For Sacramentans who have ever pondered the mystery of what makes a cocktail special and want to sample new, classic, exotic and experimental cocktails, then they will have the opportunity beginning Monday. Midtown Cocktail Week is coming back to Sacramento for the fourth year, and for seven nights, 15 designated Midtown or downtown bars and restaurants will be featuring specialty cocktail events. For more information and a full list of events, click here.  “It’s good for business, (but) not in the monetary sense,” said Jason Boggs, co-owner of Shady Lady Saloon. “It lets people in Sacramento know they can drink better, and that makes quality of life better for everyone.” Midtown Cockt

What’s a fashion flashmob? I didn’t know either until this past Saturday. An event that lasted a little over an hour took a bit longer to put together. Events and social connections coordinator, Vy Nguyen, spent about 2 weeks organizing and putting together a fashion flashmob in Midtown. The event was put together to help promote the Designing Dreams Fashion Show that will take place at the Memorial Auditorium on August 13. Photographers, models, fashion interns, hair and makeup staff and Designing Dreams personnel were brought together for the fashion flashmob. Nguyen worked closely with various organizers and management at Zócalo, Paesanos, Yogurtagogo and Shady Lady. Fashionistas a

Hundreds of spectators gathered Thursday night to watch waiters and waitresses from Sacramento restaurants as they gave their best definition of speedy service in the second annual Bastille Day Waiters’ Race in the courtyard behind 1801 L Wine Lounge. Waiters and waitresses from 25 central city restaurants made two laps around the block bounded by 18th and 19th streets and L Street and Capitol Avenue. With one hand, participants were required to balance a tray with a bottle of Perrier mineral water and two champagne glasses filled with water. The race began at 7 p.m. “From my perspective as the French consul, it’s great, that in a town like Sacramento, we have young waiters and waitresse

Big Brothers Big Sisters has partnered with eleven celebrated Sacramento restaurants for “Cocktails for a Cause” in July. These eateries are lending their best mixologists to create refreshing, innovative cocktails to generate funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento throughout the entire month of July. Beginning Friday, July 1st and continuing throughout the entire month, DeVere’s Irish Pub, District 30, Dive Bar, Ella Dining Room and Bar, Grange, L Wine Lounge, Lounge on 20, Mulvaney’s, Pizza Rock, Red Lotus and Zocalo will be serving a delicious cocktail, aptly named the "Big Brother/Big Sister" or something similar. Every one of these eleven Sacramento hot spots will c

Over 500 people showed up - most in red heels, sandals or Converse - to the sold-out 2nd Annual Red Shoe Crawl on Sunday, June 26. The event was a stroll through midtown and downtown, where participants sampled complimentary food and drink from 16 different restaurants. Ticket proceeds directly supported children and families served by the Sacramento Ronald McDonald House and Camp Ronald McDonald at Eagle Lake. Event participants were asked to wear red shoes in celebration of Ronald McDonald and the non-profit organizations with which the mascot’s name is associated. “It’s fun to see all the people running around in their red shoes,” said Stephanie Spees, Community Relations Coordinator

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 siz

Cinco de Mayo celebrations are just around the corner, and Sacramento has its tequila bases covered. Made from the blue agave plant, tequila is a beverage whose journey to the table is not a speedy one. The agave plant must grow in the soil for 10 years, enduring drought, wind and pests, and, once harvested, must mature for an additional five years. But thanks to area restaurants, Sacramento won’t have to wait quite so long for a taste of the sweet spirit. In the coming week, there are plenty of opportunities in Sacramento to grab a margarita, check out a tequila tasting or indulge in the pairing of traditional Mexican cuisine and fine tequila. ZÓCALO For the chance to sample boutiqu

Local men will be strutting their stuff in heels April 30 for the first Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event in Midtown, which will benefit the Sacramento County Women Escaping a Violent Environment, Inc. The event will raise awareness about sexual assault. Amber Stott, WEAVE’s director of Development and Community Relations, has been recruiting volunteers and is in charge of making sure that every man has a pair of pumps to wear. “It’s a touchy issue, and we know what a big problem it is. It’s just nice to be able to have an opportunity to come together and raise awareness, but do it in a way that’s fun,” Stott said. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is an international organization, and this year ma

The streetfront of Zócalo restaurant was transformed into a huge fiesta Saturday, celebrating the food, dance and spirit of Mexico. Mex 200, commemorating Mexico’s 200 years of independence, was organized by Tatiana Bedoya of Latin Style Events. “I am proud of everyone who was on that stage tonight,” she said. “Very beautiful, very colorful, and something Sacramento can be proud of, something it deserves.” The proceeds benefited Raices de Mi Tierra, a folklore dance company that is dedicated to keeping the vibrant heritage and traditions of Mexico alive. More than a dozen vendors and food stations were involved - everything from beer and wine to baby clothes and Jamba Juice. Zócalo, o

Thursday marks Mexico’s bicentennial, and Sacramento’s Mexican-Americans are hosting a “MEX 200” party to celebrate those 200 years of independence Saturday in Midtown. “We’re shutting down 18th Street and Capitol, and we’re going to have stage performances every 30 to 45 minutes from 2-10 p.m.,” said Tatiana Bedoya, founder of Latin Style Events, which is organizing the show. One of the performers is Mexican-American comedian Willie Barcena. Barcena said he looks forward to the event as a way to celebrate diversity. “That’s what makes this country different from the rest of the world,” Barcena said. Barcena, who has been a comedian for 16 years and spent several years on the air in t

Pedestrian traffic may have appeared somewhat peculiar in Midtown on Saturday. Merry crowds of golfers, and a pirate or two, took to the streets in droves for the first annual Albie Puttin’ Pub and Putt Crawl presented by Go-Girl Energy Drink. Tickets were $25 for walk-ups and $20 for those who preregistered. All proceeds from the event went straight to Albie Aware Inc., a foundation dedicated to supporting women struggling with breast cancer. Executive Director Cindy Love, was a close friend to Albie Carson. The foundation was formed after Carson died of breast cancer in 2002. “We started the foundation because she was not given the proper testing after she was diagnosed, and we would

On Saturday, August 7, Midtown Sacramento played host to the Foursquare Pub Crawl. Organized by Sacramento's Midtown Business Association in order to promote the new Midtown brand, the event featured teams from a number of Midtown establishments. Team leaders were chosen because they were Foursquare Mayors of the participating locations. Foursquare is a dynamic new social networking application that allows users to know what business are close by, what establishments are trending based on the presence of other Foursquare users, see tips published by other users, and even see maps to help guide them to where they want to go. For businesses, Foursquare allows them to know who is visiting

Sacramentans in the mood for specially made cocktails need to look no further than Midtown this week. The annual Midtown Cocktail Week kicks off on Monday with seven nights filled to the brim with cocktail culture. Co-founder Joe Anthony Savala began the event in 2008 with Erick Castro after attending San Francisco’s Cocktail Week. “We really love the whole Midtown vibe and how it’s growing, so [we thought,] let’s put something together here,” Savala said. After some planning in conjunction with local restaurants and bars in Midtown and some help from San Francisco’s best bars, MCW was born. In 2009, the Midtown Business Association joined in. MCW is more than just enjoying beverages,

Chef Ryan Rose, the 28-year-old chef at the Zócalo restaurant in Sacramento, is one of the top 15 finalists in the “Next Food Network Star YouTube Challenge.” His in-it-to-win-it dish: paella. Originally on a search to apply for the Food Network’s casting call for the “Next Food Network Star,” Rose came across the YouTube challenge. Viewers can vote daily on their favorite video of national chefs demonstrating their favorite dishes in three minutes or less. The winner will fly out to New York for an audition with executive producers of the show. But Rose didn’t always want to be a chef. It wasn’t till a two-year visit to Spain where he watched his Italian roommate cook every day, that he

Time to paint your body, don your wigs and honk that old plastic noisemaker. The World Cup is just around the corner. The month-long tournament begins Friday, and there are a variety of options for those willing to set their alarms to see the 4:30, 7 and 11:30 a.m. games. Below is a detailed list of different bars and restaurants hosting World Cup viewing events, as well as food and drink specials. Local soccer fans can double their soccer fix for a few hours Saturday with the inaugural Sacramento Cup. For the first time ever, Major League Soccer teams will come to Raley Field and compete in an exhibition game: Chivas USA and the San Jose Earthquakes. Scheduling the game became feasible

Sacramento DJ Enrique Suavé has watched his friend Arturo Vallejo's Cinco de Mayo party become a huge bash over the last decade. The little celebration that started with about 200 people is now pulling in a much bigger crowd at the restaurant at 11th and O streets, across from the Capitol. Suavé has entertained the crowd every year. He has seen support from the community grow for an event that has come to mean many things to those who take part. He said he knows why Cinco de Mayo has become a big party — and that's just fine with him. "Cinco de Mayo to me is to remember the battle of Puebla. It's a day to celebrate our ancestors and culture with music and food and our familia," he said.

The 23rd Annual Christmas Party Extravaganza will feature free food from a multitude of hip Sacramento restaurants and establishments.  Tuli, Zocalo, Hot Italian and Kru will all be at the party serving delicious appetizers plus, Rail Bridge Cellars will offer wine tastings. This is heaven for the gastronomically inclined! If you just want to fuel properly before you hit the dance floor, that can be easily accomplished too. Do not miss this unique opportunity to sample so many culinary creations in one place, knowing its all for a good cause. Food is included in the ticket price ($60 in advance, purchase online) and proceeds benefit at-risk youth in Sacramento.           To top

Dragonfly Restaurant has closed its doors after five years in Midtown. Owners Glenn and Rosa Rivera-Lew quietly closed the Asian-fusion restaurant at least two weeks ago. They are now considering other options for the 3,500-square-foot space at 1809 Capitol Ave., whose lease they still own, said Ernesto Jimenez, an owner of the building and Zocalo, the restaurant next door. Dragonfly — whose menu included sushi, noodles and tapas such as sesame seed cones and taro chips — struggled for some time. "That's a sad one for us," said Rob Kerth, executive director of the Midtown Business Association. "I think they just couldn't draw enough people in to keep it going." Dragonfly opened about a

One group of local businesses has come together to create a different kind of music venue. Earlier this month, the Handle District, a collection of 25 business establishments in a two-block area between 17th and 19th streets and L Street and Capitol, created the Midtown Music Walk. Thursday, the district will continue the weekly event, which premiered Oct. 1. It will feature five bands and one jam session outdoors in buildings and on patios. Though the name "Handle District" was coined several years ago (it looks like a handle for the Capitol), the idea for the music walk only came to fruition recently. It came up during a meeting between Yogurtagogo owner Eric Heffel and owners of Zoca

Saturday morning I contemplated whether or not I should eat breakfast. My stomach was inexperienced with grub crawls, the Eat Your Art Out Crawl would be my very first. I settled on eating something small. Luckily I lived close enough to walk to the captain meeting place and by the time I had gathered my team's bags and badges, my stomach was growling. Of the 18 restaurants and dining establishments in the Crawl, I had eaten at all of them but five.  My team, Team Snuffleupagus, started at Brew It Up! where a fruit platter and blue cheese kettle chips awaited. This was a good warmup for the digestive system, not too heavy, and easy to eat. Lucca was one of the restaurants I hadn't tri