Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "the park"

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

Local salons battle in Hair Wars

2011-07-02T03:18:01Z

Hair Wars is an annual touring event, created in 1991 as a showcase for stylists and salons to create unconventional and elaborate hair styles and fashion, often based around a central theme.

The event has grown steadily through the years, turning into a huge production in multiple cities and making winners of the competition very well-known in the industry.

In Sacramento, there is a local version of the Hair Wars competition that takes place annually at The Park Ultra Lounge. The competition is held over a three-month period, with some of Sacramento's top salons competing on the runway.

In previous years, each night featured two salons going head to head with an overall winner selected later. This year, each night features only one salon that is judged, with overall results to be revealed at a later date. The last showcase takes place Sept. 1.

Thursday's showcase featured hair designs from Jack's Hair Shop by Darlene, located at 2439 Rio Linda Blvd. in North Sacramento.

"Jack's does a good job," said Josie Liles, whose daughter Christie was modeling in the show for Jack's. "They're the bomb."

Jack's showcased a "seasons" theme, with outfits and accessories tied into each season — fall featured costumes with leaves, spring featured flowers, etc.

Models styled with elaborate makeup and body paint and wild costumes strutted and posed on the catwalk as each season was displayed. Judges looked on from a cabana to the side as several photographers flashed away and angled to get the best shots.

"Give me some love down here!" photographer Mike Regan of 5 Finger Photo shouted as he tried to capture the fiercest looks from the models.

After the four seasons had passed, the night ended with a tense skit that featured model Zarah Ragan in a straitjacket getting her hair styled against her will. She eventually broke free of her captor/stylist with a different hairstyle adorned with a large peacock feather.

Count on seeing some interesting hairstyles and fashion and being inspired if you visit an upcoming showcase at The Park.

"I'm a local cosmetologist, and I like to see the different styles to keep my clients looking fabulous," Kay Criss of Sacramento said.

Hair Wars 2011 features a different salon each Thursday until Sept. 1. Visit The Park website for more information on the ongoing competition.

Photos by Steven Chea

Immaculate Taco

2011-01-19T05:13:35Z

The taco is the world’s most perfect food. Fact.

Personally, I think the taco is the single most perfect thing, food or otherwise, in the universe. I'm willing to bend on this stance, but I don't expect to. Feel free to nominate something else, but it has to be a physical thing. I will not accept "love" or "a summer's day" as viable submissions.

Some have called me taco-obsessed. And, if getting 50 tacos mailed to me in New York from California on dry ice for my first collegiate care package makes me obsessed, then, well, maybe.

If picking up a duffel bag full of tacos and burritos during a 45 minute layover at SFO is wrong, I don't want to be right.

The point is, since I discovered that there were trucks in Los Angeles and Portland serving tacos made with Korean-style barbecue meats, I have wanted desperately to have a Korean taco place of my own.

Korean barbecue lends itself perfectly to tacos, as there are a lot of similarities between Mexican and Korean foods. Obviously, the spices are different, but both cuisines are known for their flavorful, tender meats served with spicy, pickled vegetables.

Beef and pork bul gogi are perfect stand-ins for carne asada and al pastor. Korean spicy slaw and kimchi are equally adept stand-ins for the ubiquitous pickled jalepeños and carrots of your favorite taqueria.

When I heard that GoGi’s Korean Barbecue was opening at the former Park to Go stand at 15th and L streets, I was absolutely giddy. Finally! A Korean taqueria to call my own!

I got a chance to sample its goods this morning before it opened to the public, and I was not disappointed.

There are four different fillings for the tacos: beef short rib, chicken, spicy pork and tofu. I sampled one of each of the meat offerings. And then I "sampled" two more of the beef ones. They are really good.

The soft corn tortillas are brimming with meats that are juicy, sweet, salty and as tender as can be. All the tacos are topped with a crunchy, spicy slaw made with cabbage, carrots, onions and sriracha. There are bottles of the rooster sauce on the counter for those of us who want a little (or a lot) more kick.

I also sampled the house-made lemonade, which is sweet without being cloying and has a tart tang to it. A good, but not great, offering.
All of the tacos are $2, and burritos go for $5.

This week only, your first taco is free.

There is a strong possibility (dead certainty) that I will go back tomorrow for lunch.

Prom at the Park tickets on sale now!

2010-05-12T20:53:18Z

The Young Professionals Committee of Big Brothers Big Sisters is hosting the 2nd annual Prom at The Park, a red carpet fund raiser that is sure to be one of the biggest events of the summer for Sacramento’s 21 and up, young professional crowd.

This premiere Sacramento event is taking place on Friday, June 11, at the Park Ultra Lounge in downtown Sacramento. This event is for the 21 and over crowd and will feature red carpet photography and a VIP lounge experience. In the true sense of Prom, attendees are encouraged to come dressed in their best.

Not only will this be an event to remember, but it is a party with a cause. The funds from presale tickets benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento. Tickets are $15 per person and are being sold online now at www.promatthepark.com.

Click HERE to check out all the great pictures from last year's Prom at the Park.

About Young Professionals Committee

The Young Professionals Committee (YPC) is a group of dynamic and diverse young men and women in the surrounding region who volunteer their time and talents to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento. For more information about the Young Professionals Committee visit www.ypcsacramento.org.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States. We have been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves children, ages 7 through 15, in Sacramento, San Joaquin, Yolo, South Placer, Yuba and Sutter Counties. For more information, please visit www.bbbs-sac.org.

Prom at the Park 2010 is coming soon!

2010-04-07T20:15:30Z

The Young Professionals Committee (YPC) of Big Brothers Big Sisters will again be hosting the Prom at The Park, a red carpet fund raiser that is sure to be one of the biggest events of the summer for Sacramento’s 21 and up, young professional crowd.

This 2nd annual premiere Sacramento event is taking place Friday, June 11, at the Park Ultra Lounge in downtown Sacramento. This event is for the 21+ crowd and will feature red carpet photography and a VIP lounge experience. In the true sense of Prom, attendees are encouraged to come dressed in their best.

Click HERE to check out the pictures from last year's Prom at the Park.

About YPC
The Young Professionals Committee (YPC) is a group of dynamic and diverse young men and women in the surrounding region who volunteer their time and talents to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento. For more information about Prom at The Park and the Young Professionals Committee visit www.ypcsacramento.org.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States. We have been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves children, ages 7 through 15, in Sacramento, Yolo, South Placer, and San Joaquin Counties.

The money raised for Big Brothers Big Sisters increases the number of youth matched with positive adult role models. Studies show that the kids in the program perform better in school, are less likely to get involved with drugs and alcohol, have increased levels of self-confidence, and have better relationships with their families and peers.

Upset at Capital Fashion Awards

2009-10-06T20:29:32Z

Leigh Grogan, a writer for the Sacramento Bee, is reporting that, "The first Capital Fashion Awards show Friday night at the Park Ultra Lounge in Sacramento gave local designers and hairstylists something to shoot for - a spot in next year's event." Yet interestingly enough, many of this years nominees are vowing to never return.

Voting procedures for the event are still unclear. One nominee for Best Fashion Photographer was confided in by two sources that the link on the online voting ballot that was supposed to go to his website and online portfolio actually went to a Bible study website. Exactly who was given the opportunity to vote is also unclear.

Richard Hallmarq (creator/planner of Capital Fashion Awards), coincidentally won in the "Best Designer" category, even though a close friend of his and fellow designer has accurately tweeted "DESIGNER OFTHE YEAR DIDNT EVEN HAVE 1 FASHION SHOW THIS YEAR!!" In fact, Hallmarq's "collection" at the awards show only boasted 4 original outfits. In addition to this, Hallmarq was the only designer given a full runthrough of his show with his models before the Capital Fashion Awards began.

The models that walked for all the designers were from Sacramento agency Cast Images, including four of the nominees in the Model of the Year category. These nominees were aware of each others' nominations, but were surprised to learn the night of the event that other models not living in the Sacramento area had been nominated as well. One model was heard as saying after a non-local was announced as the winner, "ummm, so why are we here?" These models were uncompensated for the night's event.

Local models also anticipated with excitement the chance to meet America's Next Top Model and Make Me a Supermodel winners Naima Mora, CariDee English, and Jonathan Waud. English was quoted in a Sacramento Bee article before the event as saying, "I'm looking forward to meeting the models in Sacramento to encourage them." Yet these reality TV winners were kept separate until the start of the event, and chatter confirms that "Make Me a Supermodel" winner Jonathan Waud was the only celebrity of the evening friendly enough to chatter with local participants backstage.

All in all, while the event clearly brought an evening of fun for the audience, those in the local fashion scene who participated in the show were left feeling schemed.

Whether Leigh Grogan (who has had a friendship with Hallmarq for years) or any other local newsource will pick up this underlying story is yet to be seen, but undoubtedly it will affect the show's future prospects for finding local talent in the fashion industry.

Sacramento celebrates DJ AM

2009-09-12T05:07:08Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Friday Concerts in the Park: A Bucho good time

2009-06-04T20:51:19Z

Friday Night Concerts in the Park have filled Cesar Chavez Park on 10th and J Streets with jammin' bands since the beginning of May and will continue every Friday night from 5-9 p.m. until August 14. In this storyline, The Sacramento Press will preview the concerts and help provide additional information on the artists and their music.

Friday, June 5

Bucho will headline the concert, with Righteous Movement and Happy Mayfield opening (click each band's name for a link to their MySpace page with music samples).

Bucho consists of singer and guitar player Gerald Pease, bass player Josh Lippi, Ben Schweir on the Hammond B3 and Fender Rhodes keyboards and Derek Taylor on percussion, as well as a horn section -- Leon Moore and Anthony Coleman on trumpets and Roger Cox on sax.

"Bucho bridges the gap between old school soul and horn bands of the past with the youth twist of Hip-Hop energy," according to the band's biography on Dig Music, a local label on which they released their last album Omit the Harsh. Bucho was also recently inducted into the SAMMIE (Sacramento Area Music Award) Hall of fame.

Righteous Movement is a SAMMIE-award-winning five-piece hip-hop collective consisting of four Sacramento emcees and one DJ. The group recently released their first full length LP While You Wait... described on their website as a "balance of party jams, introspective verses and addictive beats."

"If you are from Sacramento, then you’ve most likely seen Righteous but might not be familiar with Happy Mayfield yet," said Adam Saake in a concert review of an April 18 show in Submerge. "Happy Mayfield, a funk band to be reckoned with, is a harmonious marriage between singer/songwriter Lee Bob Watson and The Park [which consists of ex-members of local favorites Bucho]."

"To my delight, I discovered upon viewing the stage that The Park was set up to play with Righteous as well," Saake added.

Righteous Movement emcee TAIS will be collaborating musically with Saake, who is also a drummer, in concert Sunday at the Press Club. TAIS was nominated for a SAMMIE both in the category "Best Emcee" for his solo work and also with his group Righteous Movement for Outstanding Hip-Hop Group.

So those who visit Cesar Chavez Park this Friday will be treated with music from Bucho, and ex-members of Bucho (The Park) as part of Happy Mayfield and maybe even backing hip-hop act Righteous Movement.

Also, according to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, your Friday night festivities can continue if you show your wristband to one of the following businesses. Check out these discounts:

Brew it Up! $4 Drafts, Bacardi, Jack Daniels & 3 Olives cocktails, plus half price appetizers

Fuzio Universal Bistro $3 Drafts, $5 Martinis, plus selection of $3 appetizers

Marilyn's on K $1 off well drinks, $3 Draft Bud Light

Parlare Euro Lounge $3 Domestic beers, $5 wine, $4 assorted appetizers

Pyramid Alehouse $2 Pints of Curveball

Sofia on 11th $3 drafts, $4 wines, $4 wells and & half price appetizers

Table 260 Half off appetizer menu, 10% off dinner, $5 drink special on Sac Soul

Toppingz Pizza inside Image Lounge $2.50 Bud & Bud Light, $4 Jack Daniels, appetizers starting at $1

Sheraton Grand Hotel's PMB Bar $3.50 Bud & Bud Light (bottle or draft), $5 nachos or artichoke dip

Amourath Lounge at Hyatt $1 off Bud, Bud Light, and all appetizers

Citizen Hotel $99/night weekend rate for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in a deluxe king, queen, or dual-double-bed room. This deal is exclusively for the Concerts in the Park, and for information on how to book the room, call the hotel at 916-447-2700.

*Photographs are of Bucho, courtesy Dig Music/Bucho

XSIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO MIX AT "THE MIX"

2009-01-25T18:24:25Z

Okay, how many of you small business owner’s downtown Sac are sick of the Chamber meetings and clicks downtown? Being a small business downtown in this economy has its challenges and we need to work together. I have never been one to "love" or "grow" my business from these mixers but what else do we have? In Europe where I do allot of business in the pubs or bars (buying horses) made me ask myself why can't I do that here with my photography services? Until now there really hasn't been an arena for people over 40 to meet and socialize besides a happy hour pub. Well, no surprise here that Mason Wong of Mason's Ultra Lounge has now come up with a brilliant idea and opened the phenomenal lounge "The Mix" on 16th and L in the old Firestone Building. Looking at if from the outside all you see is this big white tent on the roof and you wonder "What the heck" but as you walk in the entrance you are quickly seduced by the atmosphere of a New York first class lounge. As you enter the lounge the swanky, sexy, open feeling takes you to another place. It immediately relaxes you and your only feeling is that of enjoyment.

Having my very first mixer was an experiment and not something I didn't stress about. I invited as many small business owners I knew and the word spread quickly. I had no idea if it would be a success but I knew if Mason helped me I would be in good hands. We had over 65 business owners attend along with a surprise visit from the Governor. No, he did not show up for us, or did he give us the time of day. As a matter of fact he and his large entourage took over half our space and none of our guest could park in the first hours because of all the huge black convoy of his cars blocking the entrance. Arnold sat there and smoked his cigars and when he left we were glad and sad. Glad that Mason has attracted the Governor to his new hip swanky lounge, but sad that the Governor was so rude with his entourage. However despite all that I still love Arnold and have always been a huge supporter. Just because he doesn't like to acknowledge the little people of this new emerging town is still okay with me.

The e-mail’s are pouring in from all the attendees and asking me to please invite them to the next one. I met allot of new people and have some new clients because of it. So hat's of to Mason Wong and his vision to putting this so called "Cow Town" on the map.