Although not on display Friday evening at Sleep Train Arena during the Kings/Pacers matchup (Tyreke Evans sat with a bruised left knee), the recent on-court pairing of Evans and Aaron Brooks seems to have helped Sacramento get it’s offense back on track. The win totals may not be piling up but it sure is promising to see the team score more points lately. The decision by Coach Keith Smart to insert Brooks into the starting point guard role to replace Isaiah Thomas coincided with the fact that Evans jumper was finding it’s mark. Since the change, Evans is averaging 21 points, 4.8 assists and 5.4 rebounds. Brooks’ average has also increased to 10.8 per game. I caught up with Coach Smart

Your favorite neighborhood just got a little merrier. Midtown is all dressed up for the upcoming holiday season with events and specials that are sure to fill visitors and residents with holiday cheer. The 12 Days of Midtown festivities run from Saturday, Dec. 1  through Wednesday, Dec. 12 with festivities for all ages. The event, which is in its third year, features local businesses and showcases hundreds more throughout the district. The annual holiday promotion is designed to engage the public and make Midtown a part of their annual holiday tradition. Throughout the 12 days, attendees can experience a variety of events and activities. Whether it's supporting our local retailers, givi

The Sacramento State University Union is working toward making children’s wishes come true this Holiday season through the “Wish Upon A Star” gift drive. Economic hardships have affected us all and the spirit of giving is more important than ever to help those less fortunate than us. To help make a wish come true, come to the “Wish Upon a Star” display in the University Union main lobby during building hours, choose a star, purchase the wish listed on the star, and then share the very special holiday gift with a child. The donated gifts benefit the Sunburst Projects, who provide ongoing family support services for HIV/ AIDS impacted families with children. The gift drive runs now through

THE SHOT By now, unless you’ve been living in a cave somewhere in the Maldives, you know that Tyreke Evans has spent countless hours during the offseason and into the season working on his jump shot. A shot, unless explained to you, you’d think Evans would or should have in his bag of tricks. Now here’s the explanation. Let’s, for a moment, compare Evans to another primary ball-handler from his college days, Jimmer Fredette. Fredette was in an offense that had him not only as the primary ball-handler, but as its main scorer too. His money shot was from the outside - a silky, smooth jumper - from anywhere on the court! Evans didn’t have to hone his jumper, as in college no one could kee

When the Sacramento Kings met up with the Atlanta Hawks on Friday at newly crowned Sleep Train Arena (sounds good to have Arena back in the name), a couple of goals must have been in mind. First, play better than they did the week before and second, hope Tyreke’s jumper was coming into form. I guess you could say they went one-for-two as they lost to the Hawks 112-96 in a game that had the loyal fans on their feet booing in the closing moments, but on the bright side, Tyreke Evans' shot is looking better one game at a time. THE PLAY Booing at the obvious lack of effort and an insufficient amount of offensive movement at times shows the fans in attendance (only 11,814 on a Friday) still

Robyn Slakey, a retired high school art teacher, has been walking and running in Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ (SFBFS) annual Run to Feed the Hungry for the past 15 years. Every year, Robyn and her family plan their Thanksgiving Day around Run to Feed the Hungry. “It is a fun, family event that supports Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services and the community,” Robyn said, “I really think it’s amazing how well SFBFS is the custodian of their money. They’re very good about what they do. Like what Blake Young [SFBFS President] says, ‘Give me $1 and I’ll turn it into $10.” Robyn remembers when she and her family first participated in Run to Feed the Hungry and there were just 3,00

Robyn Slakey had no plans to win any kind of contest when she posed in her favorite Run to Feed the Hungry (RTFTH) shirt after a long hike. But Robyn’s fun photo and awesome location shot created a buzz and won her entry into last year’s Run to Feed the Hungry. The t-shirt contest is back again this year and you have a chance to win your way into the 19th annual Run to Feed the Hungry. Visit Run to Feed the Hungry’s Facebook page to submit a photo for this year’s contest. In 2011, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) made a call out to all past Run to Feed the Hungry participants to submit a picture of themselves posing in their favorite RTFTH shirt. The grand prize would be fr

A downtown holiday tradition kicks off Friday as the Sacramento Downtown Plaza Ice Rink opens for its 21st year with free skating and skate rentals from 2 - 10 p.m. “Our crew has been really hustling all month over at Seventh and K streets to set up our outdoor rink,” said Annie Stuckert, senior events manager for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. “Last week’s winter storm really put us all in the mood for these fun holiday activities, and we’re excited to kick off the season.” Last year, the ice rink set a record with more than 30,000 visitors – a 20 percent increase over the previous year. Tuesdays this year will be devoted to family skate nights, and there will be theme nights eve

Midtown Merchants are brewing up a bewitching good time for kiddos and pooches of all ages and sizes. The neighborhood’s Annual Trick-or-Treat and Pooch Parade are just a few days away on Saturday, October 29th 27th from 10am to 2pm. Enjoy an afternoon of Trick-or-Treating from over 50 participating Midtown businesses from 11am to 2pm. In addition to satisfying your childrens’ sweet tooth, you can bring the whole family down to Marshall Park for a variety of free family friendly activities presented by The Sutter District. Festivities and their presenters include: Chilled Apple Cider by Blue Cue, Face Painting by Barwest, Caramel Apple Decorating by Centro, Yappy Hour by Cafe Bernardo &

It was one of the ugliest starts I’ve ever seen in a Kings’ game—regular or preseason. Less than five minutes into the game, the Kings’ starting center and point guard, DeMarcus Cousins and Aaron Brooks, had picked up two early fouls each that took the team completely out of their up-tempo game. The Sacramento Kings never could recover from—at one point—a 15-point deficit, and lost to its rivals the Golden State Warriors 98-88 at Sleep Train Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 17, in front of 10,708 fans. After closely watching the position battle at the small forward spot during the Monday, Oct. 15, contest against the Trailblazers, I thought I’d focus my attention toward what is quickly becoming

Families, art enthusiasts, music lovers, beer aficionados and everyone in between are invited to the second annual Midtown Arts Festival (MAF) Saturday, Oct. 20th, from noon - 6 p.m. in the heart of Midtown on 20th Street between J and K streets. This free event is part of ARTober – Fall for the Arts, a Sacramento regional arts campaign running the entire month of October. This vibrant, artistically diverse outdoor festival will cover a broad spectrum of creativity, from the exquisite to the experimental, the visual to the performing, and every medium in between. The festival will feature performance programs on two stages: The SMUD Performance Stage and the SUBMERGE Band Stage as well as

In the second preseason game of the 2012-13 year, the Sacramento Kings beat the visiting Portland Trailblazers 117-100. Behind 23 points from Marcus Thornton, DeMarcus Cousins putting up 20 along with seven boards and three assists and 16 from Aaron Brooks, the Kings beat up on the Blazers for most of three and a half quarters and won a game that means nothing in the standings. What really matters in these next six or seven games for the men in purple and black? As the Kings get a few preseason games under their collective belt, the battle for a couple of starting spots seems open for the first time in quite a while. There is a great competition going on for the starting point guard sp

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Buckle up, ladies and gents, as it’s that time of the year again! The time to cheer like madmen and madwomen for your purple-and-black court warriors is just around the corner. The Kings kicked off their 27th season in Sacramento with their annual Media Day on Monday afternoon. The event saw many new faces in the royal purple, black and white, along with the returning core from last year, as they get ready for their second season under the leadership of head coach Keith Smart. With the influx of several new players — Thomas Robinson (first-round draft pick), along with Aaron Brooks and James Johnson (free-agent signees) — comes the chance to change up the starting rotation, or find a pu

The Invasion of zombies in Old Sacramento was a huge success last night. Hundreds of people showed up buying wrist bands at Shenanigan’s on J Street. Proceeds went to support our local troops, veterans and those affiliated with the American Legion. The local kid band "Alive and Burning" played rocken tunes about Zombies at Shenanigan's .The zombie run started from Shenanigan’s and went to the K Street mall tunnel. In the tunnel, Photographers and videographers lined up taking pictures before the hoard of zombie came running past them to spill out onto the Old Sacramento Streets. All ages from young children, to older adults where dressed up and joined in the preparation of Halloween fun. T

On Saturday, October 6, 2012, Friends of El Dorado Trail and the El Dorado Western Railroad are partnering to support the International Mountain Bicycling Association’s (IMBA) eighth- annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day! Each year, IMBA encourages communities around the world to share their passion for pedaling with kids on the first Saturday of October. This year, El Dorado County is getting on board and invites you to join in the festivities along the El Dorado Trail and at the El Dorado Train Park from 9am to 4pm. Friends of El Dorado Trail suggests several rides: • An easy out and back ride beginning and ending at the El Dorado Train Park at the end of Oriental St. (across from th

Quick Quack Car Wash is giving back to the community in a special way by offering free car washes to help raise money for pediatric patients at Sutter Children’s Center, Sacramento. On Wednesday, Sept, 26 from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., Quick Quack Car Wash will give away a free Basic Car Wash ($5.99 value) for any donation made to the Donut Dash – a nonprofit which raises money for the Child Life Program at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento. This one-day special event is available at all seven of Quick Quack’s Sacramento area locations. Donations made will be used to support children and their families cope with their medical experience by providing normal childhood activities, promoting developmen

This Saturday Midtown Neighbors, Business Owners & Community Members will come together to beautify the Midtown Community. Join them in celebrating the end of summer by cleaning up Midtown! The Midtown Business Association is partnering with the Midtown Neighborhood Association, the Boulevard Park Neighborhood Association, and the Marshall School/New Era Park Neighborhood Association to host a fall clean up with the support of The Volunteer Center of Sacramento. Volunteers will remove trash and help beautify the Midtown Community from 16th Street to 29th Street, from G to O Streets, or beyond if there is more litter to be found! Coffee and snacks will be provided in the morning when you

Robert Linkul’s lungs collapsed six times in the hospital in July 2009. Doctors broke two of his ribs, removed the lobe of his left lung and one-third of his upper lung; they slit through his lateral, oblique and intercostal muscles in a race to beat lung cancer. The aftermath of his life-saving surgery encouraged him to advocate for cleaner air. Linkul, 31, never smoked a cigarette in his life. Though doctors are unsure of what caused the cancer, he said they believe he inhaled or ingested a cancerous substance. He was diagnosed in March of 2009, two weeks after coughing and sneezing blood at work. He devotes his life to health and fitness as the strength and fitness director at Arden

Where were you in 1968? And what we’re you driving? The California Automobile  Museum will take a detailed look at the tumultuous year – and the cars that were part of it – in its “1968” centerpiece exhibit, kicking off Sept. 22 and running through May 12, 2013. The exhibit is sponsored by Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln. The showcase will include sweeping, colorful walls with information and photos of cars of the era, automotive magazines, popular culture of the times and a timeline of key 1968 events, many of which occurred in the Golden State. Special events and displays will celebrate the music of the late 1960s, clothing styles, auto racing, automotive advertisements and c