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

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).

------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Valentine's Day on a budget

2011-02-08T04:21:49Z

Whether you’re short on cash or you’d rather spend your money on something else, Valentine's Day can seem like another unnecessary financial burden. With the typical gift of chocolates, roses and romantic dinners generally geared toward couples, it may feel hard to keep up on a budget.

This year, Valentine's Day falls on a Monday, leaving a whole weekend’s worth of events leading up to the holiday.

The Sacramento Press had the cash-strapped in mind, when we put together a list of things to do around Sacramento, Valentine’s-themed or otherwise, for $20 or less a person.

Friday, Saturday, and Monday
Selland's Specials
Selland's Market-Cafe
5340 H St
Served daily (Monday - Saturday) after 3 p.m.
Blue plate specials: $10 per person
Weekly dinner special (dinner and a bottle of wine): $25 for two.
sellands.com

Looking for classy dining without the steep price tag? Selland’s is offering $10 blue plate specials for the month of February. A different entrée and side is featured each day. If you come on Tuesday, you’ll be treated to panko crusted salmon with an Asian noodle salad. Friday’s special is wood-oven roast pork with mashed potatoes and broccoli. Your heart may be aching but your stomach will be happy.

Saturday
Danny Daze
The Park Ultra Lounge
1116 15th St.
Starts at 9 p.m.
$15 at the door. Ages 21 and older.
theparkdowntown.com

Danny Daze, a nationally recognized DJ, will be performing at The Park Ultra Lounge downtown. Though it costs $15 (and the drinks aren't free), the Park Ultra Lounge is good place to dance the night away and maybe meet someone new.

Second Saturday Art Walk
Sacramento Midtown/downtown grid
Free. 5 – 9:30 p.m.
More information: 2nd-sat.com

Second Saturday isn't anything new in Sacramento. But, since this year it falls on the weekend before Valentine's Day, there are a host of themes to discover along the art walk. Many artists and venues will be hosting events, such as the Artist Foundry gallery, who will have a demonstration on the art of bronze pouring and sculpting.

Tango by the River Milonga
Tango by the River
128 J St.
8 - 9 p.m.
$15 - $20 per person. Ages 18 and older.
rivertango.com

The Tango by the River studio sits directly over the Sacramento River in Old Sacramento. Instructors Donna and Steve Williams offer Milongas, or Argentine Tango dance parties, as an introduction to the Tango. Go with your partner, or go alone, this is one party you shouldn’t miss

Teen Un-Valentine’s Day
Central Library- Teen Underground
828 I St.
1 - 2 p.m.
Free.
More information: saclibrary.org or call 264-2770.

For the bitter teenager, we’ve got just the place for you. Come to the Central Library for games, snacks and crafts with a very Un-Valentine's Day theme. Don't show up wearing red or pink, only black or other dark, gloomy colors are allowed. Get your emo on.

Sunday
Blues Jam
Torch Club
904 15th St.
4 - 7 p.m.
Free. Ages 21 and older.
More information: torchclub.net or call 443-2797.

Established the same year prohibition ended, in 1934, the Torch Club has been a longtime Blues Club in Sacramento. For those feeling blue, from being alone or being broke, Torch Club offers a blues jam and happy hour for those who want to play away their sorrows.

Make Chocolate Roses
Central Library – Teen Underground
828 I St.
2 - 4 p.m.
Free
More information: saclibrary.org or call 264-2770.

Need a Valentine's Day gift for your teenage love? The Central Library has you covered. Nothing says “I love you” like a bouquet of chocolate roses made out of Hershey's Kisses. All materials will be supplied, you just have to bring yourself.

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.

Fashion awards show brings glitz and glamour to Sac

2009-10-05T05:23:41Z

Sacramentans were given a taste of glamor and high fashion rarely seen in our city on Friday night.

The 2009 Capital Fashion Awards were held at The Park Ultra Lounge, where the nightclub was transformed into a runway showing off fall collections for Sacramento's top designers.

"There are so many other events for different genres but not any for fashion ... so we decided to do something different," said Richard Hallmarq, a local designer who coordinated the event along with six others from the local beauty and fashion industries.

The group got together and chose 13 judges that work in the local fashion, beauty and media industries. The judges were given paper ballots with each category and the nominees, and were encouraged to do their own research to make their decisions.

The public knew little about the show in the days leading up to the event, except that there was an awards show. Hallmarq's main goal for the evening was to bring the community together and shine a much-needed spotlight on the immense talent in Sacramento.

"I don't care if I win or lose, I'm just happy to be a part of it," Hallmarq, who was nominated for an award himself, said. "It's a way to recognize people in the community."

The evening was star-studded, with presenters like Jonathan Waud ("Make Me a Supermodel"), Merlin Castell ("The Fashion Show"), decorator Bobby Trendy, and Naima Mora and Caridee English ("America's Next Top Model") popping in throughout the show.

"I am elated to be in the state capital!" Trendy gushed before the show. "It's kind of like an Emmy award but without the Emmy!"

Local "stars" also made appearances and presented awards. Rachel and Sarah Campbell of TwinSoup.com, Sactown Magazine's Elyssa Lee, Marci Landgraf of Muse Salon and Hair Boutique, and The Sacramento Bee's Leigh Grogan all took the stage.

Sacramento's more well-known designers, Lauren Oto, Mercedes Ben, Dee Aguilar, Alexandria von Bromssen and Monte Christo all showed off their new fall and winter lines to the packed audience, who barely had standing room.

Dee Aguilar's line ran wild with everything from chiffon, shimmers and fur hoods going down the runway.

Mercedes Ben, of Benzo Couture, showed off spandex leggings, sequins, and fun takes on the classic, body-hugging "little black dress." Ben also got a head start on holiday party dresses, with wine-colored chiffon and creatively-silhouetted neutral-colored dresses.

Judging from the oohing and aahing, the audience was more than pleased with what they saw.

Mora, winner of the fourth season of America's Next Top Model, hosted the show and was more than happy to be involved. "Richard and I have been friends for a long time so when he asked me [to host] I of course said yes," she said.

When asked how Sacramento compares to other cities in terms of fashion, Mora said, "I like to look at each place individually. Every place I've been has something individual to offer and all of the designers [involved in the show] are gracious, endearing and wonderful. They have an extreme amount of talent."

Despite the big names, Hallmarq intentionally kept the ticket prices at a low $10 in advance so that everyone in the community could afford to come if they wanted to.

The show got a huge amount of support, with makeup by MAC cosmetics, models from Cast Images Talent Agency and hair by Strands Salon and Spa.

"It was hard in the beginning to get buy-in and support but once it got rolling not one person said 'No,'" Hallmarq said.

He says that he plans to make the awards show an annual event and hopes to bring in even more names and include even more of the community at a larger venue next year.

Hair Wars @ The Park Ultra Lounge

2009-07-30T04:03:09Z

A dozen salons will compete in a six-week hair adventure which commences this Thursday and runs weekly through Sept. 3. Sactown Magazine and 100.5 The Zone present "Hair Wars: 2009," at The Park Ultra Lounge at 15th and L Streets. Each week, one of Sacramento's top salons will be competing on the runway.

During last year's "Hair Wars: 2008," salon Rowena and Takashi reigned as champions. They will have an appearance during this year's Hair Wars on August 27.

On July 30, the opening night, there will be a special appearance by Salon 701 with exclusive product gifts provided by PHYTO. Salon 701 will be competing with Taki Salon on the runway.

The party will start at 9 p.m. with a runway featuring the two salons of that week at 10 p.m. The salons will be able to show their own hairstyles modeled down the runway.

The top salons of Sacramento that will be featured this year include: Allure, Bia Salon, The California Academy, Canvas Salon, Deeda Salon, Hoss Lee Academy, Joseph Anthony, Luxe Salon & Spa, Magic Salon, Paul Mitchell Academy, Taki Salon, Willo Salon & Spa.

Here are the line-ups for each Thursday:

July 30: Taki Salon and Salon 701

August 6: Allure and Canvas Salon

August 13: Hoss Lee Academy and Luxe Salon & Spa

August 20: Willo Salon & Spa and The California Academy

August 27: Deeda Salon and Magic Salon

September 3: Joseph Anthony Salon & Spa and Bia Salon

The Park Ultra Lounge is located at 1116 15th Street. Hair Wars is a 21 and over event. For more information please visit the following sites: twitter.com/theparksac, myspace.com/theparkultralounge, and theparkdowntown.com