Newest articles and comments on The Sacramento Press written by Robert McKeown

Robert McKeown on "Easter Events Extravaganza"

2011-04-21T04:31:10Z

For the record, Easter Sunday School at MOBS is "recommended for sinners 18 years of age and older." While everything being shown was material that children had to watch at one time, that doesn't mean that it actually IS appropriate for all ages...

Robert McKeown on "Guild Theater to host Found Footage Fest"

2011-03-03T21:30:12Z

Actually, the first movie shown at MOBS was We Jam Econo, a documentary on the diy punk band Minutemen. It was kind of a thematic fit with what MOBS would be.

Robert McKeown on "Hausu"

2011-01-29T23:22:50Z

To clarify, KDVS has simply been a supporter of Movies on a Big Screen (there is no direct involvement), and sometimes plugs what MOBS will be showing. The music was compiled by MOBS, and was pre-1982 Japanese new wave and punk. All songs selected have never been released in the US. The slideshow before the film consisted of titles that have shown at Movies on a Big Screen over the years. Websites applicable to the article: Crocker Art Museum: http://www.crockerartmuseum.org Movies on a Big Screen: http://www.moviesonabigscreen.com Cinema Insomnia: http://www.cinemainsomnia.com Sacramento Museum Day: http://www.sacmuseums.org/museumday.html

Robert McKeown on "Rocky Horror comes to the Guild Theater"

2010-12-31T19:19:14Z

The address is actually 2828 35th St, Sacramento (just down from Old Soul at 35th & Broadway)

Robert McKeown on "Ask Officer Michelle - Citizen Drives Drunk to Get More Beer"

2010-12-14T07:44:53Z

Whoa - what'd I do with that doubling there? Hm... Well anyway...

Robert McKeown on "Ask Officer Michelle - Citizen Drives Drunk to Get More Beer"

2010-12-14T07:43:41Z

Wasn't this posted on 11/22/2009 here: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/18121/Ask_Officer_Michelle_Reporting_a_drunk_driver and on 2/21/2010 here: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/22454/Ask_Officer_Michelle_Dealing_with_a_Pesky_Neighbor this posted on 11/22/2009 here: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/18121/Ask_Officer_Michelle_Reporting_a_drunk_driver and on 2/21/2010 here: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/22454/Ask_Officer_Michelle_Dealing_with_a_Pesky_Neighbor And on the SacPD blog on December 12, 2008 -- exactly two years ago from this most recent posting of it?

Robert McKeown on "Arson cancels "Galaxy of Terror" Trash Film Orgy"

2010-07-19T18:06:24Z

There was no arson attempt, nor was there sewage dumping into the theater (for those who might have heard that rumor). Straight from Sid Garcia-Herberger: "Someone vandalized a sprinkler head in the downstairs ladies room. No fire but lots and lots of water. The system had to be refilled before we could reopen."

Robert McKeown on "Cultivating a healthy comment ecosystem"

2010-06-25T22:36:21Z

"As for whether that comment would be removed under the current TOU, it is very debatable. That comment doesn't actually defame the business as much as speak to a movement that has the same name. If anything the comment is simply off-topic." Hm. Seemed to me that this was stated: "LRGP are racist socialists who support Al Qaeda over the United States...who they claim stole their lands." - where LRGP = La Raza Galeria Posada - the local art gallery, and in many other ways attempted to indicate that La Raza Galeria Posada was a racist group. And all because of an article that a series of El Santo films were being shown there. Editing comment to add: So I have to wonder how the TOU will be applied if this is not applicable to the "defaming a business" portion of it. Could you further explain the definition of "defaming a business" as far as the TOU goes? Thanks! ---end edit If you do plan on posting banned user's ids, that will quite possibly encourage use of anonymous user ids, rather than encouraging people to use their real names. Just a thought.

Robert McKeown on "Cultivating a healthy comment ecosystem"

2010-06-25T21:57:55Z

Ok - it's unanimous (enough). Someone *has* to add "don't pee in the mashed potatoes" to the SP terms of use!

Robert McKeown on "Cultivating a healthy comment ecosystem"

2010-06-25T20:57:42Z

I'm truly curious about this - under the new TOS, would comments on the El Santo film series article, found here: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/16294/A_week_of_El_Santo_films_at_La_Raza_Galeria_Posada be in violation (ie, defaming a business)? I'd really like to know. Also, will SP be publicly posting each user id which is banned as was done here? "a 'don't pee in the mashed potatoes' rule" is the best part of all of these comments!

The Race to Nowhere in Sacramento

2010-04-07T23:16:11Z

Disclaimer: the contributor of this and his wife run Movies on a Big Screen, Sacramento’s weekly screening series of documentaries, general independent film, classics and cult titles. The following is blatant self-promotion of a MOBS event .

On Sunday, April 11, 2010, at 4:00 PM, Movies on a Big Screen will present Race to Nowhere, a feature length documentary examining pressures faced by children and teens in today’s achievement-obsessed culture. Director Vicki Abeles will be in attendance for a discussion and Q&A.

The film premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival in October, 2009 and has been screening around the country in theaters, cultural centers and schools.

About the film:
Race to Nowhere is a close up investigation of the pressures American schoolchildren and their teachers face in our achievement-obsessed education system and culture.

Director Vicki Abeles takes viewers to schools across the country to feature the stories of students who have been pushed to the brink, educators who are burnt out and worried students aren't learning anything substantive, and college professors and business leaders, concerned the incoming young people lack the skills needed to succeed in the 21st century. The stories of several young people, parents and a teacher are intercut with scenes of family life and in-depth interviews with top experts in education, medicine, and psychology – providing a deep and varied context that underscores the enormity of a potentially looming crisis.

Today, competitive, self-assured, achievement-oriented, young people prepare relentlessly to enter a culture that demands nothing less than their personal best, all day, every day. From preschool through college, children are pressured, pushed, coached, sculpted, scheduled and reviewed, running a never-ending gauntlet towards adulthood.

What happens when personal best is not good enough? What happens when personal best changes into personal nightmare? The unintended consequences of an achievement-obsessed culture can be catastrophic for families and children alike. The mental health of young people may suffer, leading to depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, self-mutilation, and suicide – not to mention binge drinking, self-medication and drug abuse.

"If you care about the future of our country, you are going to want to see this provocative film." - Huffington Post

“[Race to Nowhere] should be required viewing for every parent, teacher and school policy maker.” – Marin Independent Journal

Sunday, April 11, 2010
4:00 PM
Admission: $12.00 general; $10.00 students through 12th grade
Location:
Movies on a Big Screen at The Guild
2828 35th St, Sacramento
Advance tickets can be purchased at http://www.rtnsacramento.eventbrite.com
Tickets will also be available at the door (cash only)

http://www.moviesonabigscreen.com

On Sunday, Meet Mary Pleasant

2010-03-11T19:44:20Z

On Sunday, March 14, 2010, Movies on a Big Screen is teaming up with the Sacramento Historical Society to present, Meet Mary Pleasant. The filmmaker, Susheel Bibbs, will be in attendance to speak following the film. The film begins at 7:30 PM, and the screening will take place at The Guild Theater, which is located at 2828 35th St, Sacramento. Admission is $5.00.

About Meet Mary Pleasant:
A unique, historical, performance documentary, unfolds the saga of Mary Ellen Pleasant the daring, unsung, 19th-century African-American activist and entrepreneur now called the Mother of Civil Rights in California. Narrated by the acclaimed actress Ruby Dee (SAG Best Supporting Actress, 2007), the film allows Pleasant to speak in live performance, using song, montage, re-enactment, commentary, and narration to enliven a backdrop of achievement, love, scandal, and American history. Pleasant's story is inspiring and important internationally. As entrepreneur, she amassed $30,000,000, and as activist, she changed modern-day civil rights law and affected civil rights throughout the US and in Canada.

Meet Mary Pleasant
Sunday, March 14, 2010
7:30 PM
Admission: $5.00
Movies on a Big Screen at The Guild
2828 35th St (corner of 35th & Broadway), Sacramento

http://www.moviesonabigscreen.com
http://www.sachistoricalsociety.org

Indie Comics and Indie Movies

2010-02-19T07:52:07Z

On Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 7:30 PM, Movies on a Big Screen will be presenting the documentary, Independents: A Guide to the Creative Spirit and director Chris Brandt will be in attendance for a Q&A. Additionally, local comic book artists, along with local artist, Skinner (who’s short film will also be shown) are scheduled to be there. See the end of this "article" for the full line-up of who's currently scheduled. This will all take place at The Guild Theater, 2828 35th St, Sacramento, and admission is $5.00.

About the documentary, Independents:

Why does one choose to become an "artist?" What makes an artist "independent?" Where do they get their ideas? Twenty-four respected creators unveil the secrets of the artistic mind, by talking about their favorite medium, the lowest of the low-brow arts: comic books.

From cave paintings dating back 35,000 years to the graphic novels of today, sequential images have been used to tell magically influential stories. In examining an art form that has, until recently, not been accepted as "art", and discovering what it is these passionate creators find appealing about comic books, a bright light is shed on ALL independent creators, whether they work in graphic novels, film, music, or basket weaving.

And look at this list of who's featured in the film: Jessica Abel (ArtBabe; Life Sucks); Trevor Alixopulos (Quagga); Scott Allie (Sr Managing Editor, Dark Horse Comics); Kevin Eastman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Heavy Metal); Gary Groth (co-founder, Fantagraphics; Editor-in-Chief, Comics Journal); Eric Jones (Super Scary Monster Stories); Keith Knight (K Chronicles; (Th)ink); Erik Larsen (co-founder, Image Comics; Savage Dragon); Batton Lash (Supernatural Law); Scott McCloud (Zot!; Understanding Comics); Carla Speed McNeil (Finder); Linda Medley (Castle Waiting); Tony Millionaire (Maakies); Scott Mills (Space Devil); Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise; Echo); Wendy Pini (ElfQuest); Eric Powell (The Goon); Johnny Ryan (Angry Youth Comics); James Sime (Isotope Comics in San Francisco); Craig Thompson (Blankets); Dan Vado (Slave Labor Graphics); Landry Walker (Super Scary Monster Stories; Batman: Brave and the Bold); Brett Warnock (Top Shelf Productions); Mike Wellman (Z-Blade; Gone South; Mac Afro); Shannon Wheeler (Too Much Coffee Man); Robert Williams (Zap!; Juxtapoz); and Jim Woodring (Jim; Frank). Whew!

We also are planning on showing the short music video, Hell Dream, featuring the art of local artist Skinner, whose work has been shown in galleries around the US.

Here's who's currently scheduled to be there, in addition to filmmaker Chris Brandt:

Skinner: Take fantasies of pop culture, cartoon & comic book land, twist them into a subconscious horror-surrealism of lurking wizards, evil unicorns, horror films, Dungeons & Dragons and other wild and hallucinatory visions and you get the art of Skinner. http://www.theartofskinner.com

Ben Schwartz - Founder of ECV press, a Sacramento based comic book company who produces the comic books The Continuum, The Hunters, Relic & Ego, Triad, and Little Kori in Komaland. http://www.ecvpress.com

Paul Allen - Artist & Co-Writer of the horror/comedy comic book BrAiNs. He's also available for commissions of disturbing images. http://www.myspace.com/brainscomic

Anthony Leano - Co-writer of BrAiNs and founder of the From The Land Beyond, Horror & Sci Fi Show and Indy Euphoria- Indy Comix, DIY & Vinyl Toy Convention. http://www.sacramentocomics.com/indy

Stephen R. Buell - Buell is currently working on the sci-fi thriller comic titled Alien Echo, a punk rock homage to They Live, a comic titled American Juice and a comic about a virus that effects super-humans titled Elephant Cage. He previously illustrated the graphic novel, Fragile Prophet, which was named Best Independent Comic of 2006 by Ain't It Cool News. http://www.stephenrbuell.com

Mike Hampton - Artist/writer of Hot Zombie Chicks, Captain A-Hole, and Zodiac Killers. Mike is known to draw caricatures of attendees as zombies for commission. http://www.916halo.com

Sunday, February 21, 2010
7:30 PM
Admission: $5.00
Movies on a Big Screen at The Guild
2828 35th St, Sacramento, CA

http://www.moviesonabigscreen.com
http://www.facebook.com/moviesonabigscreen

Six Weeks at MOBS: improv, outsider music, stalkers, indie comix and early punk rock!

2010-01-23T05:03:53Z

Disclaimer: the contributor of this and his wife run Movies on a Big Screen (MOBS), Sacramento’s weekly screening series of documentaries, general independent film, classics and cult titles. The following is blatant self-promotion of MOBS events.

Here's a look at the next six weeks at Movies on a Big Screen. There's lots of stuff here, so dig through it all - then get out and see something! We've even included some "special" Valentine's Day-themed programming!

January 24, 2010
7:30 pm
MOBS at The Guild, 2828 35th St, Sacramento (corner of 35th & Broadway)
Admission: $5.00

Trust Us, This is All Made Up

Some foolishly believe that "improvising" is simply "making things up." To a degree, that's true. To be able to do that and have the New York Times describe you as, "…masters of long form improv" means you're going a little further than simply making a few off the cuff jokes. Second City alumni TJ Jagodowski and Dave Pasquesi (Strangers With Candy, Employee of the Month, Groundhog Day) have become living legends in their field. Their performances of entirely improvised, character-driven, often hilarious and wholly original one-hour plays have mesmerized audiences worldwide. Exploring the folds of faith that underline their relationship and the transcendental forces that govern their improvisation, Trust Us This is All Made Up features an unforgettable live performance recorded at New York's Barrow Street Theater. Students and appreciators of improvisational performance will be astounded. Those less experienced with improvised theater will find this to be the perfect primer. Regardless, you'll be left in awe of what these two can do.

January 31, 2010
7:30 pm
MOBS at The Guild, 2828 35th St, Sacramento (corner of 35th & Broadway)
Admission: $5.00

Jandek on Corwood

Even by the standards of underground and avant-garde music, Jandek is a man who has pushed the notion of deliberate obscurity to the outer limits. Yet Jandek has recorded 62 albums since 1978, self-released on his label, Corwood Industries. Prior to 2004, he did not reveal himself, then suddenly started to do a series of live performances, billed simply as "a representative of Corwood." He sold records via ads in music magazines, yet even the ads were mysterious: a white box with black text stating simply "Jandek on Corwood" with the PO Box. His music borders on being indescribable, but terms like "spooky" and "haunting" and "out-of-tune" frequently show up in reviews. The film's press kit refers to it as "cacophonous rock and suicide-note blues." This film, from 2003, provides an enthralling look at this extremely outsider artist who only ever granted a couple of interviews via phone (one of which is presented in the film), unraveling some of the mystery around him, yet not once featuring Jandek on camera. Features a plethora of music journalists and critics including Douglas Wolk along with Dr. Demento, and plenty of strange Jandek music and album covers.

About Jandek's music: "How to describe the music of Jandek? Like most amateur rock critics, start by comparing him to the Beatles. Then strip away melody, catchy hooks, rhythm, and harmony. Next toss out vocal and instrumental ability, along with any trace of human feeling other than dull, lingering pain. Aside from these deficiencies, he's exactly like the Fab Four." - Irwin Chusid, "Songs in the Key of Z: The Curious Universe of Outsider Music"

About the film:

"A huge success, proof that even this far into the game there are certain semi-desolate corners of the underground that remain impregnable to colonisation by the ever-encroaching monoculture and its accompanying pressures and payoffs." - Wire

"[has] a surrealistic aesthetic that would make David Lynch proud." - Magnet

"Shrewd, moody direction. A canny look at both sides of a musical experiment. Jandek plucks out his atonal efforts, and the record-store obsessives speculate about every subtlety. Theories abound about his love life, his mental stability, his reasons for reclusiveness. Is he friendless? Is he on the lam? Is he bipolar?" - New York Times

February 7, 2010
7:30 pm
MOBS at The Guild, 2828 35th St, Sacramento (corner of 35th & Broadway)
Admission: $5.00

The first of two weeks celebrating Valentine's Day! Yep, we sure do love the holidays!

I Think We're Alone Now

This is a documentary we showed previously, and one of the stalkers featured in the film was in attendance for a Q&A. As far as we know, that will not be happening this time.

Every celebrity deals with his or her share of obsessed fans. I Think We're Alone Now is a documentary that focuses on two individuals, Jeff and Kelly, who claim to be in love with the 80's pop singer Tiffany.

Jeff Turner, a 50 year-old man from Santa Cruz, California has attended Tiffany concerts since 1988. Diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, he never had a girlfriend. Jeff spends his days hanging out on the streets of Santa Cruz, striking up conversations with anyone who has a moment to spare.

Kelly McCormick is a 35-year-old intersex person from Denver, Colorado, who claims to have been friends with Tiffany as a teenager. She credits Tiffany as the shining star who has motivated her to do everything in her life. Both Jeff and Kelly have been labeled stalkers by the media and other Tiffany fans.

This film takes you inside the lonely lives of these two characters, revealing the source of their clinging obsessions. This age-old story of unrequited love takes a comedic and emotional trip through themes of desperation, isolation, and hope, in the end showing that having something, or someone, to believe in can be more powerful than anything reality has to offer.

"...more disturbing than "Blindness," "The Happening," and "Doomsday" put together. Never before have you gotten this close to stalkers -- and you'll never want to get this close again." - AMC, who also ranked it #5 in their list of Top 10 Horror Movies of 2008! Yeah, and it's not a horror movie - but it's that disturbing!

I Think We're Alone Now provides a fascinating window into a nebulous zone where fan fever uncomfortably hovers between harmless obsession and dangerous lunacy... anyone with even the slightest interest in challenging documentaries or the cult of celebrity should seek it out. - TwitchFilm

February 14, 2010
7:30 pm
MOBS at The Guild, 2828 35th St, Sacramento (corner of 35th & Broadway)
Admission: $5.00

Our second Valentine's Day show - this one ON Valentine's Day! Show up for this 1920's silent classic, and maybe make your date a little bit nervous about your concept of "romance."

The Phantom of the Opera

We're not too sure a synopsis of this is really necessary, but here's one anyway: Erik (Lon Chaney) is a much-feared fiend who haunts the Paris Opera House. Lurking around the damp, dank passages deep in the cellars of the theater, he secretly coaches understudy Christine Daae (Mary Philbin) to be an opera star. Through a startling sequence of terrors, including sending a giant chandelier crashing down on the opera patrons, the Phantom forces the lead soprano to withdraw from the opera, permitting Christine to step in. Luring Christine into his subterranean lair below the opera house, the Phantom confesses his love. But Christine is in love with Raoul de Chagny (Norman Kerry). The Phantom demands that Christine break off her relationship with Raoul before he'll allow her to return to the opera house stage. She agrees, but immediately upon her release from the Phantom's lair, she runs into the arms of Raoul and they plan to flee to England after her performance that night. The Phantom overhears their conversation and, during her performance, kidnaps Christine, taking her to the depths of his dungeon. It is left to Raoul and Simon Buquet (Gibson Gowland), a secret service agent, to track down the Phantom and rescue Christine.

February 21, 2010
7:30 pm
MOBS at The Guild, 2828 35th St, Sacramento (corner of 35th & Broadway)
Admission: $5.00

Independents: A Guide for the Creative Spirit

Filmmaker Chris Brandt is currently scheduled to be in attendance, along with local artist, Skinner (whose short film Hell Dream will also screen). Additionally, we're working on getting some local independent comic book artists there with some of their work.

From cave paintings dating back 35,000 years to the graphic novels of today, sequential images have been used to tell magically influential stories. In examining an art form that has, until recently, not been accepted as "art," and discovering what it is these passionate creators find appealing about comic books, a bright light is shed on ALL independent creators, whether they work in graphic novels, film, music, or basket weaving.

And look at this list of who's featured in the film: Jessica Abel (ArtBabe; Life Sucks); Trevor Alixopulos (Quagga); Scott Allie (Sr Managing Editor, Dark Horse Comics); Kevin Eastman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Heavy Metal); Gary Groth (co-founder, Fantagraphics; Editor-in-Chief, Comics Journal); Eric Jones (Super Scary Monster Stories); Keith Knight (K Chronicles; (Th)ink); Erik Larsen (co-founder, Image Comics; Savage Dragon); Batton Lash (Supernatural Law); Scott McCloud (Zot!; Understanding Comics); Carla Speed McNeil (Finder); Linda Medley (Castle Waiting); Tony Millionaire (Maakies); Scott Mills (Space Devil); Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise; Echo); Wendy Pini (ElfQuest); Eric Powell (The Goon); Johnny Ryan (Angry Youth Comics); James Sime (Isotope Comics in San Francisco); Craig Thompson (Blankets); Dan Vado (Slave Labor Graphics); Landry Walker (Super Scary Monster Stories; Batman: Brave and the Bold); Brett Warnock (Top Shelf Productions); Mike Wellman (Z-Blade; Gone South; Mac Afro); Shannon Wheeler (Too Much Coffee Man); Robert Williams (Zap!; Juxtapoz); and Jim Woodring (Jim; Frank). Whew!

As mentioned, we also are planning on showing the short music video/film, Hell Dream, featuring the art of local artist Skinner, whose work has been shown around the US! Check out Skinner's art at http://www.theartofskinner.com

February 28, 2010
7:30 pm
MOBS at The Guild, 2828 35th St, Sacramento (corner of 35th & Broadway)
Admission: $5.00

Population: 1

We've been working on showing this for over three years now, and it all finally came together! Rarely seen or screened!

A film by Rene Daalder, who previously made Massacre at Central High and was an original collaborator on a Sex Pistols film, which later became The Great Rock-n-Roll Swindle, when Russ Meyer and Roger Ebert were involved early on. Daalder's house in L.A. ended up becoming the Sex Pistols' US "headquarters" for a period of time. It's also been said he was key to the creation of the "My Way" scene in that film.

About Population: 1

When there's only one person left, America becomes a one-man band.

From the depths of a bunker comes one man’s musical send off to the world’s last empire. A twisted history lesson from punk favorite Tomata du Plenty (The Screamers) featuring members of Los Lobos, Vampira, Penelope Houston (The Avengers), the notorious El Duce, Fluxus artist Al Hansen and his Grammy-winning grandson Beck, among many others.

Tomata becomes the sole survivor of a disaster that has wiped out America. Hidden in a bomb shelter below the devastation, Tomata’s character decides to piece together a revisionist history of the United States. Using whatever memorabilia he can get his hands on, he recounts his own warped memoirs as the last citizen of what once was the greatest country on Earth.

Filmed over a period of years, this was initially finished in 1985. We will be featuring a newly created director's cut of the film!

Deliriously cramming 200 years of American mayhem into one punk rock musical, Daalder’s anarchic vision unfolds "as if Frank Zappa and Hieronymus Bosch took angel dust together and created a nightmare.” —Michael Dare, LA Week

http://www.moviesonabigscreen.com

It's a Crappy Christmas at Movies on a Big Screen

2009-12-16T23:02:55Z

According to Andy Williams' 1963 carol, "It's the most wonderful time of the year." Well this year, Movies on a Big Screen has decided to restore some balance to the equation by offering two Crappy Christmas shows!

On Sunday, December 20, Movies on a Big Screen will "present" the 1964 anti-classic, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, also known by the far more thrilling title, Santa Defeats the Aliens. Briefly, this "fun-filled romp" involves Martians (and their cardboard robot, Torg) kidnapping Santa and two Earth children and taking them on a cross-planetary trip back to their home base on Mars. When they (finally) arrive, Santa, with the help of the other abductees and a rather simple-minded Martian lackey, overcomes the Martians by bringing fun, happiness and Christmas cheer to the children of Mars. The "film" also features a young Pia Zadora playing a blank-faced Martian child, along with the most realistic (ahem) polar bear you'll ever see. You know you're in trouble when "Costume" is misspelled in the opening credits.

The following week, on Sunday, December 27, things just get crappier when MOBS takes any remaining good will you may have left and kicks it to the gutter by showing the 1959 Mexican film, Santa vs. Satan. This was shown at MOBS last year, and in a baffling development, is actually back by popular demand (?). The English language version will be shown (that should be read as, "with bad dubbing"). This year, the "motion picture" will be hosted by nationally syndicated late night horror host, Cinema Insomnia's Mr. Lobo. Crappy Christmas presents will be handed out to an unlucky few; there won't be presents for everyone just to make it even crappier.

About Santa vs. Satan:
Santa lives on a cloud floating over the North Pole where, rather than elves, children from all over the world help make toys -- and they're really more like enslaved laborers. Is this a Santa that you would want coming down your chimney? Not so much. He's pretty creepy with an overly sweet voice paired with a disturbing (and decidedly unjolly) laugh with insincere and sometimes vacant eyes staring at children through odd Sid and Marty Krofft-like devices. However, Satan is determined to undermine Santa so sends his minion, Pitch (a skinny guy in a cheap, red suit), to the surface to make the kids of the world hate Santa and engage in vandalism. Did I mention the vampiric mechanized reindeer? No? Or the interpretive dance in Hell? Hmm...

You know, it's not really a Christmas movie without dialog like, "There's a prowler out there -- he's come to kill your wife. And your children. He's going to murder you!"

It's best summed up by the following online review:
"How can a movie get everything so very, very wrong and yet be so very, very right? If you aren't the least bit familiar with this surreal trip into an extremely non-traditional view of jolly ol' St. Nick, perhaps the less known the better, as half the fun of this colossal mess is staring in dumbfounded awe at what is transpiring on the screen. It's a hoot. A damned scary hoot, granted, but certainly a hoot." - dvdinmypants.com

Details about the Crappy Christmas shows:

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Sunday, December 20, 2009
7:30 PM
Movies on a Big Screen at The Guild
2828 35th St, Sacramento (at the corner of 35th & Broadway)
Admission: $5.00

Santa vs. Satan, hosted by Cinema Insomnia's Mr. Lobo
Sunday, December 27, 2009
7:30 PM
Movies on a Big Screen at The Guild
2828 35th St, Sacramento (at the corner of 35th & Broadway)
Admission: $5.00

"All this trouble over a fat little man in a red suit" - Voldar, in Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.

http://www.moviesonabigscreen.com

Robert McKeown on "A week of "El Santo" films at La Raza Galeria Posada"

2009-10-30T03:46:26Z

El Santo movies are fun! I'm glad a batch of them are being shown here in Sacramento!

Robert McKeown on "Crocker Presents Soaring Voices Film Festival October 17"

2009-10-07T05:08:51Z

And just for the record, Movies on a Big Screen is helping out with this as well! We'll be there running the movies and stuff. OK - pretty much, running the movies - so if things go awry, you know who to blame. So you probably oughtta go! PS: I and my wife run Movies on a Big Screen, Sacramento’s weekly screening series of documentaries, general independent film, classics and cult titles. The above is blatant self-promotion of MOBS, while still intending to be a strong endorsement of this day of screenings!

Robert McKeown on ""Overdrawn" illuminates the underbelly of predatory banking"

2009-09-22T04:09:48Z

Thanks for the cool write-up! Overdrawn was shown as part of the Movies on a Big Screen series, and the website is at http://www.moviesonabigscreen.com One of the spots we screen at is The Guild. And yeah - I'm affiliated with MOBS...

Overdrawn in Sacramento

2009-09-17T20:11:13Z

On Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 7:00 PM, Movies on a Big Screen will be presenting the documentary, “Overdrawn,” and filmmaker Karney Hatch will be in attendance for a Q&A. For those who are unable to attend on Sunday, the film will also be presented on Friday, September 18, 2009 at 7 and 9:30 PM (although Karney Hatch will not be attending the Friday screenings).

About the film:

A feature-length documentary film exploring the predatory lending practices of the major national banks, focusing on overdraft charges. It also explores the larger issues of corporate domination of our society and government and the consumer revolution going on against the banks in the UK.

The film features Ralph Nader, Joel Bakan (author and producer, "The Corporation"), Jim Sturdevant (a San Francisco attorney who won a $1.6 billion class action lawsuit against Bank of America), Marci Mills (former senior VP at Bank of America), Ben W. (former Wells Fargo loans collection officer), Mr. X (a loan shark, whose rates are better than the banks), and many more!

"Delves deep into the myriad ways that major national banks screw poor people . . . " - Portland Mercury

Friday, Sept 18, 2009
7 and 9:30 PM
Sunday, Sept 20, 2009 (with filmmaker Karney Hatch in attendance)
Admission: $5.00 (cash only – there currently are no debit/credit card processing capabilities).
Location: Movies on a Big Screen at The Guild Theater. 2828 35th St, Sacramento (corner of 35th & Broadway).

http://www.moviesonabigscreen.com

Robert McKeown on "Mad City Chickens in Sacramento"

2009-08-06T20:32:23Z

Nope. We're there on Fridays for only more week (after this weekend), but will still be there on Sundays. In fact... the Found Footage Festival will be coming back and will be at The Guild on Sunday, Oct 4 (more on that later though). We currently have no space for Fridays, though (after next week). If anyone has ideas, let us know!

Mad City Chickens in Sacramento

2009-08-06T03:13:20Z

Disclaimer: the contributor of this and his wife run Movies on a Big Screen, Sacramento's weekly screening series of documentaries, general independent film, classics and cult titles. The following is blatant self-promotion of a MOBS event in conjunction with Sacramento's CLUCK (Campaign to Legalize Urban Chicken Keeping).

On Friday, August 7, 2009, at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM and on Sunday, August 9, 2009 at 7:00 PM, Movies on a Big Screen, in association with CLUCK, will be presenting, "Mad City Chickens." Filmmakers Tashai Lovington and Robert Lughai will be in attendance on Friday night only. Also on Friday night only - a raffle for a chicken coop! And since raising chickens in the city of Sacramento is currently illegal, we at MOBS are certain that it will only be used for ornamental purposes. Ahem. Raffle proceeds benefit CLUCK.

About the film:

"Mad City Chickens" is a sometimes serious, sometimes whimsical look at the people who keep urban chickens in their backyards. From chicken experts and authors to a rescued landfill hen or an inexperienced family that decides to take the poultry plunge-and even a mad scientist and giant hen taking to the streets-it's a humorous and heartfelt trip through the world of backyard chickendom.

August 7, 2009
7 and 9:30 PM
August 9, 2009
7 PM
Admission: $5.00 (we're cash only - we have no debit/credit card processing capabilities).
Location: Movies on a Big Screen at The Guild Theater. 2828 35th St, Sacramento (corner of 35th & Broadway).

Robert McKeown on "Saturday festival on Sacramento's first 'Urban Ag Day'"

2009-07-10T07:55:22Z

And to add further clarification - you can also purchase tickets at the door ($7) just for the screenings of "Fresh" at The Guild, which shows at 2:30 and 4:00 PM.

Robert McKeown on "Rock That Uke highlights the ukelele at Guild Theater"

2009-07-09T19:26:48Z

A couple of clarifications. On Friday, Rock That Uke plays at 7 PM, Ukulele Loki's Gadabout Orchestra is at 8 PM and Rock That Uke shows again at 9:30 PM. So you can see the movie, then the band, or come to see the band and stay for the movie! Also, Ukulele Loki's Gadabout Orchestra will be on Insight on Friday between 10 and 11 AM.

Robert McKeown on "Art and Madness at The Verge: Daniel Johnston"

2009-05-13T23:08:32Z

David: yeah - I have had a forced leave from SacPress lately, but had to get this up, especially since Johnston was born here. Funny how suddenly losing a venue (effective end of May) will derail ya sometimes. But more about that soon...

Art and Madness at The Verge: Daniel Johnston

2009-05-13T19:33:59Z

On Thursday, May 14, 2009, Movies on a Big Screen teams up with The Verge Gallery to bring to Sacramento a special free screening of The Devil and Daniel Johnston with director Jeff Feuerzeig in attendance for a Q&A. Better still, The Verge Gallery is featuring Daniel Johnston’s work through June 21, making this the optimal setting for viewing the definitive documentary on Johnston.

About The Devil and Daniel Johnston:
A portrait of a manic-depressive genius singer, songwriter and artist, Daniel Johnston. As a reclusive teenager, Johnston began showing signs of unusual artistic ability. He religiously recorded his thoughts and stories onto cassette tapes, directed intuitive Super-8 films starring his siblings, and created expressive comic book-style drawings in the basement of his family's home. In the eyes of his fundamentalist Christian family, however, he simply wasn't contributing to society in a useful or productive way.

After running off and joining a carnival, Johnston landed in Austin, Texas, broke and alone. It was there he began to hone his musical career, recording folk songs on a series of homemade, lo-fi cassettes, which Daniel handed out free to fans, friends and journalists in the early '80s. Ultimately, he managed to secure a brief spotlight on MTV with the help of a timely break. Just as he was beginning to make a local name for himself, however, Johnston's inner demons began to surface. His portrait serves as clear depiction of one artist's balancing act between brilliance and madness--a life marked by wild fluctuations, numerous downward spirals, and periodic respites.

Thursday, May 14, 2009
7:00 PM
Admission: Free
The Devil and Daniel Johnston with director Jeff Feuerzeig in attendance.
The Verge Gallery
1900 V St, Sacramento.

http://www.moviesonabigscreen.com

Found Footage Finds Its Way to Sacramento

2009-04-29T20:33:23Z

On Friday, May 1, 2009, at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM, Movies on a Big Screen will be presenting “The Found Footage Festival” with hosts Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher.

The Found Footage Festival is a one-of-a-kind event that showcases footage from videos that were found at garage sales and thrift stores and in warehouses and dumpsters throughout the country. Curators Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher (whose credits include "The Colbert Report," "The Late Show with David Letterman" and The Onion) will host the screenings in-person and provide their unique and hilarious observations and commentary on these found video obscurities. So yes - that means plenty of live comedy along with the found footage! From the curiously-produced industrial training video to the forsaken home movie donated to Goodwill, the Found Footage Festival resurrects these forgotten treasures and serves them up in a lively celebration of all things found.

The appropriately assembled trailer, complete with cheesy 80’s video graphics, can be viewed at http://www.moviesonabigscreen.com

Location: 600 4th St, West Sacramento. That's the corner of 4th & F in WEST Sacramento, just over the river from downtown Sacto. Parking lot is off of F Street between 4th & 5th Streets.

Admission: $10.00

Robert McKeown on "Sweet Peeps are Made of This…"

2009-04-17T06:22:17Z

Thanks Bill! I hadn't checked in on this for a bit... Although REALLY occasionally they're a bit more (like May 1), but those are rare cases. See http://www.shiny-object.com/screenings/ Mona - if you're still checking in, see: http://www.nokilli.com/food/peep.html

More Stuff to do in Sacramento

2009-04-13T20:50:23Z

I missed last week, but here's a big list of stuff coming up this week. Lots going on this coming week -and this only a sampling!

Ongoing:
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
Live Theater
Fridays and Saturdays, 8:00 PM; Sundays, 2:30 PM through May 9, 2009
Admission: General: $15.00; Students/SARTA: $12.00 (April 17-19, all tickets are only $10.00!)
Big Idea Theatre
1616 Del Paso Blvd
Sacramento, CA
(916) 960-3036
http://www.bigideatheatre.com

A comedy that includes scenes from Hamlet involving the prince's two unwitting friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and combines them with a "Waiting for Godot" sensibility, resulting in a thought provoking show and a knee-slapping good time.

SPCA Spring Book Sale
Saturday, April 18 - Sunday, April 26, 2009
Mon-Sat: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sun: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Admission: Free
Marketplace at Birdcage
6123 Sunrise Blvd
Citrus Heights, CA
(916) 383-7387, ext. 9103

Features thousands of new and used books at dog-gone great prices! The sale, one of the largest book sales of its kind in Northern California, will include 40 categories, including fine and rare books, fiction, children and teens, mystery, adventure, science fiction, biography, history, westerns, art, reference, business, cultural issues, foreign language, humor and home and garden

Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Mahogany Urban Poetry Series: Seth Walker
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Queen Sheba Restaurant
1704 Broadway
Sacramento, CA
http://mybmsf.com/mahogany/

The notorious Houston poet comes to Sacramento!

Thursday, April 16, 2009 and Friday April 17, 2009
The Davis Feminist Film Festival
7:00 PM reception/8:00 PM show
Admission: Students: $12.00 single night/$20.00 both nights; General: $18.00 single night/$30.00 both nights (slightly cheaper if purchased in advance at The Beat)
Veterans Memorial Theater
203 E 14th St
Davis, CA
http://femfilmfest.ucdavis.edu

The Davis Feminist Film Festival is a grassroots festival of short films featuring filmmakers from around the world. Mixing narrative, documentary, and experimental styles, the films focus on issues of gender and sexuality often missing from mainstream media and highlight the links between local, national, and international social struggle.

Friday, April 17, 2009 - Saturday, April 18, 2009
Indian Arts & Crafts Market
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Admission: General: $2.00; Youth (6-17): $1.00; 5 & Under: Free
California State Indian Museum
2618 K St
Sacramento, CA
Indian artists and crafters from all over California will participate. Items to fit every budget include: artwork, jewelry, hand-crafted dolls, baskets, soapstone and elkhorn carvings, drums, decorated gourds and more.

Friday, April 17, 2009, Saturday, April 18, 2009, Friday, April 24, 2009
Keith Lowell Jensen Live CD Taping
Doors at 7:00 PM, Taping Begins at 8:00 PM
Admission: $10.00
Luna's Café
1414 16th St
Sacramento, CA
http://rockass.net

Keith Lowell Jensen, co-headliner of The Coexist? Comedy Tour, featured guest on Brian Malow's Science Comedy Tour and one of Sacramento's best known comics will spend three nights taping original material at Luna's Cafe in downtown Sacramento for an upcoming CD.

The taping is divided into three categories over three nights, club comedy, atheist/religious themed comedy and the third night will be the wild card leaving room for KLJ to riff, ramble and if need be, totally make an ass out of himself because he already has two nights of tape so to heck with it right?

The venue is small. This will sell out, so advance tickets are the only way to guarantee a seat. They can be obtained at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/55720

Saturday, April 18, 2009
R5 Records Celebrates Record Store Day with a Rock n' Roll Garage Sale, Live Music and More!
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Admission: Free
R5 Records
2500 16th St
Sacramento, CA
http://www.r5records.com

R5 will be hosting live music, a Rock n' Roll Garage Sale and swap meet, and offering refreshments, giveaways and lots of other surprises from 9am to 5pm. R5's entire inventory will also be at sale price for the entire day. KSSU, the on-campus station at Sac State will also be on hand hosting the "Big Vinyl Spectacular" featuring live DJ sets throughout the day. Guest DJs include Shaun Slaughter, Trina Latrine, Danny Secretion, Nick Brunner and others.

The Rock n' Roll Garage Sale will take place in R5's parking lot facing the Tower Theatre. Vendors will be selling used vinyl, music memorabilia, posters, toys, buttons and more. The vendors are all private individuals or small businesses selling at garage sale prices.

During the day students from the Met School, a charter school within the Sacramento Metropolitan School District, will be staging raffles to raise funds to build the music program at their school. As a further aid to this venture R5 will be collecting new and used musical instruments for the Met School throughout Record Store day.

Record Store Day is a national celebration of local independent music retailers. Now in it's second year, RSD came about as a way to spotlight the wide range of music and services offered by independent music retailers.

Sunday, April 19, 2009
Screening: Trembling Before God
2:00 PM
Admission: $5.00 suggested donation
Congregation B'nai Israel
3600 Riverside Blvd
Sacramento, CA
(916) 446-4861
http://www.bnai.com

The acclaimed 2001 documentary chronicling the struggles of gay and lesbian Orthodox Jews who are trying to integrate their sexual orientation into their faith, even as some have been abandoned by their families. Also showing is the short sequel Trembling on the Road, a documentary about the controversy, protests and dialogue that has accompanied screenings of Trembling Before God in Jewish communities around the world.

Sunday, April 19, 2009
Poetry with Traci Gourdine & Quenton Duval
7:00 PM
Admission: $5.00 donation
Time Tested Books
1114 21st St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 447-5696
http://www.timetestedbooks.net

Quinton Duval is the author of three books of poems: Guerrilla Letters, Dinner Music, and Joe's Rain. He teaches English and Creative Writing at Solano Community College and is the editor and publisher of Red Wing Press.

Traci Gourdine is a poet whose work has appeared in Calliope, ZYZZYVA, and other small magazines. She is the co-editor of "Night is Gone, Day is Still Coming," a collection of work by young American Indian writers. Her letters to poet Quincy Troupe have been anthologized in the book "Letters to Poets." He currently teaches English at American River College.

Monday, April 20, 2009
Author: Andrew Sean Greer
Doors: 12:15 PM; Reading at 1:00 PM
Admission: Free
CSUS University Union
6000 J St
Sacramento, CA
http://www.csus.edu/union

The bestselling author will discuss his work and will read from The Story of a Marriage, followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience. His newest novel, The Story of a Marriage, is a lyrical story about love and longing, and the political, sexual and racial tensions set against the backdrop of the early 1950s. Greer also is the author of The Path of Minor Planets, How It Was for Me and The Confessions of Max Tivoli. A lecture preview will be at 12:20 with Sac State English professor Sheree Meyer.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Safe Ground Rally
2:00 PM
State Capital, South Steps
http://www.sacloaves.org/SafeGround/
Rally to help benefit and legalize a safe campground where homeless folks can live and have running water, bathrooms, and trash services until proper shelters can be provided.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Support Local Growers: Farming as if Nature Matters Inspiring Panel Discussion
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Admission: General: $15.00; Co-op Owners: $10.00; Children Under 12: $5.00
24th Street Theatre
2791 24th St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 455-2667
http://www.sacfoodcoop.com
Featuring Trini Campbell, Riverdog Farm; Gretchen Ceteras, Blue Heron Farm; Annie Main, Good Humus Produce; Gena Nonini, Marian Farms; Bu Nygrens, Veritable Vegetable, and Judith Redmond, Full Belly Farm.
A benefit for Soil Born Farms and the Good Humus Land Preservation Project.

Thursday, April 23, 2009
Sacramento Ballet Dancers' Event
7:00 PM
Admission: $10 advance; $15 at the door
Vizcaya Mansion
2019 21st St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 552-5800
http://www.saveoursacballet.com

The dancers have organized an evening of fun with performances by the ballet, live music by Camerata Capistrano, the CSUS Baroque Ensemble, wine, food, fundraising games, and a silent auction with inexpensive and luxury items such as a signed Greg Kondos print, a weekend at a Tahoe cabin, and a delta cruise. Come hang out with the company and support the ballet at the same time!

Sweet Peeps are Made of This…

2009-04-09T22:01:56Z

Disclaimer: the contributor of this and his wife run Movies on a Big Screen, Sacramento's weekly screening series of documentaries, general independent film, classics and cult titles. The following is blatant self-promotion of a MOBS event.

On Friday, April 10, 2009, at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM, Movies on a Big Screen will be showing, The Power of the Peep, a documentary on everyone's most loved (or loathed) Easter confection, part of which was filmed in Sacramento at the annual Peep Off.

Here at MOBS, we usually screen titles prior to booking them. This was a rare case where we did not do this, for a variety of reasons. As it turns out, the film runs under an hour… Accordingly, we've added some Peep-related shorts, but from the internet, as we only got the movie in at the end of last week. So video quality does vary on these shorts.

However, as a bonus, local Master of Peep Ceremonies, Archbishop Dave Smith, will be in attendance doing a Q&A after each screening. He'll make up answers to all of your Peep-related questions!

About the film:
Boxed in sets of five and staring out with sugar-blackened eyes, Marshmallow Peeps have been emerging like clockwork from a factory in Bethlehem Pennsylvania since the 1950s. They were born in the mind of a Russian immigrant, hatched in Easter baskets, and eaten by the dozens across the country. Then they armed themselves with lances, stood in front of trucks, mutated in microwave ovens and set out on their own.

This is the story of what happened when a marshmallow met modern America. It's the story of how a sweet candy product got to the shelves of your convenience store - and what happened after it left them behind.

The Power of the Peep takes you to World War I Russia, across America and into the Peeps factory itself to tell the extraordinary story of Marshmallow Peeps.

April 10, 2009
7 and 9:30 PM
Admission: $5.00
Location: 600 4th St, West Sacramento. That's the corner of 4th & F in WEST Sacramento, just over the river from downtown Sacto. Parking lot is off of F Street between 4th & 5th Streets.

Robert McKeown on "More Stuff to do in Sacramento"

2009-04-01T18:14:04Z

Argh. Thanks for the update!!

More Stuff to do in Sacramento

2009-03-31T20:43:18Z

Ongoing:

Zooman & The Sign
Live Theater
Fridays and Saturdays, 8:00 PM; Sundays, 3:00 PM through May 10, 2009
Admission: General: $20.00; Students, Seniors and SARTA: $18.00; Children (12 & under): $15.00
The Guild Theater
2828 35th St
Sacramento, CA
Ticket info: (916) 737-3333
http://www.imagestheater.org

Written by Charles Fuller.
Zooman and the Sign follows the Tate family after their 12 year-old daughter is killed by a stray bullet. After their neighbors refuse to come forward with information to bring the killer to justice, Mr. Tate in his frustration hangs up an accusatory sign calling them cowards. The neighbors react with aggression. The play raises questions of how non-violent people respond to infectious violence and restrain their fury at their community and society's complacency. It urges us to ask the question "how can we prevent young men from becoming alienated and violent like Zooman's? "(Language not suitable for small children).

See What I Wanna See
Live Theater
Fridays and Saturdays, 8:00 PM; Sundays, 7:00 PM, through May 3, 2009
Admission: General: $18.00; Students and Seniors: $15.00
California Stage
2509 R St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 708-3449
http://www.artisticdifferences.net

A deadly affair. A mysterious murder. A crisis of faith. New York stories of lust, greed, faith, loss and redemption are explored in this musical libretto. Based on short stories by the groundbreaking Japanese writer Ryunosuke Akutagawa, this unique theatre piece takes us from ancient Japan to modern day New York City with three tales that are sensual, suspenseful, and inspiring. "Kesa and Morito" tells the tale of two lovers who secretly plot to kill each other. "R shomon" takes the story that inspired the classic Japanese film "Rashomon" and transforms it to a gritty, jazzy tale of 1950's New York. "Glory Day" transports us to 21st Century New York, where a priest struggles with his loss of faith. Michael John LaChiusa transformed these stories into a compelling musical journey exploring the themes of power, perception and the truth. (NOTE: For Mature Audiences).

Thursday, April 2, 2009
Jessamyn Lovell Lecture
6:00 PM
Admission: Free
Verge Gallery
1900 V St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 448-2985
http://www.vergegallery.com

Jessamyn Lovell will be lecturing on her work Catastrophes, Crisis, and Other Family Traditions, a ten year documentary project involving the artist's own family. You can view examples of the work at the artist's website at http://www.jessamynlovell.com/ or for more insights into to the current show, Personal Lives, take a look at the recent review in the Sacramento Bee at http://www.sacbee.com/115/story/1711353.html

Thursday, April 2, 2009
Th' Losin Streaks plus Movie Star Junkies (from Italy, featuring members of The Introducers!) and Art Lessing and the Flower Vato
9:00 PM
Admission:??
Luigi's Fun Garden
1050 20th St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 552-0317
http://www.myspace.com/luigisslice

Thursday, April 2, 2009
Community Discussion on Local Media
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Admission: Free
Coloma Center Auditorium
4623 T St
Sacramento, CA
http://www.AccessSacramento.org

Sacramento area residents, media professionals and media consumers are invited to attend a community discussion on local media to consider these topic areas:
Public Affairs
Diversity
Political Coverage
Community Input
Broadband Internet Access

Sacramento Media Group and California Common Cause with Access Sacramento invite interested individuals, community organizations, local media outlets and elected officials to participate in a community discussion designed to hear opinions, stories and suggestions about our local media. The new presidential administration wants to create a20more democratic media system and promote universal access to communications technologies. The evening offers an opportunity to share ideas that can contribute to these goals. It will also help us better understand how well our local media: print, television, radio and Internet serve their audiences.

Friday, April 3, 2009
Neil Hamburger
7:00 PM
Admission: $10.00
Blue Lamp
1400 Alhambra Blvd
Sacramento, CA
(916) 455-3400

Despite his appalling comic timing, muddled delivery, and cliched material, stand-up Neil Hamburger nevertheless emerged as one of the most acclaimed and name-checked comedians of his generation; like Lenny Bruce before him, he was a hipster icon whose trailblazing riffs defied conventions.

Friday, April 3, 2009
Screening: The Lost World (1925)
7:00 PM and 9:30 PM
Admission: $5.00
Movies on a Big Screen
600 4th St
West Sacramento, CA

This innovative and ground-breaking 1925 silent film featured amazing stop-motion animation from Willis O'Brien, years prior to his work on King Kong. O'Brien's work in this film stunned audiences in 1925 and was to forever change special effects and science fiction in film. While dated in comparison to today's use of CGI, the dinosaurs are still an impressive sight to see.

The tale opens on reporter Edward Malone (Lloyd Hughes), who wants to marry Gladys Hungerford (Alma Bennett). Gladys, however, only wants to marry a man of great deeds. So Malone, having asked his editor for an adventuresome assignment, is given the task of interviewing Professor Challenger (Beery), who is planning an expedition to a "lost world." Malone accompanies Challenger and his men to South America where, on a great plateau, they find a prehistoric world occupied by dinosaurs and ape-like men. Much adventure ensues, leading to the capture of one pissed off Brontosaurus to return to London with - and well, you pretty much know that dino chaos is bound to happen if you do something like that!!

Saturday, April 4, 2009
Spring Ball at the Horse Cow
12:00 PM
Admission: $10.00
Horse Cow
111 North Harbor Blvd.
West Sacramento, CA 95605

Music, Performance Art, Food, Artists, Vendors, Silent Auction, Fashion, and Glass Blowing!

Saturday, April 4, 2009
Potluck Lunch and Piccolo Farm Tour
11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Suggested Donation: What you'd spend on lunch
Piccolo Pastures
7227 Point Pleasant Rd
Elk Grove, CA
(916) 207-6520

Take an easy walk through a fabulous organic garden and see livestock with a rescued alpaca, horse, sheep and others farm animals. Educational games , crafts and DVDs about Heifer International's work, whose mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the earth.. Please bring a soup or salad dish to share. Be green and bring your own beverage, cup, napkin, plate, bowl and silverware.
Free parking; open to the public
To RSVP, email psayerhandley@yahoo.com or at (916) 216-3236

Saturday, April 4, 2009
Indie Sacramento
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Admission: Free (but $1.00 donation is appreciated)
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
2620 Capitol Ave
Sacramento, CA
(916) 446-2513
http://www.indiesacramento.com

Shop for hip, handmade goods, clothing and accessories. Enjoy live music and complimentary coffee, hot cocoa and baked goods

Saturday, April 4, 2009
Bockbierfest 2009
6:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Admission: Adults: $10.00; Children 6-12: $5.00; Children Under 6: Free
Sacramento Turn Verein
3349 J St
Sacramento, CA
http://www.sacramentoturnverein.com

The traditional Bockbierfest will present authentic German Bockbier from Munich, great German music and a variety of German foods. Wonderful German dance music will be provided by the long time favorites The Al Gruber Band. Special performances of traditional German dances by the Camtia Schuhplattler Group.

Monday, April 6th
Sacramento Poetry Center Press - Book Release Party and Reading
6:30 PM, reception; 7:30 PM, reading
Admission: Free
California Stage
2509 R St
Sacramento, CA
http://www.sacramentopoetrycenter.org

The Sacramento Poetry Center and the California Arts Council celebrate the publication of Sometimes in the Open - an anthology collected from the poets laureate of California. This book is also the first publication of SPC Press. This Monday evening event, held at California Stage in Sacramento, will kick off a series of readings in communities around the state. For more information, call Bob Stanley at 916-240-1897, or email Bob at bobstanley@sbcglobal.net The book features work from sixty five poets, and many of them will be reading at this event, including:
Julia Connor (poet laureate of Sacramento), Dennis Schmitz (Sacramento), Terry Ehret (Sonoma County), Kevin Patrick Sullivan (San Luis Obispo), Sam Pierstorff (Modesto), Carolyn Wing Greenlee (Lake County).

Wednesday April 8, 2009
Author Reading and Book Signing: Russ Woody
6:00 PM
Admission: Free
Time Tested Books
1114 21st St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 447-5696
http://www.timetestedbooks.net

Russ Woody's first novel, "The Wheel of Nuldoid" - published by Ballentine - is a dark tongue-in-cheek look at the very center of our world, where a society of short, quarrelsome creatures live and operate the machinery that rotates the earth.

Russ is a Sacramento native who has written and produced Murphy Brown, Mad About You, Cybill, Becker, and The Drew Carey Show, among other comedies. He has also written for Hill Street Blues and St. Elsewhere.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Art Demonstration by Skinner
7:00 PM
Admission: Free (?) I think.
Sacramento Fine Arts Center
5330B Gibbons Dr
Carmichael, CA
(916) 971-3713

Live Painting Demonstration by local artist, Skinner. If you've never seen Skinner paint - well, it's actually really fascinating.

Robert McKeown on "Stalker Doc Comes to Sacramento"

2009-03-25T02:48:50Z

Colleen: It does. It really does. Also, for everyone's info - I won't be blatantly plugging our screenings each and every week - only when it is of higher interest than normal or somehow Sacto-related. For instance, there's only one in April I'll be plugging here (I think) - although I might sneak them into my weekly "event picks" from time to time, although I'll try - but probably fail - to not do that. And in May... yeah - a really good one coming up with folks tied to The Colbert Report, Letterman and The Onion who will be here in Sac. Yep - I'll be plugging that one, too. But I won't do it *every* week. If you're (the reader) interested, just find our website, myspace, facebook, listings on yelp and a bunch of other spots, or check SNR's FilmTimes each week to see what we're showing. Or a bunch of other spots. Alrighty - I think that was heavy-handed enough - heh. And if someone can cut that bit from the disclaimer - it would be really cool. Don't want google (or any other search engine) bringing this up tied to SOCA. And I'm still hitting myself in the head for missing that.

More Stuff to do in Sacramento

2009-03-24T20:36:10Z

Ongoing:

African American Currents: Contemporary Art from the Bank of America Corporate Collection
Art Exhibit
Tuesday - Friday 12 Noon to 6 PM; Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM through March 28, 2009.
40 Acres Art Gallery
3428 3rd Ave
Sacramento, CA
(916) 456-5080
http://www.40acresartgallery.org

Featuring 75 works of art from the world-renowned Bank of America corporate collection. The exhibit includes work by artists Jean Michel Basquiat, Lorna Simpson, Martin Puryear, Sam Gilliam, Faith Ringgold and Beverly Buchanan.

Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition: The Way We Worked
Through May 17, 2009
10 AM - 5 PM
Admission: Adults: $8.00; Ages 6-17: $3.00; 5 and under: Free
California State Railroad Museum
111 I St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 323-9280
http://www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org

The Way We Worked demonstrates the enormous changes the workplace went through between the mid-19th century, when 60 percent of Americans made their living as farmers, and the late 20th century. The traveling exhibition features 86 photographs from the National Archives focusing on the history of work in America and documenting work clothing, locales, conditions and conflicts. The exhibition is part of a 14-city national tour.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Live Theatre
Thursday, 6:00 PM; Friday and Saturday, 8:00 PM; Sunday, 2:00 PM Through March 29.
Admission: General: $15.00; Students, Seniors, CSUS Employees: $12.00; Children: $10.00
CSUS Theatre
6000 J St.,
Sacramento, CA
(916) 278-4323

A window washer with no business experience becomes CEO of a major corporation. No, it’s not the latest Wall Street scandal, but the plot of Sacramento State’s production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. The 1962 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy is based on a book by Shepherd Mead.

Thursday, March 26, 2009
Gina Sicila
9:00 PM
The Torch Club
904 15th St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 443-2797
http://www.torchclub.net

Just 23 years old, Gina Sicilia has already made a name for herself in the blues world. Her debut album, Allow Me To Confess, earned her a nomination for best-new artist debut at 2008s national Blues Music Awards. Once again she displays impressive range and depth as both a singer and a writer; she again penned most of the material herself while also leaving the impression that she is going to get even better with age. With her alluringly husky alto, she is tough and assertive with a vintage sound; she covers jazz, R&B, oozes sexiness, and is open-heartedly vulnerable.

Thursday, March 26, 2009
Dance Party with dj Larry Rodriguez
9:00 PM
Admission: Before midnight: $3.00; After midnight: $5.00
Old Ironsides
1901 10th St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 443-9751
http://www.theoldironsides.com

If you like to dance, and you somehow aren’t already familiar with Larry Rodriguez’s dance parties – well, you really should get acquainted with them. Great music spun by a great guy (who’s aka Flower Vato)!

Friday, March 27, 2009
Bobcat Goldthwait
8:00 PM and 10:30 PM
Admission: $20.00
Laughs Unlimited
1207 Front St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 446-5905

Is a synopsis really necessary?

Saturday, March 28, 2009
Jazz Gitan
7:00 PM
Admission: Free
Java City
1800 Capitol Ave
Sacramento, CA

Hot Club Django Guitar Jazz!

Saturday, March 28, 2009
ICUP
8:00 PM
Admission: $8.00
Capitol City Hotel Ballroom
2600 Auburn Blvd
Sacramento, CA
http://www.icupcomedy.com

ICUP combines 100 percent improvisational comedy with audience participation and their own sketches. Special guest comedian Keith Lowell Jensen from the Coexist Comedy Tour.

I usually try to only include the Sacramento area, but this sounds too geek-cool to ignore:
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Atari Party 2009
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Admission: Free
Yolo County Library - Davis Branch
315 East 14th St
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 757-5593

Fans of classic video games and computers will gather to celebrate three decades of Atari — the brand that brought video games into the mainstream. More than 200 games from the 1970s through the 1990s will be available to be played.

Sunday, March 29, 2009
Luvtaxi at R5
5:00 PM
Admission: Free
R5 Records
2500 16th St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 441-2500

Original Latin beat music featuring Celia Hernandez, Jamie Zuniga and Alex Angel and the Taxi riders.

Monday, March 30, 2009
Sacramento City College !X Ethnic Theatre Performance
7:30 PM
Admission: Free
1719 25th St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 979-9706

The Sacramento City College !X Ethnic Theatre Workshop integrates various forms of art (playwriting, poetry, music, dance, visual art) with race, ethnic and gender studies. The mission of the Ethnic Theatre Workshop is to: develop artistic expressions of diverse experiences; encourage community development through participation in the arts; and promote educational equity at Sacramento City College.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Double Feature - Watch Horror Films Keep America Strong and I Was a TV Horror Host
6:45 PM (I Was A TV Horror Host begins at 8:30 PM)
Admission: $8.00-$10.00
24th St Theater
2991 24th St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 452-3005

For 14 years, from January 1971 through September 1984, Creature Features ranked in the Nielsen ratings as one of the most popular TV shows in San Francisco Bay Area television history. To those who grew up watching with family members and friends, the mixture of host commentary and classic and not-so-classic horror movies remains a nostalgic memory. Bob Wilkins' wit and unusually droll personality and John Stanley's celebrity interviews and satiric minimovies are all part of Watch Horror Films – Keep America Strong, a full-length documentary journeying back through those years.

Plays with I Was a TV Horror Host: a collection of interviews with famous celebrities who at one time or another paraded through the KTVU studio, home of Creature Features. It's a fascinating array of characters from the world of movies, TV and literature: stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen, Christopher Lee, Ray Bradbury, Leonard Nimoy, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, Whoopi Goldberg, director Joe Dante, Anthony Perkins, Karl Malden, Martin Sheen, producer Roger Corman, comedian Rodney Dangerfield, Max Von Sydow, Rick Baker, Robert Bloch, Mamie Van Doren, and Bob Wilkins.

Thursday, April 2, 2009
Community Discussion on Local Media
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Admission: Free
Coloma Center Auditorium
46230 T St
Sacramento, CA
http://www.AccessSacramento.org

Sacramento area residents, media professionals and media consumers are invited to attend a community discussion on local media to consider these topic areas:
Public Affairs
Diversity
Political Coverage
Community Input
Broadband Internet Access

Sacramento Media Group and California Common Cause with Access Sacramento invite interested individuals, community organizations, local media outlets and elected officials to participate in a community discussion designed to hear opinions, stories and suggestions about our local media. The new presidential administration wants to create a more democratic media system and promote universal access to communications technologies. The evening offers an opportunity to share ideas that can contribute to these goals. It will also help us better understand how well our local media: print, television, radio and Internet, serve their audiences.

Robert McKeown on "Stalker Doc Comes to Sacramento"

2009-03-24T05:00:16Z

The Sacramento Old City Assn has nothing to do with this screening in any way. I copy/pasted the disclaimer from the plug from last week (which they were involved with) and was in a rush, and - argh! Can someone cut that bit from the disclaimer? Thanks!

Stalker Doc Comes to Sacramento

2009-03-23T21:17:17Z

On Friday, March 27, 2009, at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM, Movies on a Big Screen will be presenting, “I Think We’re Alone Now,” an intimate look at, well, two stalkers of Tiffany, the 80’s mall pop star. In an interesting turn of events, it looks like Jeff Turner will be out for a Q&A as well.

The film premiered at Slamdance and has played to audiences around the world, as well as numerous screenings in the US including a recent run at the legendary Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX.

About the film:
Every celebrity deals with his or her share of obsessed fans. "I Think We're Alone Now" is a documentary that focuses on two individuals, Jeff and Kelly, who claim to be in love with the 80's pop singer Tiffany.

Jeff Turner, a 50-year-old man from Santa Cruz, California has attended Tiffany concerts since 1988. Diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, he never had a girlfriend. Jeff spends his days hanging out on the streets of Santa Cruz, striking up conversations with anyone who has a moment to spare.

Both Jeff and Kelly have been labeled stalkers by the media and other Tiffany fans. This film takes you inside the lonely lives these two characters, revealing the source of their clinging obsessions. This age-old story of unrequited love takes a comedic and emotional trip through themes of desperation, isolation, and hope, in the end showing that having something, or someone, to believe in can be more powerful than anything reality has to offer.

"The outer frontier of celebrity culture, where fandom meets mental illness... Things go from merely weird to mega" - Variety

"This is a film with a bottomless well of loneliness at the heart of it, disturbing and sad in equal measure. If I were Tiffany and I saw this, I'd never be able to leave my house again." - Ain't It Cool News

"I Think We're Alone Now" provides a fascinating window into a nebulous zone where fan fever uncomfortably hovers between harmless obsession and dangerous lunacy... anyone with even the slightest interest in challenging documentaries or the cult of celebrity should seek it out. - TwitchFilm

March 27, 2009
7 and 9:30 PM
Admission: $5.00
Location: 600 4th St, West Sacramento. That's the corner of 4th & F in WEST Sacramento, just over the river from downtown Sacto. Parking lot is off of F Street between 4th & 5th Streets.

Robert McKeown on "Fixed gear festivities"

2009-03-23T19:05:18Z

Waldorfandstatler - I actually have only minimal knowledge about fixed gear, but one thing you can do is ride them in reverse.

West Coast Premiere of Broadcast Blues at The Crest on Sunday

2009-03-18T19:40:08Z

On Sunday, March 22, 2009, Access Sacramento and the Sacramento Media Group - California Common Cause will present the West Coast premiere of Broadcast Blues at the historic Crest Theatre. Filmmaker Sue Wilson will be in attendance at this screening. Given the tenant of Sacramento Press, this event should of particular interest to the community here.

Broadcast Blues
2:00 PM
Admission: $10.00; Students: $5.00
The Crest
1013 K St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 456-8600
http://www.thecrest.com

About Broadcast Blues:

Clear Channel neglects its emergency system, disaster strikes, and people die. Pentagon pundits profit from the same war they promote. Fox News gets a court ruling that news does not have to be true. And radio talkers rule.

Media Policy is killing people in this country. Literally. And it is harming our democracy, too. Corporate financed policymakers have stacked the media policy deck against We the People.

Until now.
We the People are taking the media back.

Written, Directed & Produced by Emmy Award winner Sue Wilson.

There will also be a pre-screening party at The Crest Cafe (next door to the theatre) from 12 noon to 1:30 PM. Admission for the party is a separate $20.00.

Proceeds from the events will benefit Access Sacramento and the Sacramento Media Group - California Common Cause.

Access Sacramento gives voice to the thoughts, dreams, opinions and community events not otherwise seen or heard on commercial and public radio, television and other popular forms of media.

The Sacramento Media Group states a number of goals which they are working towards:
Oppose media concentration of ownership by fewer and fewer corporations;
Encourage higher standards in locally produced news and public affairs programming;
Preserve funding for community media, public education and government access to airwaves;
Monitor corporate media and regulatory bodies to ensure broadcasters meet public interest obligations;
Increase awareness of public rights-of-way to public airwaves and the world wide web; and
Advocate for re-establishment of a Fairness Doctrine to regulate balance in media coverage.

More Stuff to Do in Sacramento

2009-03-17T18:32:08Z

Ongoing:

Personal Lives
Art Exhibit
Through April 11, 2009
Wednesday-Friday: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Saturday: 12 Noon – 5:00 PM
Friday, March 20, 2009 at 7:00 PM – 3D performance by Greta Snider and Johunna Grayson.
Verge Gallery
1900 V St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 448-2985
http://www.vergegallery.com/

A photography exhibition by Greta Snider, Johunna Grayson, Cynthia Yardley, Jessamyn Lovell, Rebecca Crowther, and Juliana Paciulli. From Snider and Grayson's stereoscopic slide shows about place, to Paciulli's fictional narratives portraying adolescent themes, to Crowther'sappropriated homecoming queen photos, Personal Lives explores notions of place, family, privacy, identity, gender, and innocence through photographic means. San Francisco artists Snider and Grayson use the medium of stereoscopic or 3D photography to portray individuals in their favorite places in San Francisco. A 3D performance by the two women on Friday, March 20th at 7pm will accompany the show.

As Bees in Honey Drown
Live Theatre
Fridays and Saturdays, 8 PM Through April 18, 2009
Admission: General: $16.00; Students, Seniors, SARTA: $14.00
Studio Theatre
1028 R Street
Sacramento CA 95814
(916) 444-8229
http://www.lambdaplayers.com

A comedy about the quest for fame and stardom. But wanting the spot light is not as good as it seems. Eager painters, singers, musicians, business managers, and authors are displayed as trapped victims of many con artists who give them empty promises. The story centers on Evan Wyler, a hot new writer who has recently burst onto the New York literary scene. He falls head over heels for Alexa Vere de Vere: a glamorous, jet setting, mystery-cloaked woman at the top of the media biz and the celebrity A-list. But who is Alexa Vere de Vere really and what is her game? This thought provoking assessment of our image-over-substance society cuts to the quick as well as entertains. A regional premiere!

Little Women The Musical
Live Theatre
Fridays and Saturdays, 8 PM; Sundays 2 PM Through March 27, 2009
Admission: Adult, $20; SARTA and Seniors (over 55): $18; Student: $15.00
24th Street Theater
2991 24th St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 452-3005

“Little Women” follows the adventures of the March Sisters; Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy as they grow up in Civil War America. The beloved story of the March sisters is timeless and deals with issues as relevant today as when they were written. Now, this wonderful narrative has been brought to life as an exhilarating new musical filled with glorious music, dancing and heart. Little women embodies the complete theatrical experience, guaranteeing a night filled with laughter, tears, and a lifting of the spirit. This powerful score soars with the sounds of personal discovery, heartache and hope -- the sounds of a young America finding its voice.

Thursday, March 19, 2009
Classic Spanish Language Love Films: Like Water For Chocolate
7 PM
Admission: Free
La Raza Galeria Posada
1022 22nd St.
Sacramento, CA
(916) 446-5133

"Like Water for Chocolate" by Alfonso Arau, shows the connection of Love, Lust and Food in Revolutionary Mexico. Nominated for a Golden Globe, this was the most popular Spanish-language film of its time. Seating is limited.

Friday, March 20, 2009
Mira Loma IB Students Art Show Reception
4:40 PM - 7:30 PM
Sacramento Fine Arts Center
5330 B Gibbons Dr
Carmichael, CA
(916) 971-3713
http://www.sacfinearts.org

A great opportunity to support youth art in Sacramento! 11 high school senior International Baccalaureate Visual Art students will exhibit over 130 of their best works as part of their senior exhibition. Reception is on March 20, but the show runs through March 29, 2009. Center hours are Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM; Wed-Sat: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

Saturday, March 21, 2009
Journée de la Francophonie
11 AM - 6 PM
Admission: $2.00 members/students; $5.00 nonmembers; free for children under 14
Alliance Française de Sacramento
1721 25th Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
http://www.afdesacramento.org
(916) 453-1723
A day of celebration of French culture around the world for the whole family! Talks, dances, films, music, food, and more.

Saturday, March 21, 2009
'Avast Ye Swabs'
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Admission: Adults (over 18): $4.00; Children (6-17): $2.00; Under 5: Free
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park
2701 L St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 445-4422

Learn about Captain Sutter's connection to the sea and relive the daily activities of early emigrants and pioneers.

Sunday, March 22, 2009
Hina Matsuri (Girl's Day from Japan) at Fairytale Town
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Admission: $4.50; Children 2 and under: Free
Fairytale Town
3901 Land Park Dr
Sacramento, CA 95822
(916) 264-5233
http://www.fairytaletown.org

Hina Matsuri, the traditional Girl's Day from Japan, is a premiere event presented by the Sacramento Senator Lions Club at Fairytale Town on Sunday, March 22, 2009 from 11AM to 3PM. Also known as the Japanese Doll festival, Fairytale Town's version of Hina Matsuri will include a display of beautiful Hina Dolls on stage in our Children's Theater with an accompanying oral history presentation. There will also be a hands-on Origami paper folding activity and breathtaking Ikebana floral arrangements to enjoy, as well as Japanese folk dancing and traditional Taiko Drumming.

The Hina Matsuri event is included with paid park admission to Fairytale Town.

Sunday, March 22, 2009
Joint Meeting Of the Yolo Historical Society and the West Sacramento Historical Society
2:00 PM
Admission: Free
Jazzyblues Café
319 6th St
West Sacramento, CA
(916) 374-1849
http://www.westsachistoricalsociety.org

Local historian Jeri Wingfield will talk about the specific significance of the Washington/Broderick Township in the history of West Sacramento. Roger Sornsen, longtime resident will give an update on the restoration of WSHS fire trucks. If interested in the optional walking tour of the Delta Style Victorian homes on 4th street lead by Martha Mills or viewing of the vintage fire trucks—please RSVP to martham@wavecable.com or (916) 373-1892.

Monday, March 23, 2009
Troy Jollimore reads at the Sacramento Poetry Center
7:30 PM
Admission: Free
Sacramento Poetry Center
1719 25th St
Sacramento, CA
916-979-9706
Reading from Chico poet Troy Jollimore , hosted by Tim Kahl.

Monday, March 23, 2009
MDC with Embrace the Kill, Hoods, Psychosomatic
8:00 PM
Admission: $10.00
On the Y
670 Fulton Ave
Sacramento, CA
(916) 487-3731

1980’s punk legends MDC return to Sacramento!!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009
A Conversation with Oliver Jackson led by Alan Gordon
6:00 PM
Admission: Free
Guild Theater
2828 35th St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 736-1185
http://www.40acresartgallery.org

The 40 Acres Art Gallery, in partnership with the Guild Theater, presents A Conversation with Oliver Jackson, a special event featuring one of our nation's leading artists. The acclaimed painter and sculptor is returning to Sacramento to discuss his life and work for one night at Oak Park's historic Guild Theater. Artworks did an interesting article on Jackson last year – you can read it here: http://artworksmagazine.com/?p=492

Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Film Screening: White Light, Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
8:00 PM
Admission: Free
909 12th St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 448-7157
http://www.sacpeace.org

Filmmaker Steven Okazaki revisits the bombings and shares the stories of the only people to have survived a nuclear attack.

Thursday, March 26, 2009
Gina Sicila
9:00 PM
The Torch Club
904 15th St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 443-2797
http://www.torchclub.net

Theatre Preservation Documentary with the Sacramento Old City Association

2009-03-16T23:40:29Z

On Friday, March 20, 2009, at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM, Movies on a Big Screen is pairing up with the Sacramento Old City Association to present the documentary, “Preserve Me A Seat.”

Local author and historian (and commenter here at Sacramento Press) William Burg will be in attendance to speak following the 7PM screening of the film, and he might be bringing along some others, too. MOBS will show it again at 9:30 for those who can't make it to the earlier screening, but there will be no speakers at the later showing.

About the film:
We don't remember a lot about our distant past, but we do remember our favorite movie theatre. "Preserve Me a Seat" is a documentary about these theatres and the ongoing fight to protect and preserve them for future generations. Featuring preservation efforts in Boston (The Gaiety Theatre), Detroit (The former Michigan Theatre), Chicago (The DuPage Theatre), Omaha (The Indian Hills Cinerama Theatre), and Salt Lake City (The Villa Theatre), "Preserve Me a Seat" will appeal to anyone who has cherished memories of seeing their favorite movies in a grand theatre, and who appreciates the unique architecture of movie theatres. More than that, however, the documentary explores a number of urban development issues particularly relevant to Sacramento in a number of ways (not just theaters): adaptive reuse, a lack of response by city governments to their constituency, the destruction of historic spaces for the sake of what are essentially urban lofts (high-end residential units, at least), and much more.

March 20, 2009
7 and 9:30 PM
Admission: $5.00
Location: 600 4th St, West Sacramento. That's the corner of 4th & F in WEST Sacramento, just over the river from downtown Sacto. Parking lot is off of F Street between 4th & 5th Streets.

Robert McKeown on "More Stuff to do in Sacramento"

2009-03-11T23:04:27Z

Paul: That's already on my "on-going" section for next week!

More Stuff to do in Sacramento

2009-03-11T02:58:02Z

Ongoing:

Kenney Mencher and Joe Santos at Elliott Fouts Gallery
Art Exhibit
Tuesday - Friday 11 AM to 6 PM; Saturday 11 AM to 4 PM; Sunday 11 AM to 4 PM through April 3, 2009.
4749 J St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 736-1429
http://www.efgallery.com

Works by controversial and enigmatic artist Kenney Mencher, whose paintings were removed by San Francisco's Hang Gallery with the gallery director referring to them as "perverted" in 2003. He also had four of his paintings removed from the California State Teachers Retirement System building in 2004 after a handful of employees stated they made them uncomfortable. Along with Mencher, watercolorist Joe Santos has his newest pieces, "Signage" on display.

Last Resort Trailer Park
Live Theatre
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays Through April 11, 2009
Thistle Dew Dessert Theatre
1901 P St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 444-8209
(call for reservations - it's a small theatre)
http://www.thistle-dew.net

The not so everyday life of Nadine, Buk, Charlene, Rhonda and Hank at the down and out last resort trailer park on the outskirts of a small town in Nevada.

Big Idea Theatre presents Hamlet
Live Theatre
Sundays, 8 PM through March 29, 2009
Admission: $15
1616 Del Paso Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95815
(916) 960-3636
http://www.bigideatheatre.com

This streamlined version of Shakespeare's classic hand-wringing tragedy is the perfect material for Big Idea Theatre's budding company of actors.

Friday, March 13, 2009
Capturing History: David Hume Kennerly
12:00 Noon
Admission: Free
CSUS
Library Gallery
6000 J St
Sacramento, CA

Featuring historical photography by David Hume Kennerly, from Vietnam to the Obama inauguration. Kennerly will speak at noon, followed by a reception at 5:30 PM.

Friday, March 13, 2009
Sac City Rollers Present "Friday Night Fights"
Doors at 7 PM/Bout at 7:30 PM
Tickets: $10 Advance/$15.00 at the door
Foothill Skate Inn
4700 Auburn Blvd
Sacramento, CA
http://www.saccityrollers.com

Join the Sac City Rollers women's roller derby league as we kick off our 2009 season on Friday, March 13th! Our two intra-league teams the Ruge Girls take on the Sweaty Betties as we present "Friday Night Fights!" Beer garden, raffle prizes and Revolution Twirl Club perform at half-time! Come check out the fastest growing sport around and see women's roller derby up close and personal!

Friday, March 13, 2009
An Evening of Poetry at Carol's Books
6 PM - 9 PM
Admission: Free
Carol's Books
1913 Del Paso Blvd
Sacramento, CA

An evening of poetry featuring poet Lawrence Dinkins accompanied by local musicians.

Saturday, March 14, 2009
Sell Out, Buy Out
Admission: Free (but bring money to buy cool stuff!)
3 PM - 10 PM
Bows and Arrows
1712 L St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 444-3606
A huge art and fashion bazaar featuring local designers which takes place four times a year.

Saturday, March 14, 2009
The Spillit Quikkers with The Stinky Devil String Band
9 PM
Admission: $5.00
Fox & Goose
1001 R St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 443-8825

Two sets from the rootin'-tootin', high-fallutin', non-pollutin', rip-roarin', shiv-shavin', new-fangled, old time, bona fide, good time, string band!

Sunday, March 15, 2009
Time Tested Books Poetry Series 2009: Doug Blazek
7 PM
$5 Requested Donation
Time Tested Books
1114 21st St
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 447-5696
http://www.timetestedbooks.net
books@timetestedbooks.net

Small press pioneer Douglas Blazek will give a rare reading of his work.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Sacramento Ballet: Inside the Director's Studio
6 PM
Admission: $15.00
Sacramento Ballet Studios
1631 K St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 552-5800
http://www.sacballet.org

See your Sacramento Ballet Dancers up-close and working hard on new works created for the Modern Master's Abbreviated program.

Thursday, March 19, 2009
Classic Spanish Language Love Films: Like Water For Chocolate
7 PM
Admission: Free
La Raza Galeria Posada
1022 22nd St.
Sacramento, CA
(916) 446-5133

"Like Water for Chocolate" by Alfonso Arau, shows the connection of Love, Lust and Food in Revolutionary Mexico. Nominated for a Golden Globe, this was the most popular Spanish-language film of its time. Seating is limited.

Please note:
This is not meant to copy the concept of Rachael’s post in any way. I had been talking with Sac Press folks last week about doing something along these lines, and I hope that at a minimum, our event picks will complement each other. What does matter is – get out and attend some of the cool stuff that happens in Sacramento!

Sacramento Invaded by Zombies?

2009-03-10T01:26:18Z

The living dead recently took over Sacramento’s Movies on a Big Screen building and local filmmakers just happened to be there to capture the nightmare.The result? A film entitled “Dead Exit.”

About Dead Exit:

The reanimated infestation has reached a crisis point, overwhelming both local law enforcement and federal agencies. Designated evacuation and quarantine sites, known as "green zones," were developed to protect the few survivors and strategic assets that remained. With resources pushed to the limit, these formerly secure zones were frequently abandoned or relocated to another area once deemed beyond recovery.

In the midst of the chaos and confusion caused by the latest collapse in the perimeter, three lone survivors rush to the final evacuation point. With one of their own injured and the hordes of the reanimated in close pursuit, the three survivors must make their way to the last known haven. Upon arriving at the evacuation point, the survivors realize their situation is worse than anticipated. Left behind, alone, and abandoned by the authorities, the three survivors must deal with the multitude of ravenous undead just steps behind them.

Dead Exit, from Misfire Productions, is a locally produced, short zombie movie filmed in the Sacramento area. With a nod to iconic zombie movies of the past, Dead Exit adheres to the rules and conventions outlined in classic zombie films. In keeping with these traditions, extensive practical blood effects are used rather than their digital counterparts. With an extensive cast of zombie extras showcasing the talent of local makeup artists, Dead Exit brings the classic shambling hordes of the undead back to the big screen. Directed by Wes Young and Ryan Goff, the film stars Bob Herron, Randy Foos and Mackenzie Goff.

On Friday, March 13, don't miss the opportunity to be the first to see the bloody horrors that took place within the walls of MOBS at two special sneak preview screenings before it hits the film festival circuit, with cast and crew (and very likely zombies) in attendance. $5.00 admission. Plays at 7 and 8:30 PM. 600 4th St, West Sacramento. That's the corner of 4th & F in WEST Sacramento, just over the river from downtown Sacto. Parking lot is off of F Street between 4th & 5th Streets.

This is a shorter film (running a bit under 20 minutes), but there should be enough material for more than an hour's worth of zombie fun.