I moved to Midtown Sacramento in January 2007 from Washington DC. My neighborhood is a wonderful place to live – there is a vibrancy and energy unlike any other place in the Sacramento area. Theaters, restaurants, churches, bars, stores, clubs, and galleries provide a great deal of cultural capital and are one of the main reasons I love where I live. However, there is something that I find comically annoying: complaints about parking. Are there times when finding parking in Midtown can be difficult? Yes. Is this one of the major problems facing our city? No. A recently announced pilot program will create changes to street parking during Second Saturday in Midtown. The three-month trial wi

A city plan to extend parking restrictions during Second Saturday has split opinion between Midtown residents who see the plan as a solution to some of their parking problems – and those who believe it will only create more. The proposal is to create a pilot program that extends the hours of “residential only” permit parking areas from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Second Saturdays, which have been a boon for Midtown businesses but an annoyance for some residents who have to share limited parking spaces with visitors. The pilot program wuold cover 16th Street to 29th Street, and the south side of G Street to the south side of I Street. If the response seems positive, the city would initiate a th

Second Saturday on May 12 saw an increase in the number of people attending art galleries, vendor bazaars, restaurants and various other events in Sacramento. Warmer weather brought more people outdoors to experience art, music and community. One event in particular used the whole day to celebrate the addition of 2,000 square feet of studio space to the Nicholas Wray Photography Studio. Wray is a Sacramento photographer who took the opportunity to thank family and friends for their Kickstarter contributions that helped with the expansion project. An already existing 1,500 square foot studio was also converted to an artist and small business work space called Sacramento Space. The st

By day the sound of an angle grinder echoes through Midtown’s alleys, dust and occasional fragments of powdery stone bouncing into the lane. Neighbors walking by often stop to chat, remarking on the elaborately carved marble sculptures made by local sculptor, Vince King, admiring his progress over the last several months.  King created his garage-studio at the I Street Co-op where he moved just over 5 years ago, a then-recent graduate of UC Davis with a degree in Environmental Conservation Biology and Management. He began working for the County of Sacramento, helping to develop several conservation planning initiatives, and sculpting in his spare time.  After some planning of his own, Ki

  photographs by Barry Wisdom | The hair and trademark round spectacles are long gone, but 1980s synth-pop icon Thomas Dolby, whose 1982 worldwide hit "She Blinded Me With Science" helped launch MTV, delivered a two-hour set to a capacity Harlow's crowd April 14 that proved his unique storytelling ability, voice and musicianship are as fresh as ever. The stop, part of Dolby's current "Time Capsule" tour that kicked off March 16, 2012, in Austin, Texas, featured well-known cuts from the last 30 years – such as "Europa and the Pirate Twins," "One of Our Submarines," "Hyperactive!" and, of course, "Science – plus selections from his recently released CD "A Map of the Floating City." Thou

Old Soul, the city’s popular Midtown coffee house will open its doors to a benefit for WEAVE, the Sacramento organization dedicated to preventing violence against women on Saturday, April 14 in a Second Saturday reception from 6 to 9 PM. Rubicon Beer will be poured and receipts will go directly to WEAVE. WEAVE was established in 1978 as a nonprofit organization to serve domestic violence survivors and their families in Sacramento County and its Safehouse is the only state recognized, confidential shelter serving all domestic violence victims in the County. It offers counseling and school-based prevention services and has been honored by numerous government agencies and private institution

The vintage-styled Lace Salon opens its doors in Old Sacramento with services of styling, color and treatments, and haircuts. Lace Salon will host its grand opening April 14. Lace Salon got its name based on Lace Salon Owner Violet Vargas' enjoyment of vintage and Victorian styles, which evolved after being raised by her grandmother, and from a tattoo she has of a piece of lace. Her boyfriend, Joe Arizmendez, liked the tattoo so much that he suggested she name her salon Lace. "My boyfriend has always urged me to open a salon. I was really chicken about it, but he gave me the money to do it, so there were no more excuses. I love having the salon. Every day I walk in and you know you can b

This month’s Second Saturday Art Walk provided several new venues for art and music lovers to enjoy. Artists showcased their talents at various galleries, pubs, boutiques and restaurants. Several street performers also displayed their talent at several places along Midtown. Spanglish Arte conducted a sidewalk sale that included many items available at vast discounts. Spanglish Arte also allowed other local artists the opportunity to sell their art and merchandise. One of the tables included the work of Roberto Robles Jr., whose colorful drawings drew the attention of many casual observers. His drawings can be customized to the buyer’s specs making the art that much more personal. Insi

It all started with a study of an oak tree in oil paints her senior year at Sacramento State’s studio art program. Now two years later, Kristin Hartman is showing for the first time in Midtown at j27 Gallery, located at 2728 J St., through February 17. “I never thought of myself as a landscape artist,” she said. “I focus on the light.” She concedes that for now she needs slightly more defined shapes to give the light and shadow she loves a stability that more impressionistic interpretations of nature would not provide. When first finding her visual voice, Hartman painted small realistic still life and portraits in acrylic. “I was afraid of color,” she says of that time of artistic deve

Midtown’s first Second Saturday event of 2012 saw smaller crowds this weekend. The smaller crowds however made it easier to talk to artists who exhibited their work. A number of establishments also appeared to have closed down or moved from Midtown's J Street and surrounding area since last month.  This situation has created a new environment where several businesses are collaborating to bring events to a storefront during Second Saturday. This Saturday, Dragatomi, Metro PCS, tokidoki and Unseen Heroes teamed up for a Metro PCS and tokidoki Phone Release Party. Unseen Heroes Events Coordinator, Maritza Davis, described the event saying, “This is a tokidoki and Metro PCS release collabo

Please join Jinan, the Sister Cities Council of Sacramento, and the Chinese New Year Culture Association (CNYCA) for a Second Saturday of traditional Chinese music and art as well as new works by Zimei. The event will take place at the Courtyard, 1322 O Street from 5pm to 9pm on Saturday, January 14th, 2012. Enjoy live music from one of the most ancient Chinese musical instruments, a Guzheng, which is a Chinese plucked zither (think piano meets violin). Whether you come to view the traditional Chinese opera costumes, the dragon puppet, shop for Chinese souvenirs, or take home Chinese folk art, you are sure to see and hear some wonderful art at this event!

Editorial Note: This is an updated version of a story that was published earlier. On Nov. 10, the new Milk Gallery opened at 212 13th St. Amy Greer, co-owner of the 1,500-square-foot art gallery, said that the current collection of local art will provide visitors with an interesting blend of artistic styles. Melanie Bown, a 39-year-old restitution trainer for the state and artist, opened the gallery with Greer, a 37-year-old restaurant employee and artist. Both Bown and Greer have backgrounds in art. Bown has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Bradley University, with an emphasis in printmaking. She teaches kids’ art classes at the Crocker Art Museum and was also an art installer pri

November’s Second Saturday attendance appeared to have decreased this month. Two hot spots however thrived and attracted visitors to the monthly Second Saturday Art Walk. Art galleries and other establishments on 20th Street as well as businesses on K Street attracted large crowds. Downtown Sacramento’s K Street, in another effort to jump start the commercial area, opened for vehicle traffic on Saturday. A stage was set up on 12th and K Streets to accommodate an opening ceremony, a car parade, and other entertainment to celebrate the event. Classic cars paraded down K Street for the first time in over 42 years. Reminiscent of cruising down the boulevards of San Francisco or Los Angele

Surrounded by midtown's most famous venues including Club 21, Mezkal and Cam's Salon and Spa on 21st Street sits a new art gallery open to the public.  Alex Bult, an 18-year-old entrepreneur, opened this gallery for the first time on November 12, coinciding with midtown's Second Saturday event.  He is perhaps one of the youngest gallery owners that Sacramento has seen but is no foreigner to the world of art.  "I've been interested in art for about four years," Alex Bult says. " I've been around art my whole life and have wanted to open a gallery since I was 16." Although Alex Bult's father, Matt Bult, and his grandfather, Wayne Thiebaud, are both artists, this young gallery owner is no

Art does many things. It gives us a history of culture. It decorates our homes. It helps the homeless. This 2nd Saturday, Vox Sacramento art studio is giving back to the community, as well as providing a unique art show called “Home.” The studio is asking locals to bring camping equipment, blankets and coats to the exhibit. Items will be used by Safe Ground Sacramento, a homeless advocacy organization supported by a coalition of local non-profits trying to provide a safe, dry and warm solution for local residents without homes. SafeGround supports a self-governed, alcohol, drug and violence free homeless community alternative. The exhibit features several local artists, including: B. Sh

Summer has come and gone but crowds at Second Saturday still remain large. Second Saturday events have grown in popularity and other communities participate in Second and Third Saturday art events. During fall several cities stop their art walks. Folsom and El Dorado Hills had their last Second Saturday of the year in September and October respectively. Popularity of similar events in smaller towns continues to grow. Attendance and art displays expand in the smaller venues but none of these can compare to the popularity of Midtown’s event. This Saturday I attended a handful of galleries and events. Since there are so many places to view and experience art I made a list of places I was i

I became familiar with Muriel's art before I ever got a chance to meet Muriel herself.  Evie Turner organized another one of her wonderful "Bent Twig" art shows in September, and Vox Sacramento was hosting.  Muriel was one of the artists involved in this show. Muriel's pieces were on the smaller side, but were very, very vivid.  The bold colors and lines she used really made her work stand out.  Muriel's artist statement mentioned that Muriel took up art as art therapy when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, but it didn't really take until she recieved the diagnosis of "terminal." I met Muriel on Second Saturday.  She was in a wheelchair and looked a little fragile, but she had

As you enter, to the left is the cornerstone collection of Crabshaw Corners and Oasis Ballroom artwork from Roger Shepherd, Jim Carrico, and Jim Ford. Rock enthusiasts may marvel over the nearly complete collection of psychedelia from the Sound Factory. And any native Sacramentan over a certain age will wax nostalgic at the wall of Tower calendar posters on display. Dennis Newhall, founder and curator of the Sacramento Rock and Radio Museum, has assembled and showcased a myriad of rock and radio memorabilia dating back to 1957. Newhall started listening to rock and roll when he was six years old and Hounddog was at the top of the charts. Every inch of his West Sacramento bedroom was cov

For those out and about this Second Saturday, St. John’s Lutheran Church on 17th and L will be sponsoring the “KidZone” from 5:00-7:00pm. The KidZone offers a safe haven for the younger members of the arts community and offers face-painting, balloons and a host of other family-friendly activities. The "Zone" is located in the parking lot on L between the Church Sanctuary and The Refuge.  

It’s almost time for the August ‘Second Saturday’, where midtown SacTown comes alive with artists, musicians, art galleries, and shops in the evening hours. “K” Street is ‘kickin’, “J” Street is “jumpin’, and the surrounding streets are pulsing with the rhythms of the night. But what about “E” Street over in Mansion Flats? Mansion Flats, the sister neighborhood to Alkali Flats, is located from 12th Street to 16th between “the Union Pacific Railyard & “J” streets. Mansion Flats, Alkali Flats and New Era Park were the original City Street Railway neighborhoods and consisted of the wealthy and middle class families, according to the Sacramento History blog. Have you been looking for some p