon Brockman
-Sacramento Kings limited edition poster

It's easy to be entered in the sweepstakes. All you have to do is spread the word, and you'll earn points the more you do. Each point gets your name put into the drawing, and here's how to earn them:

Worth 1 POINT each:

- Tweet about this contest or about Deal Ticket in your Twitter status
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- Become a fan of Deal Ticket on Facebook (see link at bottom) and comment.
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- Are you on Foursquare? For every place you are the “mayor" of, you get one point! Send us the list of places where you are the mayor.

Worth 3 POINTS each:

- Blog about this contest and/or about Deal Ticket.
- Send us a link to your favorite local restaurant, boutique, or any other business.
- Foursquare Mayors: share Deal Ticket with the venue where you are the mayor by telling them (we'll take your word that you actually did it!), posting the link to Deal Ticket on their Facebook page or Twitter.
-Post a 'Shout out' to your Foursquare friends about Deal Ticket.
-Joining the conversation on Deal Ticket's Facebook Discussion Forum, "What's your favorite spot to eat in Sacramento?" or "What's your favorite store?"

To show us your entries, e-mail us at contest@sacramentopress.com. Include your name and your total number of entries in the subject heading. In the body of your e-mail, type a list of everything you've completed, including the verifiable links. We will check all the links, so make sure they work!

Important things to keep in mind:

-If you do not send us an e-mail at contest@sacramentopress.com with your completed tasks, they will not be counted.

-You may repeat the same task, but only one of each task will be counted per day.

-The more points you earn, the more times your name will be entered in the sweepstakes.

-Please do not send multiple e-mails. Just send one e-mail with your total entries.

-Deadline for entries is Aug. 3 2010, at midnight

IMPORTANT: PLEASE SEE COMPLETE RULES HERE

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Sacramento Zoo Feasibility Study

2010-07-16T21:08:06Z

This Tuesday the City Council will look over a two year study by the Community Development Department Zoo feasibility study. The Sacramento Zoological Society Long Range Planning Committee had identified Sutter's Landing Regional Park as their preferred site for a modest expansion of the zoo, but alternative sites have also been located for a future zoo.

Cost Premium of Construction on former landfill:
Construction costs will be significantly higher (to account for ground settling and special drainage treatment); thus, it is expected that construction of a zoo on this site would cost $625K/acre ($30 million total for a 50 acre zoo) above the "normal" costs of constructing a zoo on a site without landfill issues.

In addition to Sutter's Landing Regional Park, the consultant conducted preliminary evaluations of other potential sites:
• Natomas Joint Vision: This land area has no land use entitlements or habitat conservation permits.
• Arco Arena area: This site is part of the Convergence proposal
• Job Corps / Delta Shores Regional Park: The southern portion of the Job Corps site has not yet been surplused by the federal government
• North Natomas Regional Park: Already programmed for other uses
• Haggin Oaks Golf Course: This would require reconfiguration of the existing golf course and there may be competition from other potential users
• Cal Expo: This site is part of the Convergence proposal
• Granite Regional Park - east basin: This site is.difficult to evacuate in the event of drainage pump failure
• Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Course: This site would require reconfiguration or elimination of the existing golf course.

The study emphasized that:
• The decision and actions to move forward with a zoo of the future are long range planning activities (a 20 year timeframe).
• There are no imminent plans to move or expand the zoo; options are provided for preliminary consideration.
• The community and PRC workshops are an important step in exploring those options for the long term future of the zoo.

The Feasibility Study concluded that:
• The current 14 acre site of the Land Park zoo is not sustainable for the future. The changing exhibit requirements, increasing operating costs, and stagnant revenues, are resulting in a zoo that offers fewer exhibits. Parking is limited and cannot fully accommodate visitors on weekends or during busy seasons.
• Sutter's Landing Regional Park is not well suited for a zoo. The site poses a number of tough challenges (e.g., building new access roads and constructing zoo facilities on a former landfill).
• Initial findings are that other sites are potentially better suited for a future zoo.
• Physically, Land Park could potentially accommodate a modest expansion.

Sac Zoo's Newest Tiger-cub Jingga

2010-07-01T00:18:20Z

Jingga is now an experienced debutante since making her first public appearance on June 16 at the Sacramento Zoo. A Sumatran tiger, she was born March 18, 2010. Jingga's name was the top choice out of 40,000 possibilities submitted in a naming contest the zoo sponsored.

She is clearly a hit with children. A young girl (above) gets as close as possible to Jingga with a very thick glass separating her and the cub.

Jingga spends time alone at times.

New mom, Baha, plays with Jingga using her paws as well as her mouth. Since tigers are solitary in the wild, mother and cub will alternate on exhibit with the father.

Jingga learns fast about feeding on vegetation as well as playing with it (above and below).

According to a press release by Sacramento Zoo, the winning name, Jingga, means orange in Indonesian. The little tiger cub already has a full coat of orange and black striped fur. The stripe pattern on tigers is like a fingerprint: no two are identical.

Sumatran tigers are critically endangered and found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra off the Malaysian Peninsula. Fewer than 500 Sumatran tigers are believed to exist in the wild and approximately 200 Sumatran tigers live in zoos around the world.

The Zoo participates in the Tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP), coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which recommended the breeding of the Sacramento Zoo tigers. SSPs are cooperative breeding and conservation programs designed to maintain genetically viable populations of animals in captivity, and to organize zoo- and aquarium-based efforts to preserve the species in nature.

For further information, visit: http://www.saczoo.com/

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Sac Zoo Hosts Luau Party-The King of Feasts

2010-06-28T03:24:53Z

The Sacramento Zoo closed early Saturday afternoon for the 21-and-over guests to attend the annual King of Feasts Wine & Food Luau from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

The hot summer weather did not stop the crowd from attending The King of Feasts. As guests entered, the ladies from Good Day Sacramento placed festive Hawaiian leis on their necks.

The guests enjoyed a plethora of tasty samples from Sacramento’s finest restaurants and breweries, which were conveniently placed throughout the zoo. Along with food and wine were a few booths for a silent auction, which held sought-after items that benefited the zoo.

The Na Aikane Ukulele Band, VFW Ukulele Band, Kalei Kema Hawaiian guitar and Polynesian dancers set the mood for the safari event. Some guests visited Rick Kushman, author of “A Moveable Thirst,” and asked questions as he gave his expert opinion on food and wine pairing.

The Local Bartenders Guild was crowded with guests to watch the Tiki cocktail competition.

While enjoying their food and wine, guests walked around the zoo, stopping at the exhibits to take a break in between the food booths. Many guests were looking forward to seeing the baby tiger, but unfortunately the exhibit closed at 3 p.m.

I had a chat with two lovely ladies, Brenda Kirian and Wendy Kay from the Land Park Area, about their first time attending this event.

“We’re having a good time and enjoying wines that we never knew existed,” Kirian said.

Both agreed that the Rubio’s’ tacos and Paul Martin’s short rib and mashed potatoes sampler were the best food booths to visit and recommended the Vino Noceto wine booth to try their Frivolo, a light, refreshing dessert wine similar to a moscato.

Music, food and wine were a recipe for a good time on this Saturday night, with all the proceeds benefiting the Sacramento Zoo.

Photos by Alejandra Gonzalez.

Zoo's Kingly Feast snapshots

2010-06-27T19:00:48Z

Sacramento Zoo's King of Feasts last night pulled a lot of Zoo lovers in to experience the zoo after hours while enjoying great food, wine and other liquors, as well as exotic dancers.

Here are some snapshots:

Dancers of the Pacific performed on the main stage (above and below).

Kercy Adler-Resnick of Rocklin enjoyed her drink in front of the flamingos home.

And the flamingos just acted like they are used to partying humans.

The dad of the new baby Sumatran tiger went eye-to-eye with visitors. His offspring, Jingga, the female Sumatran tiger cub, did not make an appearance. It was too late in the day for her.

The Mixology Competition Results: Dominique 77pts | Ricky 83pts | Renee 96pts | CHRIS DOOLEY from Ella Dining Room and Bar 100pts!.

Giovanni's gave out a heck of a lot of pizza!

Sarah Napolitano poured a lot of Barefoot Wine and Bubbly.

The misters helped keep the heat at bay.

With drink in hand, a woman takes photos of one of the Zoo's residents.

Nugget Markets was on hand to give folks samples of their wines.

Sacramento Bee's columnist Rick Kushman shared his food and wine knowledge.

Na Aikene Ukulele Club strummed and danced.

A strawberry is dipped into the chocolate waterfall.

Tequila!

Shakin' his stuff at the Zoo.

Two giraffes took part in their own feast , with human help.

An 18" long tongue helps.

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Join us for the King of Feasts Luau

2010-06-26T03:45:55Z

The King of Feasts Wine & Food Luau at the Sacramento Zoo kicks off this evening at 5:30.

Sacramento’s finest restaurants will be dishing out a variety of delectable culinary creations that can be paired with the array of premium local wines, beers and spirits.

The Zoo will boast live music and dance that will set the mood for the safari from the Na Aikane Ukulele Band, VFW Ukulele Band, Kalei Kema Hawaiian guitar and an array of Polynesian dancers.

Guests will not want to miss author, Rick Kushman of " A Moveable Thirst " as he enlightens the crowd with his expert food and wine pairings or the Local Bartenders Guild as they host a Classic Tiki cocktail mixology competition.

If you can’t make it, check out our live stream of the event below.

King of Feasts arrives Saturday

2010-06-25T03:52:16Z

Bring your appetite and your camera for the Sacramento Zoo's King of Feasts Wine and Food Luau on Saturday, where the hot summer gets a taste of the jungle.

King of Feasts has been running since the 1990s, though it took a hiatus for several years. This event is hosted by members of "Good Day Sacramento" and is a successful fundraiser for Sacramento Zoological Society.

"The funds raised benefit zoo improvements, education programs and wildlife conservation, while at the same time providing the community a chance to get together and enjoy an evening at the zoo with good food and drinks," said Lauren Kraft, the zoo's public relations coordinator.

This is the first year that the luau theme was added since the start of King of Feasts to "spice up the evening along with a mixology competition and more eateries and drink area," Kraft said. Entertainment will be provided by the Na Aikane Ukulele Band, VFW Ukulele Band and Hawaiian guitarist Kalei Kema, as well as the Polynesian dancers of Hula Event.

King of Feasts is directed towards a more adult audience, 21 years or older is recommended.

The Classic Tiki Cocktail Mixology Competition, hosted by the local Bartenders Guild and coordinators of Midtown Cocktail Week, gives attendees a taste of mixing drinks with more experienced bartenders.

Food will be provided by several restaurants, caterers and bakeries like L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Greenhaven, Nugget Market and Vic's Ice Cream. Wines and other beverages will be provided by the likes of River City Brewing Company, Twisted Rivers Wines and Vino Noceto.

"Many of our guests at this event are repeat attendees, and enjoy coming back year after year to see all the new restaurants and wineries," Kraft said.

If you check in at the Sacramento Zoo on Foursquare for the event, you will receive a free King of Feasts poster, Kraft said.

Pre-sale: $50
Pre-sale for zoo members: $45
Day of event and at the door: $60 (no discounts)

Tickets can be purchased online
By phone: (916) 808-5888
In person: At the zoo, daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
King of Feasts: 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Free live streaming by Ustream Free video chat by Ustream

Photos courtesy of Lauren Kraft and the Sacramento Zoo.

Local student filmmakers tackle variety of issues

2010-05-18T02:17:24Z

With family and friends in attendance, 40 aspiring high school filmmakers debuted their documentary shorts at the second annual Documentary Foundation Film Festival Sunday. The Sacramento student filmmakers covered a multitude of issues including racism in high school, legalization of marijuana, pink-slipped teachers and prisoner work programs in Folsom Prison.

The program is taught by Sacramento native documentary filmmakers Keith Ochwat and Christopher Rufo and sponsored by KVIE. The duo created the Documentary Foundation student program as a means to inspire future generations of documentary filmmakers.

"There are so many issues that affect peoples' lives," Ochwat said. He spoke of the importance for the students participating to think critically about social issues. "It's (also) about the journalism (and) the storytelling," he said.

With nine documentaries on the program, the event kicked off with a look at the Sacramento Zoo's lovable red pandas. The short film highlighted the environment the pandas live in at the zoo and their current state of endangerment. The film elicited many "aww"s at the sight of the pandas.

There were less fuzzy feelings during "Nestle Waters," about the debate over a Nestle Corporation Plant coming to Sacramento. The film covered both sides, interviewing both Nestle management about plans to use the American River and an opposing resident concerned about environmental protection.

Two films struck close to home for the students, spotlighting the racism felt and witnessed on high school campuses. "Racism in High Schools" had a clear and powerful message, never disconnect with who you are. The second film, "He Said, She Said" gives insight to the rules of attraction from high school students' perspectives.

"K-9 Angels" showed the benefits of pet therapy for one young patient at the Shriner's Hospital, while "CA in Smoke" touched on the debate over legalizing marijuana, incorporating what appeared to be actual footage of high school students using the drug. Later in the evening, "Folsom Prison" debuted, shadowing one prisoner in a carpentry work program. This was the first time in history Folsom Prison has allowed minors to film inside.

Winning the impromptu Audience Award for sparking the most laughter, "The Last Battle" followed a group of participants during Carmichael's Amtguard games. The game's role-players dress in medieval garb, arming themselves with padded weaponry and duked it out for ultimate Amtguard supremacy. The audience was hysteric over one new young participant, whose goal was to take down the elder, most feared member. Neither side would admit defeat, let alone acknowledge their counterparts' skill level, much to the delight of the crowd.

But it was the last film in the lineup that proved most powerful, winning the Best Picture Award. "Sorry to Inform You" gave a student's view of the current situation involving California teachers and pink slips. Following one beloved teacher from Natomas High School, whose 31-year career had never landed her a pink slip before, the film gave an inside look, showing the effects on the teacher, her students, and the school's principal. Ironically, the same teacher had won the Teacher of the Year Award three days prior to being laid off.

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) teacher Nancy Kidd was in attendance for the film and accompanied the students on stage for their award. Afterward, many students took pictures with Kidd, giving hugs and offering final condolences.

"This is why I'm a teacher, this is what makes it (worth it)," Kidd said. "'I just wish all the students continued success. With a little hard work (they) will get there."

Each student in the program wins a framed plaque, and groups that won awards for Best Picture, Cinematography, Editing and Producing received prizes such as gift cards to Best Buy and Dimple Records, weekend passes to the French Film Festival, and annual subscriptions to Filmmaker Magazine.

The Documentary Foundation will offer a third session coming this fall, dates to be announced, as well as a special summer workshop that will pair returning documentary student filmmakers with local nonprofit organizations.

The goal of the workshop is to "teach (the students) how to apply their skills," said Ochwat, "(enhancing) career skills and taking it to the next level."

The program is offered to all Sacramento area high school students. To sign up, or for more information, visit documentaryfoundation.org. Classes for the workshop are held once a week, on Saturdays, during the 10-week program.

Photos courtesy of Keith Ochwat of the Documentary Foundation

Sacramento Zoo hosts California Celebration

2010-05-03T05:28:54Z

As part of its First Saturday series, the Sacramento Zoo hosted California Celebration. The event, included with zoo admission, featured animal showcases, cultural performances and the activity booths of various businesses and groups.

Events like these help organizations with no marketing budget, such as the Discovery Museum, spread the word.

"The zoo and the Discovery Museum are in the same business, science education," said Beth Callahan, director of marketing and development at the museum. "We're trying to get kids interested. Our obligation is to provide a science-literate community." The museum's activity, letting kids add yarn "fur" to a bald woolly mammoth, was a hit. By the end of the day, the mammoth was completely covered.

The zoo's First Saturday series adds another event to its repertoire of family activities. Weather permitting, the event usually increases zoo attendance by up to 30 percent.

"Today was a success in terms of gorgeous weather; people are out here," said event coordinator Marisa Hicks. She said the zoo takes pride in the multigenerational series, pointing out dozens of families that included grandparents as well as children.

The day included more than a dozen activities, including face painting, adding to the Sojourner Truth Art Museum's multicultural mural, or having pictures taken with zoo mascot Gus the Green tree frog. Many groups had a presence: the California State Indian Museum, the Florin Historical Society and the Sister Cities Council. People could receive a "Zoo for Two" pass by registering as a blood donor with Blood Source.

Families spent the warm day watching Highland dancing, taking Polynesian hula lessons and listening to African-American cultural stories. Afterward, it was business as usual, as families stopped by the animal exhibits.

The zoo will host King of Feasts on June 26. The event, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., is one of the zoo's largest fund raisers. A celebration of gourmet food and wine, it will feature live music, a silent auction and a sampling of many Sacramento-area bakeries and restaurants. Tickets are $45 for members, $50 for nonmembers.

Sacramento Zoo looks for new home

2010-04-30T04:47:29Z

Residents gathered Wednesday evening at the Hart Senior Center to find a new home for the Sacramento Zoo. After 83 years, the zoo is looking to ditch its current Land Park location in order to gain more space. The two most probable locations are Sutter’s Landing and the Natomas area.

Merely 14 acres in size, the current zoo doesn’t allow for expansion. Many of the animals—including elephants, rhinos, polar bears and cheetahs—had to be relocated to different zoos because of the small size of the enclosures in Sacramento. In order to keep their accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the zoo has to keep up with the changing standards of the association by continuously updating its current animal exhibits.

Despite the fact that collection of animals at the Sacramento Zoo is shrinking, the staff has had to gradually raise admission fees to $11 due to construction costs associated with updating the exhibits. Mary Healy, director and CEO of the zoo, said, “We can’t be a $30 zoo with only 14 acres.”

One option being explored is relocating the zoo to Sutter’s Landing, an area that used to be a landfill that now holds a small community park with river access. The Sutter’s Landing Feasibility Study, conducted to decide if the park would be a good place for the zoo, concluded that the location would not be suitable.

Scot Mende, new growth manager at the Community Development Department, said the current road running into the park, B Street, is not clear or safe for the amount of traffic that a new zoo would bring because of the big hill and railroad tracks it features. A new roadway and freeway exit could cost more than $100 million.

The cost of construction in a former landfill area can also cost the zoo an extra $30 million on top of regular construction prices. It could also take an additional 17 years for the methane in the east end of the park to settle. All these factors combined make the probability of building a zoo at Sutter’s Landing decrease immensely. “Doing anything is a lot more difficult when it used to be a landfill,” City Councilman Steve Cohn said.

Other locations were discussed as possibilities. One was the Natomas Joint Vision Area, a 10,000-acre location currently being planned with an allocation of open space, something the zoo may be able to fit into. The city-owned, 100-acre area north of Arco Arena, where a partially built River Cats stadium now stands, was also discussed, as well as an area of the Job Corps site in Meadowview that may get surplussed in the next few years by the federal government.

Expanding the zoo at its current Land Park location is unlikely. Healy recognized that the zoo is landlocked. “Our best option is to look for a new site,” she said. A City Council resolution passed in 1988 determined that the zoo’s current boundaries within Land Park will remain as its permanent boundaries.

But the topic was still explored. Healy suggested a possible way of expanding the zoo would be to get rid of the “spaghetti” streets outside of the zoo and replace them with a roundabout, exchanging asphalt for space while improving traffic and making school bus drop-offs a lot easier. Healy also talked about creating a separate entrance for a café and gift shop to let patrons explore those areas without paying for zoo admission, as well as creating a round-trip train stop that would run from Old Sacramento to the zoo.

The senior center, located at 915 27th St., was filled with over 60 concerned citizens of the Sutter’s Landing area. Residents worried about increased traffic, as well as a possible disruption of the natural wildlife at the river. Like many Sutter’s Landing residents, Stella Meaney, of Friends of the River Banks, emphasized the importance of the river as a natural asset. “We want the environmental, the ecological, the animals,” Meaney said. “What a great asset to have a stretch of river that’s wild.”

The next community meeting about the zoo’s future will be held at 7 p.m. July 1, at the Parnell Community Center, 2450 Meadowview Rd., with another tentative meeting slated for mid-summer. The Sacramento Parks and Recreation, Community Development Department, and the Sacramento Zoological Society hope these meetings will help them gain public feedback on the different options explored so far.

Sacramento's Business or Monkey Business

2010-04-23T06:52:09Z

Sacramentans participated on Wednesday to discuss the Sacramento Zoo's plans: Should it relocate or find a way to improve its current location? The meeting was held at the Belle Cooledge Center in Land Park, and hosted by the Sacramento Zoological Society, the Community Development Department, and the Parks & Recreation Department.

The meeting was the first in a series intended to obtain feedback. The main topic was the Sutter's Landing Feasibility Study, a proposed relocation of the zoo to Midtown. The majority of Sutter's Landing, which is only accessible from the 28th Street entrance, is owned by the city of Sacramento. Other parts of Sutter's Landing are occupied by the Blue Diamond Company, SMUD, an 172-acre landfill, and the Harbor Sand and Gravel Co.

"Harbor Sand and Gravel would have to be acquired or move sites" to execute the Sacramento Zoo's relocation, said Scot Mende, new growth manager for the Community Development Department.

Mende also said that in order to have a successful zoo, "park access needs to be fairly obvious." Keeping the current entrance to Sutter's Landing for zoo use would overwhelm the city, imposing on a quiet corner of Midtown. The Sacramento Zoo receives more than 500,000 visitors per year. The city proposed a new exit for Sutter's Landing from Highway 160 if the zoo were to relocate. It is estimated a basic execution will cost $17 million. However, if the city decided to make a more attractive and welcoming exit for the zoo, it could cost anywhere from $40 to $80 million.

In addition to the cost of a new entrance, construction of the zoo is estimated at $625,000 an acre. Mary Healy, director and chief executive officer of the zoo, estimated that 100 acres will be needed for a world-class zoo. That means a cost more than $30 million for 50 acres. The high cost of construction is partly because of the required reinforcement of Sutter's Landing's ground, the result of years of landfill compost settling. Seattle's newly expanded Woodland Zoo, considered world class, requires $8 to $10 million a year simply to cover daily operations.

Other relocation areas also were discussed at the meeting, including the 10,000-acre Natomas Joint Vision Area, an area 100 acres north of Arco Arena that is the site of the first, partially-built River Cats Stadium, and the Job Corps site in Meadowview.

There is also the possibility of expanding the current location, although it is hemmed in. A map at the meeting showed how close the zoo is to Fairytale Town, Funderland Amusement Park, the William Land Park Golf Course and Holy Cross School. The zoo occupies a 14-acre lot, so any modifications would have to be modest. One downside to the zoo is an inability to house larger animals. Past expansions were responsible for the reduction of the primate exhibit and the zoo's lost of its rhinos and bears.

Healy contacted the Urban Land Institute for options on improving the current site. Small adjustments were suggested because there was no room for grander moves. The zoo has "no intention of violating the integrity of Fairytale Town, the ball fields, or the golf course," said Healy. Possible improvements include a "friendlier" entrance with a cafe/souvenir shop that would be separate from the zoo and open earlier, a train stop for the zoo that would be accessible from Old Sacramento and turning the stop in front of the entrance into a roundabout so school kids could be dropped off. The bus stop now is across the street, requiring thousands of kids a year to cross the street.

After the speakers representing the city and zoo finished their presentation, they turned the floor over to the public for what became an emotional forum. At one point, residents called the zoo's proposal a mere extension of a board proposition made 22 years ago. Several of the 90 people in the audience approached the front to make their voices heard.

Scott Rose Craig Powell, vice president of the Land Park Community Association, said that "even though the zoo lost some of their bigger animals, their attendance hasn't suffered." The LPCA is against the zoo's expansion because it could move into nearby parks. Rose Powell said it was former Mayor William Land's wish, for whom the park is named, to use the area for the "recreation sport of children and a pleasure ground for the poor." The zoo, which began as a free park, was meant to be used by all. Rose Powell concluded by saying, "If you put a wrought-iron fence around 40 more acres, you will have done a great violence to the will of William Land."

The next community meetings about the feasibility study will be April 28 at 6 p.m. in the Hart Multipurpose Senior Center, 915 27th Street, and June 3 at 7 p.m. at the Robertson Community Center, 3525 Norwood Avenue.

Fong Gives State of District Report

2010-04-20T04:56:10Z

City Councilman Rob Fong said there will be continued development on Broadway during his 2010 State of the District Report Monday evening.

Fong, who represents District 4, gave his report at the Area One Neighborhood Advisory Group meeting.

"I'm not up for reelection this year," he said. "So you will have the truth tonight."

Fong said that west Broadway Street will see some development in the next few years, and the focus will be on housing and retail. Fong also said he is trying to get a community center to be built in that neighborhood. Most of the plans for District 4 are centered around the Broadway corridor, according to Fong.

"We're trying to re-imagine what Broadway can be," Fong said, adding that the goal is to add more retail and make Broadway more walkable and consumer-friendly.

Bicycle commuting routes from Land Park and South Land Park are also in the planning stages, he said. Fong noted that many residents in Land Park and South Land Park love to ride their bikes to get downtown.

Fong said that another issue in District 4 this year is the possible expansion of the zoo. Fong said that residents who live near the zoo do not prefer the zoo to expand, but that the future viability of the zoo's current size is challenging.

After Fong finished, he took questions from the audience of about 20, including one regarding the possibility of a new river crossing over the Sacramento River. Fong applauded the current discussion over the needs for a bridge, saying that the initial plan for a four-lane bridge going to Broadway was not the best idea.

"A bridge has to work for both sides," he said. "I'm not for a four-lane auto bridge. Ir doesn't do anything good for us."

Fong finished by answering a question about the city's budget deficit by admitting that services will be cut.

"The whole city is going to have a reduced level of services," he said, before adding that despite the poor economy crime was down in his district.

"It's always sunny in District 4."

Meeting Starts Public Discussion on New Sacramento River Crossing

2010-04-14T03:27:27Z

A new avenue of crossing the Sacramento River was the topic of discussion Monday night at the first meeting of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee, which is part of the Sacramento River Crossings Alternatives Study.

The meeting, which was held in Kampala Center at the Sacramento Zoo, is the first of five meetings planned throughout the year.

The Stakeholder Advisory Committee is made up of different community members from Sacramento and West Sacramento, and is meant to provide community involvement in the process of determining the need for another method of crossing the river between Sacramento and West Sacramento. While a bridge is an option for the new river crossing, the members of the group are stressing the need to look at alternatives to a bridge.

Among those attending was Maureen Pascoe, the capital improvement manager of the West Sacramento Public Works Department, who said this process was started to get community input into the idea of a new river crossing. This new community aspect came after a previous attempt to get a river crossing didn't work out.

"I think we made a misstep before, where we zeroed in on one location and one concept," Pascoe said. "We figured that we needed to take a step back from that and really talk about the values we need to consider in this, and what the real purpose and need is."

The committee was diverse, consisting of people from the Sacramento City Unified School District, West Sacramento City Council, Land Park Community Association, Downtown Sacramento Partnership, Regional Transit, biking enthusiasts and real estate workers. Many of the stakeholders were there to represent different river crossing goals, including jobs, air quality, bike and pedestrian friendliness, and health.

In addition to the approximately 25 committee members attending were city officials from West Sacramento and the city of Sacramento, and about five members of the public who were observing.

During the meeting, the members introduced themselves and expressed their desires in what they wanted to create, preserve and avoid during the process. Many members expressed the desire to work together and not cause division, as well as consider alternatives to a bridge. The evening concluded with the stakeholder members marking out areas of concern on large maps of the Sacramento area.

Fran Halbakken, operations manager for the city of Sacramento Department of Transportation, said community involvement is necessary.

"We're trying to figure out what problem we're trying to fix," she said. "We need to start defining that."

Halbakken said there will be more meetings, including one on May 10 and three more in June, July and September, but that the complete process of building another river crossing could take up to 15 years. She said the hope is to get enough input from people on both sides of the river to create something that could appeal to everyone.

Pascoe added that one of the biggest struggles going forward with a new river crossing is the community members' sense of division over the river. It is something she hopes these meetings will help alleviate.

"There is one center to the Sacramento region, and it spans both sides of the river," she said. "That's the perspective that we have."

Sacramento Zoo Celebrates Earth Fest

2010-04-04T18:18:44Z

Earth Fest at the Sacramento Zoo featured booths, crafts, entertainment and activities on Saturday April 3. Participants included the California Native Plant Society, IKEA, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Worm Fancy, Friends of the Public Library and many other environmental and conservation organizations, nature clubs, and recycling businesses.

Entrance to Earth Fest at the Zoo

Ikea gave away blue shopping bags at their table.

Kyle Flood from Village Nurseries; Village Nurseries will recycle 1, 5 and 15 gallon plant containers and give a donation to the Sacramento Zoo for each one turned in.

Sam Curtis, the "Zoo P.I.", shows off a few small animals during the Critter Caper show in the Sacramento Zoo amphitheater.

Face Painting by Linda; a young visitor receives a free face-painting at the Earth Fest at the Zoo.

The Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District explained the harmful effects of mercury to the environment.

Gus the Green tree frog, Sacramento Zoo's Mascot, poses for a photo with a young guest.

Photos by Ron Nabity. More images available here.

Sac Zoo: eye-to-eye with Giraffes

2010-02-12T00:59:58Z

Exactly one year from the February 2009 groundbreaking, Sacramento Zoo officially opened Tall Wonders Giraffe Habitat this morning with a toast and ribbon cutting, good food and raffle drawings for Sacramento Zoological Society members.

For the very first time, visitors will be eye to eye with the stately residents on the 1,100 square foot raised deck. The elevated platform also provides a magnificent view into the neighboring zebra and ostrich area.

The state-of-the-art block barn (yes, it’s heated!) provides warm nights for three giraffes, Val, Skye & Goody, while the expanded grounds allow for leisurely giraffe-size strolls during the day.

Cutting the ribbon are Robby Waters; Mary Healy, Zoo Director; Robert King Fong, Councilmember; Terry Kastanis, Sacramento Zoological Society Board Past President; Starr Walton-Hurley, Sacramento Zoological Society Board President.

Sacramento Zoological Society was presented $10,000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

Sacramento Zoological members enjoyed good food during the opening of the habitat.

Former Mayors Heather Fargo (right, in picture) and Ann Rutan were there.

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Niche TweetUps—There’s One For Every Interest

2009-11-24T06:58:41Z

Have you been to a TweetUp? They come in every size and shape and there is nearly one for every interest! A TweetUp is a social event that is promoted and organized on Twitter.

“It's basically a place to meet and network with people in the Sacramento area who use Twitter,” said Alejandro Reyes, co-organizer of #SacTweetUp, a monthly networking mixer that regularly attracts over 100 attendees. “We wanted to create an atmosphere where people using Twitter could connect on a much deeper level, build new relationships, and have a lot of fun.”

#SacTweetUps usually occur in the evening at a downtown or midtown hot spot; but what if big crowds or night life venues aren’t your thing? For those who prefer smaller groups or a different venue or focus, the Sacramento region has much to offer.

“Niche TweetUps, like the #ZooTweetUp we had in October and our upcoming #HikeTweetUp, are a great way to bring folks with similar interests together in a fun setting,” commented Jim Hoglund, co-organizer of the upcoming #HikeTweetUp. “I've always found that meeting an online friend in person has made for a richer connection online and often times a friendship beyond that of the digital realm.”

Outdoor TweetUps: Next Saturday, November 28, the first #HikeTweetUp is happening at Hidden Falls Regional Park in Auburn. This TweetUp features a leisurely 3 mile round trip hike to Hidden Falls followed by a late lunch at Awful Annies. The group is meeting in the parking lot at Hidden Falls at 11:00 a.m. For more details or to register to attend, check out the event on Facebook.

Holiday TweetUps: On Thursday, December 17, Sacramento “tweeps” will gather for the first annual #HoliTweetUp at The Park Ultra Lounge in downtown from 6 pm to 9 pm. This festive TweetUp is co-hosted by SacTweetUp and the Social Media Club Sacramento. Attendees will eat drink and be merry and all will be entered into a raffle for prizes supplied by the hosting organizations and their sponsors. Register to attend this free event at holitweetup.eventbrite.com.

Family Friendly TweetUps: In October, The Sacramento Zoo hosted its second #ZooTweetUp (the first was in June). Attracting about 25 participants, this event featured half-price admission to the Zoo. The event kicked off with complementary refreshments and Zoo Crafts for the kids at a private party in the Discovery Room. Attendees enjoyed a free ride on the Conservation Carousel, an Animal Encounter in the Amphitheater, and animal enrichment talks with the Ring-tailed Lemurs, Ground Hornbills and the Spotted Hyena. As a special treat, attendees were invited to check out the new Giraffe Observation Deck, which is scheduled to open on President's Day weekend next year as part of the newly renovated exhibit.

"#ZooTweetUps are a fun and casual way to meet animal lovers and Zoo supporters, explained Jamie Wilson, Web Development Coordinator and official Tweeter for the Sacramento Zoo. “We talked about social media & Twitter app--I always learn something new! The Zoo Tweetup brought out lots of families, but even more adults without kids. Even though we are a family-friendly venue, the TweetUp reminded people the Zoo really is fun for all ages."

Generation Specific TweetUps: On November 12, the first ever #GeezerTweetUp happened at Scarlet’s Saloon in Folsom. The term “Geezer” was used tongue in cheek—this event was for anyone born before 1970. The group considers itself “tech geezers” because most of them graduated from High School before personal computers were invented. About 30 people who remember the 70s because they lived through them—not because they saw “That 70s Show” --gathered to enjoy a drink and to meet interesting people with shared life experiences.

“The #GeezerTweetUp is a great example for the social part of social media--groups of people who connect on-line are able to meet in person and develop stronger relationships,” commented Jim Pelley, Creative Director at Laughter Works Seminars and co-organizer. “It's also good for local business; Scarlet's offered to host the event, and in the process found some new customers.”

all Photos of #VinoTweetUp by John Onate

Wine Tweet Ups: In July, three wineries came together at the L Wine Lounge in midtown to host a #VinoTweetUp. For a nominal charge, attendees enjoyed appetizers and were able to sample wines from James David Cellars, MAS Wine Company, and Radee Wine.

“Not only have I developed relationships and exposure from participating in TweetUps, but have really had a great time at each and everyone,” said David Cole, Proprietor at James David Cellars. “At the #VinoTweetUp I meet Sarah Campbell of Twinsoup.com and have now worked with her and her sister Rachel on their Stiletto Crawl events around Sacramento and Roseville, each of which sold out and were a ton of fun to do!”

Arts & Entertainment Patron TweetUps: In May, The Sacramento Press, in conjunction with Social Media Club Sacramento and Capsity Offices, hosted a TweetUp that featured belly dancing from Red Tent Belly Dance, performance art from Phoenix Gallery, wine tasting from MAS Wine and James David Cellars, break dancing from Capitol Roots Dance Studio, chalk drawing from Chalk it Up! artists, a presentation from the Sacramento Opera, and music from DJ Reason.

“We wanted to host a TweetUp to meet our Twitter followers. It became an ‘Arts TweetUp’ when we noticed how many people in our Twittersphere are artistically amazing! A definite highlight was when the Capitol Roots dancers managed to get our Managing Editor, David Watts Barton, to join them and show off his dance moves,” reports Mona Romero, Social Media Lead at the Sacramento Press

Other TweetUps: In addition to the monthly #SacTweetUp, other organizations have also hosted more generally focused networking mixer TweetUps. In February, the first ever Sacramento TweetUp was organized by Ricardo Robles of Capsity Offices and Andy Arnott of AdCause and hosted by Pangaea Café. About 30 people, including me, attended this inaugural event which set the stage for future Sacramento TweetUps. “It is an event that businesses can participate in as well as regular people to network and meet in person,” said Robles. In August, The Urban Hive in partnership with Sacramento365, hosted an #Only2DegreesTweetUp which featured wine tasting by James David Cellars and a presentation on social media by @Only2Degrees. While most of these TweetUps have happened in Sacramento, in March #SacTweetUp hosted an event at The Boxing Donkey in Roseville.

Have you organized or participated in a TweetUp in the Sacramento region that is not listed above? Let us know about it in the article conversation section below. Not finding a TweetUp that fits your niche? Organize one! All you need is a Twitter account to spread the word. It’s a great way to make new friends with shared interest.

Twitter tip: The # designation--called a hashtag-- is a Twiitter practice that helps people to categorize tweets about certain topics. For example #sactweeup, #holitweetup and #hiketweetup are tags the organizers and attendees use in their tweets about the event.

Safetyville USA celebrates birthday at Healthy and Safety Expo

2009-06-15T02:38:50Z

There was reason Saturday for double celebration at Sacramento's Safetyville USA.

It was not only the 12th annual Family Safety and Health Expo, it also marked Safetyville's 25th year of teaching safety and life skills to more than 200,000 children to date. The free event hosted around 3,000 children and their families for a fun-filled day of learning and celebrating.

In the middle of the expo, birthday festivities took the main stage and were led by Liz McClatchy, President and CEO of Safetyville Center Incorporated (SCI) and Terry Polvado, Vice President of SCI. Children sang "Happy Birthday" to Safetyville and were introduced to the new and yet-to-be-named mascot of Safetyville, a dog donning a blue helmet and red vest.

Children were invited to help name the mascot by dropping off their ideas in a box at Safetyville's table.

SCI Board Chairman Ralph Sugimot led a cake-cutting ceremony, and happy kids lined up for cake and ice cream after taking part in a conga-line dance around the stage.

"It was such a great event for everyone. My daughter [three-years-old] and I both had a great time, and we both learned a lot," said Tabatha Barkley, who attended the event with her family.

Other birthday festivities throughout the day included a dance performance by Granite Bay Dance Connection, a "Red and Black Attack" by Kovar's Karate Satori Academy and a magic performance by magician Trevor Wyatt.

More than 84 community safety and health organizations set up booths around the faux-town, which is a 1/3-scale replica of an actual city with mock streetlights, intersections, fast food stops and businesses.

While there was plenty of fun to be had at the Expo, there were also many resources for families in Sacramento and surrounding areas. Information on health care, child care, crisis centers and immunizations were just some of the booths on hand to teach families how to get help if needed.

Insurance companies State Farm, AAA and Allstate provided information on insurance. Shriners and Kaiser hospitals taught about preventative health measures, and groups like Bikers Against Child Abuse made an appearance on behalf of issues like child abuse.

Parked in front of the town were traveling organizations like D.A.R.T., an all-volunteer dive recovery teateam and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, with a smashed-up car from a fatal drunken driving accident.

Inside, the Sacramento Area Sewer District, another event sponsor, taught how to properly dispose of fats, oils and grease, and Safetyville's own Safety Center taught about its driving simulation programs for teen drivers.

Government organizations like Sacramento Police Department, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department and the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District set up booths in front of their respective Safetyville buildings and handed out rulers, stickers and pens to children, along with lessons from firefighters and police officers on preventative safety and how to be a law-abiding citizen. Kids could see a California Highway Patrol motorcycle up close and sit behind the wheel of an actual fire truck.

Home Depot, one of event's main sponsors, set up an assembly line where children of all ages were given flower pots and learned how to pot plants. Children were given Home Depot aprons with their names written on them, and by the end of the day, Safetyville was a sea of orange aprons.

Kids were encouraged to get stamps from the different booths they visited around the town and fill up Safetyville "passports." Full passports were eligible for raffle entries for three separate raffles held throughout the day. Passes to the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento Zoo, a child's bike and helmet, boat rental from the Sac State Aquatics Center and a go cart from Rocket Motorsports were just some of the more than 15 prizes given away.

Kids leaving the Expo were weighed down with heavy bags filled with pencils, toothbrushes, pedometers, packages of Band-Aids and coupons to pick up their free child I.D. kits along with smiles and lessons learned.

The Best thing about Landpark is...

2009-02-25T00:21:42Z

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

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

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

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

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

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