Newest articles on The Sacramento Press written by Casey Kirk

Racing for a Reason: Tony Prakash

2011-11-22T19:19:32Z

Lace up your shoes, Sacramento -- the 18th annual Run to Feed the Hungry is this week!

Every week up until then, we will interview a new Run to Feed the Hungry runner. We will ask a handful of different past and present runners the same questions. We have found that people are motivated by many different reasons to be involved in this incredible event.

There is still time to sign up to participate and help keep this the largest Thanksgiving Day run in the country. Go to the Run to Feed the Hungry website for more information and ways to register. We hope to see you there!

Name: Tony Prakash
Occupation: Real Estate

The Sacramento Press: How many years have you been doing the run?
Tony Prakash: It's been four years now.

SP: How many people do you run with?
TP: One to five.

SP: Do you run or walk outside the event?
TP: Yes, I run [regularly].

SP: What motivates you to be part of this cause?
TP: The cause is such a great cause. Just like many others that are out there, [SFBFS] is special based on its beliefs and what it does for the community; helping others who are less fortunate than us. My belief is that everyone should be equal. We should what we can to make [everyone] feel just as important. No one should ever be faced with hunger and experience poverty.

SP: What is your favorite thing about Run to Feed the Hungry?
TP: I cant pick just one, I love every aspect of the event!

SP: Do you have a favorite t-shirt design from over the years?
TP: All of them that I have are fantastic.

SP: If you could make one wish this Thanksgiving, what would it be?
TP: It probably sounds corny, but to end poverty.

SP: What are you most thankful for this year?
TP: The gift of life!

Racing for a Reason: Melissa Bierer

2011-11-14T18:42:29Z

Lace up your shoes, Sacramento -- the 18th annual Run to Feed the Hungry is only a couple weeks away!

Name: Melissa Bierer
Occupation: Senior Supply Chain Analyst at Vision Service Plan (VSP)

The Sacramento Press: How many years have you been doing the run?
Melissa Bierer: I was trying to figure that out when I registered this year. I tried to look back at the team pics, but couldn't find them. I think it's been 6 years.

SP: How many people do you run or walk with?
MB: We have a core group of 5-8 people each year that complete the event together. I pull together a group of at least 10 people from work each year, but we typically complete the event at different levels. In the past, we formed teams of more than 20 to participate in the event.

SP: Do you run or walk outside the event?
MB: It depends on who I am doing the event with, but we typically do a run/walk combo, bobbing and weaving through the crowd. Other times, we walk the entire event and enjoy the company and scenery.

SP: What motivates you to be part of this cause?
MB: It's amazing how many people take time out on Thanksgiving, which is already a busy time, to help support the community. I believe in what Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services does for the community and am proud to participate in this event each year.

SP: What is your favorite thing about Run to Feed the Hungry?
MB: Pulling together friends to do the run and the feeling of community within the crowd.

SP: Do you have a favorite t-shirt design from over the years?
MB: It was cool when we pulled together teams and they put our team names on the back of the shirts. I liked that they changed to micro-fiber last year. I have used that shirt several times as a layer when snowboarding.

SP: What are you most thankful for this year?
MB: I am thankful for my friends and family, my good health and having a job that I enjoy. It sounds cliche, but those really are the things that matter in life.

Hanging with Hatch: Parking enforcement 101

2011-11-09T03:05:43Z

Recently, A&E launched “Parking Wars,” a reality series chronicling the parking division in Philadelphia and Detroit and their encounters with the parking-impaired. I admit, I’m hooked. As I watched episode after episode, I found myself in awe at the sheer amount of rage that one dreaded slip of paper can instill in someone.

As someone who has dumped my own fair share of hard-earned dollars into parking citations, I can understand why the ticketed become irate; times are tough and tickets are expensive.

Curious why anyone would subject themselves to a job where harassment is guaranteed, I set my bitterness aside and asked the city if I could hang out with a parking enforcement officer. I mentally prepared myself for a deluge of verbal abuse, and hoped I didn’t get anything thrown at my face.

At 8:30 a.m. Friday morning, I met with Officer Hatch, one of 50 full-time parking enforcement officers patrolling the city.

In January, Hatch will have been ticketing for five years. He previously worked as a Downtown Guide for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. The experience actually comes in handy in his current role, since officers are regularly approached by tourists asking for directions and information.

Even if others don’t, Hatch loves his job. While many nine-to-fivers are tied to their cubicle and have supervisors breathing down their necks, parking officers get to roam free. Hatch says that he loves the freedom.

This freedom includes roaming 22,000 on-street parking spaces, broken up into 23 “beats.” This includes two neighborhood beats and three street-cleaning beats in additional to 20 regular.

Since non-city employees aren’t allowed in the official parking enforcement vehicles (a Prius or those odd-looking “carts”) we set out on an improvised walking beat starting at City Hall on 9th and I Streets, up to N and 16th streets and back.

Before I arrived, Hatch had already issued three citations since the start of his shift at 7 a.m. A quick mental calculation told me that meant Hatch had already generated a good chunk of revenue for the city.

The average ticket for an expired meter costs around $50, including a recently-added $12 "pass through fee” imposed by the state. The city is required to pass this on to citizens.

Thanks a lot, California.

More serious infractions such as altering residential permits or parking in designated handicap spaces can burn a hefty $500 hole in violators’ wallets. This might explain why the 235,196 citations issued in the 2010 fiscal year generated a stunning $8.3 million in revenue.

I asked Hatch about a recent story I read about a disgruntled former parking officer. The officer claimed, among many other allegations, that officers are given quotas.

Hatch dismissed this, explaining that setting quotas is actually illegal. He continued on to say that supervisors do, however, know the average number of tickets that should be issued for each beat.

So technically, an officer could be reprimanded for not issuing enough tickets, right?

It seems like a gray area but since Hatch was adamant about not having quotas, I later checked with Linda Tucker, Media and Communications Specialist for the Department of Transportation.

Tucker explained, “We do not and never have set quotas. The average would just mean what historically that particular block or block(s) might yield in terms of violations, but this is in no way tied to the rating of an officer’s overall performance. There may be many reasons why an average may fluctuate: weather, special events, the economy...”

Quota or not, I was surprised that by 10 a.m. Hatch still hadn’t issued a single ticket in my presence and the tally sheet in my notes remained blank. I was even more surprised, disappointed even, that there wasn’t a single insult yelled at us by an angry passerby. I started to feel slightly let down by "Parking Wars."

However, as the clock ticked on, we gained some momentum and Hatch began doling out an occasional citation. On the third ticket, the vehicle owner, who hadn’t even bothered to pay, walked up mid-ticket and I braced myself for an exchange of words.

“He’s just doing his job,” the driver said to me. He took the ticket, thanked Hatch and went along on his way. I couldn’t believe that a driver expressed appreciation for being cited! Hatch was surprised too and told me that it is far from a common reaction.

“I’m the guy everybody loves to hate,” said Hatch, half smirking.

Desperate for something juicy at this point, I asked him about any run-ins with ticketing “victims” gone mad. Hatch told me that while he hasn’t experienced any bouts of extreme ticket rage himself, his colleagues have had coffee thrown on them and been spit on more than a few times.

He gets yelled at two to three times per week, occasionally being “flipped off” for good measure. The most common insult he hears?

“Get a real job!”

“I’m still wondering what a ‘real job’ is,” Hatch laughed, obviously unfazed by the harassment as if it's all just part of the job.

Not surprisingly, he recounted many situations when drivers accused Hatch of targeting them or issuing a ticket for no reason.

“There’s a lot of people that will hate us no matter what, even if we’re right,” said Hatch. “You just have to stay calm, that’s the important thing.”

In addition to arguments, he said he gets a healthy helping of excuses. One of his "favorites"?

“I was just inside for one minute!”

Both the officer and the violator know dang well it takes more than a couple of minutes to order coffee, pick up dry cleaning, etc. so you’re better off feeding the meter than using that line.

On the flip side are those that have a "bring on the tickets" attitude. Hatch said there are definitely repeat offenders within some beats. One of these offenders is a local nightclub owner who is repeatedly cited for the same infractions, even having his car booted at one point for too many citations.

“Some people just don’t care,” he said.

While the harassment doesn’t ruffle his feathers, Hatch has a couple of parking pet peeves. The first is drivers who expect him to stop writing a ticket because their meter “just expired.” Hatch explained that this means nothing to the officer. “I have no way of knowing if they put any money in the meter at all.”

Admittedly, I have done this myself and I found myself feeling apologetic for blaming the officers. He’s right; they really don’t have a way of knowing.

However, this isn’t the case for “Pay and Display kiosks,” which give a more accurate readings of exactly when a driver put money in the machine. Hatch has a little more sympathy here.

“If it’s one or two minutes [expired] it’s not a huge deal,” Hatch said.

He’s also sympathetic to responsible drivers who opt to leave their vehicle in place while enjoying a few adult beverages. If a vehicle-owner approaches Hatch mid-ticketing and explains that they left their car instead of drinking and driving, it’s likely they will be sent on their way sans ticket.

I was happy to hear this, as most will likely agree that sometimes finding Tylenol and a Gatorade becomes a priority over getting to your car at 10 a.m. on the dot. One point for the parking enforcement team!

Hatch earned even more points for the parking division when he told me he will usually wait by a freshly-expired meter for a few minutes, giving the driver the benefit of the doubt.

Don't get too excited though.

If it’s twenty minutes? You might as well start writing out that $52 check.

Currently the city has 3,600 single space quarter-only meters and 300 kiosks, which accept multiple tenders. Those who have frantically searched in every nook and cranny of their car for quarters while running late for a meeting certainly understand the convenience of this.

Convenience and longevity (kiosks have an average lifespan of 10 years) seem like a win for both the city and the residents. Tucker said transitioning over to kiosks completely isn’t too far off.

“We are looking at phasing [in] single space meters that can accept credit cards in the not-so-distant future.”

In addition to pay kiosks, the city decided to make drivers’ lives even easier when they implemented the ability to contest tickets online.

I asked Hatch how he feels about making it easier to contest the tickets he writes, and I caught another glimpse of his soft side. Hatch said he’s all for the system, since people don’t have to stand in line at Revenue Services, which can be a lengthy process.

As we continued on our beat, roaming the perimeters of the State Capitol, I noticed a trend. It seemed like more than half of the vehicles belonged to disabled drivers.

“Generally, any government building has a ton of placards,” Hatch explained. I was astounded. Hatch, obviously used to the placard-mania, explained that there are so many placards that the city created an undercover “Disabled Placard Task Force” dedicated to regulating abuse of them.

While not a part of this task force, officers are responsible for confiscating expired and illegally-modified placards. During one shift, Hatch issued 14 tickets for expired placards.

From using markers to modify temporary residential permits to “posing” vehicles in photos to fight legitimate citations, Hatch’s stories proved Sacramentans are quite the sneaky (and crafty) bunch. He recalled one violator cutting the entire bottom portion off of a disabled placard, claiming it was issued to him that way. Another instance that stood out was the placard-holder who extended his own permit, punching a hole in the current year and taping the punched out circle into the expired year.

However, thanks to new photo-ticketing technology, it is more difficult to pull the wool over the city’s eyes. Officers’ ticketing guns now have cameras built into them, proving that a vehicle was in violation.

Oddly enough, I found myself grateful for a feature that makes officers' jobs easier.

When I first met up with Hatch, I have to admit I was a disgruntled victim of the parking system. While it’s certainly a possibility that he was on his best behavior in the presence of media, this good behavior nonetheless melted my bitterness away and replaced it with a bit of unexpected sympathy.

Like the guy said, “He’s just doing his job.”

Visit the City of Sacramento’s Department of Transportation website here.

10 additional tidbits I learned while hanging out with Officer Hatch:

1) Owning two wheels can save you money on parking: “Piggy-backing” is a completely legal practice: This is when motorcycles park in a stall paid for and parked in by another vehicle. The practice is okay as long as they fit within the white brackets painted on the street.

2) Sometimes owning two wheels can cost you too: Paid-for parking receipts are often stolen from motorcyclists, who are forced to display them out in the open. One local motorcyclist got smart and began autographing his.

3) Owning a Zipcar is good for your wallet: Hatch has only ever cited one Zipcar and, although there are designated single Zipcar spaces, officers won’t ticket Zipcars if they are on the same block as the parking space. This is in case another car illegally parked in the Zipcar space, making it unavailable.

4) Your money goes further on pay and display kiosks: If you pay at a pay stall on one block and still have time remaining, save the receipt! You can use that same receipt while you finish up your errands. The time you paid for isn’t just valid on the one block.

5) Officers aren’t intentionally parking that way to be rude: Many of us like to think officers park in red zones and double-park just because they can. An ordinance allows officers to park in red zones and double-park, mainly for safety. When retrieving VIN numbers, they often have to stand in traffic and parking their car as a buffer is a safety measure.

6) Complain to the business owner, not the officer: Business owners have the ability to change and set restrictions in front of and around their establishment.

7) Old Sac is not just a “hot spot” for tourists: In order to encourage turnover of vehicles in this tourist area, regulations are enforced seven days a week. Hatch told me this area has one of the highest volumes of tickets issued.

8) Evening shifts are where the money’s at: Officers make five percent more for working after 6 p.m.

9) Street cleaning is the parking enforcement jackpot: Hatch said in almost five years, the day that he recalls giving out the most tickets was during a street cleaning beat. He issued 100 tickets within three to four hours.

10) Land Park loves parking enforcement: Hatch told me his favorite area to patrol is Land Park because the residents actually want officers there, even thanking officers on a regular basis.

Racing for a Reason: Laura Smith

2011-11-07T18:19:33Z

Lace up your shoes, Sacramento -- the 18th annual Run to Feed the Hungry is only a few weeks away.

Name: Laura Smith
Occupation: In-Home Care Provider and Social Work Student at California State University, Sacramento

The Sacramento Press: How many years have you been doing the run?
Laura Smith: I have been doing the run for the last four years!

SP: How many people do you run or walk with?
LS: I usually run with four or five people. Last year I ran with my best friend Kristen, her sister Stephanie, her mother Mary, her boyfriend Jairid, and my boyfriend Jeff. The year before that I ran with my mother Veronica and my grandfather Ron.

SP: Do you run or walk outside the event?
LS: Well, I try and run but it is hard with so many people so it is sometimes more fun to walk and talk with family and friends.

SP: What motivates you to be part of this cause?
LS: There is so much need in the Sacramento area that it really motivates me to support a good cause and contribute so that more people can have a hot Thanksgiving meal.

SP: What is your favorite thing about Run to Feed the Hungry?
LS: My favorite thing about the Run to Feed the Hungry is that it is the largest Thanksgiving run in the country. It brings thousands of people together to give back to the community. I love being in the freezing cold early in the morning and seeing all the people dressed up festively in turkey hats.

SP: Do you have a favorite t-shirt design from over the years?
LS: I loved the brown shirt with the fall leaves on it. I’m not such a big fan of the white shirts, but I loved the material they were made with last year.

SP: If you could make one wish this Thanksgiving, what would it be?
LS: Well, for everyone to have a fresh, healthy, and hot Thanksgiving meal to share with their friends and family.

SP: What are you most thankful for this year?
LS: I am most thankful to have a home, a job, and be a student in this tough time. I am also most thankful to share another happy and healthy year with my family and friends.

Racing for a Reason: Tonja Field

2011-10-31T19:05:38Z

Lace up your shoes, Sacramento -- the 18th annual Run to Feed the Hungry is only a few weeks away.

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) encourages you to be part of Sacramento's Thanksgiving tradition. The 5K and 10K fun run and walk launches from Sacramento State, 6000 J St., on Thanksgiving morning. With 30,000 participants expected to be involved, you are guaranteed a morning of fun with family and friends.

Every week up until then, we will interview a new Run to Feed the Hungry runner. We will ask a handful of different past and present runners the same questions. We have found that people are motivated by many different reasons to be involved in this incredible event.

Name: Tonja Field
Occupation: X-ray/CT/Mammography Tech

The Sacramento Press: How many years have you been doing the run?
Tonja Field: I've participated every year since 2001.

SP: How many people do you run with?
TF: Every year it is different. In the beginning I would run/walk it with two of my best friends, one year I did it by myself because the race started before I could even locate any of my friends and another year I did it as part of The Sacrament Press team.

SP: Do you run or walk at RTFTH?
TF: Lately I've mostly walked it as I find it more enjoyable to enjoy the scenery and a little more difficult to get my legs moving in the cold weather as I have gotten older, but one day I may want to try running it again.

SP: Do you run or walk outside of the event?
TF: I ran a half- marathon for the first time in March and have run only twice since then. I ran again on Sunday [at the Merrell Down & Dirty National Mud Run Series] and the last time I'll probably run in 2011 is the Run to Feed the Hungry. I'm a Beachbody coach so thankfully those workout programs have kept me in shape so that I can run these sort of events when I want to and not feel like I am going to die for the cause.

SP: What motivates you to be part of this cause?
TF: People going hungry has always been something I've been concerned about. I don't have to know why they are without, I just know that no one should be without food. The fact that this event allows Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services to provide so much for so many people is just one of the reasons I participate in this event each year.

SP: What is your favorite thing about Run to Feed the Hungry?
TF: My favorite thing about Run to Feed the Hungry is the fact that I am getting a little exercise before I consume more food than my body probably needs in a week. Also, even if I am just walking it, the fresh air and happiness around me is enough to make me be positive about the whole day.

SP: Do you have a favorite t-shirt design from over the years?
TF: I do have a favorite t-shirt design! I can't recall the year *digging up all my millions of t-shirts* but it was the white one with blue & yellow writing - turkey legs in running shoes. FOUND IT! 2005 :)

SP: If you could make one wish this year on Thanksgiving, what would it be?
TF: If I could have one wish (I always make wishes!) this Thanksgiving, it would be for me just to come to the CLEAR realization that all I have and all the people I have around me is enough. I don't need anything else and I need to learn to be content and thankful in this moment. I am getting better with this over time, but it still is a struggle.

The Sacramento Press wants to help you write!

2011-10-23T22:18:14Z

Here at The Sacramento Press, we want to provide you with the tools you need to confidently deliver your message to readers. To help polish your voice, we provide free copy editing to all of our community contributors. While we don’t require you to have your article edited, we strongly encourage it since articles are permanent once they are published. It’s always helpful to have a second set of eyes review your work!

The best part is, it’s a fast and easy process. Just send a draft of your article to journalism@sacramentopress.com and an edited copy will be returned within 24 hours, ready to copy and paste. We offer copy editing every day except Saturdays.

A couple quick tips about the copy editing process:

* It’s best to send your draft within the body of the e-mail instead of an attachment to be sure our editors can view your article.
* It’s not necessary to send images to copy editing.
* If you have questions about posting on the site, please direct them to our support staff at support@sacramentopress.com.
* Our copy editors typically only edit for spelling and grammar, but if you would like more feedback, just let the editor know when submitting your draft.
* Your article will be returned to you, ready to copy and paste. Please specify if you would like to see the edits that were made.

If you have any questions about copy editing or becoming a community contributor, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. If you're not a contributor yet, we will walk you through the sign up process. Just contact us at support@sacramentopress.com or (916) 596-1963. We're here to help!

Britney Spears does it again on Femme Fatale World Tour

2011-06-18T06:37:52Z

What do fireworks, whips, chains and a pink convertible with a stripper pole all have in common?

Britney Spears’ Femme Fatale World Tour, naturally.

Spears pulled out all the stops Thursday night at Power Balance Pavilion during the sold-out first performance on her 56-show tour.

While backstage minutes before showtime, Spears expressed her excitement over the start of her tour to her Facebook fans:

“It’s opening night BITCH!!!!!!!!”

The tour’s opener, up-and-coming female rapper Nicki Minaj, set the action-packed tone for the evening with a shoot-out scene opposite a ninja-like character. Minaj set the wardrobe bar high, donning a platinum blond wig, neon green shoes and black spandex with PVC-like detailing a la Lady Gaga.

She revved up the crowd’s energy with “Save Me” and “Moment for Life,” along with Young Money’s “Bed Rock.”

The audience vocalized their approval for Minaj’s spitfire rhymes but anxiously awaited Spears’ entrance. Near-hysteria broke out when Spears finally took the stage. The mostly female crowd erupted in deafening screams that sounded more like an audience of middle-schoolers at a Justin Bieber concert.

Her 22-song set pleased old and new die-hard fans alike. The show opened and closed with current hits, “Hold It Against Me” and “Till the World Ends” respectively and was sprinkled with classics like “...Baby One More Time,” “Toxic” and “Womanizer.”

Lesser-known but well-received was the body-thumping and appropriately titled single “Big Fat Bass” and the exclusive “Up N’ Down” from the deluxe version of her album “Femme Fatale.”

In typical Spears fashion, the flawless choreography and barely there wardrobe oozed sexuality throughout the entire show. Her costumes left little to the imagination, with bedazzled bras and panties-a-plenty, rear end-skimming cut-off shorts and a plethora of sequins and lace.

To allow Spears time for her multiple wardrobe changes, a film series played intermittently between the sets. In the short videos, a stalker-like character spies on Spears’ alter-egos through surveillance cameras. She outsmarts her would-be captor in perfect timing for her next song.

During “I’m a Slave 4 U,” a nipple-clamped “slave” (presumably the stalker) donning a ball, gag and other bondage gear, was whipped and tortured in a naughty video montage on the big screen.

Spears’ set designer clearly worked overtime preparing over-the-top props and stage effects for the tour. Along with smoke and lights, a swing hoisted Spears into the air and a people-mover created a floating effect. An oversized guitar and speakers fit for King Kong, motorcycles and pyrotechnics completed the visual ecstasy.

Spears ended the night by inviting pre-selected fans onstage to dance. With fireworks in the background and confetti cannons showering the audience, the jaw-dropping show ended with club hit “Till the World Ends.”

On a high from a successful tour kick-off performance, Spears posted another status after the show:

“Can't sleep. WAY too much adrenaline right now. Sacramento was on fire tonight...!”

A decade after her first hit, Spears is still on fire too. She did it again.

Spears will tour the United States until her Raleigh, N.C., show on Aug. 25. She will take a month-long break before heading to Europe, ending the tour in Portugal on Nov. 9.

Photo credit: Randy Miramontez, Randy's Fine Art Photography

Rock out for Big Brothers Big Sisters

2011-05-25T03:49:04Z

On Sunday, May 29, more than 6,000 community members will be walking and rocking out to KISS, all in the name of charity. The third annual Walk ‘N Rock, being held at Raley Field, will split all funds raised between their 2011 non-profit affiliates (see bottom).

Last year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento participated in Walk ‘N Rock for the first time and raised $26,000 through the event. This year, they hope to top that and raise $40,000.

Founded in 1963, BBBS Sac currently has 282 active matches and operates on a staff of only 14. Matching Bigs and Littles and providing training to the mentors would not be possible without donations and successful fundraisers like Walk ‘N Rock.

The Sacramento Press talked to President and CEO Rhonda Staley-Brooks to find out why you should rock out on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento this weekend!

The Sacramento Press: Tell me a little bit about your background and how you got involved with BBBS.

Rhonda Staley-Brooks: I was attending school at CSU Sacramento and needed to find a job because my father would not support my social life. Found BBBS on the job line and applied. I started in 1993 as a Case Work Assistant and worked my way through all Program positions to the current position as CEO.

SP: If you had one minute to explain the organization and its mission, what would you say?

RS: Changing the way children grow up today by providing positive adult role models in their lives. These children are less likely to do drugs, drop out of high school or become a teen parent due to the influences we place in their lives.

SP: How did BBBS become involved with Hope Productions/Walk 'N Rock?

RS: We applied the second year of the organization and become one of the partner agencies.

SP: Are there any notable teams of BBBS staffers or volunteers participating in Walk 'N Rock?

RS: VSP was a huge supporter of Walk ‘N Rock last year. This year, “Walk N Rollers,” led by one of our board members, Lynn Matsuda, is making their way up the leader board.

SP: What are the biggest annual fundraisers for BBBS? How much money is raised, on average, during each?

RS: Bowl for Kids’ Sake raises over $55,000 each year and we are still calculating the books for this year and for sure will surpass that amount. Wine on the Waterfront raises an average of $20,000. Big Disco raises an average of $55,000

SP: Why is it so important to raise funds for BBBS?

RS: The funds are critical to our success. It ensures the safety of our children as we put trained professionals in positions to recruit, screen, match and support every child that enters our program.

SP: Why is it so important for Littles to have mentors in their lives?

RS: As mentioned earlier, they are less likely to do drugs, drop out of high school or become teen parents when they have positive mentors in their life. Currently, we have 139 boys and girls waiting for a BIG.

SP: What is something about the organization that the public might not realize but should?

RS: How many part-time employees (six full-time and eight part-time) are employed to keep this size agency functioning. Also, that we are not funded by the national organization. Each affiliate pays local dues to the national headquarters to receive support, marketing materials and other branded materials so that you don’t have to recreate the wheel.

SP: Besides donating, how can community members get involved?

RS: Volunteering in several capacities: Become a Big - 4-6 hours every week or every other week - matched to a child. Volunteer at a special event: As the need arises, we use a database of more than 300 to call upon when we need volunteers for our special events. Become a Board Member: The board is responsible for the oversight of the organization.

It’s not too late to sign up and start fundraising for your own team! Register here.

Read about Hope Productions here.

2011 Walk 'N Rock non-profit affiliates

* Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento, Inc.
* Cristo Rey High School
* Keaton Raphael Memorial
* Okizu
* People Reaching Out
* River Cats Foundation, Inc.
* Wind Youth Services

Brewfest 2011: A very hoppy night at Raley Field

2011-05-17T03:53:30Z

Raley Field transformed into a beer connoisseur's paradise Friday night at the fifth annual Raley Field Brewfest.

Breweries from around the region partnered with the Northern California Brewers’ Guild to introduce their summer seasonals and rekindle the love for their year-round fan favorites.

“I was pleased with both old favorites and new options. It was a great time,” said Sacramento resident Heather Deas.

For $30 in advance and $35 at the door, beer enthusiasts were handed a mini-pint glass upon entry and given ten tickets good for one 5 oz. tasting. For $50, “VIP” guests were allowed to enter an hour early and given eight additional tasting tickets. For those left wanting more, additional tickets could be purchased.

“We’re excited that we [had] so many breweries participating,” said Raley Field Communications Manager Rebecca Brutlag. “We [had] over 40 this year, last year was over 30.”

Each brewery or restaurant, spread out along the concourse, gave ticket holders two options (and a very tough decision to make) on which brew or cider they wanted to sample.

Live music by bands 50 Stories and Private Criminals, along with the Sacramento skyline backdrop, was just the icing on the cake to a pretty much perfect evening in Sacramento.

As the night wore on, attendees’ smiles grew steadily larger along with their enthusiasm for the festival.

“I was already ready for a lot of beer, but when I got here, there was even more than I expected!” said Kevin Burrill with a large smile plastered on his face.

Among the various breweries were crowd favorites Lagunitas Brewing Company, pouring “Hairy Eyeball,” a strong brown, as well as their well-loved IPA; Hoppy Brewing Company doling out their Amber Ale and “Liquid Sunshine,” a hoppy blonde ale; and Brew it Up, serving their house favorites, “Big Valley Red Ale” and “Ladder #2 Lager.”

Other notables were High Water Brewing’s “Retribution IPA,” with a whopping 9.5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), and Lost Coast Brewery’s ever-so-refreshing “Great White” and “Tangerine Wheat.”

While final attendance numbers haven’t been counted yet, Brutlag says this year's ticket sales definitely exceeded last year’s (around 3,000) and deemed the event “highly successful.”

With a brew to fit every level of beer enthusiast, good music and an all-around jovial mood in the air, one thing is sure: the majority of the crowd left looking extremely hoppy.

To see a calendar of upcoming events at Raley Field, visit their website.

Meet our community contributors

2011-05-10T20:59:46Z

The Sacramento Press has close to 2,000 contributors signed up on our site to voluntarily write articles. Without them, our site would fail to exist.

Among this group, there is a small core of writers and photographers whom we work closely with on a weekly basis. These contributors go above and beyond by taking assignments from us, having their articles copy edited and making us very proud as they represent us in the community.

To just tell you how great they are isn’t enough. So we’ll show you a tiny snippet of why we love them in the six videos below. Without further ado, we present to you six of our fabulous top community contributors.

See these videos and "like" The Sacramento Press on Facebook.

Video by Chris Brune of Agency M. Editing by Vanessa Vasquez

What are you waiting for? Go, See, Do!

2011-01-28T22:46:33Z

It is an understatement to say that there is an overwhelming amount of concerts, art showings, theatre performances and other exciting events taking place in Sacramento every day.

In fact, it’s pretty mind-boggling that anyone can keep track of all of them when planning how and where to spend that rare commodity known as “free time.” That’s where we come in to make your life a little easier.

We are very proud to introduce to our users “Go.See.Do.”, your personal guide to upcoming local events.

Every week, we handpick a few events that we believe are worthy of your valuable time and deliver them straight to your inbox.

Film festivals, fashion shows, poetry readings, food and cocktail weeks, you name it! You will find all of this (and much more) in “Go.See.Do.”

The newsletter is sent out every Thursday morning and features events taking place through the following week. Each event title and photo is clickable and will take you to websites, articles and social media sites where you can check out complete information.

Sneak a peak at last week’s “Go.See.Do” here.

To sign up to receive “Go.See.Do.”, all you have to do is register as a user on our site. Click “sign up” at the top of the home page, fill out some basic information and you’re done! If you have any questions about the sign-up process, feel free to e-mail us at support@sacramentopress.com.

Also, if you have an event that you would like considered for inclusion, please submit the following to goseedo@sacramentopress.com:

- Name of the event
- Date of the event
- Where the event is held (name and address)
- A photo to accompany the listing (that you have permission to use)
- Event website
- When available, links to a Facebook or Twitter account, either for the event or for the venue
- Any additional information you feel is important

When choosing events, we will showcase both big acts that readers might be surprised to see coming through Sacramento and small, but great, events that haven’t received a lot of exposure.

In addition to the e-mail you’re sending from, please be sure to include any additional contact information. Every event will be considered equally.

What are you waiting for? Go.See.Do.

Today: Change a child's life for just $10

2010-12-28T19:03:37Z

Today, in the spirit of the holiday season, Deal Ticket and The Sacramento Press are excited to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento to offer you a chance to change a local child’s life.

Big Brothers Big Sisters needs to raise significant funds to keep the program going and asks for your support with a tax-deductible gift.

See David and Chester’s inspiring story here

For today only, you can visit the Deal Ticket website and donate $10 or more directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento. Many children have already been matched to Bigs, yet there are still many others waiting to be matched.

One hundred percent of the donation will go directly to the program and your support may determine whether these children get the help they need and assist in matching Littles waiting for Bigs.

All donations are 100 percent tax-deductible, and all donors will be issued vouchers that serve as receipts and include tax ID numbers.

Today, your generous donation of $10 can provide one of the following things:

* Recruit more positive role models
* Assist with background screening checks
* Provide mentor training

At-risk kids with a Big Brother or Big Sister are more likely to:

* Show improvement in school performance
* Enjoy better relationships with family, adults and peers
* Gain a new and positive perspective on life

and are less likely to:

* Start drinking alcohol
* Start taking drugs
* Lie
* Use violence to resolve conflicts

If you are unfamiliar with Deal Ticket, here’s a quick rundown. Every day, we feature a fantastic deal from a local business. That deal is featured for one day only. You click to buy the deal and save money (51-90 percent to be exact) by doing so.

To receive deals directly in your e-mail inbox, all you have to do is sign up for the daily Deal Ticket e-mail so you don’t miss out on deals you’ll love. Just visit our Deal Ticket website to sign up.

All it takes is one click to help a child that will greatly benefit from mentoring in their life.

This special Deal Ticket only lasts one day and we’re asking for your help in making this donation drive a success. Spread the word to your friends, family, coworkers, everyone!

Read about Big Brothers Big Sisters on The Sacramento Press here

Photos courtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento

Racing for a Reason: Chris Suter

2010-11-23T20:52:32Z

Lace up your shoes, Sacramento -- the 17th annual Run to Feed the Hungry is only two days away.

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) encourages you to be part of a Thanksgiving tradition. The 5K and 10K fun run and walk launches from Sacramento State, 6000 J St., on Thanksgiving morning. With 30,000 participants expected to be involved, you are guaranteed a morning of fun with family and friends.

There is still time to sign up to participate. Go to the Run to Feed the Hungry website for more information and ways to register.

Name: Chris Suter
Occupation: Fire Protection Engineer for the Sacramento Fire Department

SP: How many years have you been doing the run?
CS: My first year was 2006, so this will be my fifth year.

SP: How many people do you run with?
CS: I can usually roust a sibling and cousin or two to run with me.

SP: Do you run or walk outside the event?
CS: Every possible chance I get.

SP: What motivates you to be part of this cause?
CS: Having volunteered with SFBFS for several years, I’ve seen firsthand the beneficial effect that the organization has on those that they help and the community as a whole. Being a part of so many people working toward such a positive goal is really a wonderful feeling.

SP: What is your favorite thing about Run to Feed the Hungry?
CS: Who doesn’t love seeing all those thousands of people pounding down J Street? It’s phenomenal. That and the fact that because of this event, Sacramento Food Band & Family Services is able to provide so much to people in need.

SP: Do you have a favorite t-shirt design from over the years?
CS: The brown shirt with the turkey legs in the New Balance shoes (2006) is my favorite. I wear it all the time.

SP: If you could make one wish this year on Thanksgiving, what would it be?
CS: I think the Run getting 30,000 people this year would be pretty cool.

SP: What are you most thankful for this year?
CS: family and friends. They really are truly wonderful.

Racing for a Reason: Paul Kessler

2010-11-22T20:51:01Z

Lace up your shoes, Sacramento -- the 17th annual Run to Feed the Hungry is only a couple days away.

There is still time to sign up to participate. Go to the Run to Feed the Hungry website for more information and ways to register.

Name: Paul Kessler
Occupation: Student, Sacramento Country Day School

The Sacramento Press: How many years have you been doing the run?
Paul Kessler: Since I was six or seven (I’m 18 now).

SP: How many people do you run with?
PK: I usually run with a friend or two from school.

SP: Do you run or walk outside the event?
PK: I play soccer and basketball so I run a lot.

SP: What motivates you to be part of this cause?
PK: Just helping the community; SFBFS is a great organization.

SP: What is your favorite thing about Run to Feed the Hungry?
PK: Joining with thousands of other people who want to see hunger come to an end.

SP: Do you have a favorite t-shirt design from over the years?
PK: I don’t know.

SP: If you could make one wish this year on Thanksgiving, what would it be?
PK: That everyone could get a hot Thanksgiving dinner (and that I get into the University of Maryland).

SP: What are you most thankful for this year?
PK: The people who have helped me with my college applications, like late nights working on essays and people who wrote recommendation letters for me.

Below is a statement from Paul's college application about Run to Feed the Hungry and his school’s fundraising team.

“Paul, it’s 5:45, time to get up.”

Thanksgiving morning always starts early with a 5K run. My family and I participate in the Run to Feed the Hungry with thousands of fellow citizens in support of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

In eighth grade, I pitched the idea of a Sacramento Country Day fundraising team to Student Council by stressing the importance of helping our community.

Our first year, we raised over $5,000, the most in the Sacramento area, as the first school-based team ever. We responded with three more excellent years, winning the fundraising trophy each year and raising $34,000 in total.
Our impressive results spurred fifteen other schools to form teams. The local NBC affiliate even interviewed us.

In addition to fundraising, this year’s goal is to ensure continuity. I have stepped aside as captain to mentor another student so our team keeps the chalice for years to come.

Today: Change a life for just $13

2010-11-16T18:21:17Z

Since the launch of Deal Ticket in July, tons of great products and services from local businesses have been featured every day.

Today, Deal Ticket and The Sacramento Press are excited to partner with Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services to switch things up and offer a chance for you to donate just in time for the holiday season.

For today only, you can visit the Deal Ticket website and donate $13 or more directly to Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS). One hundred percent of the price will go directly to the Food Bank and assist those less fortunate in our community.

All donations are 100 percent tax-deductible, and all donors will be issued vouchers that serve as receipts and include tax ID numbers. To give you an idea of how far your donation will go, here are some of the ways individuals and families will benefit from just $13:

· $130 worth of goods and services for individuals and families in need.

· A three-day supply of quality, healthy groceries for four families of four (48 meals) (Food Assistance program).

· Three days’ worth of diapers, food, formula and educational workshops for a family in need with an infant (Mother-Baby program).

· Twenty-six articles of clothing (Clothing program).

· Three art education classes (ceramics, watercolor, poetry, etc.) for four students (Women’s Wisdom Art program).

· Two days of technology-based education for one child (Computer Clubhouse program).

To receive a deal directly in your e-mail inbox, all you have to do is sign up for the daily Deal Ticket e-mail so you don’t miss out on deals you’ll love. Just visit our Deal Ticket website to sign up.

All it takes is one click to help those less fortunate in our community. This special Deal Ticket only lasts one day and we’re asking for your help in making this donation drive a success.

Spread the word to your friends, family, coworkers, everyone! Help make a difference this holiday season.

Read about the history of SFBFS and the services they provide here.
Read about the Food Bank's expansion here.

Photos courtesy of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

Racing for a Reason: Joan Miller

2010-11-15T21:58:04Z

Lace up your shoes, Sacramento -- the 17th annual Run to Feed the Hungry is only a couple weeks away.

Every week up until then, we will interview a new Run to Feed the Hungry runner. We will ask six different past and present runners the same questions. We have found that people are motivated by many different reasons to be involved in this incredible event.
There is still time to sign up to participate. Go to the Run to Feed the Hungry website for more information and ways to register.

Name: Joan Miller
Occupation: Child Welfare Social Work Supervisor.

The Sacramento Press: How many years have you been doing the run?
Joan Miller: 2010 will be my family’s third year doing the Run to Feed the Hungry.

SP: How many people do you run with?
JM: I run with several people on a regular basis, but this run, I run with my family; my partner and our two children, ages 21 and 22.

SP: Do you run or walk outside the event?
JM: I run weekly about three times per week, with a long run on the weekend. I also do many races every year, but the Run to Feed the Hungry is my favorite race and the race that means the most to me.

SP: What motivates you to be part of this cause?
JM: In part because of what the race represents and in part because I get to share it with my family.

SP: What is your favorite thing about Run to Feed the Hungry?
JM: I love what this race represents. I love that I get to start my Thanksgiving Day running with my family for a cause that is so relevant to our community and to our society here in America. I think the Sacramento Food Bank is a wonderful organization and I am awed and motivated to be a part of this event because of how many people show up to run for this cause and I know that my family is fortunate and to be able to spend the day with many others supplying food and money for an organization that provides families with what they need is an honor. Until we started running this race, we would stay home and eat dinner. When you juxtapose that with being able to be a small part of something so much bigger, how could we not participate?

SP: Do you have a favorite t-shirt design from over the years?
JM: I don’t necessarily have a favorite shirt design, but I do like they are long sleeved and I do prefer the shirts that are not white. All the designs are well done and well thought out.

SP: If you could make one wish this Thanksgiving, what would it be?
JM: My wish for this Thanksgiving is that more cities/counties/organizations be able to organize runs of this magnitude to supply food and money for what families and children need in America. It is obviously a huge success for the Sacramento region. A friend of mine and I would like to start something similar in our county and are making preliminary plans to start finding out how we can make that happen.

SP: What are you most thankful for this year?
JM: Although it sounds cliché, what I am most thankful for this year is wonderful children, good health, and someone who loves me more than words can say.

Photo courtesy of Joan Miller

Bottoms up! Wine Tasting 101

2010-11-15T04:08:25Z

Can I really taste oak and butter in my wine? What is really the point of swirling my wine glass around? Who cares if a glass of wine has legs?

Those questions, among many others, are what I set out to get answered when enrolling in Wine Tasting 101 taught by wine expert G.M. “Pooch” Pucilowski. Taught aboard the Delta King, the three-part course aims to make wine drinkers more comfortable and confident when choosing and discussing wine.

It’s probably important to disclose that two weeks ago the extent of my wine knowledge didn’t go much further than knowing that one too many glasses of red seems to inevitably give me a headache, and that nothing melts a stressful day of work away like a glass of cold chardonnay.

This is why, going into class, I was nervous that my low wine IQ would be ousted instantly and I would be scoffed at. But that all melted away within minutes of the first class.

Pucilowski has around 30 years of experience in the wine world and is deemed an official “Certified Wine Expert” by the Society of Wine Educators. He has served as chief judge for the wine competition at the California State Fair and has judged other notable shows like the International Wine Competition at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the Lodi Wine Awards. He is also the wine editor for Sacramento Magazine.

Most people, including myself, envision “winos” with their noses in the air while they swirl their wine, then submerging their noses in their glasses while claiming to pick up hints of tobacco or pear in their pour. Pucilowski, with his approachable and laid-back demeanor, puts that myth to rest and makes students feel comfortable asking any question they might have.

The courses are spread out over two weeks. There are two two-hour classes, “Tasting Like a Professional” and “Fives Types of Wine Flavor and Identification.” The third “class” is an optional wine-pairing dinner, held on a Thursday evening for this particular class series. While I could not attend the dinner, I snuck a peek at the menu. With menu items such as California goat cheese croquette with Serrano ham and arugula, pinot noir-braised duck, and pumpkin crème brulée, it’s clear that I missed out.

Just like a real college course, we were not only given something that resembled a syllabus, but school began with the quintessential icebreaker exercise where everyone talks a little bit about themselves.

There was a wide-range of professions, ages and reasons why students wanted to bulk up their wine expertise. Among the students were a 20-something who will eventually become a sommelier at his family’s bed and breakfast, a middle-aged woman who investigates food stamp fraud for the U.S. Department of Food & Agriculture and the owner of a chrome-plating shop who hopes to own a wine shop some day.

The setting was picturesque. The dining room’s doors stayed open, allowing the river breeze to blow in. If there’s a better place to learn about wine, I can’t think of one. Platters of cheeses, crackers and fruits welcomed us before being seated at tables covered in white linens and wine glasses.

We each were given a paper cup to spit our wine out after each taste. The idea of a spit cup has always been ridiculous to me. Who in their right mind would spit out a great mouthful of wine? But Pucilowski encouraged us to use the cups in order to take away more from the class.

“Every single ounce of alcohol in your system will diminish your ability to judge wine,” he said.

So I (hesitantly) resisted the urge to swallow in effort to get the most out of class.

While the first class’ purpose was to learn how to sip like a judge, Pucilowski explained that the difference between wine judges and consumers is what we’re looking for when tasting. Judges look for stylistic characteristics such as how a type of wine is supposed to look, smell and taste.

Consumers, on the other hand, are looking for a wine that tastes good to us. We sampled eight wines during each class and analyzed each by color, smell and taste as a group. A common reminder Pucilowski gave us throughout class was that there is no wrong answer to what you’re seeing, smelling or tasting.

“What you like is what you like. What you smell is what you smell,” he said.

Things I learned about analyzing color:

* Remember that everyone has their own spectrum and we all see colors differently.
* The best way to analyze a wine’s color is with a white background. A piece of paper or your white shirt will work.
* Look at the wine with light coming over your shoulder.
* Browning is caused by oxidation and, generally, a darker/browner wine means a wine is older.
* Factors that affect clarity and color include how the glass was washed or stored. For example, being stored in cardboard boxes can lead to bits of cardboard in the bottom and make a glass murky.
* The color of a wine comes from the grape’s skin. This is where “blanc de blanc” (white wine from white grapes) and “blanc de noir” (white wine from red grapes) come from.

Things I learned about analyzing smell:

* Don’t be embarrassed by what you’re smelling. When smelling the same glass of wine, students called out everything from egg to apple to vomit (yes, vomit).
* According to Pucilowski, scientists say we have the ability to smell 13,000 smells.
* The hardest problem we have is trying to describe what we’re smelling since no two people smell things the same way. To explain this difficulty, Pucilowski described trying to describe another person how a strawberry smells.
* Another common problem is “sensory fatigue.” Your brain has had enough. This is what happens when you can’t smell your perfume at the end of the day and others still can. To combat this, Pucilowski advised us to smell our skin or clothes in between sniffs.

Things I learned when analyzing taste:

* There is no right or wrong when it comes tasting. Just like smells, everyone has different tastes.
* Each taste bud in our mouths has the capacity to taste six tastes. They are sweetness, acidity (“sourness”), bitterness, saltiness, and “umami” (the Japanese word for “savory sensation”).
* According to Pucilowski, it is a wine faux pas to describe a wine as “sour.” Fellow wine drinkers might think you’re off the farm if you do.
* Always taste wine twice. The acidity will shock your taste buds the first time, but the second time is better.
* It’s best to taste in this order: white to red, dry to sweet and young to old.

As the first class ended, we were given the best homework I can ever remember being assigned in the history of my education: drink a bottle of wine. I gladly accepted and almost asked for extra credit.

The confidence gained from just one class was clear when class two opened with a sharing of our homework assignment. The students were clearly excited to incorporate their new vocab picked up from the week prior.

Once again we were given eight wines to sample, and this time champagne, or “sparkling wine,” was added to the mix. Perhaps the best part of the class was that we were given permission to not just taste but drink the delicious nectar that was poured into our glasses.

We learned lots of interesting tidbits including all about the different processes of grape fermentation and why drunk birds (yes, you read that correctly) can be seen flying near vineyards. While juice is busy fermenting inside the blume (the grape’s skin), some birds just can’t resist getting their beaks on it and will peck right through. Who can really blame them though?

To cap off the final evening, Pucilowski taught us all about the different types of bottles and their origins. For example, the “Bordeaux” bottle usually contains Bordeaux varieties from that region in France. This includes merlot, cabernet and cabernet sauvignon, among others. He explained that winemakers aren’t required to bottle wine according to the type, but it is a tradition and so winemakers generally stick to it.

As icing on the cake, we were privy to an exclusive Q&A session with Pucilowski. The only question he wouldn’t answer? His favorite wine.

He put it best when he explained that, when choosing wine, “it depends on who’s buying!”

If I could sum up Wine Tasting 101 in one sentence, it would be the recurring theme of the classes: Everyone is different and all that matters is what tastes good to me.

Dates for 2011 have not been locked in yet, but the next series of classes will begin January 2011. When he’s not traveling the country judging wine, Pucilowski also does house calls for private parties, company retreats and bus tours to local wine regions.

For reservation information and pricing for Wine School 101 visit the Delta King website or University of Wine.

Bottoms up!

A random smattering of myth-busters, tips and facts I gathered from Wine Tasting 101:

* Legs (the tear drops of wine that run down the insides of a glass) don’t tell the quality of wine, as many believe. This just means there is alcohol in the wine.
* If you don’t have a decanter available, you can naturally aerate the wine by pouring a little out, replacing the cork and shaking it all around.
* White wines generally have a higher alcohol content.
* Don’t rinse the glass in between pours when tasting. The residual water will change the taste more than the previous wine will.
* Wines aren’t made to age. A good rule of thumb is a maximum five years for red wines or three years for white from the vintage date on the bottle.
* In order to be “vintage,” at least 95 percent of a wine’s grapes has to be picked during that year.
* Judges will actually look for smells of cat urine to determine a good sauvignon blanc.
* Wine that is too cold can mask the tastes, so wine judges prefer warm wines, both red and white.
* Don’t use cooking wine! By law it has 6 percent residual salt in it so it can be sold in stores without a liquor license.
* When serving champagne, some restaurants or bars will actually scratch the bottom of a champagne flute on purpose. This causes more bubbles to rise from the bottom.
* Champagne bottles hold as much pressure as a car tire (90 lbs. per square in

Photos courtesy of Delta King and University of Wine

Racing for a Reason: Brielle Kruger

2010-11-08T22:02:24Z

Lace up your shoes, Sacramento -- the 17th annual Run to Feed the Hungry is only a few weeks away.

There is still time to sign up to participate. Go to the Run to Feed the Hungry website for more information and ways to register.

Name: Brielle Kruger

Occupation: Admitting Clerk

The Sacramento Press: How many years have you been doing the run?
Brielle Kruger: This will be our 4th year

SP: How many people do you run with?
BK: Three

SP: Do you run or walk outside the event?
BK: I walk and my son and fiance run.

SP: What motivates you to be part of this cause?
BK: It is a great way to start Thanksgiving.

SP: What is your favorite thing about Run to Feed the Hungry?
BK: The amount of people that attend, you will run into people you probably wouldn't see on Thanksgiving morning.

SP: Do you have a favorite t-shirt design from over the years?
BK: No, not really. They are all great.

SP: If you could make one wish this year on Thanksgiving, what would it be?
BK: My wish would be for my fiance to be able to get a job

SP: What are you most thankful for this year?
BK: My family that is healthy and happy!

Photo courtesy of Brielle Kruger
Caption: Mac Tiner and Brielle Kruger in back and Matthew Kruger in front

Racing for a Reason: Pam Farley

2010-11-01T17:09:32Z

Lace up your shoes, Sacramento -- the 17th annual Run to Feed the Hungry is only a few weeks away.

There is still time to sign up to participate. Go to the Run to Feed the Hungry website for more information and ways to register.

Name: Pam Farley

Occupation: My husband and I own and run Comics & Collectibles in Sacramento, and I have a gardening and thrifty living blog at www.brownthumbmama.com.

The Sacramento Press: How many years have you been doing the run?
Pam Farley: Three years.

SP: How many people do you run with?
PF: Our son and I participate—we see many friends and acquaintances each year and it turns into a big party!

SP: Do you run or walk outside the event?
PF: [ahem] Nope!

SP: What motivates you to be part of this cause?
PF: Our family has supported SFBFS for many years. There’s more to social justice than handing out food, and I admire SFBFS for teaching people to fish. In addition to the run and monetary donations, we hold a Spirit of Giving food drive each Christmas at Comics & Collectibles, and I donate extra produce from my garden. SFBFS provides a way to contribute and help others no matter what your talents are.

SP: What is your favorite thing about Run to Feed the Hungry?
PF: Starting the day bright and early with thousands of Sacramento’s best!

SP: Do you have a favorite t-shirt design from over the years?
PF: The green one from a couple of years ago. I like colorful shirts.

SP:If you could make one wish this year on Thanksgiving, what would it be?
PF: Holidays are crazy and chaotic for most people. There’s so much pressure to visit everyone and buy lots of presents. My wish is that we could slow down and express our love and appreciation for each other throughout the year, not just on a whirlwind weekend dictated by the calendar.

SP: What are you most thankful for this year?
PF: There have been some health scares in our extended family, so I’m thankful we’re all here to celebrate together.

Photos courtesy of Pam Farley

Where are you watching the World Series?

2010-10-27T21:12:03Z

If you aren’t one of the lucky fans who will actually be at the 2010 World Series, then you’ll probably be like the rest of us rooting for the Giants at local watering holes.

Don’t worry though, there are more than enough flat-screens and drink specials to go around. So pull up a stool, grab a beer, and pick one of the places below to cheer on the Giants!

Basic, 112 Pacific St., Roseville
5 flat-screen TVs
$1 shots every time the Giants score

Brew it Up, 801 14th St.
4 HD flatscreen TVs, 2 additional CRT TVs in bar
World Series specials:
$4 3 Olives flavored vodka cocktails
$3 Kraken dark rum and Cokes
$10 64-oz pitchers of Brewery Fest beer

Buffalo Wild Wings, 6301 Sunrise Blvd., Citrus Heights
61 TVs
“Boneless Thursday” for Game 2: 60 cent boneless wings

Cheers Bar & Grill, 1620 W El Camino Ave. # 130
Two big screen TVs
Regular happy hour 4 - 7 p.m.
50 cents off well drinks
25 cents off drafts

Cheaters, 3221 Folsom Blvd.
16 flat-screen HDTVs
Free hot dogs and snacks during games
$3 well drinks
$2 Pabst

Coaches, 5681 Lonetree Blvd., Rocklin
8 42-inch screen TVs
2 12-foot screen TVs
$8 pitchers
Regular happy hour, 4 - 7 p.m.

Elixir, 1815 10th St.
2 flat-screen TVs
Game 1 falls on their “Humpy Hour”
Happy Hour 4 - 7 p.m.
Call drinks $4.00
Well drinks $3.00
All Pints $3.00
Bottled Beer & PBR $3.00

Fox and Goose, 1001 R St.
No specials but showing games

Golden Bear, 2326 K St.
Regular happy hour 4- 7 p.m.
$1 off any drink

Hangar 17, 1630 S St.
8 TVs
Regular happy hour 3 - 6 p.m.
$3 well drinks, $2.50 domestic beers, $3.50 premium beers, $3 selected wine
“Five for $5” happy hour food
Beer specials T.B.A. during games

Limelight Bar & Cafe Card Room, 1014 Alhambra Blvd.
8 TVs
Drink specials TBA

M.V.P.’s Sports Grill, 2110 L St.
16 TVs
Happy hour until 7 p.m. throughout World Series
$2 beers, $4 well drinks

Oshima Sushi & Sports Bar, 2071 Natomas Crossing Dr.
13 TVs (6 inside bar area)
Regular happy hour 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Special pricing/menu on rolls in bar

Pine Cove, 502 29th St.
12 TVs
Regular happy hour Wednesdays
$3.00 Kamikazes or Cosmpolitans
$2.00 Pints of beer
-Pabst
-Blonde
-Anchorsteam
-Steelhead Pale Ale
-Shiner Hefeweizen

Players, 4060 Sunrise Blvd., Fair Oaks
River Cats hosting party with Brad Kilby signing autographs and appearance by Dinger the mascot

Powerhouse Pub, 614 Sutter St., Folsom
15 TVs total
2 6-foot projection HDTVs
2 50-inch TVs

River City Brewing, 545 Downtown Plaza, Ste. 1115
4 TVs in the bar, 1 in dining room
Happy hour until 6 p.m.

R15, 1431 R St.
14 42-inch plasma-screen TVs
Regular happy hour until midnight

Stingers, 7890 La Riviera Dr.
7 TVs
50 cent Jaeger/Red Bull shots every time the Giants score

Streets of London, 1804 J St.
3 TVs, shot specials and extending normal happy hour throughout entire game
Regular Wednesday night “Pint Night”: $5 gets the glass, $4 gets a refill

Streets of London, 2200 Lake Washington Blvd., West Sac.
3 TVs
Regular happy hour 4 - 6 p.m.
$4 pints
$1 off house wine and well drinks

Sudwerk Riverside Restaurant and Brewhouse, 9900 Greenback Ln., Folsom
5 50-inch flat-screen TVs
Happy hour pricing during all games
$1 off all beer, well drinks and house wine
$1.50 off all appetizers

Sweetwater, 1901 S St.
2 TVs
$3 premium draft beers
$5 appetizer specials

Zebra, 1900 P St.
7 TVs
Kitchen open during games
$1.75 Bud, Bud light Coors Light and Pabst

Zocalo, 1801 Capitol Ave.
4 TVs
Regular happy hour, 3 - 6 p.m.
$2 Naco Taco
$3 XX lager, XX amber, Santa Rita Merlot, Stone Cellars Chardonnay
$5 House Margarita, Mojito, Caipirinha
$7 Hand-Crafted Margarita, Blackberry Margarita

If there are any we missed, please leave it in a comment below!

Photos by Jonathan Mendick

Racing for a Reason: Shauna Dalton

2010-10-26T00:29:13Z

Lace up your shoes, Sacramento -- the 17th annual Run to Feed the Hungry is only a few weeks away.

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services encourages you to be part of a Thanksgiving tradition. The 5K and 10K fun run and walk launches from Sacramento State, 6000 J St., on Thanksgiving morning. With 30,000 participants expected to be involved, you are guaranteed a morning of fun with family and friends.

There is still time to sign up to participate. Go to the Run to Feed the Hungry website for more information and ways to register.

Name: Shauna Dalton

Occupation: Regional Catering Sales Manager for Panera Bread Bakery-Café

The Sacramento Press: How many years have you been doing the run?
Shauna Dalton:This will be my third year. The last three years of being involved with the run, I have been the team captain for Team Panera.

SP: How many people do you run with?
SD: Last year, Team Panera had over 50 people, and we expect even more this year.

SP: Do you run or walk outside the event?
SD: I do now! Run to Feed the Hungry got me started on running, and I just finished my first half marathon. Last year, I planned on running the 5K for Run to Feed the Hungry but accidentally missed the sign and took my sister along for a 10K run instead. I was so excited to complete a 10K that it motivated me to continue running.

SP: What motivates you to be part of this cause?
SD: I love this event.I think it is so important to be involved in the community, and this is such a great way to give back while involving others. What’s great is that the funds raised at this event goes toward supplies such as food, diapers, clothing and so much more for families in need.

SP: What is your favorite thing about Run to Feed the Hungry?
SD: Not only has it become a Thanksgiving tradition in my family, but it has also become a Thanksgiving tradition for many of Panera’s associates and managers as well as their friends and family. It’s the most amazing experience to be there on Thanksgiving morning coming together with so many other people and raising funds for such a wonderful cause.

SP: Do you have a favorite T-shirt design from over the years?
SD: Oh yes! I’m such a foodie that my favorite shirt was the 2008 T-shirt with the fork on it. Also, I loved how it conveyed the message for Run to Feed the Hungry.

SP: If you could make one wish this year on Thanksgiving, what would it be?
SD: So many to choose from, but one of my wishes would be that more people get more involved with their local community organizations. It’s so important to give back, and there are many great organizations that need our help on supporting those that need it the most.

SP: What are you most thankful for this year?
SD: I am thankful for so many things, but I am most thankful for my wonderful family and friends, my loving boyfriend, our good health and for having God in my heart.

Photos courtesy of Shauna Dalton

Country in the Park full of great music, low on beer

2010-09-02T01:28:17Z

It was a sea of cut-off shorts, cowboy hats, and overalls at Capitol Mall on Sunday afternoon for Country in the Park 2010.

KNCI 105.1 managed to turn the intersection on Capitol Mall and Fifth Streets into a country music venue for the day. The gated-off intersection was filled with an estimated 11,000-12,000 country music fans, making this year one of the biggest in it’s 11-year existence, according to Mark Evans, program director at KHTK and KNCI Sacramento.

Due to budget cuts Gibson Ranch, where the concert is normally held, was unable to rent out the park to KNCI this year.

The singing of the national anthem and “God Bless America” with help from the crowd kicked off the day on a high and patriotic note.

Whiskey Dawn took the stage first, setting the bar high for an impressive lineup of talented country stars. Others included Sunny Sweeney, Eli Young Band, Jack Ingram and Dierks Bentley.

The day was close to perfect except for a minor upset when the beer taps ran dry about an hour before Bentley took the stage.

As part of the deal to hold the event downtown this year, the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau ran and kept all proceeds from alcohol sales.

“I know they had planned on a bigger supply than had been gone through in previous years, but (for whatever reason), it was an enormous beer-drinking crowd that showed up,” Evans said.

Alcohol tickets were sold in advance at different booths than where the alcohol was actually served, and many people purchased multiple tickets to avoid waiting in lengthy lines.

“How is it possible to run out of beer at a country concert, of all places?” asked one concert attendee, Karley Spaulding, referring to country songs’ constant references to drinking.

While refunds were offered to those who still had tickets in hand, many decided the lines were too long, and some even left before Bentley took the stage. As some vocalized their frustration, security guards braced themselves in front of each booth that served alcohol in case anyone became unruly.

Despite the upset, the show continued, and the true country fans stayed for the reason they came: the music.

Fans went wild when Ingram joined Bentley onstage for an impromptu duet, and their love for Bentley was obvious as the cheers grew louder with every song.

Bentley belted out his catchy hits like “All my exes live in Texas,” “Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do” and “Every Mile a Memory.”

He won over the crowd’s hearts, saying, “The prettiest girls are in California! Put that in my Wikepedia!”

Bentley drove the crowd even more crazy when he proclaimed, “I love me some Old Sac!”

The love was mutual.

Photos taken by Kati Garner

Bruises and beat-downs for a good cause

2010-08-25T00:31:16Z

It’s not often that bruises and beat-downs have anything positive associated with them.

But that’s exactly what will take place Aug. 28 at the seventh annual “Battle of the Badges” charity boxing fundraiser.

Police officers, correctional officers, and firefighters from throughout Northern California will step into the ring at Memorial Auditorium to duke it out all in the name of a good cause.

The event was founded in 2003 by correctional officers Israel Montes Jr. and Yvonne Vasquez of California State Prison-Sacramento before a third officer, Pablo Vasquez, joined the team. Vasquez passed away in 2007.

The annual tradition began as a small-scale event held at the Boys & Girls Club in downtown Sacramento and has outgrown the various halls and auditoriums used since then.

Montes said the event was started to “build camaraderie, unity and competitive sportsmanship among peace officers and firefighters” in addition to raising money and supporting what he call “worthy” local charities.

“The benefiting charities are chosen through careful consideration and at the recommendation of fighters. I want them to feel they are competing for a worthy cause,” Montes said.

Specific charities include beneficiaries from last year (The Firefighters Burn Institute, The Sac Fallen Officers Resource Fund and The Sacramento Sheriff’s Toy Project) along with new additions California Association of Highway Patrolmen Widows & Orphans’ Trust Fund and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Jim Doucette, executive director for the burn institute, said, “The Firefighters Burn Institute is very happy to be one of the charities that will benefit from this year’s Battle of the Badges. All of these charities do wonderful work for our community.”

Last year’s event,“The Raley Field Rumble,” raised approximately $10,000 for the benefiting charities and this year’s event is expected to raise even more.

Around 2,500-3,000 peace officers, firefighters, and family and friends are expected to fill the auditorium Saturday night.

There are approximately 15 fights lined up with three, two-minute rounds during each when Montes says the fighters will “battle fiercely representing their respective agencies.”

“We hope that all of the boxers do well, but of course we will be cheering for our firefighters!” Doucette said.

Before the action begins, there will be a pre-fight ceremony honoring fallen officers, firefighters and soldiers. The ceremony will include performances by the Sacramento Firefighters Pipes & Drums and the California State Prison-Sacramento Honor Guard.

On Friday night before the fights, weigh-ins and a pre-fight party will be held at Blue Cue and is open to the public, which Montes credits the event’s success to.

“This event would not be possible without the support of participants, sponsors, volunteers and fans,” Montes said.

Ticket prices are $40 for assigned floor-level ringside seating, $30 for lower-balcony/general seating, and $25 for upper-balcony general seating. Tickets can be purchased at the Sacramento Convention Center Box Office at 1301 L St. with no surcharge or at Tickets.com.

The Memorial Auditorium is located at 1515 J St.

Blue Cue is located at 1004 28th St.

See the complete fight card here.

For more information, visit the official Battle of the Badges website or Facebook page.

Photos from last year's "Raley Field Rumble" by Bob Knapik, restorem@surewest.net

Camp Concord to bring young burn survivors together

2010-08-06T00:25:02Z

Sunday, around 51 young burn survivors will trade in doctors, hospital visits, and burn treatments for a week of fun in the mountains.

Campers will swim, boat, hike, fish, rock-climb, and raft during the day. During the evenings, they will participate in campfire skits and songs, dancing, and a be able to catch a wild animal show.

Aug. 8 kicks offs opening day of the Firefighters Burn Institute’s (FFBI) Firefighter Kids Camp at Camp Concord in South Lake Tahoe. Established in the early 1990s, this year marks the camp’s 17th year.

Newly appointed FFBI Executive Director, Jim Doucette, said the best thing about the camp is that it “allows children to be amongst their peers. Burn injuries can be very traumatic, and it helps them to be around other children who have gone through the same horrible ordeals.”

Doucette, who recently retired from his role as the Sacramento Fire Department’s public information officer, has been involved with FFBI for around 25 years and is looking forward to playing “PIO for a day” at the Kids Camp during visitors’ day when media is invited.

The camp does not turn any child away who wishes to attend and, due to generous donations to FFBI, is free of charge.

Donations to the institute come from a mixture of private donations, fundraisers held by FFBI or on behalf of FFBI and through payroll deductions (including firefighter payroll deduction), which is how FFBI first began.

While the majority of the children come from California, Nevada and Oregon, the camp has hosted children from as far away as China, Switzerland and Mexico.

Campers are between the ages of 7 and 17 and, as long as they have completed the first grade, can be accepted as young as 6 years old.

“All of these campers have had serious burn injuries, some worse than others,” Doucette said. “But I can honestly say that in my years of working with FFBI and meeting many ‘burn survivors,” they are truly the most remarkable people I have ever met.”

While some of the childrens’ injuries hinder their ability to participate in some camp activities, the volunteers (including firefighters and Shriners Hospital for Children staff) have set up camp to include them in as many activities as possible.

“A lot of these people have literally gone through hell and survived. They typically love life and want to make the most out of [it],” Doucette said.

The FFBI’s mission is to provide recovery programs to burn survivors of all ages, promote fire and burn prevention through public education, fund scholarships and support burn treatment and rehabilitation research.

Although the camp only lasts for a week, the memories and friendships often continue on.

“Many of the the kids do stay in touch. Some have been to numerous camps, and some event become camp counselors when they are old enough,” Doucette said.

He said the camp often leaves an impact on more than just the campers, however.

“You realize that what problems you thought you had, they aren’t really problems at all!”

To find out how to volunteer or donate to the camp, contact coordinator Catharine Shaw at 916-739-8525.

Learn more about the Firefighters Burn Institute, visit their website.

Photos: Campers from previous years, courtesy of Firefighters Kids Camp

We've got a winner!

2010-08-05T19:03:10Z

The lucky winner of our Deal Ticket Sweepstakes is Lauren Edvalson!!!!!!

A little bit about the winner:

Lauren currently holds a position within The Sacramento Bee’s advertising department, where she specializes in developing multimedia advertising campaigns to drive sales and awareness for her clients in the arts and entertainment industry. Lauren also serves as vice president of corporate support for the AMASV (American Marketing Association, Sacramento Valley Chapter) fostering relationships with marketing executives in the Sacramento region. When Lauren is not working, she manages her own business as a stylist for the Stella & Dot jewelry.

Congratulations Lauren! By spreading the word about Deal Ticket, Lauren has won the ultimate local prize package:

-Brand-new Apple iPad with 3G
-Four greens fees for Ancil Hoffman Golf Course
-Family pass for four to The Sacramento Zoo
-$20 off to Red Lotus
-$100 towards A. Jaffe jewelry from Roger's Jewelry
-Sacramento Kings basketball signed by Jon Brockman
-Sacramento Kings limited edition poster

Because she put forth a valiant effort in spreading the word about Deal Ticket and accumulated an astounding 111 points, we’ve also named a runner-up in the Sweepstakes. Congratulations to Gina Beltran! Gina will be receiving a $50 gift card to her favorite local retailer and a $50 gift card to her favorite local restaurant.

If you haven't signed up yet to receive Daily Deal e-mails, all you have to do is go to the Deal Ticket home page and sign up by giving us your e-mail address.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Deal Ticket Sweepstakes!

Photo is of Lauren Edvalson

The lucky winner is...

2010-07-23T22:54:00Z

This week, The Sacramento Press teamed up with Athletes vs. Cancer to give one lucky person the chance to caddie for NBA star Matt Barnes at the AVC Celebrity Golf International on Saturday, July 24. We asked entrants to tell us why they thought they should be Barnes’ caddie for the day. We received great responses and have chosen the lucky winner: Larry Tipper! Tipper will be hanging out with Barnes for 18 holes during the tournament at Woodcreek Golf Course in Roseville. Here is Larry’s winning entry:

"My name is Larry Tipper and I'm 37 years old. Last April I was diagnosed with stage 3 Non-Hogkins Lymphoma. I am currently going through chemo every 3 weeks. I know you are asking for someone in good physical condition and I know this Saturday I will be "up to par" for the task at hand. Even through treatment I'm working out, bike riding, and running a mile or more at the gym. As long as I have cold water I'm good to go. I was lucky enough for my family and I to meet Matt today and he is an amazing person. Matt brought my hopes up and made me see even star athletes really, truly care! As an end note I really just want to thank Matt and all the people that make this event possible for cancer patients as myself."

A huge congratulations to Larry and thanks to everyone who entered!

About Athletes vs Cancer: Founded in 2009 by Matt Barnes in memory of his mother, the Foundation has expanded to recruit additional athletes and coaches touched by cancer. It’s primary focus in 2010 is to secure a mobile cancer screening van. The vehicle will visit low-income neighborhoods providing free cancer screenings, awareness and resources from AVC and its partner organizations.

For more information about Saturday’s tournament, read Nick Houser’s article here.
Photo 2 is of Larry, his son Jacob, and Matt Barnes this week at Thunder Valley.

Save money and win big in Deal Ticket Sweepstakes

2010-07-22T19:48:35Z

We are excited to announce a special opportunity and want our users, as part of The Sacramento Press community, to be the first to take advantage.

How would you like to save 51-90 percent on Sacramento's top restaurants, salons and businesses every day? Well, now you can! We introduce to you: Deal Ticket.

It’s really easy to sign up and start saving. Every day, we feature a fantastic deal from a local business. That deal is featured for one day only. You click to buy the deal and save money by doing so. All you have to do is sign up for the daily Deal Ticket e-mail so you don’t miss out on deals you’ll love.

To give you an idea of what's in store, we have great deals at Tuli Bistro (60 percent off), Evan's Kitchen (58 percent off), Article (67 percent off) and the L Wine Lounge (55 percent off) - all lined up for just the first week! To get started on the savings, just visit the Deal Ticket website and enter your e-mail.

Plus, it gets even better. Starting this week, we're giving you multiple chances to win tons of prizes (including an Apple iPad) just for spreading the word about Deal Ticket. See the complete rules and details below.

If you sign up to receive daily Deal Ticket e-mails, you will have another chance to win big in a whole new sweepstakes starting next week. Keep an eye out for details here next week or, if you are a Sacramento Press user, you will get an e-mail with complete details.

Thank you for your continued support of not only us, but Sacramento's local businesses.

HOW TO ENTER THE DEAL TICKET SWEEPSTAKES

Now through Aug. 4, 2010, enter the Deal Ticket Sweepstakes and be entered into a drawing to win the ultimate local prize package:

-Brand-new Apple iPad with 3G
-Four greens fees for Ancil Hoffman Golf Course
-Family pass for four to the Sacramento Zoo
-$20 off to Red Lotus
-$100 towards A. Jaffe jewelry from Roger's Jewelry
-Sacramento Kings basketball signed by Jon Brockman
-Sacramento Kings limited edition poster

It's easy to be entered in the sweepstakes. All you have to do is spread the word, and you'll earn points the more you do. Each point gets your name put into the drawing, and here's how to earn them:

Worth 1 POINT each:

- Tweet about this contest or about Deal Ticket in your Twitter status
- Post about this contest or about Deal Ticket in your Facebook status.
- Become a fan of Deal Ticket on Facebook (see link at bottom) and comment.
- Sign up to be on our mailing list by clicking the "Sign Up" button in this e-mail
- Are you on Foursquare? For every place you are the “mayor" of, you get one point! Send us the list of places where you are the mayor.

Worth 3 POINTS each:

- Blog about this contest and/or about Deal Ticket.
- Send us a link to your favorite local restaurant, boutique, or any other business.
- Foursquare Mayors: share Deal Ticket with the venue where you are the mayor by telling them (we'll take your word that you actually did it!), posting the link to Deal Ticket on their Facebook page or Twitter.
-Post a 'Shout out' to your Foursquare friends about Deal Ticket.
-Joining the conversation on Deal Ticket's Facebook Discussion Forum, "What's your favorite spot to eat in Sacramento?" or "What's your favorite store?"

To show us your entries, e-mail us at contest@sacramentopress.com. Include your name and your total number of entries in the subject heading. In the body of your e-mail, type a list of everything you've completed, including the verifiable links. We will check all the links, so make sure they work!

Important things to keep in mind:

-If you do not send us an e-mail at contest@sacramentopress.com with your completed tasks, they will not be counted.

-You may repeat the same task, but only one of each task will be counted per day.

-The more points you earn, the more times your name will be entered in the sweepstakes.

-Please do not send multiple e-mails. Just send one e-mail with your total entries.

-Deadline for entries is Aug. 3 2010, at midnight

IMPORTANT: PLEASE SEE COMPLETE RULES HERE

Deal Ticket Facebook
Deal Ticket Twitter

Steve Miller Band draws fans of all ages to Raley Field

2010-07-21T19:45:58Z

Raley Field was packed with around 6,000 Steven Miller Band fans Saturday night. Some lifelong fans, some who’ve adopted their penchants for classic rock from their parents, and all ready to rock.

"[Steve] put on a good show. I did not start listening to his music until I was in college, which was not too long ago, and it just goes to show how music (and the national debt) can span across generations,” said Ron Rosenberg, who frequents many a concert at Raley Field.

Young, old, and everything in between gathered to welcome Steve Miller Band to Sacramento on its first visit to the region since 2000.

While expectations of the band’ return to Sactown were high, the energy was pretty underwhelming, and the crowd got off to a slow start despite opening with classics like “Jet Airliner” and ”Take the Money and Run.”

Fans were mellow still when songs from their newly-released blues album “Bingo” were sampled, and the cheers and applause seemed like more of a courtesy from the ho-hum crowd.

Fortunately, by the end of the night Miller, and his men picked the energy up a couple notches and classic rock concert antics were in full effect. This might have had something to do with “Space Cowboy,” “Abracadabra,” and, of course, “Joker.”

The unexpected star of the evening was high school freshman and extremely talented Dillon Brown from Corona, Calif., who jammed alongside Miller and his crew for “Fly Like an Eagle” and (after much begging from the crowd) an encore of “Jungle Love.” The crowd went crazy for the talented Brown, who who had no problem keeping up with the band.

Brown is a participant in the “Kids Rock Free” program, establish by the Fender Center.

Miller took the opportunity in between sets to promote the program, which provides free and low-cost musical education to children ages 7 up to 17 and also tell stories about lost guitars and other anecdotes that left the crowd a little lost.

In the end, it seemed like the only thing that drove the crowd mad and made them crazy was the lack of consistent enthusiasm from the band. Better luck next decade?

Photo credit: Michael Althouse, http://overflowstuff.blogspot.com/ and http://25yearplan.blogspot.com

Grape Escape satisfies wine and food enthusiasts

2010-06-07T22:06:03Z

Cesar Chevez Park was a foodie and wino's paradise on Saturday night at the 8th Annual Raley's Grape Escape.

Upon entrance, attendees were handed platters and wine glasses that vendors kept filled. For three hours, guests circled the plaza enjoying samples from Sacramento's up-and-coming restaurants along with more than 100 wineries from surrounding counties such as Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, and Nevada among others.

"This was my third straight year I have gone to the Grape Escape and once again it was a great time with a broad variety of wineries and restaurants," said Melissa McNabb.

Local restaurants such as Grange Restaurant & Bar, Mulvaney's Building & Loan, Brew it Up, Zocalo, Lucca, and P.F. Changs (among many others) served samplings of their most popular menu items in both liquid and solid form. Many restaurants took the event as an opportunity to reel in future business and passed out coupons for future visits. Grange even passed out a $20 gift cards to those who waited in a lengthy line to sample their sausage and pulled-pork sandwiches.

Aside from Grange, some of the most popular samplings included sliders from the recently-opened Cafeteria 15L, barbecued corn and asparagus from Raley's, lettuce wraps from P.F. Changs, and a garlic-rich pasta from Paesano's.

In support of the event, in the weeks before Grape Escape various Raley's and Bel-Air stores hosted in-store tastings featuring pours from wineries at Grape Escape. Some of these included Barefoot Bubbly, Michael David, Toasted Head and Ironstone.

"The goal of [Grape Escape] is to educate the locals on all the culinary treasures that we have here in the Sacramento region," said Mike Testa, Vice President of Communications at the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Too often, many people automatically think Napa and Sonoma when they think wine tasting and we want them to know that award-winning wines are here in their own backyard. We saw that education in action this weekend."

The main attraction and most excitement came from the "Chef's Challenge" on the main stage, presented by the Institute of Technology. The battle of the local chefs showcased the talents of Ame Harrington of L Wine Lounge & Urban Kitchen, Noah Zonca of The Kitchen Restaurant, Adam Pechal of Tuli Bistro, and Darrell Madeira of Crush 29. TV personality and "Good Day Sacramento" host Mark S. Allen kept the competition lively.

All chefs, with the help of an assistant, were given 25 minutes to prepare and serve a dish with a pre-selected basket of ingredients, including Sturgeon, English peas, strawberries, Horseradish root, and Manchego cheese. Teams competed in two rounds and the winner advanced to the final round. It came down to Harrington and Zonca and after the judges weighed on their final dishes, Zonca was crowned winning chef.

Judges for the event included Rick Kushman, The Sacramento Bee "Good Life" columnist; Patty Mastracco, Food Editor for Raley's "Something Extra" magazine; and Don Dickinson, Culinary Division Director at the Institute of Technology's Culinary Arts Division.

"I especially enjoyed the chef competition and the opportunity it gives local chefs to showcase their talents," said Ali Zamanian, who had worked at past Grape Escapes as a vendor but was able to enjoy the event for the first time as a guest.

Other entertainment throughout the event included live music and art by local artists on display throughout the plaza.

When 7 p.m. came and it was time for Grape Escape-goers to leave, many left with satisfied palates, filled with our region's culinary offerings.

For a full listing of participating restaurants and wineries, visit the Grape Escape website.

All photos by Ron Nabity of Nabity Photos

Watch Race for the Rock kick-off celebration here!

2010-06-04T23:52:59Z

Thank you so much to everyone who has helped registered and helped spread the word about the 2nd annual Race for the Rock. Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) is thankful for the support of race participants as 100 percent of the event registration fee benefits programs and services at SFBFS. If you haven't registered yet but still want to join in the fun it's not too late! You can still sign up at the official Race for the Rock website or show up at 8 AM at the Capitol tomorrow and register in-person! We will be live streaming the kick-off festivities right here on The Sacramento Press Saturday, June 5.

The schedule of events is as follows:

8:00 Check-in begins (West steps of the Capitol): Racers receive t-shirts, meet local mascots such as Dinger, Scooter and professional dancers.
10:00 Kick off ceremony: Mayor Johnson will send out the first text and send the racers on their way at 10:15.12:00 Race wraps up: Racers are notified the final clue has been solved and everyone is invited back to the after party to celebrate.
12:30 After party is underway (House Kitchen & Bar 555 Capitol Ave) – valet bike parking, local band The Detours perform, lunch provided by House Kitchen & Bar.
2:00 Award ceremony. Prizes include $20,000 diamond ring, earrings, necklace, 2 beach cruisers, watches, gift certificates and much more!
3:00 Event wrap up

We hope you can to join us on Saturday with the hundreds of teams that will be racing through downtown Sacramento on bikes, scooters and foot using theirtexting skills to solve clues that will lead them to fabulous prizes.

Free live streaming by Ustream Free video chat by Ustream

Who's Steve Knieriem's 'rock'? Race for the Rock 2010

2010-05-27T21:18:06Z

The second Race for the Rock, benefitting Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, will take place on June 5. Participants will pedal, scoot and wheel their way through downtown Sacramento guided by text message-based clues in search of over $35,000 in prizes, provided by Rogers Jewelery Co. Each week leading up to the event, we will interview someone who is involved in the race to find out who their "rock" is.

Interview with Steve Knieriem, Operations Manager for the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

Who is your "rock" and why?
My Family has been my rock in my life. With all the things that I put them through, I am very blessed that I have their respect today. I wouldn’t be the person that I am today without their love and forgiveness.

Have you ever been anyone else's "rock"?
I hope that through my life I have been someone else’s rock but many of my ex-girlfriends would probably disagree.

What are your thoughts about last year's Race for the Rock?
I wasn’t that involved with last year's Race for the Rock, I just played a small logistical part delivering and picking up before and after the event.

What is your role with this year's Race for the Rock and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS)?
This year, as the Operations Manager for SFBFS, I have been involved from the beginning stages of planning and will be one of the last people to leave when the after-party is finished at HOUSE Kitchen & Bar. I will participate at the re-cap meeting and start planning for the 2011 Race.

How long have you been supporting SFBFS?
I have had the opportunity to be a part of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services Family for about 5 years. I started as a seasonal/temporary Holiday Spirit of Giving driver/warehouse worker and have been a staff member for 3 years; the most rewarding job I have ever had.

If you are participating in this year's race, what are you looking forward to the most?
I am setting up for the race so all the people participating will have fun and enjoy themselves.

What is one thing about SFBFS the public might not realize but should know?
All the dedication that the volunteer and staff have to make the SFBFS operate.

Anything else you'd like to add?
I'm very thankful to the Sacramento community for their support to the SFBFS.

For more information and to register as a participant, please visit www.racefortherock.com

Who's Chris Suter's 'rock'? Race for the Rock 2010

2010-05-17T23:50:29Z

Interview with Chris Suter, SFBFS volunteer and contestant in last year's Race for the Rock

Who is your "rock" and why?

I would have to pick my sister, Emily. Simply put, she is the most amazing person I’ve ever met. Somehow, she effortlessly balances an engineering workload at a top Ivy League school, career internships, and a full social schedule. Also, she is the most wonderfully sweet person you could ever hope to know. She’s seven years younger than I am, but she’s who I want to be when I grow up.

Have you ever been anyone else's "rock"?

A close friend of mine recently lost someone dear to her. Looking for distractions and fun she turned to me, and never one to turn down the opportunity to spend time with her I was more than happy to oblige. Despite her loss, she was able to put on a brave face and have a good time whenever we hung out. She would later tell me how much our time together during this emotional period meant to her. It was a sad time, but this has definitely brought us closer as friends.

What are your thoughts about last year's Race for the Rock?

The event was fantastic! It was so much fun. My teammate Chris and I were fortunate enough to place second amidst some tough competition, so that was a bonus.

What is your role with this year's Race for the Rock and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS)?

Chris and I will be participating again. Being a competitive pair, we already have the standard of last year’s performance to live up to, but now some of our friends have dubbed us as the “pre-race favorites” so we’ll have that pressure to deal with, too. Thanks guys.

How long have you been supporting SFBFS?

I’ve been involved with SFBFS since the summer of 2007 when I met Genevieve (Saca Center Director). As we became closer friends I started volunteering at their events like Run to Feed the Hungry and Broker Punt Pass and Kick. For the past year, as I was unemployed, I volunteered a couple times a week with their Adult Education and Mother Baby programs and also was given the opportunity to lead some of their bigger events like Adopt A Family and the Turkey Drive.

If you are participating in this year's race, what are you looking forward to the most?

A great day of fun, racing hard, avoiding some of the mistakes we made last year, and seeing if we can’t take that one step up to the top of the podium. But mostly just going out and having a good time.

What is one thing about SFBFS the public might not realize but should know?

That SFBFS is more than just food. While that is technically the name of the organization and they do it extremely well, their true quality and value shows through in the ability to engage the community. My time there has really shown me how much the community can benefit from well-planned events and programs done by staff that truly cares about their clients.

For more information and to register as a participant, please visit www.racefortherock.com.

Also, visit the Sacramento Press "Race for the Rock" page

Who's Genevieve Deignan's 'rock'? Race for the Rock 2010

2010-05-11T23:53:04Z

Interview with: Genevieve Deignan, Saca Community Learning Center Director, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

Who is your "rock" and why?
I had a hard time coming up with just 1 person. My friends, coworkers, boyfriend and family, and my cat, Buster, constantly support me in every way and in all of my crazy endeavors. Not only because Mother’s Day was last Sunday and Father’s Day is coming up in June, but because they are amazing people, I have to say that my rocks are my parents. My mother, Kathleen, and my father, Joseph, have always been there for me in every way throughout my life. My dad would come home from work and flip through my text books and quiz for a test that was the next day and in college I could e-mail my papers home at midnight and they’d be proof-read and corrected in time for me to turn them in in the morning. No holiday passes without getting a card or small gift sent to me from my mother, not just birthdays, but Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter too. Even now, with my busy schedule, I am unable to always cook healthy meals for myself, so my mom sends me back to Sacramento stocked with ready to microwave healthy soups and dishes. My parents attend every special event that I hold at the Saca Center, usually manning the barbecue and last year a volunteer group didn’t show up for one of my events and my dad barbecued 500 hot dogs by himself and my mom plated and added ketchup or mustard to very single one. My parents have always been fair disciplinarians and especially now as an adult, I see the reasoning behind every rule and every punishment and I find myself offering advice to others based on the way that I was parented. They have supported me in every thing that I have done and have never pressured me to do something I didn’t want to do and have always let me make my own choices and therefore reap the consequences, good and bad. They have grown from parents into my best friends and I love going home just to spend time with them, tell stories and laugh.

Have you ever been anyone else's "rock"?
I hope so! I am not sure, but I have many close friends and offer support to many staff and volunteers at work. Roxanne Tursi, an SFBFS volunteer, wrote her article saying that I was her rock! So touching- thank you Roxanne!

What are your thoughts about last year's Race for the Rock?
I am super excited! I hope that over 2,000 people come and participate! It is a great event!

What is your role with this year's Race for the Rock and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS)?
I am in charge of organizing the after-party. We are meeting at 5th and Capitol at House Kitchen and Bar from 12:00-3:00pm for lunch, drinks, and live music by the Detours! We will have valet bike parking, awards and prizes for everyone!

How long have you been supporting SFBFS?
I started as a volunteer in March of 2005 and transitioned into an AmeriCorps member from fall 2005-fall 2006, when the Saca Center Director at the time, Josh Heimburg, was leaving for graduate school. I was offered the position of Adult Education Program manager and shortly after transitioned into Saca Center Director. Now I oversee the building facility and 6 staff members! It is an amazing job!

If you are participating in this year's race, what are you looking forward to the most?
I am not participating but come and see me at the after-party!!

What is one thing about SFBFS the public might not realize but should know?
That we have another building! The Saca Center opened in February 2005 (5th Year Anniversary Party schedule for June 10th 4-7pm open house) and we house 4 of SFBFS’s programs; Adult Education, Mother-Baby, Youth Academy and PlayCare. Come and visit us for a tour!

Anything else you'd like to add?
Thank you Mom and Dad for supporting me and SFBFS!

For more information and to register as a participant, please visit www.racefortherock.com

Visit the Sacramento Press 2010 Race for the Rock splash page

Cyclists to do a mad dash in search of diamonds

2010-05-06T22:28:14Z

Hop on your bikes, Sacramento, and get ready to search for some bling.

Rogers Jewelry Co. and Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) are bringing back Race for the Rock for its second year with plans to make this year's fundraiser bigger and better than last year.

"We have a year under our belt with this new event, and our relationship with Rogers and our participants continue to get stronger and stronger," said Blake Young, SFBFS president.

On June 5, around 1,000 participants will meet at the west steps of the Capitol to partake in a text message-based scavenger hunt around downtown. Using a mobile, geo-gaming technology system called SCVNGR, clues will be sent directly to contestants' cell phones.

The clues will lead to $35,000 worth of jewelry, including the grand prize Hearts on Fire diamond ring worth $20,000 and second- and third-place prizes worth more than $3,500 each. Additional valuable prizes up for grabs include a Garmin GPS system for bikes, watches by Seiko, and women's and men's rings, among others.

"Participants should expect a very exciting event with really good prizes and a good feeling that their efforts and time will result in families receiving help through this combined effort," said Young said. He said he believes the best part of the race is exposing SFBFS to a new support base and increasing public awareness of the many programs the organization operates.

The idea for Race for the Rock was born last year when the Rogers team, a third-generation family business, began questioning how they could give back to Sacramento where the Rogers family has lived and worked for close to 70 years.

"Right now, there are a lot more people out there needing help to make ends meet," said Rogers Marketing Director Calvin Curtin. "The question is, how can a group of jewelry stores help people struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table?"

That's when Rogers turned to SFBFS, where every dollar donated equals $10 worth of services and goods. All proceeds from the $40-per-team entry fee will go directly to SFBFS with a goal of raising more than $500,000. Those who wish to donate but cannot participate in the race can pay the registration fee and still attend the after-party without partaking in the race.

Besides having fun in the name of a great cause, Curtin said he believes one of the best parts of the race is the bonding that takes place. He explained that at the beginning of last year's race, many teams quietly kept to themselves. This changed at the after party, when many of the teams mixed and mingled, sharing stories and laughs over the experience they had all just gone through.

"Race for the Rock is like a party," he said. "It's the coolest feeling to bring a huge group of people together and give them a common experience to share."

This year's after party, included in the entry fee, will take place at HOUSE Kitchen & Bar, where attendees can valet their bikes, be fed lunch, and be entertained by party band The Detours. Prizes will be given out during an award ceremony at the party.

As of last week, without any advertising, about 70 teams are registered. This number is expected to multiply sevenfold in the final weeks before the race with additional marketing efforts and exposre. Registration is accepted up until kickoff at the event, but only 500 teams will be allowed to participate in order to maximize teams' chances of winning prizes.

"By participating in this event, you are helping to provide a lifeline of hope to people struggling to make ends meet," Curtin said.

For more information or to register, visit the Race for the Rock website.

See last year's event:

Photos courtesy of Rogers Jewelry Co.

Author's Note: The maximum teams allowed to register this year is actually 1,000. Also, the $500,000 mentioned in the article is referring to how many goods and services the $50,000 donation goal will provide to SFBFS.

Who's Alexis Raymond's "rock"? Race for the Rock 2010

2010-05-03T22:30:29Z

Interview with Alexis Raymond, SFBFS volunteer

A little about Alexis: I moved to Sacramento from Boston in 2002. I like to have fun and help others. I work full time for United Animal Nations, a national nonprofit animal protection organization, and I am on the volunteer board of directors of the Sacramento Area Animal Coalition, a local nonprofit that provides low-cost spay/neuter services to pet owners in need. In my free time I like to bike, hike, travel, read, write, cook, eat, and go for walks with my significant other, Richard, and our dogs, Nikki and Dewey.

Who is your "rock" and why? My “rock” is a husband and father of four. He’s just not my husband. Ted Ten Eyck and I met when we were both awkward (physically and emotionally) pre-teens in junior high school. He has remained my closest friend for 27 years. With a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen, he has ushered me through life’s minutia (unrequited crushes, first-job jitters, fender benders) and major upheavals (marriage, divorce, my father’s death, my own open heart surgery). Ted and I live 3,000 miles apart now and I’m lucky if I see him once a year. It hardly matters, though. Despite the distance that separates us and the differences in our lives, whenever we see each other we act like the same awkward kids we were 27 years ago -– laughing at each other’s dumb jokes, lending a sympathetic ear and accepting one another for who we are. (Attached photo is me and Ted on the top of Mount San Jacinto near Palm Springs, taken during a recent trip to celebrate his 40th birthday)

Have you ever been anyone else's "rock"? I like to think I have been a rock for Ted. I’ve popped up in his life where you might least expect a woman to be -– as his “best person” at his wedding, planning his bachelor party, and taking him on a trip for his 40th birthday, for example. We never actually took a vow or signed a contract, but we know it’s true -– if we need each other, in good times or bad, we’ll be there as fast as a commercial airline can carry us.

What are your thoughts about last year's Race for the Rock? It was a lot of fun, but I learned that I’m not the Sacramento know-it-all I thought I was!

What is your role with this year's Race for the Rock and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS)? I am competing in this year’s Race for the Rock again and striving for a better showing. I have also volunteered for other SFBFS events, including a Mother’s Day donation drive for the Mother-Baby Program.

How long have you been supporting SFBFS? Since 2007.

If you are participating in this year's race, what are you looking forward to the most? Seeing hundreds of people in blue shirts peddling their bicycles frantically around Sacramento in support of a good cause. And winning The Rock, of course.

What is one thing about SFBFS the public might not realize but should know? It does WAY more than distribute emergency food supplies. Way more. The amazing staff members and volunteers offer parenting classes, job search assistance, computer classes, clothing for families in need, supplies for families with newborns, after-school programs and even an art program for women -– all at no cost.

For more information and to register as a participant, please visit www.racefortherock.com.

Who's Roxanne Tursi's 'rock'? Race for the Rock 2010

2010-04-26T20:02:50Z

Interview with Roxanne Tursi, volunteer for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

A little about Roxanne: Roxanne is originally from the Bay Area, attended University of the Pacific and now resides in Sacramento. She is currently an Administrative Assistant for a Commercial Construction Company and the Cheesecake Factory at Arden.

Who is your "rock" and why? Write a few sentences about the impact he/she has had on your life.

My rock is Genevieve Deignan, over the years she has inspired me to get involved in the community and make a difference. She is one of the most positive people I have ever known and a natural leader! When I see all that she accomplishes and with her kind words I know that I can achieve great things.

Have you ever been anyone else's "rock"? I have supported many close friends through difficult times, true friends are such a gift.

What are your thoughts about last year's Race for the Rock? This will be my very first Race for the Rock, I'm thrilled to be participating!

What is your role with this year's Race for the Rock and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS)? I am going to be a scavenger, hoping to find the rock!

How long have you been supporting SFBFS? Going on three years

If you are participating in this year's race, what are you looking forward to the most? Spending a beautiful day outside, learning about and appreciating downtown Sacramento

What is one thing about SFBFS the public might not realize but should know? They have some of the best community leaders and volunteers around!

For more information and to register as a participant, please visit www.racefortherock.com.

Photo: Roxanne and her "rock," Genevieve

Who's Chris Schath's 'rock'? Race for the Rock 2010

2010-04-19T23:31:21Z

Interview with Chris Schath, volunteer for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

A little about Chris: I'm Chris Schath. I'm married to [Volunteer Services Manager] Robin Simpson of SFBFS fame. I'm a switchman for the Union Pacific Railroad in Roseville and I like to volunteer and generally help out with any odds and ends that anyone at the food bank needs help with whenever i have a little time off work.

Who is your "rock" and why?

Robin Simpson's my rock, and has been for some time. We met in highschool and were married a couple years ago. She's the best wife, friend, travel buddy and daily company a guy could ask for.

What are your thoughts about last year's Race for the Rock?

Last year's Race for the Rock was an awful lot of fun in general, from what I gathered. I was a volunteer, not a participant. I always enjoy volunteering at these type of benefit events. Not sure what anyone without Donald Trump's wallet would even do if handed a $25,000 diamond but it was fun watching everyone race around for it.

What is your role with this year's Race for the Rock and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services?

I'm volunteering again this year at Race for the Rock, and I'm mostly just looking forward to a lovely day in the park.

How long have you been supporting SFBFS?

I've been helping out around the Food Bank and volunteering in-house and at events for a couple years now, since my wife began working there.

What is one thing about SFBFS the public might not realize but should know?

I think the general public has basically no idea of the full range of services the food bank offers. Most folks don't even think to donate anything but canned food. I get "Oh, they take clothes?" and "Oh, they take diapers and formula and toys?", "Oh, they will take the extra fresh fruit and vegetables from my garden that I was going to just throw away?" from friends, family, neighbors and co-workers pretty much since I became involved. People seem to have this detatched idea of the food bank and how they reckon "poor people" get food there. It's really a fantastic and complex place that has a lot to offer to a lot of people from all sorts of financial and developmental backgrounds.

For more information and to register as a participant, please visit www.racefortherock.com.

Who's Linda Meyers' 'rock'? Race for the Rock 2010

2010-04-12T21:11:06Z

Interview with Linda Meyers, mentor/tutor at the SFBFS Intel Computer Clubhouse

A little about Linda:
I retired "early" from my job as an adminstrator for the UC Davis Health System to obtain a teaching credential. For the past 10 years I have worked as a subsitute teacher at Sierra Oaks School in the San Juan Unified District. I have been a volunteer in various community activities my entire adult life. Working with the children who come to the Intell Computer Clubhouse for academic assistance is the most gratifying of my activities, both past and present.

Who is your "rock" and why?
My husband, Fred. At the core, our family believes that the bedrock for improving the health and wellbeing of others is education. Fred reminds me regularly that my work with the students enrolled in the Academic Assitance component of the SFBFS Intel Computer Clubhouse is far more important than bringing home a paycheck. He is supportive in every way and beyond that, he encourages me to accept new challenges, to move forward, and to be who I am. I admire his intelect , his humility, and his passion for helping others. We are a rock-solid team.

Have you ever been anyone else's "rock"?
For the purpose of answering your question, I will define "rock" as someone who shows up consistently, who listens, who encourages, who guides, and who teaches. The time I spend with the wonderful children at SFBFS adds value to my life, and is clearly appreciated not only by the students but also by their parents. I know this because I see their delight when the mentor/tutor arrives and I hear their expressions of appreciation at the end of each session. One rainy evening a few weeks ago, as I was walking to my car one of the students with whom I work on a regular basis noticed me as she was walking home with her father. She waved and said, "Bye Mrs. Meyers." I responed, "Bye, .......[name withheld]" Hearing all of this, her father said something to her in Spanish. Despite the pouring rain, she brought him over, and introduced us. As he shook my hand, he said in heavly-accented English, "Thank you for helping my daughter. I cannot help her. Thank you." Needless-to-say, I went home on cloud nine. He has since thanked me every time he sees me. These experessions of thanks not perfunctory, rather they clearly come from his heart. So, have I been anyone else's rock? I am honored to say yes. Yes because I can be there for the students (and their parents) enrolled in the Academic Assitance Program of the SFBFS Intel Computer Clubhouse.

What are your thoughts about last year's Race for the Rock?
I loved the idea of purchasing raffle tickets last year but I also think that the race is a clever and interesting idea.

What is your role with this year's Race for the Rock and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS)?
My official roll at SFBFS is as a mentor/tutor in the Intel Computer Clubhouse. I also help out occasionally at other SFBSF events. Although I don't have a defined roll in the Race for the Rock, I will support it in whatever way I can.

How long have you been supporting SFBFS?
Three years.

If you are participating in this year's race, what are you looking forward to the most?
If raffle tickets are sold, I'll purchase some and if volunteer help is needed, I can help in that capacity.

What is one thing about SFBFS the public might not realize but should know?
Although our food closet is a very important part of what we do, we are a "Family Services" organization. I believe the general public is unaware of the variety and scope of the programs offered at SFBFS.

For more information and to register as a participant, please visit www.racefortherock.com

Who's Calvin Curtin's 'rock'? Race for the Rock 2010

2010-04-05T22:00:02Z

First and last name: Calvin Curtin, Marketing Director for Rogers

A little about Calvin:

I'm a native of Sacramento having been born in American River Hospital in Carmichael (which is gone now I think). I lived in the North Highlands area until I was 10 years old when we moved to Orangevale and then, about a year later, to Modesto. I have worked for Rogers Jewelry Co going on 24 years. I started as a "stock boy" working after school when I was 16, and worked my way through the store from salesperson to manager to my current position of Marketing and Advertising Director. I'm married to my beautiful wife Janice, and we have 3 children - my son Bryson (13), my step-daughter Makenzie (12) and my baby boy William (15 months). I currently live in Turlock.

Who is your "rock" and why?

I would have to say that the "rock" in my life would have to be my mom. Obviously, there is no one that I've known longer than she and no one that l has always been there throughout my entire life; from childhood to adulthood. My mom is a wonderful person that always puts the needs and feelings of everyone in our family ahead of hers. When my grandparents were in the end stages of their lives, it was my mom that put her life on hold to travel from her home in Oregon to Sacramento to care for them until they passed away. She lived away from home and my dad for months at a time for a period of a couple year in order to do this. She never complained about being away from home or about the burden physically, emotionally and financially that situation put on her. At a time in her life when she should have been enjoying some well deserved retirement, she dropped everything to care for her elderly parents 24/7.

Have you ever been anyone else's "rock"?

I think that I'm my kid's "rock". At least, I'd like to think that I am. I try never to miss an event like a game or performance if I can and I try to encourage them to do different things and try new experiences. I look at myself as their "tour guide" through life. Point out the sites, give them a little encouragement to try it on their own and, to the best of my ability, let them go and do it on their own.

What are your thoughts about last year's Race for the Rock?

Last year was the first year for the event and we were very pleased with the turnout of participants; 840 people showed up. We had the mayor send out the ceremonial "first text" and overall, it was a huge success. I personally walked through the after-party and spoke with quite a few of the racers. Without exception, everyone I personally spoke to told me what a fantastic time they had, how fun the event was and how well run they thought it was. I asked each one if they would be willing to participate again and they said they definitely would.

What is your role with this year's Race for the Rock and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS)?

I'm the director of Marketing and Advertising for Rogers Jewelry Co.. My role with the race is as the title sponsor and de-facto race director. It's my job to oversee and direct all aspects of the event from coordinating with the texting company SCVNGR to arranging for the prizes and promoting the event. This year, the event has grown to the point where we brought in a committee of people to help run the various aspects of the race and there is no way I could do it without their help. We are very fortunate to have a pool of talented, organized folks that are as committed to making this event as successful as I am.

If you are participating in this year's race, what are you looking forward to the most? The part of the event that is the most fun is the "scramble" where all of the racers get the final clue at one time. It's such a blast to watch them come racing in from all over the city to swarm the final location trying to figure out the last clue which is extremely difficult to solve. The energy and intensity of the racers is awesome to watch.

What is one thing about SFBFS the public might not realize but should know? Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services is really a bit of a misnomer. Although food is a large part of what they do, they do so much more than that. They offer literacy programs, mother-baby programs, computer skills workshops and classes, a clothes closet and the list goes on. I believe that the thing that draws me to their organization, along with the fantastic folks that work and volunteer there, is the fact that they help a vastly under-served portion of our community. Those folks that have a place to live but, for whatever reason, are teetering on the edge. They are the safety net that helps people stay in their homes and get through tough times because once someone slips into homelessness, it's very difficult for them to climb out. Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services keeps folks from falling into that abyss.

For more information and to register as a participant, please visit www.racefortherock.com.

Who's Kelly Siefkin's 'rock'? Race for the Rock 2010

2010-03-30T00:08:25Z

Interview with Kelly Siefkin, Communication Director for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

Who is your "rock" and why?
I am lucky to have lots of rocks in my life, including my family and friends, but the most wonderful rock in my life the past few weeks has been the kind and caring volunteers at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. They have come together to help me cope with the loss of my beloved dog, Rocket. Bringing me treats and hugs, sharing stories and poems about their furry friends and, most importantly, providing a shoulder to cry on. Their dedication to serving families in need keeps me grounded and focused on the importance of our daily work.

Have you ever been anyone else's "rock"?
I hope so.

What are your thoughts about last year's Race for the Rock?
What a fantastic and fun event! I can’t wait to see thousands of people on bikes swarm downtown Sacramento again this year!

What is your role with this year's Race for the Rock and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS)?
This year, I’m sitting on the Race for the Rock committee and helping to secure sponsors, recruit participants, solicit t-shirt designs, communicate with the media and more! I encourage everyone to check out www.racefortherock.com if they haven’.

How long have you been supporting SFBFS?
Four years ago I became connected with SFBFS through a wonderful volunteer opportunity and have been an employee for three years. I also used to live in East Sacramento and cheer on runners each Thanksgiving for Run to Feed the Hungry.

If you are participating in this year's race, what are you looking forward to the most?
The hard clues and the great after-party!

What is one thing about SFBFS the public might not realize but should know?
How many diverse programs are offered, food is only one service. SFBFS also offers clothing, adult education, parenting supplies, a variety of youth programs, healing through art and much more, all at no cost!

Anything else you'd like to add?
I encourage everyone to become part of SFBFS’ mission in some capacity. Participate in an event, lead a donation drive, organize a volunteer outing for your office, become a donor, sponsor an event, refer families in need. At a minimum, come down for a tour and see what SFBFS accomplishes every day.

For more information and to register as a participant, please visit www.racefortherock.com.

Day at the Museum empowers, inspires

2010-03-06T05:27:03Z

Close to 10,000 people gathered at the California Museum on Thursday for the first "Day at the Museum" to get a little bit of pampering and a lot of empowerment.

The star-studded event was part of first lady Maria Shriver's annual The Women's Conference in honor of Women's History Month. The day included exhibits, presentations, speeches and tours of the museum.

"Today is the most successful day [at the museum] in all of California's history," Shriver told the audience.

The day began early with a meet-and-greet session in the museum's lobby with Shriver, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen, Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass, and other female legislators, mayors and district attorneys.

This was followed by a panel of past Minerva Award winners. The Minerva is awarded annually to a California woman who is making a difference and is what Shriver calls "an architect of change."

Women Escaping a Violent Environment (WEAVE) co-founder Jennie Hernandez, Parents of Watts founder "Sweet" Alice Harris, and homeless advocate Betty Chinn were just some of the recipients on hand to greet the audience and help Shriver showcase the museum's Minerva Award Exhibit.

Women were treated to free massages at the "Relaxation Station," makeup applications at the "Hello Gorgeous" booth, drum performances and edible garden demonstrations in the museum's courtyard.

On the upper level, "California's Remarkable Women" told the stories of the state's many accomplished females, including food advocate Alice Waters, Mary See of See's Candy, XTreme Winter Games gold-medal record-holder Tara Dakides, and the first U.S. female astronaut to enter space, Sally Ride, who spoke later in the day.

Several women from "The California Heritage Quilt Project" did their handiwork throughout the day while answering questions about the the California Sesquicentennial Quilt, on display behind them. Created in 1996 for California's 150th birthday, the quilt was a collaboration between more than 200 women throughout the state. Other demonstrations Thursday included creating edible gardens, California Indian basketmaking and the origami Peace Crane Project.

After a cooking demonstration with chef Biba Caggiano, Iron Chef's Cat Cora spoke during "Only in California: A Celebration of California Creativity," along with other women who are using creative channels to blaze trails for women.

Cora spoke about meeting another Californian, Julia Child, as an aspiring chef and being inspired by her graciousness. Cora said it reminds her to take the time to shake hands and visit with her fans. She said she founded Chefs for Humanity after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami to give back by providing quality food during disasters.

Cora reflected on her education in France and being a woman in a male-dominated industry. "I needed to prove to myself I could go and work in the toughest male kitchens in the world," she said of her apprenticeships in France. She advised women to take chances and not to be discouraged by obstacles that come along. "A door might close, but then a door will open."

Ayelet Waldman, author of "Bad Mother," also took the stage and discussed the often-comical trials and tribulations of being a mother and the unreasonable expectations to do it all. She commented on society's famous "bad mothers" such as Britney Spears, whose biggest fault was being selfish. She theorized that many mothers are ganged up on and deemed "bad mothers," to make others feel better about their maternal skills. "By defining to us who we aren't, they allow us to stomach the mothers we are," Waldman explained.

A more serious topic, body image, was examined through the images of photographer Lauren Greenfield. She showed disturbing photos of young women in a treatment facility for eating disorders and spoke about her experience while creating her documentary, "Thin."

Women weren't the only audience for the daylong celebration of women. During a courtyard ceremony called "Honoring Our Women in Military," Shriver thanked the men in the audience for showing up, saying, "I'm a big believer [men and women] must work together to raise the kinds of boys & and girls we want to change the world."

After a performance by an all-female color guard, Shriver welcomed Brig. Gen. Mary J. Knight to the stage. She paid tribute to the men and women serving the country, with a specific focus on the females in service. Knight is the nation's first African-American female general.

Shortly after, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Shriver's husband, took the stage to extend his appreciation to our servicewomen. He commended Shriver for her tireless efforts in providing resources for women throughout the state. Referring to the day's packed schedule, he joked, "This shows you how exhausting it is being with a woman like this!"

The audience cheered when he confessed "In my house, every day is women's day!"

The final and much-awaited event was "I Did It My Way," featuring a discussion between environmental activist Erin Brockovich, journalist Lisa Ling, astronaut Ride, and actress and singer Rita Moreno, with Shriver as a moderator.

Brockavich said at the end of the day it doesn't matter what others think. "It's our perception of how we see ourselves and that's all that really matters." Brockavich continued, "I followed my heart and my gut and it never let me down."

Growing up in the 1950s and 60s, Ride talked about enjoying science and sports at a time when that was not common for young girls. She said she was lucky that her parents supported her passions and encouraged her to follow her dreams.

Although Moreno noted "what's interesting is that everything we wanted, we thought was unattainable," for an hour the women discussed how they went about attaining exactly what they set out for. To view the entire discussion, visit The California Channel .

During National Women's History Month, the California Museum will have free admission every Saturday throughout March. A different female artist will be featured each weekend showcasing jewelry, mixed media, painting and an indie craft fair.

For a list of the day's events, visit The California Museum's website.

Photo credit: Kati Garner

Donate to the American Red Cross Here

2010-01-21T00:43:13Z

How donations are helping relief efforts:

Latest update from the American Red Cross Disaster Newsroom:

* This is already the largest single-country personnel deployment in global Red Cross history. The number of emergency response teams in or en route to Haiti equals those that responded to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami – an emergency that spanned 14 countries.
* It is clear that what took minutes to destroy will take many years and the collective support from governments and relief agencies across the world to help mend. The American Red Cross is working in close coordination with other responding organizations and will undoubtedly collaborate on joint, long-term recovery projects.
* Terrible times like these bring out the best in people, and we are grateful for the support being given to the American Red Cross. This generosity will help thousands of survivors cope with and recover from their losses.

HELP THE AMERICAN RED CROSS HELP HAITI RELIEF EFFORTS: DONATE HERE

Sacramento helping Haiti

2010-01-20T07:08:31Z

In response to the recent 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti, the United States has reacted quickly to raise funds and send assistance. There are organizations across the country providing assistance and Sacramentans are also responding quickly to the devastated country's call for help.

On Friday, Jan. 15 Sutter Health Systems announced that it will be donating $1.25 million to Haiti relief. The majority ($1 million) of the donation will go towards Doctors Without Borders and the rest will be used to fund medical supplies and fill cargo boxes with supplies.

Another large company, has made it easy for customers to donate by setting up collection boxes at check stands throughout the company's 134 stores in the region. Shoppers can donate directly to the American Red Cross at any Raley's, Bel Air, Nob Hill or Food Source location until Feb. 13.

Since Jan. 14, the Kings have been doing their part to spread the word during games by airing two Public Service Announcements encouraging the audience to visit UNICEF's website.

One features the voice of Spencer Hawes and the other, from the NBA, features the voice of Haiti native Samuel Dalembert of the Philadelphia 76ers. They've also used their website, Twitter, and Facebook to encourage followers and friends to visit the site and learn how to help. The Sacramento Sierra American Red Cross Chapter has plans to set up donation stations at upcoming home games, with dates still being finalized.

Yesterday, KCRA's "Call 3" team and the Sacramento Sierra American Red Cross Chapter joined forces and raised $150,000 in donations with a telethon. Beginning at 4:30 a.m. volunteers gathered to take donations by phone throughout the day. One of the major donors was Jackson Rancheria Casino, who pledged $10,000 during the event.

"Devastation swept an entire country..." said Dawn Lindblom, CEO of the Sierra Sacramento Chapter. "When we see scenes like this, it's easy to be overwhelmed."

Bayside Church has partnered with two major organizations to donate both money and shoes (a necessity many Haitians are in need of right now),. The church has agreed to donate 20 percent of funds raised through their current "Radical Generosity" program to World Vision, which can be done in envelopes or cards during services.

The church held a successful shoe drive in partnership with Roseville's Sports Chalet over the weekend that brought in 2,034 pairs of donated shoes. To donate or learn more visit Bayside's website. Additional shoe donations can be brought to these locations:

-Bayside Church weekend services at the Fill the Trucks drop-off Saturdays 3:30 until 7:30 pm and Sundays 7:30 am until 1:30 pm Sundays from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm at 8211 Sierra College Boulevard Roseville, CA 95661
-Sports Chalet 10349 Fairway Drive Roseville, CA 95678

Inspired by a national effort to raise money through vegan bake sales, local vegan cooks Toni Okamoto and Amy Galvan organized their own bake sale, held at R5 Records on Saturday. They raised $686 in sales and received an additional pledge for $500, which will all be donated to the American Red Cross. The women will be selling their vegan goods again later this month (see event list below).

"I think bake sales are a great way to raise money. Many of our friends are on a tight budgets for whatever reason. We might spend three dollars to make a plate of cookies and end up selling them for $30," said Galvan, "[One woman who donated muffins] couldn't afford to buy anything or donate money directly, but she did have the ingredients in her pantry to bake for the bake sale."

Also standing by to help is the region's Urban Search and Rescue Team, California Task Force 7. The 72-person rescue team, made up of Firefighters from Sacramento's Fire Agencies and civilians, received orders to deploy on the evening of Jan. 13 from the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. After waiting for a flight to Haiti from Travis Air Force Base, the team returned home Monday morning after being delayed for several days due to damage to both Haiti's air and sea ports. They will remain on standby to relieve any USAR team currently in Haiti if needed. See original posting by Sacramento Fire Department's Jim Doucette here.

The magnitude of the damage in Haiti is still unknown but the need for assistance is dire and it is just the beginning of the recovery from the damage done. Below is a list of upcoming events that will raise funds for the major organizations providing relief:

Bypassing Oblivion: On Friday, Jan. 22 a five-band benefit show, hosted by Bypassing Oblivion, will be held at Vega's in Old Sacramento. 100 percent of the $5 cover will be donated. Vega's is located at 910 Front Street.

Sugar Plum Vegan Cafe: On Saturday, Jan. 23, Okamoto and Galvan will be participating in another vegan bake sale from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. All sales will be donated to Life Global, an organization that will be delivering vegan meals to Haiti. Sugar Plum is located at 2315 K Street.

Capitol Roots Dance Studio: On Saturday, Jan. 23, the studio will be hosting "Hip Hop 4 Haiti" fundraiser featuring Live Manikins, Task1ne, JGood (The Usual Suspects), Verbal Taktiks along with DJ Rated R and DJ Jetski. A Bboy/girl Battle is planned along with a graffiti station. For more information visit Yele.org or CapitolRoots.com.

Punchline Comedy Club: On Tuesday, Feb. 2, Punchline Comedy Club is holding a benefit show and will donate 100 percent of door ticket sales. Comedians Ngaio Bealum, Dennis Gaxiola, and Marcella Arguello will be performing and Keith Lowell Jensen will be hosting. More comedians will be added as the date gets closer. Punchline is located at 2100 Arden Way Suite 225 in Howe 'bout Arden shopping center. For more information visit Punchline's website.

Marilyn's: On Sunday, Feb. 7, local artists will unite for "Helping Hands for Haiti," a benefit concert featuring Ryan Hernandez, Hans Eberbach, Shadia Powell, Gado Gado and Retrograde Revolution. Marilyn's is located at 908 K Street. Visit www.soulsandsounds.com for more information.

Peppers.TV: The local media production team is planning a February fundraiser. As details are finalized, they will post information on their website: www.peppershosting.com/

If there are upcoming events that have been left out or any other businesses or organizations assisting with relief, please email casey@sacramentopress.com so they can be included.

Photo credit: American Red Cross 2010 earthquake in Haiti

Oak Park wraps up holiday cheer

2009-12-05T03:37:21Z

About 60 community members gathered at the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services last night to make the holidays a little bit brighter for Oak Park's children.

The Oak Park Neighborhood Association has collected 300 toys for its Oak Park Toy Give-Away, which began Nov. 22 and will continue until Dec. 18.

"Imagine knowing that you may not receive a gift...Kids everywhere look forward to the thrill of opening gifts and we want to make sure that kids in Oak Park get to experience the excitement," said board member Michael Boyd, "Even more importantly, we want them to know they live in a community that cares about them; a community that values them, and a community that will help them."

Members of the association, Sacramento police officers, and various community members attended the potluck and toy gift-wrapping party. Attendees were encouraged to bring wrapping paper, gifts or food.

Association board members circulated throughout the three-hour event, passing out wrapping paper and Scotch tape as volunteers ate, mingled and wrapped.

The goal of the association is to distribute 1,200 toys Dec. 19 from noon to 3 p.m. The food bank is also the drop-off point, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.

If toys are wrapped, donors are asked to indicate whether they're for a boy or girl and the age range. On the day of the toy distribution, gifts will be divided into piles according to age group and given to children on a first-come first-serve basis.

"The [toy drive] is important because it's about residents in the community taking care of those that live in that community. It's not about toys, it's about coming together and supporting each other. That's what makes us strong and keeps us strong," said board member and community activist LaTisha Lawson.

In addition to their own efforts, the group has received some help gathering toys.

Sacramento's University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law organized an Angel Drive that brought in 100 toys.

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services is at 3333 Third Ave. in Oak Park.

For more information about the Oak Park Neighborhood Association, visit its website or email opna@inmycommunity.com.

The Sacramento Press Sports Equipment Drive

2009-12-03T23:41:10Z

Please join The Sacramento Press on Saturday for a day of fun and helping the community. Bring new or used sports equipment and gain free admission to The Carnival at St. Rose plus a chance to win tickets to the December 6 Kings game.

WHAT: The Sacramento Press sponsors a drive to collect new or used sports equipment

WHO: Proceeds benefit Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services (www.sfbs.org)

WHERE: The Carnival at St. Rose, 7th and K Sts., Sacramento

WHEN: 10 a.m. – noon on Saturday, December 5

WHY: Underprivileged children gain equipment to play athletics

HOW: Donation of new or used sports equipment gains free admission to the carnival

MORE: Donation of new or used sports equipment also will gain each donor a ticket to a raffle drawing of three pairs of tickets to the Sacramento Kings NBA home game against the Miami Heat on Sunday, December 6.

The carnival features a 30-foot Ferris wheel, giant slide, classic carnival games and fun food vendors. The carnival arcade includes pinball, Skee ball, Centipede, Ms. Pacman, Frogger, Donkey Kong and more. Admission to the two-hour event -- including unlimited access to the carnival games, arcade and rides -- is $6 for children under 12 and seniors over 55, and $7 for adults.

For more information, please contact Sonny Mayugba at sonny@sacramentopress.com or at 916-443-1784

Fall in Sacramento- Part 2

2009-12-03T21:39:42Z

Below is the second series of photographs taken by David Roberts during his bike rides around Sacramento

Fall in Sacramento

2009-12-01T02:45:39Z

Below are images from photographer David Roberts, taken during his bike rides around Sacramento.

Check back for more from his series of photographs

Why did you Run to Feed the Hungry this year?

2009-11-28T21:59:47Z

The Sacramento Press at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services' 2009 Run to Feed the Hungry we and had the pleasure of meeting thousands of run participants that morning. Whether it was to support SFBFS, get exercise, spend time with loved ones, or a combination of all of those reasons, here are some of them. We asked visitors that stopped by our booth to let us know, why did you Run to Feed the Hungry?

Nikki Carlson, Sacramento
"We participated as a way to feel like we gave something back to those who go without during the holidays in our community. It's a small gesture, but it ends up making a big difference! And It made us feel great the whole day!"

Darcy Smith, Sacramento
"To run for a good cause"

Laura Smith, Sacramento
"I did the Run to Feed the Hungry this year because of all of the hardships that people have gone through this year, many people lost their jobs and their homes. It was so great to see how energized and motivated people were to run. It was so much fun!"

Keith Rau, Sacramento
"To be part of a good cause"

Veronica Wogec, Sacramento
"I wanted to contribute to people that have much less than we have. I wanted to also support and encourage my family to continue to support charities and events similar to the 'feed the hungry' run."

Ronald Bariios, Lodi
"Wanted to be with family and had an outrageous fun time!"

Tony Prakash, a member of the CENTURY21 Select Real Estate Inc. California team
"...To do whatever I can to give back to the community. 'Give much gather often." There are many people who have had the worst years of their lives in the recent years. Those of us who can make it a better holiday season for them and their family should do whatever they can to help those in need, that's the ultimate gift of human being; to lend a hand, run for a cause, donate to feed the less fortunate."

Ryan Smith, Roseville
"I did run to feed the hungry to give something back to the community. I have never run for a charity and being Thanksgiving I felt like giving something back. I try and do atleast one good deed on Thanksgiving and what better way then to give back. Plus it was nice to get up early and run, seeing all the people out on the streets cheering was perfect. You couldn't ask for a better race. Being with friends and seeing friends while racing was perfect. Knowing that everyone there contributed something back was a good feeling."

Tonja Field, Rocklin
"I am participating this year because it has become a tradition on Thanksgiving morning to me. This will be my eighth year participating and it goes beyond getting some activity before I stuff myself full of food. I also like the fact that each year it is growing and raising more and more money to feed people who wonder what and when their next meal will be. I am so thankful for knowing I'll never go without food and I hope my small contribution will help someone else be on their way to feeling the same way! I hope to continue this tradition when I have my own family!"

Loverage family, Sacramento
"We came to do a good thing for the people in our community and to run as a family."

Other responses given to us on race day:

"My husband, son and daughter are running and we thought it was a good way to help people"

"I'm a volunteer [for SFBFS] and want to keep doing this until I'm old and fragile."

"To support the food bank. I've been here for 10 to 12 years. I want to support all the good work they do."

"I'm on the cross-country team for Capital Christian and we ran as a team."

"The run was hard but fun. It's a good cause and I'm getting in a great workout before I enjoy Thanksgiving tonight."

"To compete and try to beat my brother!"

"To support a really good local charity and to be part of my community"

"[I] Sporadically came from Hawaii to support Father [Dan] Madigan and his cause."

"I did the run because Thanksgiving has become commercial and about taking and I wanted to give something back."

"I wanted to support a local charity and for my own health and fitness."

"I did cross country and I want to help my time."

"[The run is] something for me to do with my family on Thanksgiving."

"[The run is] a fun thing to do for Thanksgiving and to help the cause."

"It's my first official run and it's a great way to help the community."

"To get involved in the community and give back."

"Biggest motivator was for the cause, a fantastic way to go about it. It's a great event [and] I'm really impressed."

"This is my motivator to get back in shape after the birth of my baby and I might as well do it for a good cause."

"To feed the hungry and I want to start doing more racing, getting in shape and getting a good time..."

"Because I can't race but I'm here to help the food bank. I donate every month. Every dollar I spend counts as $10."

"It's personal to me. My family came from poverty and I have sixteen brothers and sisters. Today we are renting but not in the streets. We donated two turkeys this year."

"To support the community. It's a great cause and a great way to start the day."

"Several reasons; to be in shape, something different on Thanksgiving, and help feed the hungry."

"I like this event so much I am home from [Washington] D.C. just to do the race. Great community feel."

"It's the only way to get my daughter to come visit."

"To share love to all of those I can give back to and for Father Madigan."

"This race goes with thanking like stuffing goes with Turkey."

"I'm here doing something special with my granddaughter that she will always remember."

"A healthy thing to do on Thanksgiving. It's inspiring to see so many people for this cause."

"To help feed the hungry is a great cause and I love doing it."

"To help the Run to Feed the Hungry. It's an annual thing we do together."

"To show my kids some community service."

"We are here today to support the SFBFS."

"i'm here for Dave Kilmer who passed from Lymphoma. We want his family to know we haven't forgotten still."

"It's been a rough year for everybody and it's a great way to help."

"It's my first time and it's a beautiful day. I want to start Thanksgiving off with a good thing."

"It's my first time and it's a great way to give back to the community and SFBFS."

"To give back and be part of something special."

"To help benefit the community and help those who are struggling..."

"To support the SFBFS and do the run with my family."

"To set an example for my children."

"I'm here to give my thanks to God by helping others."

"I used to volunteer and decided to run this year to continue giving."

"For Honors English and because it's Thanksgiving and everyone should have food."

"To help those that are hungry and representing my family to support those in need."

"I love giving to people less fortunate."

"Charity and to burn calories."

Why did you participate in the run? Leave your comments below!

Photos: Ben Ilfeld, COO and co-founder of The Sacramento Press talks to SFBFS on race day, The Sacramento Press RTFTH booth, and team Sacramento Press

2009 Run to Feed the Hungry photos- Part II

2009-11-27T23:51:17Z

Continued from Part 1

As participants near the finish, bystanders cheer them on and hold signs of support and thanks

Kevin Johnson hangs out on the sidelines as participants complete the race

5K runners and walkers finish the final stretch of Run to Feed the Hungry

Supportive onlookers wait for runners to cross the finish line, taken by George Raya

Participants pour Into the end zone of RTFTH, taken by Laura Smith

View from above the sidelines as racers finish, taken by George Raya

10K run participants, taken by Michael Fitzgerald

Voyage Home Loans Team Goodness at the Finish Line (left to right): Bus. Dev. Manager Ryan Lucia, Dir. of Customer Relations Nicholas Lucia, Loan Officers Joe Bria and CEO Josh Harmatz, submitted by Ryan Lucia

Crowds gather and cheer on participants

Thank you to everyone who participated and made the 2009 Run to Feed the Hungry a huge success! Also, a big thank you to everyone who submitted their photos to The Sacramento Press.

2009 Run to Feed the Hungry photos- Part I

2009-11-27T23:28:34Z

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services welcomed around 29,000 participants in their sixteenth annual Run to Feed the Hungry on Thanksgiving Day. Here are a collection of photos taken by The Sacramento Press along with participants' photos from the run submitted to us.

As the sun comes up Thanksgiving morning, trucks set up the time marks along the race route on the CSU, Sacramento campus

SFBFS volunteers prepare the after-party area to re-fuel runners and walkers

Corporate teams/sponsors gather in the crowded VIP tent to have group photos taken

Corporate teams have their team photos taken

Teams fuel up with doughnuts, bananas, coffee, and energy bars provided by SFBFS

A RTFTH supporter had his own unique way of fundraising without running

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and SFBFS President Blake Young welcome runners to the 2009 race from above

Families and friends visit while they wait for the run to begin, taken by Tonja Field

Two of Voyage Home Loans team members: Loan Officer Paul Thomas gives the Run to Feed the Hungry a big thumbs up! Business Manager Ryan Lucia is getting pumped up with pre-race AC/DC, taken by Ryan Lucia

5K participants wait for the race to begin, taken by George Raya

and they're off! The 5K run/walk begins

Men, women and children start on their 5K walk, taken by George Raya

A band provides entertainment for runners and walkers, taken by Tonja Field

The sun was shining as runners ran or walked their way through the scenic route, taken by Rachael Field

A runner gets into the Thanksgiving spirit, taken by Rachael Field

See comment below for link to Part II of the photo series or click on the "Run to Feed the Hungry" storyline at the top of the page

Annual turkey drive doubles goal

2009-11-24T06:25:35Z

With 6,592 turkeys collected, the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services 2009 second-annual Turkey Drive will make Thanksgiving for many Sacramento families' a bit brighter.

Despite heavy rain and winds, volunteers collected turkeys and directed the lines of cars that pulled up to the food bank Friday.

As the rain fell continuously, donors stayed dry in the drive-through drop-off while volunteers retrieved turkeys.

"I knew I had to donate this year because there are so many people out of work and struggling just to pay their bills," said Roseville resident Karrin Segur. "Everyone deserves to celebrate Thanksgiving with their families, and shouldn’t have to worry about feeding their families on one of the most special days of the year."

Volunteers kept a turkey count from 4:30 a.m., when the drive began, to its end at 7 p.m. Last year, 2,766 turkeys were collected. This year's goal was 3,000.

The food bank helps families throughout the year, but the holidays are an especially important time. The food bank's mission is for every family to be able to spend Thanksgiving together and have a traditional meal. In addition to turkeys, the food bank also encouraged donations of other Thanksgiving food items.

Distribution of holiday boxes full of turkey and all the fixings began early Monday and will continue through Tuesday afternoon. Each box contains a turkey, fresh produce, dry mashed potatoes, canned foods and stuffing mix.

To show the impact a small donation to the food bank can make for a family this Thanksgiving, a volunteer wore a poster listing all of the items that can be purchased with a $7.23 donation to the food bank.

To receive a box, a member from each family lined up beginning at 7:30 a.m. and received a ticket for one box. All holiday boxes are the same size regardless of family size and will be distributed until the food bank runs out.

The food bank's annual Run to Feed the Hungry will take place on Thanksgiving to help even more families in need.

For more information about resources available, visit the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services website at www.sacramentofoodbank.org

All images courtesy of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

How Do I Exit My Neighborhood During Run to Feed the Hungry?

2009-10-27T21:11:16Z

Run to Feed the Hungry 2009 Race Zones/Areas

How Do I Exit My Neighborhood During Our Race?

We encourage you to avoid driving in your neighborhood between 8:40 am – 10:20 am. If you must drive, please allow us to provide you with the following instructions so that you may safely and efficiently leave your neighborhood.

Area 1 – Use “D” Street and head to the corner of 39th St & McKinley Blvd. A police officer will guide you across McKinley Blvd. to “C” Street once there is a gap in runners. Take a left turn, only, once you reach “C” Street. (Note: runners will arrive at the corner of 39th & McKinley Blvd. at approximately 9:05am).

Area 2 – Take “H” St. to 36th Street. Go right – north - on 36th St to McKinley Blvd. (a police officer will guide you across when there is a gap in runners) and continue on 36th Way). Turn left onto 39th St. to “C” St. Take a left turn, only, once you reach “C” St. (Note: runners will arrive at the corner of 36th St. and McKinley Blvd. at approximately 9:04am).

Area 3 – Exit from any street onto “C” St. Take a left turn, only, once you reach “C” St.

Area 4 – Exit from any street to Elvas Ave. Turn left or right onto Elvas Ave.

Area 5 – Your area will be affected between 8:48am – 9:45am. Please avoid driving during this time period. If you must drive, we will have police officers and/or course monitors to safely guide you through an intersection when there is a gap in runners.

Area 6 – Your area will be affected between 8:45am – 9:30am. Please avoid driving during this period. If you must drive, exit on to “H” St., turn left and head to corner of “H” St. and Alhambra Blvd. A police officer will safely guide you through the intersection when there is a gap in the runners.

Area 7 – Your area will be affected between 9:10am – 10:00am. Please avoid driving during this time period. If you must drive, consider parking your vehicle across “M” St. ahead of time and then exit to Folsom Blvd.

Area 8 – This is a difficult one. Your area will be affected between 8:43am – 10:45am. If leaving between 8:43am – 9:10am, we recommend heading north to “D” St. and taking “D” St. to the intersection of 39th St. and McKinley Blvd. A police officer will guide you across to “C” Street. Turn left on “C” St. only. If leaving after 9:10am, you’ll have to wait until the last walker makes the left turn onto 45th St. before heading up J St. Then you may turn south onto Folsom Blvd. at 46th or 47th St. or simply cross J St. at 46th, 47th, 48th or 49th Streets heading toward Folsom Blvd.

Area 9 – Your area will be affected between 8:40am – 9:45am. Prior to 9:00am, you may cross H St. and exit to Elvas Ave. using any street. Once at Elvas Ave., you can go left or right. After 9:00am, you will need to wait for the 5k runners/walkers to clear 50th & J St. before exiting south toward Folsom Blvd. Our 5k participants should clear 50th & J St. by 9:45am.

Area 10 - River Park Residents: You may exit from Carlson Drive to H Street before 7:15 am and turn right onto 57th Street to reach Elvas Avenue. If leaving River Park after 7:15 am River Park residents must exit via Camellia Ave and head east over the H Street Bridge. Guests of River Park residents can enter River Park by travelling over the H Street Bridge and entering on Camellia. Guests and River Park residents must tell the police officer stationed at Cadillac Drive (the last street before H Street Bridge) that they are headed to River Park. The officer is instructed to allow only River Park traffic to cross the Bridge between 7:15am-10:30am.

Run to Feed the Hungry 2009 Race Course

All information and maps provided by Rich Hanna, Race Director for Run to Feed the Hungry

Raffle for the Rock

2009-10-26T23:33:15Z

Most people probably wouldn't just give away a $25,000 ring without thinking twice about it. But Andrea Stirling and AJ Elftmann did.

In June, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) hosted a text message scavenger hunt, "The Race for the Rock," which led 1,000 Sacramentans around the city following a series of clues leading to the ring. The race raised more than $4000 for the food bank.

The "Hearts on Fire" ring, donated by Rogers Jewelers, was eventually found by long-time Sacramento residents and couple, Stirling and Elftmann. The timing of their win was made even more special since they were still celebrating Elftmann's two-year remission from Hodgkins Lymphoma just a couple months prior.

The couple decided the ring could be put to better use than in its box, where it sat for a couple weeks after the win. They handed the ring back over to SFBFS and now one lucky winner has the chance to win the rock yet again.

"Donating it is the best thing to do," Stirling told SFBFS. "I know the money raised from an event around this ring could help provide food, clothing and education to families in need right now."

SFBFS was founded in the basement of a church in Oak Park by Father Daniel Madigan and has grown to a staff of 35 and more than 4,000 volunteers annually. There are two Sacramento locations, one in Oak Park and one in North Sacramento. In 2008, the food bank began a mobile distribution food service through their Food Assistance program.

While SFBFS is mostly known for their food services, SFBFS delivers more than just nutrition to community members in need. Some of the various services offered include daycare, adult education, art programs, as well as clothing provided at no cost to those who need it.

Elftmann and Stirling initially heard about the race because they regularly participate in SFBFS' Run to Feed the Hungry. When asked about the win, Stirling described it as "Shocking! I don't think I stopped shaking until the next day."

Raffle tickets, which are being sold for $5, will be sold at several locations (see below). Tickets went on sale September and will continue to be sold until Dec. 30. Participants must be at least 18 years old and there is no limit to the amount of tickets that can be purchased. The winner will be drawn on Jan. 4, 2010. In addition to the grand prize, Rogers Jewelers will be donating several other prizes.

Another Race for the Rock is scheduled for June 5, 2010.

Tickets can be purchased at these locations:

SFBFS' Oak Park location: 3333 Third Ave., Sacramento, CA, 95817/Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
SFBFS' North Sacramento Location: 2469 Rio Linda Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815/Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All Sacramento Rogers Jewelry Co. locations: www.thinkrogers.com.
All Sacramento REI locations the week prior to Thanksgiving.
Run to Feed the Hungry on Thanksgiving Day near the CSUS entrance/ 7 a.m. until noon.

For more informatin, visit the Race for the Rock website

Image courtesy of Rogers Jewelery Co.

Second Saturday to welcome new gallery space

2009-10-09T05:06:25Z

Get ready Second Saturday, there’s a new gallery in town.

Bridge to Art, KLSC Studio and AIM HIGHER are coming together on Second Saturday to celebrate the grand opening of a 10,000-square-foot collaborative gallery, the “U20 Artist Studio Club”.

“With this particular location at U and 20 streets, you can truly have it all: great artworks in huge spaces, free parking, very good restaurants, easy freeway access and no mobbed congestion feeling. We call it a breathable fine art experience,” said Kevin Santos-Coy of KLSC Studio.

The daylong celebration will feature live music, art from children's group "KidzArt" and more than 200 original landscape, abstract, figurative and architecture paintings.

To raise money for breast cancer awareness, an artist will be creating a cast sculpture of a model that will later be donated. Glass, turned wood, and already-created body casts will also be on display.

The music will span the genres, with a lineup including Todd Morgan and The Emblems (Swing and Bebop), Luanne Trainor (harp), AIM Higher Jazz Ensemble, DJ Casper K and others.

AIM HIGHER, a service provider to adults with disabilities, offers fine arts classes by art professors. Works created by some of AIM’s clients will be displayed on Saturday.

The studio club is part of the larger “Expanding Sphere Project,” (ESP) which Santos-Coy describes as “ a concept designed to begin the process of identifying walkable microcosms outside the epicenter of Second Saturday art locations.”

Bridge to Art regularly partners with art-oriented individuals, groups and organizations to raise money for the arts, educate and help promote local artists.

When the owner of the building, which previously housed a dance studio, learned of Bridge to Art’s mission from Santos-Coy, she proposed collaborating on a project that’s art-oriented and benefits the community. From that collaboration, ESP and U20 were created.

Santos-Coy hopes to continue expanding the sphere of art beyond just Midtown with future ESP events.

One of the project’s goals is to encourage attendees to make more regional art tours beyond Midtown.

The project also will focus on developing the area around U20 as well as bridging relationships with the art community in the five blocks surrounding the space. This includes Verge Artist Collective, Gale Hart Studio, Mickey Abbey Stained Glass and others.

Two hundred to 300 people are expected to view the studio throughout the celebration.

“The most exciting part of opening exhibition night is seeing the community gather and sometimes overhearing the intelligent conversations that the arts evoke, often between people whom have never met before,” Santos-Coy said.

In addition to art and music, food and drinks will be provided by Jasmine Mediterranean Cafe.

The event is free but tips for the musicians and donations are encouraged. All donations will go to the artists and future exhibitions.

The grand opening celebration will be from 2 p.m. until 9.

U20 Artists Studio is at 1925 U St.

Fashion awards show brings glitz and glamour to Sac

2009-10-05T05:23:41Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Changing bad habits one recipe at a time

2009-10-01T22:03:51Z

Joanne Neft is on a mission to change the poor eating habits common in many households today.

"We're eating really inappropriately," she explained to dinner guests at her home this past week.

She pinpoints Americans' "inappropriate" eating habits to the cause of many problems. "We eat subsidized food because it's cheap, forgetting the huge price we pay for the resulting obesity, diabetes, cancer, and coronary problems. Americans pay a high price for cheap food."

She is currently self-employed and owns a couple of commercial properties but these days she is putting most of her energy and passion into a crusade against poor eating habits found in the form of a cookbook.

Neft and her close friend (and chef) Laura Caballero are in the process of compiling around 300 recipes made up of locally-grown ingredients.

"I've always cooked from scratch. It's easy, it tastes better, and it's good for you. So here we are writing a cookbook -- the next logical step in a long love affair with food," Neft said.

The cookbook is based on a unique and interactive, original concept.

Every weekend, Neft and Caballero shop the Auburn farmers market and purchase ingredients that are abundant and in season. They constantly find new fruits and vegetables, such as the spiky jelly melons (pictured below) they found last week.

On Monday evenings, the meal they have designed is prepared for six guests at the home Neft shares with her husband. Their home sits high atop the Auburn hills and guests are treated to a spectacular view of the hills during dinner.

Neft thinks the most important part of their project is the interaction of the community. "To our knowledge, this is the first cookbook written over a 52-week period using all the food grown in a single area. This is the first time community members are actually participating in the process of writing a cookbook," she said.

The guest list changes every week and by the year's end, they will have hosted and cooked for around 300 guests. The guests are made up of both acquaintances and friends that responded to an invitation email Neft sent out in January.

The weekly tradition began in January and will continue until December for a total of 52 weeks. The recipes will be in chronological order, ensuring all of the ingredients are in season and can be found in local markets. Special meals for holidays, such as a grass-fed turkey for Christmas, will also be included.

Depending on the type of meat served, meals for eight end up costing anywhere from $65 to $120. Instead of paying for their meal, guests are asked to make a donation of $20 per person that will go towards the printing of the cookbook.

Spots at the Monday night dinners have been booked through the end of the year so it's rare that a guest cancels. However, in the case of an emergency, a neighbor or friend is more than happy to sit in.

"The food is already purchased and we expect to prepare eight dinners so we appreciate having eight people around the table," Neft said.

Neft believes that it is more powerful to have people taste nutritious food instead of telling them how great or beneficial it is. She stresses that, because they are cooking with the freshest food available, there is not a lot of preparation involved or ingredients that need to be added.

"When we see guests at the following farmers market, then it's obvious they liked what they tasted and are there to learn what else is available. Most of the guests are people we don't know, so the dinners are definitely making a difference," Neft said.

The dinners not only allow guests to taste great food but give Caballero and Neft a chance to try out their recipes. Some recipes become surprising favorites, like the lamb neck slices that were cooked in dark beer, coffee, paprika, and a mandarin grilling sauce. Others, like the mini grilled artichokes, won't make it into the cookbook. If they are unsure about a recipe, they might try it out beforehand but generally dinners are cooked for the first time the evening of the dinner.

"If you start out with fresh food picked that Friday, you'd have to try really hard to mess it up," Neft explained.

Her passion for food began when she was young. She spent many years on farm land that was homesteaded by her great-grandfather in Minnesota and grew up with the importance of healthy food instilled in her. Her father always maintained a vegetable garden and started a large community garden in Santa Barbara in the 1960s.

She says that as she grew older, she noticed more people becoming overweight and sick and began to question why obesity was such a problem.

"People don't realize that 90 percent of foods available in supermarkets are corn-based and/or pumped with too many sweets, oils or salt ... Americans are unwittingly poisoning themselves," she explained.

She credits activists like Barbara Kingsolver, Alice Waters, Michael Pollan, and Eric Schlosser with bringing light to the importance of good food but thinks there is still much room for improvement.

"Most people still aren't connecting the dots," she said. "It really boils down to a health issue ... we are what we eat and the majority of people are not paying attention and haven't taken the time to inform themselves."

Twenty years ago, Neft opened the first Foothills Farmers Market. The following three years, eight more markets popped up throughout Placer County.

Other highlights of her food activism include heading up the first Mountain Mandarin Festival in Newcastle, preserving farmland, and working open space and scenic vistas as a chairperson of Placer County's Citizens Advisory Committee. She also served five years as Director for the Placer County Agricultural Program. Most recently, Neft has been involved with Sacramento's Regional Food System Collaborative.

"Once I learned of the massive amounts of money the government spends on healthcare and the potential of enormous costs in the years to come, I decided to take some action. There are two generations of people who don't know how to cook a meal from scratch."

Neft is doing her part to change that, one meal at a time.

On Monday night, Neft cooked two angel food cakes using the exact same recipe with eggs from the farmers' market and eggs from the supermarket. She believes the difference in sizes speaks volumes. The scenery behind is the view from the Nefts' back porch.

Sample menu served on September 28

Appetizers:
Chilled cucumber soup
Fresh brick-oven bread

Dinner:
Tomato, jelly melon and arugula salad with a vinaigrette laced with fresh pesto sauce
Swiss chard sauteed and topped with bacon crumbles
Mashed German butterball potatoes
Lamb stew with okra and diced tomatoes

Dessert:
Angel food cake with strawberries and homemade bittersweet chocolate sauce
Homemade vanilla ice cream

Placer County Real Food will be completed by Mother's Day 2010 and will be available for purchase at the Auburn farmers market or pre-order by contacting Mercedes Sinclair at Mercedes@EastWindQuantumWellness.com or at 916-412-2622

To contact Laura Caballero about her professional chef services, email her at laurak928@hotmail.com

All photos taken by Jonathan Mendick

Capital Air Show honors and excites

2009-09-15T03:17:52Z

As part of Air Force Week, the California Capital Air Show invaded Mather Airport over the weekend for two days of power and patriotism.

"It is an exclusive honor to be selected to host Air Force Week and we are one of the only civilian airshows in the country to do so with our partners Travis Air Force Base and Beale," said Abby Lacheur, the "air-tern" (intern) to California Capital Air Show executive director.

When the air show first began five years ago, it consisted of only static displays of aircraft. Throughout the past few years, organizers added actual air demonstrations and it has since grown to the massive event it is today.

The audience of around 100,000 people per day was treated to demonstrations by two jet teams, the United States Air Force Thunderbirds and The Patriots. Attendees were also treated to aerobatic performer Gene "Mr. Airshow" Soucy, wing-walker stuntwoman Teresa Stokes, and demos by the prestigious and rarely seen F-22 Raptor.

The Raptor, known for its precise maneuvering skills and war-fighting abilities, is a component of the Global Strike Task Force and gave the audience an eyeful of sharp turns and unbelievable rolls that made the 43,340-pound jet look almost weightless.

While the majority of jets performing throughout the weekend were part of service flight teams, the Jelly Belly plane and the GEICO Extra 300, were navigated by civilian pilots.

The highly anticipated Patriots, three of whom used to be Thunderbirds, flew their team of four L-39 jets midway through the show. In true American spirit, the jets had colored red, white and blue smoke billowing from them. On Saturday, the flight team took a prospective addition to their crew up in the air to test his flying skills.

One of the main highlights of this year's show and a more somber moment in the midst of the performances was the "Heritage" tribute flight by the F-22 Raptor, P-51 Mustang and F-86. Performed in honor of the Air Force's 50th birthday in 1997, the flight was dedicated in appreciation of the soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines serving our country as well as the many veterans who were in the audience throughout the weekend.

"On top of the airshow being a fun event for the family, it is also a chance for us to show appreciation to the military and armed forces that ensure freedom that we sometimes take for granted," Lacheur said.

Continuing the theme of patriotism, the Thunderbirds dedicated their performance to the nation's deployed airmen.

The final team to perform, The Thunderbirds gave a jaw-dropping performance with impressive maneuvers like the "Delta Formation," where six jets rolled simultaneously through the air with their wings mere feet from each other.

The elite Thunderbirds team is world reknowned for their precision, reflected both on the ground and in the air. Every minute detail is performed in sync with one another, from removing the chock blocks from the planes' wheels to navigating the planes through the skies. Pilot of Thunderbird 8, Major Tony Mulhare, narrated the carefully choreographed flight demos as the crowd watched in awe as the jets stole the show.

In addition to the show in the sky, attendees were invited to tour the interiors of Air Force C-17A, Coast Guard C-130 and U-2 Dragon Lady Spyplane. Flight simulators were set up so that people could realistically feel what it's like to navigate the skies in a jet, and pilots were on hand at each display to visit with their fans and sign autographs.

Lacheur said this year's show was bigger and better than any of the previous years' shows. "The most exciting thing is having eight decades of aviation on a single runway for people to touch and feel..." she said.

Air Show is big business by Suzanne Hurt

Capital Air Show gearing up for you by Ed Fogle

To see the complete album of the Capital Air Show photos, click here. Check back for more.

Photos taken by Maverick Photographers: Kirk Davies, Fred Jennings, George Murray, Dottie Cashero, Ed Fogle

Food system advocates create action plan

2009-09-12T03:20:56Z

Members of the Regional Food System Collaborative (RFC) turned their attention again Thursday morning to improving the region's food system. The gathering, hosted by Valley Vision, couldn't have been held at a more fitting location. While colleagues gathered inside the Sacramento Food Bank, the hungry lined up outside to receive bags of free food.

Attendees came from local organizations that have a stake in our food system and share common goals: improving our eating habits and the way the local food system functions.

The discussion was facilitated by Valley Vision's Bill Mueller and the group of more than 50 broke into three subgroups to put their plans for change into action.

The collaborative project has undergone a "planning stage" and now is putting its plans into action.

Each work group had its own focus -- education, sustainable agriculture and food access. The goal was for each group to come up with three to five goal statements to put into action by 2011. Mueller asked groups to keep in mind the "S.M.A.R.T." philosophy and make goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. In addition, he reminded participants to think of goals that would get the most return with the least amount of effort.

As a reminder of the heart of the project, a flow chart pointed out that healthy soil leads to healthy food, which leads to healthy people and a healthy economy.

Each group was allotted 45 minutes to share ideas and participants were encouraged not to reject concepts without hearing them in their entirety. A Valley Vision representative facilitated each group. Afterward, group facilitators presented short-term goals and ideas. They include:

Education
-Create a tool kit that will teach local youth how to cook with a focus on tasting healthy food
-Idea that tasting healthy food might change any negative stigma
-Create a program incorporating a tool kit that can be replicated
-Have ambassadors or representatives to help spread message
-Branding: Create a unified, ongoing message and transmit it through social networking
-Focus on policy-makers and educate them as well as business leaders

Sustainable Agriculture
-Policy regulation
-Educate and have Legislature sign on to educational platform
-Increase resources
-Increase integration of technical resources
-Williamson Act

Food Access
-Create 20 new access points for fresh, healthy food
-Indicate on the label where food is grown
-Increase access to low-income and underrepresented communities
-Achieve price equity so food is accessible
-Make all programs multilingual

Many involved in the work group discussion were especially passionate about starting with changing habits of youth, who are impressionable and might encourage their parents to make healthy choices as well. After the presentations, the audience participated in a discussion of groups' decisions and goals.

In keeping with their beliefs, attendees ate locally grown organic fruit from Soil Born farms, which had several representatives at the meeting. One audience member expressed disdain for the plastic water bottles at the meeting, saying they go against everything for which the collaborative stands.

While Valley Vision has played a guiding role since the collaborative formed, Mueller encouraged everyone to continue convening in their work groups outside of planned meetings. He stressed that while Valley Vision has helped to push the project along, it is up to the group to keep the effort going.

Three work group meetings for each subtopic discussed at the collaborative are planned for October 13, 14, and 15 at Valley Vision. Attendees also expressed a strong desire for another collaborative meeting before February, when Valley Vision's involvement is scheduled to end.

To learn about future collaborative meetings or activities, contact Robyn Krock at robyn.krock@valleyvision.org or visit www.valleyvision.org.

A day in the boots of Sacramento's heroes: Oak Park's Station 6

2009-08-24T02:17:53Z

To call them simply “firefighters” is an understatement. The men of Station 6 of the Sacramento Fire Department in Oak Park do more than put out fires.

Out of more than 20 stations within the Sacramento Fire Department, the station is the busiest. Year after year, the station has also been ranked as one of the busiest in the nation.

During their time at the house, firefighters are on-call to respond to a wide range of calls. Many are legitimate life-threatening emergencies, but a number of them don’t necessarily warrant a 9-1-1 response. A faked seizure, a man unconscious in the bushes covered with ants and foaming at the mouth, a woman who claimed she had been assaulted by six men and a man in cardiac arrest while his young children looked on: These are the types of calls that I saw as I rode along for 24 hours with the firefighters from Station 6.

A typical day at the firehouse begins around 8 a.m. The firefighters must arrive ready to work, since the first call can come in at any time. The men (there are no women currently at Station 6) prepare for their shifts by checking out the rigs, making sure tools are running properly and discussing the types of calls that came in during the previous shift. Also, because of recent budget cuts and the resulting “brownouts,” the firefighters must know which engines might be out of service at nearby stations, which can result in additional calls for them to pick up.

The station works in three different groups (A, B and C) with each shift lasting 48 hours, with four days off in between. They work with the same crew each rotation, which creates a strong camaraderie among them.

The firehouse serves as a sort of home away from home for the firefighters. A dormitory room has mattresses and storage cabinets lining the walls and is generally only used when sleeping. The day room houses recliners and a TV and is located directly near the kitchen, where the firefighters take turns cooking each shift - and they certainly know their way around the kitchen. They are given set a budget for grocery shopping at the beginning of each shift and also contribute out of their own pockets.

"When we go to the store, people will joke and ask what they are buying us today, but people don't realize that we will actually put in money from our own pockets as well...," said firefighter Jeff Switkowski.

On the day of our visit, the firefighters dined on homemade bacon cheeseburgers and fruit for lunch, and carnitas, rice and beans for dinner. At any given moment, a call can come into the station and the firefighters have to leave their meals half-eaten.

In between calls, the members of the crew stay busy watching movies, reading, exercising or fine-tuning their job skills with drills. Typically, they will practice one drill a day to stay efficient for situations they might not regularly encounter. On my visit, the crew demonstrated their rescue skills with an elaborate ropes and pulley system while Switkowski, the youngest of the firefighters, played the “victim” and was “rescued” from the roof of the station and lowered to the ground in a metal gurney.

Station 6 is home to Truck 6, Engine 6 and Medic 6, as well as Battalion Chief Niko King‘s red SUV. Depending on the type of emergency, either one or a combination of the vehicles will respond to the call. There are six different panels located around the house with four differently colored lights that give information as to the type of call and who needs to respond. White signals King, blue signals the medic, green signals the engine and red signals the truck.

Both the truck and engine hold rescue equipment and tools, but the main difference between the two rigs is that the engine holds 500 gallons of water and the truck has a ladder.

When someone calls 9-1-1, the dispatcher will determine which station should answer the call, and an alarm is sounded at that particular house. A printer automatically feeds out information about the call and location and more information about the call is provided on the computer screen in each rig.

Two engineers, Eric Munson and Robert Knaggs on this particular shift, are responsible for navigating the truck and engine through the narrow streets of Oak Park. Unfortunately, many drivers give little regard to the blaring sirens and fail to pull aside as required by law. The engineers often have to drive down the center of the road or weave in and out of traffic because of uncooperative drivers.

Of around 20 calls (not including canceled calls) that came in throughout the 24 hours, only two were actual fires. The first, at around 9:30 a.m., was a grass fire on 65th Street and Folsom Boulevard that had to spread to several storage units. The second fire, also a grass fire, came at around 10 p.m. and was behind Cal Expo near the levee.

The response to fires is organized chaos. To the untrained eye, it might seem like a lot of men running around spraying hoses, but there is actually a precise chain of command and specific protocol during each call. Upon arrival, the battalion chief surveys the situation and the best way to go about putting out the fire. Each firefighter has someone to report to. The battalion chiefs are responsible for two captains, who are each responsible for several firefighters.

Rather than fire, most calls are from people who require medical attention because of either accidents or illnesses. Upon arriving to a call for a medical emergency, each firefighter is responsible for a specific duty. Vital signs are checked and medical history and health insurance information is gathered while the firefighters wait for the medics to arrive. If the patient or victim can't communicate, medical history is taken from family members or anyone else present. Information is then transferred to a computer and then input to yet another computer system at the hospital.

The computers, which were installed in medic vehicles around a year ago, are supposed to streamline the emergency room process, but seems to instead slow things down as medics have to wait in line to check their patient in.

On some calls, the firefighters provide more medical attention than the medics might. This was the case Saturday morning, when a woman was unresponsive due to low blood sugar. After administering IV dextrose, the firefighters transported her to the hospital for further treatment. The firefighters saved her life, as she could have slipped into unconsciousness were it not for their quick actions.

Many people often wonder why so many firefighters are required to respond to certain calls. The importance of manpower was clearly demonstrated by a call that came Friday evening for a man in cardiac arrest. There were six different medics and firefighters attempting to revive him, and it was necessary for multiple people to administer CPR, monitor his heart and lift him onto the stretcher for transport.

While many of the calls that come into the department are from people who actually need emergency medical attention, many others abuse the 9-1-1 system and use the ambulances as a sort of Golden Ticket into the emergency room in hopes of being seen sooner.

"Many people are trained to think that if they see blood, they should call 9-1-1," said one firefighter.

Calls such as the woman who was dehydrated at a Church’s Chicken, the man who had back pain from his sciatic nerve or the woman who was intoxicated and fell from her front porch can seem like a waste of the firefighters’ valuable time when there are actual emergencies to be attended to. Still, the firefighters treat all of their patients with the utmost decency and respect. They talk to victims and patients as if they are friends, genuinely concerned with their well-being.

A call early Saturday morning brought them to an unconscious man laying in bushes, covered in ants, and paramedics tried to coax him awake. "Hey buddy, can you open your eyes for me? There are ants all over you, you don't want to lay out here," a paramedic said. He had most likely overdosed on drugs and was incoherent, yet they spoke to him politely, as if he could hear and understand.

Stories are often exchanged, whether around the firehouse dinner table or riding to or from a call, and it’s clear that the firefighters have seen more than their fair share of disturbing and gruesome scenes. Over dessert, Capt. Michael Wolfe recalled a gunshot wound that went in through a man’s groin and came out the other side. Firefighter Jeff Klein recalled a time he entered a car after the driver shot his passenger, who was also his brother. Upon pulling his hooded sweatshirt down from his head, the man’s brain fell from his skull.

Calls like these are shocking to hear discussed at the dining room table casually as if they are discussing weekend plans. However, such disturbing calls are a daily occurrence for the crew. To be able to continue with the job, they have to be able to downplay the shock and use coping mechanisms like humor after witnessing horrific accidents.

"We are exposed to some pretty awful things at times. There are definitely some triggers that will require a supervisor to put together a critical incident stress debriefing, such as an infant death or traumatic injuries," King said. "Most firefighters will joke about the things that stress us out as a way to not just keep it bottled up inside...We deal with the stresses of the job along with our successes as ups and downs within the team."

Another challenge the firefighters face is sleep. Getting quality sleep in a firehouse is almost impossible, and a night's sleep becomes a series a short naps. When a call comes in, the lights in the dorm immediately turn on, and the firefighters must load into the rigs just as if they had been awake. On Friday night, there were a total of 10 calls after midnight, which is more than the average of six for the weekend.

False alarms are common, and two came during our stay. The firefighters got out of bed, dressed and loaded into the rigs only to make a U-turn minutes after pulling out of the station driveway. Even more frustrating was when, on returning from a call, the battalion truck was flagged down by a man claiming to have been held up at knife point. After determining that they could return to the firehouse and return to sleep, a call came in around an hour later, only for the firefighters to arrive and realize the same man had called again and did not actually need any sort of medical attention.

While the crew is used to the constant waking and sleeping routine, it is a huge adjustment for someone used to uninterrupted sleep. As King explained it, to cope with the constant interruptions, it is common to only fall into shallow sleep patterns. Subconsciously they know that on a minute’s notice they could be fighting a fire or saving a life, which requires their alertness, so it is perhaps imperative that they don't sleep deeply.

At the end of an exhausting 24 hours, the firefighters are revving up for the next 24, never knowing what the day will bring. Their lives could be threatened in a massive structure fire, they could save numerous lives or they could be roused from their sleep to answer a call for someone with a simple earache.

But they are ready to go wherever needed and so they wait, with smiles on their faces, for the alarm to sound.

To see the rest of the photos from our 24-hour ride along, click here

For more information about Station 6, visit the station's website.

All photos taken by Ed Fogle of Maverick Photography

Editor's Note: The Sacramento Press editorial department made corrections to this story after it was published .

Krazy Mary's will combine fashion, awareness

2009-07-29T04:46:31Z

Krazy Mary's Boutique is bringing fashion and philanthropy together this weekend.

This Saturday, Aug. 1, from 3 until 8 p.m. the ladies of the trendy boutique and its sister store Sugar Shack will be hosting an awareness and pre-sale event to help bring attention to the popular eco-friendly shoe line's charitable efforts.

Started in 2006, the TOMS footwear line began when founder Blake Mycoskie visited Argentina and was struck by the amount of people who didn't have something that many people take for granted: shoes. He decided to redesign the "alpargatas," the flat moccasin-like shoes typically worn by locals, and started his "One for One" program that donates one pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased.

Since the program began, TOMS has donated more than 140,000 shoes to children in countries like Argentina and Africa during their shoes drop tours. Sacramentans will have a chance to contribute to the next one in Argentina, scheduled for September.

Debbie Millanova, a sales associate at Krazy Mary's and the main coordinator for the event, said that the event is important to the boutique not only to meet the recent high-demand of the shoes but because it is for such a good cause.

The shoes normally range from $40 to $70 and are available in a variety of colors and fabrics. Rope, canvas, rubber, hemp are just some of the materials used to design the shoes.

The boutiques began carrying the footwear since fall of last year but experienced dismal sales until TOMS began receiving more public recognition. The shoes have recently been splashed across the pages of fashion magazines, and Mycoskie is currently featured in an AT&T commerical praising the company for their service that helps him do his job.

Seven new styles of the footwear will be brought in for Saturday's event and shoppers will be able to pre-order styles from the not-yet-seen fall collection. While the boutique normally only carries the women's lines, they will be pre-selling and showing men's designs for the first time, after receiving many calls from customers searching for them in the past few months.

A fashion show, with makeup and hair done by Sacramento's Moxy Hair salon, will incorporate the shoes, and DJ Roger will be spinning indi-pop beats throughout the evening. As a reminder that the event is about more than just fancy footwear, a TOMS promotional video explaining the company will be played during the event.

A TOMS rep will be on hand to answer questions about the shoes and the company, and after the fashion show a raffle will be held to giveaway TOMS t-shirts.To beat the heat, ice cold lemonade and fresh fruit will be served to shoppers.

TOMS shoes are also carried at Madame Butterfly in the Pavilions shopping center in Sacramento. Whole Foods Markets sells an exclusive line of TOMS, which are made of hemp and other non-leather materials. The TOMS line also offers childrens shoes, called Tiny TOMS, which can purchased on their website at www.tomsshoes.com.

To learn more about the company and find out how to get involved, watch the TOMS story

Krazy Mary's is located at 2527 J St.

Image of Krazy Mary's current TOMS window display, courtesy of Krazy Mary's

Sirens sizzle at anniversary cabaret show

2009-07-28T04:08:00Z

Sacramento’s Sizzling Sirens heated up Shady Lady Saloon Sunday night.

For their one-year anniversary show, the six-person burlesque troupe took the stage for an hour and a half of flirtatious numbers and plenty of naughtiness.

Attendees, who were encouraged to dress in '20s-themed attire, were decked out in suspenders, fedoras, sequined flapper dresses, pearls and pin curl. The bar's authentic saloon decor was more than fitting for
a Cabaret show.

The celebration started at 9 p.m., and a sexy jazz performance by The Harley White Jr. Orchestra set the sultry mood for the evening, further set by the Saloon's dim lighting. The spotlight went to the corner stage, where the sirens took turns tantalizing the audience.

As soon as the girls began writhing and wiggling their bodies to tunes of jazz and blues hits, the bar quickly filled to maximum capacity, with many of the male clientele positioning themselves feet away from the stage.

The dancers took turns putting on both solo and duet performances, using props like chairs and feather boas while they tantalized the audience.

Their scanty clothing became props as well, as the girls used their corsets, pearls, elbow-high gloves, garters and lingerie decorated with lace and bows as yet another way to tease the audience while they peeled away layers of clothing and accessories.

In between the ten sets, emcee duo The Freebadge Serenaders, a jazz duo, entertained the audience with wisecracks pertaining to the evening and revved the crowd up for the next striptease. Not much revving up was needed however, as the audience gladly whistled and hollered appreciatively with every unbuttoning of a corset and removal of a fishnet stocking.

The siren team for the evening was made up of Lorelai Love, Ava Aurore, Alex Digitalis, Shauni Fatale, Jay Siren (instructor of the group) and Lucinda Buttons.

Love serenaded the audience with velvety blues hits from previous decades like “W.O.M.A.N.” by Etta James and “Love me Like a Man” by Bonnie Rait.

A halftime show performance by the Serenaders included what they called “the least sexiest instruments alive: the banjo and the washboard.”

Raffle tickets, sold for $5, gave audience members the chance to win gift certificates to Shady Lady, Isabella Corsetry, Muse Salon and dance lessons at The Firehouse 5.

The cabaret-themed party continued until around 2 a.m. while guests listened to jazz, sipped on handmade cocktails from the bar and checked out the sexy Sirens while they mingled.

In the past year the Sirens have graced the stages of many Sacramento venues, including Press Club, Badlands, Parlare and The Park Ultra Lounge for the annual Hair Wars competition. Next up for the girls is the “We wash. You watch.” fundraiser car wash Aug. 8 at Suzie Burger. They will give an eyeful while they give scrub-downs to bikes, cars and mopeds.

The Sizzling Sirens host burlesque fusion dance classes at Midtown’s The Firehouse 5 every Sunday and also offer private and group lessons. For more information, visit The Sizzling Siren's website.

All images taken by Anthony Bento

Food advocates come together for change

2009-07-25T05:05:58Z

Mark Winne, author of Closing the Food Gap: Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty, opened Thursday morning’s Sacramento Region Food Collaborative (RFC) conference with a powerful message of hope.

“The loss of land, hunger, insecurity, obesity are real…but so is the opportunity for change," he said.

The guest list for the four-hour brainstorm session, coordinated by Valley Vision, included more than 70 movers and shakers in the food and urban agriculture industry plus representatives from congress and environmental agencies.

Held in TV station KVIE’s community room, Winne began the collaborative by asking the audience for general feedback, both positive and negative, on the state of Sacramento’s current food system (see below for highlights).

Winne, the headlining speaker for this month’s meeting, is a nationally recognized leader in food policy, local agriculture and hunger and food insecurity. He has co-founded a number of food and agriculture policy groups across the nation and is a recipient of the 2001 U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary’s Plow Honor Award.

Throughout his presentation, “Leadership for Healthy Communities: Advancing Policies to Support Healthy Eating and Active Living,” Winne discussed existing successful food policies, community projects and strategies that can be used as models for our region and solutions to putting talk into action.

Many attendees echoed a common frustration of the pace of action taking place in the region, with some having devoted almost their entire lives to food policy and providing healthy food choices to the community. One audience member aptly described it as “pushing a rock uphill.”

Winne acknowledged that change might occur slowly, but reassured the audience, saying, “I maintain that you have the expertise in this room to solve most of the food problems in the region.”

Two of the strongest themes that emerged from the convention were the need for greater education efforts and access for communities to various food programs throughout the region. Some of the solutions that Winne suggested that could build steps toward an improved food system included:

-Zoning laws, buffer zones around schools
-Not just providing healthy food choices but equipping children and adults with education to make them
-Example: Happy Kitchen adult cooking program
-Focus on change at a local level
-Community development as area for opportunity
-Example: Pennsylvania’s Fresh Food Financing, which added 2,500 new jobs
- Farm-to-school programs (currently 10 percent of nation’s schools involved)

During last month’s RFC, Valley Vision surveyed attendees to get an idea of their priorities and focus. A list of 15 priorities was formed, the number one priority being “taking action to overcome policy barriers to local food access” . Bill Mueller, this month’s RFC facilitator, accepted critique of the survey and, based on a majority of comments, fine-tuned the results to include that education and communication should always be a cornerstone of the project in addition to other priorities.

To close the meeting and prepare for September’s conference, facilitators asked that audience members review a spider chart of stakeholders in the RFC project, grouped into categories like community development, social economy, charity and policy advocacy. Attendees were asked to consider who has been left out and to leave suggestions of additional targets of the project.

As outlined in a one-year meeting plan timeline, RFC has developed an action plan and is currently in the "convening/agenda setting” stage. Beginning with September’s planning meeting, the collaborative will enter the "action” stage that will continue through a series of priority action meetings until February 2010.

Based on the discussion and exchange of ideas that took place Thursday morning, attendees are more than equipped with not only the passion but the tools, power and innovative thinking needed to improve Sacramento’s food system.

Valley Vision’s Bill Mueller closed the collaboration with a reminder that the power for change lies in the hands of the attendees.

“At the end of the day, this is your project, and we‘re the container," Mueller said.

RFC gatherings began in May and will continue on a monthly basis. For complete information about the project, visit valleyvision.org.

To learn about future collaborative meetings, contact Robyn Krock at robyn.krock@valleyvision.org

Current food system audience commentary highlights (positive)

-Sacramento is one of the best stone-fruit agriculture regions in the nation
-A vast number of farmers markets in area
-Many farmers markets and stands accept Electronic Benefit Transfer cards
-Programs like Meals on Wheels offer healthy food choices to seniors
-Many marketing opportunities available for food programs

Current food system audience commentary highlights (negative)

-Sacramento is a food “desert” (Read USDA’s study on this theory)
-Lack of education and access in certain communities (example Oak Park)
-Price per dollar of fruit and vegetables at markets is on the rise
-There is still a lot of room for improvement with marketing methods
-Only around 2 percent of area residents attend farmers markets
-Regulations sometimes make it difficult to run stands or markets
-More focus is needed on children making healthy choices
-Many neighborhoods are forced to choose supermarkets and fast food because of lack of options

Take Action, Get Inspired: Programs and Resources

Mark Winne: mark@foodsecurity.org

Community Food Security Coalition

Farm to School Network

Oakland's People's Grocery

Leadership for Healthy Communities

Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Cleveland's City Fresh program

Philadelphia's Food Trust

Food Policy Council

UDA Design Dialogue: Community garden challenges

2009-07-24T03:17:18Z

On Wednesday night around 40 urban agriculture advocates, gardeners and Sacramento residents gathered at the Sacramento chapter of the American Institute of Architects to discuss a subject that has been on many Sacramentans' minds lately.

This month's topic for the 4th Wednesday Urban Design Alliance (UDA) Design Dialogue was "Design Challenges in Urban Agriculture." Those who attended were divided into groups for an interactive workshop that involved designing a faux-garden despite a list of challenges given to them. While mulling over the different scenarios and solutions, participants snacked on fresh fruits provided by Soil Born farm, appropriate fare given the night's theme.

Bill Maynard, of the Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition, opened the lecture with his own thoughts about urban agriculture and discussed several community gardens he believes are good models. He reminded the attendees that two goals of community gardens are edibility/sustainability and visual appeal. A facilitator sat in on each table to guide the 20 minutes they were given to discuss and sketch their designs.

The group that I sat in on was given the task of creating a vegetable garden in a 20-foot by 330-foot alley along a residential and commercial block. Some of the challenges they faced were the alley being paved with concrete, the need for automobile and garbage collection access throughout the alley and a possible need for topsoil in raised beds for sunlight. They were reminded to use sustainable gardening practices such as using rain runoff, selecting appropriate plants and food crops and pest management while also focusing on the visual aspects of the garden.

In response to the various challenges, the team came up with several ideas that would work in an actual community garden given the same scenario. Members decided to make the garden a communal one so that everyone could share in the vegetables. Containers would be placed along the edges at different points so that they would be raised enough to receive sunlight and would stay clear of any cars or service vehicles that might need access. Seasonal vegetables would be planted as well as trees to provide shade. Trellises would be positioned across the top for even more planting opportunities, and vacant lots along the edges of the alley would be used for tool storage and sitting areas. To ensure visual appeal, flowers would be included throughout the garden, and artwork would be placed at both ends. Lastly, water containers would catch rain runoff and double as both a water source and decorative art atop roofs.

After 20 minutes, variations of those solutions were reflected in the other groups' presentations. Other garden types that were designed during the workshop included a temporary community garden, a Fab-40s front yard garden, a vacant lot used by a chef, a lawn with a giant tree in the center, a school garden and rooftop garden. Solutions to design challenges included raised ponds for drainage, drought-tolerant herbs, turning a large industrial building wall into an art mural and installing water sources for easy relocation, among many others.

Maynard commended the groups, most of them made up of team members who have never been involved in community gardening and noted that many of the ideas the participants came up with are actually used in community gardens across the nation.

Before the gathering came to a close, the UDA leaders reviewed results of surveys that were handed out at the beginning of the meeting, which doubled as a lesson in California's urban agriculture. Survey takers were asked how many farms are in the state (75,000), if growing veggies in front yards is illegal (it's not) and if water use for gardening is regulated in Sacramento (only the hours are). In addition, they were asked to guess the second and third states in the United States that produce the most agriculture, with California being the first. Some were surprised to learn that Iowa came in third, after Texas.

In closing, Maynard encouraged the audience to think outside the box when it comes to designing urban agriculture spaces and pointed out that the Sacramento region requires considerations such as a lack of rain in the summer months.

Of special importance, he also reminded attendees that August is National Community Garden Awareness Month. To help out on several community garden projects Maynard has planned for the month, contact him at saccg@ulink.net.

For more information about community gardening, visit the Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition

Design and music to collide at Launch festival

2009-07-23T04:59:06Z

Claimed to be a "design revolution in the making" by its creators, the Launch design and music festival is coming to the Greens Hotel this weekend for a collision of great music and even greater fashion.

Michael Hargis of Vhcle and Adam Saake, who has been helping Hargis organize, have been tirelessly promoting for the past few months, passing out fliers all over Sacramento and at events like Concert in the Park and Design Downtown block party.

The main coordinator of the event, Michael Hargis, said that it's hard to tell how many people will purchase tickets the day of the event but 150 tickets have been pre-sold and there is a guestlist with around 150 additional people on it. They have set a goal of anywhere from 700 to 1500 people attending.

After working on Movement in Design in March Hargis said he saw how exciting music and fashion are when combined and he hopes that this event will produce a bigger turnout than the 500 that showed up for Movement.

He said that he sees the Launch festival as a baby step to something much bigger and compares his dream to Coachella-meets-Magic (a fashion trade show). For now, Launch will help brand Vhcle Magazine and showcase the design, fashion and architecture it represents.

The party will begin at 6 p.m. and end at 2 a.m. for the general public. For V.I.P. guests, the celebration will go until 4 a.m. for an exclusive after-party.

Music artists from Sacramento to L.A. will be entertaining in a series of lounges and on a main, center stage. On the main stage, DJs will spin sets by LA Riots and New York's Dances with White Girls. There will be live performances by Oakland's Wallpaper, San Francisco's Love Like Fire and Sacramento's Dusty Brown and Sister Crayon.

In front of the main stage a runway will be set up for the evening's main attraction, the fashion show. Designs from Velvet Leaf, Van der Neer, Artifacts, Altered Betty's and Reject will be paraded down the runway and the clothing lines featured will have booths and trunk shows set up, along with more than 20 others, for those who want to shop.

A few steps away in the pool area, in the "Downtempo Whine Lounge," DJs Rock Bottom and Themoookie will be spinning live. "Risque Electro Lounge," named after San Francisco's Club 21's "Risque Nights" will feature DJs Mike Diamond, Greg J, must.not.die., and The Robot and JJ spinning electro beats.

For festival-goers that plan on partying all night, hotel rooms were offered as part of their V.I.P. packages. As a nod to the event organizers' hard work, all rooms have been sold out. Vendors were invited to stay as well, with discounted suites offered to those attending.

The festival will utilize the hotel grounds to the fullest, with full bars set up at several different points around the stages and vendors booths.

The 1600-square-foot Greens Hotel recently hosted "I Hella Love Fashion: Vol. 1" and the rooms themselves can be considered works of art, with hip furniture by Limn Furniture, funky art pieces from California artists and brightly-colored walls. The hotel was designed by the creator of Limn furniture and the eclectic rooms are perfect digs for any fashionista.

The magazine has recruited several sponsors to help make the event possible, including Unseen-Heroes Consulting, Abide Visuals, Vestal Watches, Space 07 Salon, Hot Italian pizza, Risque Nites at Club 21, Jamba Juice, and others.

All ages are welcome to attend the event but V.I.P. tickets and overnight packages require a valid I.D. and are only available to those 21 and older. Valet parking will be available as well as a well as a safe parking lot designated for the event.

To follow the development of the festival, visit the Launch blog

Ticket prices are as follows (purchase at the Launch website or at the door)

In advance: $20 General Admission
$25 V.I.P.
$175 Overnight
Day of: $30 General Admission
$35 V.I.P.

Vendors that will be attending:

Atelier
Bows and Arrows
Artifacts
Purple Party
Meshugga Chic
Cuffs
Booji
I Scream Seams
Amy Pine Style
Reject
Porkchop Rules
Jenjems
Pamela Tuohy
Esef Apparel
Faedrah Clothing
Altered Betty's
Velvet Leaf
Mikabella

Photos are courtesy of Vhcle and include a V.I.P. suite at the Greens, The Robot and JJ, Reject clothing, and room "X" at the Greens

ESEA Skincare invites yogis into new studio

2009-07-22T03:14:17Z

In June, East Sac Yoga Studio became a part of ESEA Skincare and Salon (East Sac Endermologie and Aesthetics), . Owner Joe Tafoya decided to bring the two together so that customers could receive all services in one convenient location.

Patrons of the salon can receive skim smoothing microcurrent treatments, LED light therapy, LPG Endermologie, sauna pods, skin needling and acupuncture. Yogis can choose from classes including Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow, Hatha, Power Yoga, Restorative, Baptice and Yoga for All, which teaches yoga to all skill levels.

Discussing Joe Tafoya's résumé in the skincare industry is a story in itself. The founder of ESEA Skincare and Salon is somewhat of a skincare guru, boasting more than a few impressive positions and company start-ups in the past two decades.

He began in 1990 as the marketing director for Bentec Medical and in 1995 started his own company,, Medwest Surgical and distributed silicone products used in specialty procedures. Then in 1996 he started yet another company, Aesthetic Concepts, and traveled the world distributing Microdermabrasion Systems (which he holds the U.S. patent to) and educating plastic surgeons, dermatologists and aestheticians in microdermabrasion techniques and procedures. Five years later, Tafoya opened the Skin Rejuvenation Center before selling it in 2003. In 2008 he founded ESEA, a skincare and wellness center. His own skincare line, ESEA Skincare, is sold at the salon.

With a strong background in the cosmetic industry, Tafoya has learned that skincare remains a priority for most consumers despite financial hardship.

"I do believe the skincare industry is recession-proof," he said "[People] may not be able to fill the tank up, but they sure as hell are going to take care of their skin."

For Tafoya, adding the studio seemed like a logical move for his salon.

"It was a good fit to round out the whole wellness theme of the salon, and with such a large client base it was easy to market to the existing customers as well as Sacramento having a large following of yogis," Tafoya said.

The salon currently employs five aestheticians as well as five sub-tennants who provide some of the salons' services like massage and acupuncture. With the addition of the studio, they recently welcomed six yoga instructors that teach 18 classes a week.

"[The studio] is unique because we teach all styles and have more instructors teaching than most studios in town," Tafoya said. "The wellness environment it sits in gives it a special feeling of mind, body and spirit knowing that [customers] can cross over to other services that will enrich the body."

Since opening ESEA in November and before the addition of the studio, Tafoya says business has been excellent, partially due to their offer of free first microdermabrasion treatments that get customers into the salon. In the last eight months, they have performed more than 500 microdermabrasion treatments and around 50 percent of those clients have returned. Follow-up treatments cost around $100 or higher. While the struggle lies in keeping customers coming back after receiving their free treatment, he says that it hasn't been too much a problem, as people usually love the results.

He first began the first-treatment-free offer in 1996 at salons across the country when the microdermabrasion machine he was manufacturing and selling cost $11,000. Since many aestheticians could not afford the hefty price tag, he would send a team of aestheticians in for several days and offer half-price specials if a series of treatments were booked by the client. This generated around $5,000 to $7,000 that could be put toward the machine.

Tafoya has machines in over 75 local salons and 1,000 across the United States and still sells his equipment throught the salon.

Next on Tafoya's seemingly never-ending to-do list is launching an online news magazine called Microderm.com and a high-end skincare line called Driven Cosmeceuticals so that he can continue to provide high-quality skincare while educating on the latest advancements.

For more information about ESEA, visit their website at eastsacyogastudio.com or eastsacendermologie.com.

ESEA Skincare and Salon is located at 716 57th St.

Del Paso Blvd. 'hella' loves fashion

2009-07-20T05:48:06Z

While high-fashion style and sexy are likely the last things that come to mind when thinking about Del Paso Boulevard, the “I Hella Love Fashion” fashion show hosted at the trendy Greens Hotel can only be summed up by those words.

Coordinated by Noelle Tavares of the clothing line Faedrah’s and sponsored by Vitamin Water and Skin Deep Finishing Institute, the open space formerly occupied by Article Salon and Boutique was transformed Saturday night into a runway showcasing some of Sacramento’s most talented designers.

Models raced around backstage to receive last-minute touch-ups on their hair and makeup and took practice struts down the runway until the final minutes before the show.

At close to 9 p.m., host Jae Synth took the mic and got the show going in the room packed shoulder-to-shoulder with well-dressed fashionistas. TheMookieDJ spun sexy techno and dance remixes that complemented the designers’ eccentric ensembles.

One of the first featured designers was 21-year-old Machelle Chalmers with La Voice Clothing. Started in 2004, her line combined unlikely colors and fabrics. Chalmers paired hot pink tulle with silver sequins, lime green lace with black and white hound’s-tooth and ballerina skirts with collared shirts. The line also featured men’s pieces like Jackson Pollock-esque vests and a suit jacket with a tiger painted on the back.

Brown Skin Designs, by Nina Brown, clothed its models in a collection Brown said is inspired by “Sacramento’s hot days and cool nights.” Barely-there miniskirts, off-the-shoulder body-hugging dresses and white pleather paired with baby blues and tangerines made appearances in Brown’s collection. Her line will be carried at Sugar Shack Boutique this upcoming season.

Royal Highness by Jen One sent satin high-waisted trousers, faux-fur shawls and backless lace tops down the runway. Staying true to the “high” in Highness, one model fanned herself with an oversized marijuana leaf.

The rest of the night’s designers continued with a couple common themes: revealing, unconventional get-ups and scantily-clad models with a lot of attitude. The spotlight was on the star of the night, Tavares, who featured body-flattering dresses and wardrobe staples in a range of colors.

Vitamin Water stocked a bar that also served beer, cocktails and organic desserts from Yummy Organics.

Clothing from the designers' lines and Vitamin Water goodie bags were raffled off in between each designer’s set. Yeoman Organic Clothing, Backseat Clothing and EmBodied Junkii accessories set up tables to sell their designs.

Next up for the Greens Hotel is LAUNCH, a design, music and fashion show hosted by VHCLE Magazine. Visit www.vhcle.com/launch for more details.

The Greens Hotel is located at 1700 Del Paso Boulevard.

Click HERE for photos by Paula Aguirre of the fashion show

For more information about the designers featured in “I Hella Love Fashion: Volume 1,” visit:

Faedrah Clothing
La Voice
Chinyere Clothing Company
Nicacelly
Backseat Clothing
Royal Highness
Brown Skin Designs

I Hella Love Fashion: Vol. 1 Photo Essay

2009-07-20T05:47:05Z

All photos taken by Paula Aguirre

Backstage at the Greens Hotel

Vitamin Water runway

Royal Highness

Brown Skin Designs

La Voice

Royal Highness

Backseat Clothing

Yeoman Organics

Third Saturday breathes fresh air into K Street

2009-07-20T04:51:56Z

The fliers and advertisements promised big things: “Local arts, crafts and fashion vendors will descend upon K Street, transforming downtown Sacramento into a bustling creative district.”

On Saturday, Sacramento News and Review hosted the inaugural Third Saturday Creative Block Party and nudged K Street in the right direction.

Despite the scorching heat, more than 40 aspiring clothing and jewelry designers, artists and local businesses set up shop along K Street.

“I think it’s wonderful of SN&R to have done this…it brings life to the downtown area. We’re so happy to be here,” said Ginger Wong, president of Transformations Makeup Institute, did makeup, hair and glitter tattoos.

Both aspiring and already-established local clothing and handbag designers like Meshugga Chic Vintage, Deranged Designs, Atelier and Fancy Foury Paws (for the four-legged) showed up and laid out their goods. While most outdoor festivals are cash-only, many of the booths made it convenient for card-holding customers to make purchases.

While the street fair was touted as being focused on primarily fashion and art, other businesses took the opportunity to get some attention as well. A Crocker Art Museum representatives handed out posters and brochures about their upcoming exhibits, and Sacramento-based Green Sol, which bottles water in biodegradable water bottles, helped people cool down with good-for-the-Earth water bottles.

Paul Imagine, widely known throughout Sacramento for his rock poster prints, was on hand to sell his colorful pieces and SN&R proudly displayed its local artist-designed newsstands as part of its “Newsstand Project.”

ICUP Comedy Troupe held an impromptu comedy skit performance in front of Pyramid Alehouse, a lone street performer played guitar and palm reader Linda Austin told fortunes along the closed-down streets.

In the center of all the action, a main stage in front of Temple coffeehouse featured performances by local bands Musical Charis, ZuhG and The Kinetics throughout the day. (link to their MySpace or websites)

“I’m really looking forward to the next one, and I think it will really liven up K Street,” said Sam Baldwin, a Midtown resident.

K Street businesses, which have suffered in the last few years, took advantage of increased foot traffic. The Crest Theatre promoted its current film series, “Trash Film Orgy” with a “Hot Zombie Chicks” table and art gallery Art ten20 opened its doors to anyone who cared to wander inside.

The party continued all the way to the end of K Street, with youth performance groups entertaining diners at Hard Rock Café from 3-6 p.m. on the restaurant's main stage.

There were groups of security guards and police officers on every corner, but they were not needed as the event was a peaceful gathering.

The Corona beer garden, sectioned off in front of Cosmo Cafe, was advertised as part of the “day party” to begin at 3 p.m. but remained desolate until a good couple of hours into the festival. As downtown’s night crowd poured into the Grid, the streets bustled with excitement into the evening.

Social Nightclub held the official after party for the event, which began at 8 p.m. and lasted until 2 a.m. with a discounted $3 cover before 10 p.m. The nightclub enjoyed a busy night and was almost packed to maximum capacity after the street fair ended.

Third Saturday was exactly the breath of fresh air that K Street has been needing. Cheers to Sacramento News and Review for an event well done and a hope for many more Third Saturdays,

Often pictures speak louder than words. Click HERE for pictures by Paula Aguirre from the Third Saturday Creative Block Party.

Third Saturday Block Party: Photo Essay

2009-07-20T04:50:47Z

All photos taken by Paula Aguirre

Meshugga Chic Vintage Clothing

Insurgent Arts of Paul Imagine

Musical Charis performing on main stage on 10th Street

Atelier's sidewalk shop

Tammy Valles of Transformations Makeup Institute

ICUP Comedy Troupe and audience participant

Biodegradable water bottles from Green Sol

Juli's Jewels

Palm reader Linda Austin

Candy Glass magnets by Christie Vicars

Candy Glass tiles by Christie Vicars

Sacramento News & Review Newsstand Project

Magic Salon

Glitter tattoo by Transformations

Audience/News 10 watching ICUP's performance

Just Beecauze by Erlinda Cobb

Hesam Rahmanian's exhibition at Art ten20 gallery

Is Sacramento fashion-savvy?

2009-07-17T06:25:09Z

Just a few short years ago, Sacramento and fashion were rarely put in the same sentence. Before trendy boutiques and salons dotted the streets of the downtown grid, Sacramento was lacking in the fashion department to say the least.

It seems that in the past few years, Sacramento has stepped it up. While there’s definitely still room for improvement, the majority of local stylists, boutique associates and residents asked seem to agree that their beloved city has potential and is (slowly) moving on up.

Victoria Archulet, a sales associate at Franco Ferrini who previously worked at Madame Butterfly, said, “The Sacramento fashion scene is huge despite what many people think…[It’s] anything from comfy, casual day wear to classy and confident evening attire. In Sacramento, people can always find fashion-forward individuals willing to be risky and start the latest trends.”

Debbie Milanova, an associate at downtown’s Sugar Shack and Krazy Mary’s, said, “We have a young and trendy clientele who usually have a set idea what they are looking for. Sacramento has a diverse style. We’ve been in the business for five years and have been changing with [Sacramento’s] style”

The hair business is no stranger to the fashion scene, either. With clients coming and going, stylists see a range of styles in and out of their booths all day.

Nikki Carlson, a stylist at Artisan Salon, said, “In terms of style, we as ‘Sacramentans’ don’t have just one particular look. Our style is that we are a unique and diverse city, and with that comes a unique array of different looks. I find that in the salon I am doing something different every day…I have clients from all different areas of Sacramento, and I get to work with all different hair types. It seems that people create looks from styles they see while still making them their own.”

Sean Berry, a stylist at Luxe Salon, said he thinks the city has room to grow when it comes to its style sense. “Sacramento’s style is very safe. Although downtown is a melting pot of cultures, I feel like the same story is being told with most wardrobes. The majority of 20-somethings are rocking skinny jeans, comfy shoes, and a trendy top. I see a lot of Abercrombie, Urban Outfitters, Forever 21 and Nordstrom....It seems that although there is a knowledge of fashion in the area, comfort beats fashion.”

Stacey Tickner, a stylist at Space 07 Salon who was also the creative director for Space 07 Hair Games 2009, said, “Sacramento has a few looks that are always up to date for the simple fact that they are not trendy. These looks are consistently seen throughout downtown in any season seem to be Sacramento’s trademark style. I would call Sacramento style urban, athletic, vintage, bohemian chic. Looking like you thought out your attire looks forced and uncomfortable. Looking comfortably tied together makes your style seem personal, and that’s what makes our style so unique. As for hair, bold color in over-styled hair looks unapproachable. Soft color and natural texture is great right now. Soft makeup and hair gives you credit as a natural beauty, and Sac is full of natural beauties.”

Joe Tafoya, co-owner of ESEA Skincare and Salon and East Sac Yoga Studio, said Sacramento “has a laid-back city style. We aren’t quite New York or San Francisco, but we still have a wide range of styles from sophisticated to laid-back, and we‘ve got a lot of imagination but still have room for hope. We are trying to become bigger but don’t quite have the hustle and bustle of a big city yet.”

Greg Westcott, a bartender at the Park Ultra Lounge and Midtown resident, said he sees plenty of fashion statements while on the clock but doesn't necessarily agree that Sacramento is on the cutting edge of fashion. "I don't think you can say that Sac is the center of style. I blame the lack of shopping options. Fashion is about staying above the trends but when guys are forced to choose between only Affliction or 7 Diamond shirts, it makes standing out difficult."

Mike Chesrow, a Midtown resident, said he believes Sacramento takes its fashion cues from Southern California. “It’s a mixture of things…but it seems like we mostly derive our style from Southern California. We have the ‘scenesters,' ‘hipsters,' the young professionals, the fashionistas and the surfers. Even though we’re biting style, we’re still ahead of most of the country!” he said.

As an homage to the city’s fashion, this Saturday, Sacramento News & Review will be hosting the inaugural “Third Saturday” on K Street, a sort of spin-off of the beloved downtown Second Saturday Art Walk, but geared toward fashion instead of art.

A little further out, The Greens Hotel (off of Del Paso Boulevard) will be hosting “I Hella Love Fashion,” a fashion show that will showcase local designers and clothing lines.

Keep it fashionable, Sacramento.

Images taken at Sugar Shack

'Altar Boyz' harmonize in comedy

2009-07-16T06:30:50Z

Move over, Jonas Brothers. There’s a new boy-band in town and they’re determined to save the souls of Sacramentans.

The off-Broadway musical hit "Altar Boyz" opened last Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Pavilion and kept the audience laughing and toe-tapping the entire 90 minutes.

The comedic story of five Catholic boy-band members, as passionate about saving souls as they are about their clothes being glitzy, will run through Sunday.

The group leader Matthew (Devin DeSantis), "sensitive" Mark (Jamison Scott), street-smart Luke (Ryan Nearhoff), "Latin lover" Juan (Andres Quintero) and the Jewish, yarmulke-sporting Abraham (Tim Dolan) are a talented cast that keep the audience laughing, line after line.

Using the "Sony DX 12 Soul Sensor," the boys attempt to sing and dance their way to salvation of the 999 souls in the audience that need it. The numbers fluctuate throughout the musical until it’s down to four and the boys struggle to save the final few as well as keep their group together despite solo offers.

The audience is invited to join in the action, too. In the Pavilion’s courtyard, ticket holders are invited to confess their sins on an index card. During a "confession session," the boys read several sins out loud and attempt to absolve them with humorous solutions and naughty double entendres.

Juan helps one audience member who covets her neighbor's ass (donkey) by suggesting she feed it a carrot in hopes that she might be allowed to pet or even ride it. Luke tells another that although his girlfriend might be "Mary Magdelicious," he should save his virginity for later.

The audience can’t help but clap their hands to the rhythm of catchy lyrics like "Who needs a G-E-D? I got my B-I-B-L-E!" and songs like "Jesus Called me on my Cell Phone." But don’t worry, the Altar Boyz reassure, they didn’t incur any roaming charges.

The boys make light of religious topics with pop-culture references abounding, discussing Lethal Weapon and Luke checking into rehab for "exhaustion," and subtly poke fun at boy-banders with over-the-top dance performances (conga line, anyone?) and serenading.

The somewhat-flamboyant Mark tells the audience of his struggle growing up and feeling different while being harassed by "thuggish Episcopalians." The audience is ready for a confession of his sexuality when he admits to an entirely unexpected confession.

Audience members of all faiths can appreciate the lightheartedness of the religious-themed musical, and comedy aside, the cast are more than talented in the vocal and acting departments. Dolan, Quintero and DeSantis have all held roles in various tours of "Altar Boyz."

Photos courtesy of California Musical Theatre and Charr Crail.

Altar Boyz taking stage for comedy-packed musical

2009-07-13T04:22:42Z

The longest-running musical to hit New York stages in years is coming to the California Music Theatre.

Opening Tuesday for one week only, the "Altar Boyz" are ready to serenade the audience and entertain Sacramento for 90 minutes of high energy comedy.

Based on the book by Kevin Del Aguila, the musical comedy tells the story of Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham, five small-town Catholic boys hoping to make it big in the musical world.

After playing for bingo halls and youth groups, the boy band sets its sights on New York. The ups and downs of their journey are told through a series of songs, dance routines and hold-your-stomach hilarious scenes.

“I think the show is funny because it exposes some of the ‘idol worship’ the public places on pop bands. It is also very cleverly written,” said Chris Bower, director of marketing and pubic relations for California Musical Theatre.

The all-star cast members are sure to please with three actors from previous “Altar Boyz” productions and Jamison Scott (Mark) from the recent Broadway revival of “Grease.” Devin DeSantis (Matthew), Andres Quinero (Juan) and Tim Dolan (Abraham) have all held roles in productions of the musical in the past.

Songs like "Girl you Make Me Wanna Wait" and "Jesus Called me on my Cell Phone" make light of sometimes-serious religious topics as well as poke fun at boy bands all in good fun.

The musical comedy first debuted in September 2004 at the New York Musical Theatre Festival and since opening off Broadway in 2005 has crossed the country and made its way as far as Korea and Hungary.

"Altar Boyz" has won prestigious awards such as the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical and the Broadway.com Audience Favorite Award in 2006 and 2007.

While final ticket sales have not been determined yet, Bower predicts that around 1,600 will be in the audience on opening night.

Tickets can be purchased at Wells Fargo Pavilion, online at www.sacramentomusiccircus.com or by calling (916) 557-1999.

Showtimes are 8 p.m.Tuesday through Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, and at 2 p.m. matinees Thursday and Saturday.

The Wells Fargo Pavilion is located at 1419 H St.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Sunday Evenings: $50
Thursday Matinee: $41
Saturday Matinee: $50
Friday/Saturday Evenings: $53

Images are courtesy of California Music Theatre

Slow Food educates, raises awareness on Urban Ag Day

2009-07-13T03:55:45Z

In a celebration of Urban Agriculture Day, Slow Food Sacramento hosted a series of workshops and tours throughout the day Saturday to benefit Sacramento Hunger Coalition and Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition (SACGC).

For $25, ticket holders were able to choose from an itinerary of workshops, tours and movie screenings after either touring Soil Born Farm or cycling around town on the "What's 'Growing' On" Bike Tour.

The morning cycling tour led roughly 25 cyclists on a 10-mile guided trek around local community gardens, starting at Southside Community Garden and making stops at McClatchy Park Farm Stand, David Lubin School Garden and the Sacramento Food Bank's garden along with other residential and community gardens from Downtown to East Sac.

For those looking to get their hands dirty, Soil Born gave an exclusive peek into the inner workings of its 20-acre organic farm. Attendees were given a tour of the farm and had the opportunity to participate in harvesting and planting as well as snack on organic treats at its farm stand.

"I was so encouraged that there are people in and around Sacramento willing to learn and talk and share and work for the benefit of the local food system. Every day more Sacramentans learn about how the industrial food system is making us sick and how it is not serving our most marginalized residents," said John Schmidt, who attended the Soil Born tour and workshops.

Midtown's Fremont Community Garden hosted a Composting 101 class. Gardening guru Bill Maynard (of SACGC) taught both aspiring and seasoned gardeners how to turn kitchen waste into a valuable garden resource.

A couple blocks away, at Fremont Park, Pesticide Free Sacramento hosted Organic 101 and organic advocate Steve Zien discussed the benefits of organic fertilizer and pesticides over synthetics. Zien promised that organic gardens will lead to more nutritious and better-tasting food. The location for the workshop couldn't have been more fitting as the park has been pesticide-free since March 2009.

To help understand the daily battle that the hungry in Sacramento face, the Sacramento Food Bank put on an interactive workshop with speakers Nisha Kapadia of the Hunger Coalition and Dawn Dunlap from the Health Education Council.

The group of 10 were given characters to role-play with and information sheets with monthly expenses, income and calorie requirements for their individual characters and families. Tables were set up as a bank, grocery store, food stamp office, Woman Infant and Children office as well as a hot meal site and summer food program.

Participants were given the challenge of meeting calorie needs while struggling with a lack of income, being denied food stamps, inconvenient office and bank hours, and less-than-helpful workers at each station

After the role-play, participants discussed either how they met the calorie requirements they were given or why they fell short. Obstacles that arose during the exercise included rent and miscellaneous expenses, making too much money to qualify for food stamps or working hours that weren't conducive to waiting in lines to receive aid. These problems accurately echoed real-life challenges faced by the hungry.

Dunlap and Kapadia proposed not only feeding the hungry but encouraging nutritious food choices.

"At the end of the day, we're still up against people eating unhealthy," Dunlap said. To battle the problem, the council hands out lists of community gardens that accept Electronic Benefit Transfer cards (food stamps). Dunlap said that another part of the solution is encouraging families to garden, buy in bulk and cook at home to meet nutritional and caloric needs while still staying within financial means.

Organizations like Soil Born, Slow Food, the Sacramento Food Bank and the Health Education Council are all teaming up to battle the ongoing problem and educate local families.

Further down the road, two movies pertaining to the day's theme were screened as an ending to the days activities. At the Guild Theatre FRESH a documentary about the current state of our food system and what is being done to reinvent it, was shown and The Garden told the story of the effort to save Los Angeles' South Central Farm at Ooley Theatre.

For an additional $100 for non Slow Food members amd $75 for members, the evening continued with a three-course dinner catered by Magpie Catering, a local company that reflects Slow Food's beliefs of locally grown, nutritious food. Diners were served fresh and seasonal food at Fremont Community Garden while surrounded by the day's focus -- organic fruits and vegetables. The spotlight of the evening's dinner was speaker Brahm Ahmadi of Oakland's Peoples Grocery, who discussed solutions for providing food for low-income residents through the use of urban and community gardens.

Conveniently held on the Second Saturday Art Walk, many continued the celebration of Urban Agriculture Day in The Grid after dinner came to a close.

Get Involved:

Slow Food Sacramento

Soil Born Farm

Health Education Council

Pesticide Free Sacramento

Sacramento Hunger Coalition

Community Information Hotline: 2-1-1

Alley is 'field of dreams' for Second Saturday artists

2009-07-10T03:12:56Z

If you're planning out your stops for the upcoming Second Saturday Art Walk, head for the alley in the center of 18th and 19th Streets and I and J.

From 6 -10 p.m., BridgetoArt.com, KLSC Studios and Doolittle Properties are packing a musical and art overload into the open space.

The idea for the festival was first conceived when longtime high school friends Kevin Santos-Coy of Bridge to Art and KLSC and Jeffrey Doolitte of Doolittle Properties met at Weatherstone Coffee about a year and a half ago. The conversation turned to the congestion of the streets and how nice it would be to have an open area for artists to perform.

Inspired, Doolittle immediately offered up his own back lot. After Doolittle reassured Santos-Coy that he knew what he was getting into, he went to work planning the first Alley Arts Festival, held in May 2008.

"After looking at it, and envisioning the 'field of dreams,' I realized that we could have it all.., a comfortable space for artists to self-represent themselves, some installation art, performance art, a live paint wall and live music stage," Santos-Coy said.

The first festival, held in May 2008, was a sort of practice run, and Santos-Coy kept it small due to permits and prohibitions.

Since then, musical artists from all genres and skill levels have rocked the alley. Santos-Coy has hosted Reggae group Double Lion Band, solo rock guitarist Ruben Lopez, folk rock singer Brian Ballentine and spoken-word group FuhShang! among many others.

Santos-Coy, who is also the music coordinator for Midtown's Jasmine Cafe, gives all artists a chance to voice their artistic messages through whichever medium they choose. One recent artist he invited is Ana Candioti, an Argentinean who has been hired by governments to document nomadic native people while living among them. Other past artists have included aerosol artist "Fondle" and the OD Brothers, who brought their 1960 army truck that's been converted into a large boom box and painted like a love bug.

Saturday's live-music guest of honor will be Sacramento's Stereo Earth, a group Santos-Coy likens to a marriage between Bob Marley and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Also performing will be Sonata Malay singing her "super sexy and sultry Motown-sounding" originals and guitarist Ruben Lopez.

While the musicians take the stage, art-lovers can peruse and purchase works from 12 different artists.

"By meeting the artist at Alley Art's 'pop mart,' collectors are able to meet, greet and deal directly with the artist. I believe this process, although unconventional, provides the highest level of empowerment to esteem and create confidence in the artist’s development in a casual, fun environment ," Santos-Coy explained.

If that's not enough art and music, The Sacramento Drum Circle will be putting on a free two-hour performance. If onlookers are inspired to join the beat themselves, the group gathers every Sunday at McKinley Park.

The Alley Arts Festival will be held monthly and continue until October, culminating with a final altar installation exhibition honoring ancestors.

The festival is free and all ages are welcome to attend.

Santos-Coy described his goal for Sacramento. "My charge is to have Sacramento compete with Paris, New York, L.A. and S.F. when it comes to the arts"

Surf's up for California Auto Museum exhibit

2009-07-01T06:06:27Z

The California Auto Museum (formerly the Towe Auto Museum) couldn't have chosen a better time to unveil their Carved Elegance: Woodies, Wheels, and Waves auto exhibit.

With summer well underway, it's the perfect time to check out the exhibit which features a collection of wooden automobiles, also called "Woodies," reminiscent of California summer days spent surfing and lounging on the beach.

Today Woodies are prized pieces in car collections and are famous for the exquisite craftsmanship on the wooden panels of the cars. The cars were the ideal mode of transportation for surfers who could tow their boards on top of the them.

The surf culture-themed exhibit opens Thursday, July 2 and the museum has an entire celebration planned surrounding the unveiling of the Woodies. Different variations of the wooden cars from the 1930s to the 1960s will fill the museum's special exhibit.

To complement the retro-surf theme, vintage surfboards and classic arts will be put up for the duration of the showing. The museum will also be playing popular surf movies like Endless Summer and Big Wednesday.

In addition to the cars, surf rock band The Retronauts will be performing at 6 p.m., and the Model P Popcorn Wagon will be serving freshly popped kernels. Woody's Bar and Grill will be providing food samples, and ice cream will also be available at the museum's ice cream parlor, Vic's, a 1950s-style shop.

Thursday's reception will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Regular hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. will continue throughout the rest of the exhibit which will be on display until September 19.

Entrance into the exhibit is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $4 for students with an ID. Children under five are free. The auto museum boasts 72,000 square feet of automobiles throughout the decade and those who attend the exhibit can visit the museum's other displays also.

The California Auto Museum is located at 2200 Front St.

For more information about the reception and background on the history of Woodies, visit calautomuseum.org.

Image from beachcalifornia.com

Local journalist Reed Parsell releases California park guide

2009-07-01T05:20:41Z

How does one possibly describe the beauty of spending nearly three weeks in some of California's national parks?

Local journalist Reed Parsell wrote about it. His travel guide, Fodor's in Focus: Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, was released last month.

After spending 20 days hiking and exploring three of California's national parks last summer, he approached previous pieces written by Fodor's writers, updated them and added his own take on the parks.

Parsell says roughly 70 percent of the book is new material written by him.

"I think it was a good move for Fodor's to focus on these three popular parks in a user-friendly, pocket-size format," he said. "It allowed me to describe things in a level of detail that should give people a good idea of what to expect and how to prioritize their visits. I'm thrilled with how it turned out."

He has a special fondness for the hiking chapters, which was his favorite part of the research process.

"It seemed like a lot of work, but the book feels small in my hands and I am in awe of people who take on larger projects," he said. "Mine was compact and tailored to my interests."

While he has written about many parks and locations across the United States, Parsell's favorite travel destination isn't anywhere close. His favorite place to visit is the southwestern coast of Australia.

"Perth strikes me as what metro L.A. might be like with 13 million fewer people," he said.

Parsell first became involved in the travel genre in the 1990s when he edited the now-defunct Frommer's travel guides. He also had a hand in updating and writing a few chapters in both Fodor's California's 2010 and Fodor's National Parks of the West.

He first got involved with Fodor's when one of his colleagues at The Sacramento Bee, heard that the travel guide company needed writers and suggested that Parsell go for it.

Parsell is an active journalist in Sacramento and has an extensive résumé at various outlets in town. He began as a copy editor and travel writer for The Bee in 1994 and also taught the journalism and ethics course at Sacramento State for three semesters until 2008. Currently, he still works for The Bee and is the "Go Green" columnist as well as a regular contributing writer for Sacramento Magazine.

Copies of his book are available for purchase at select Border and Barnes & Noble bookstores, as well as on on various websites, like Amazon.com.

Local performer missing: Lawrence Dinkins Jr.

2009-06-30T22:42:14Z

Family and friends are asking for help from anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Lawrence Dinkins Jr. Dinkins, a poet who performed during Sunday's In the Flow jazz festival, was last seen on 17th and Broadway Sunday evening wearing a "Tuskegee Airmen" shirt, dark pants and a cap.

His abandoned car was found nearby, unlocked with windows rolled down and several of his possessions inside but family and friends have been unable to contact or locate him. The Sacramento Police Department is also looking for him but no further information is currently available.

A picture of Dinkins is attached and if anyone has any information, please contact the Sacramento Police Department at (916) 808-0560 or (916) 934-3611

Weekend jazz festival flows down Broadway

2009-06-29T02:04:12Z

The second annual In the Flow jazz festival brought music and art fans out to Broadway's hub with more than 30 bands, poetry readings and live painting.

For $20, ticket holders were given wristbands that allowed entrance into all of the weekend's shows, which spanned five different venues along Broadway. For those who weren't wearing wristbands, several free performances were hosted at Records, Java Lounge and Records.

The back-to-back schedules at the venues allowed for a constant stream of activity, and if ticket holders didn’t like one performance, they could walk down the street to the next one.

The goal of the festival was to "showcase all of the different kinds of jazz you'll find in the area...not smooth jazz though....yikes," said Ross Hammond, who was the weekend's main coordinator and also a co-founder of the festival.

Hammond, himself a jazz musician, made an appearance with Vinny Golia on Saturday at Beatnik. He said that there is a huge jazz scene in Sacramento and the festival is a way to make people aware of the artists' presence.

“It was really hot, but the people were fun and I liked that there were so many performances to choose from,” said Mathew Zvonicek, who attended the festival Saturday evening.

Other highlights of the weekend's various shows included Byron Blackburn's CD release at Java Lounge Friday evening featuring Tom Monsoon, Alex Jenkins and Hammond. Jacob Felix Heule, Arom Shelton and Tony Dreyer performed a unique jazz set at Records on Saturday, using unusual techniques like scratching cymbals with drumsticks and vibrating objects on their drums.

Beatnik had a constant flow of talented musicians coming through its photography studio all weekend, including DJ Tommy V, the Harley White Orchestra and Tony Passarell and the Thin Air Symphony.

Jazz music wasn't the only form of art that made an appearance at the festival, however.

Java Lounge hosted the "Scary Art Collective Reception" Saturday to showcase works by local artists like Kathy Blackburn, who also has work on display at Beatnik. The walls of the cafe were filled with paintings and drawings of skeletons, owls and ghouls. Music served as the background to the reception, with five groups performing during the afternoon.

Saturday, a group of artists from the Pacific Art Collective in San Jose set up an art station in front of Beatnik, open to anyone who wanted to stop and paint. They said their inspiration for the music and art collaboration comes from "live paintings" that are popular in the Bay Area.

On Sunday, The Comedy Spot hosted music, poetry and the spoken word with Josh Fernandez, Frank Andrick, Mike Farrell and other artists.

Hammond and the other organizers were given a grant by the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission that made the festival possible and enabled them to give all money raised through ticket sales to the artists.

The festival also received sponsorships from Swell Productions, The Greater Broadway Partnership and local businesses like Sacramento’s Skip's Music and Kline Music.

"We're planning on doing this festival annually, so just mark your calendars now," advises Hammond.

A.ll photos were taken by Paula Aguirre

Hope for the homeless on two wheels

2009-06-28T00:50:26Z

Hoards of people walked and pedaled up to North B Street Saturday morning. Volunteers were more than ready for them, tools in hand, prepared to repair their bikes as part of Cycle 4 Hope’s monthly “Homeless Outreach Day.”

Founded by Shawn Holiday in 2008, Cycles 4 Hope is a nonprofit organization that provides free bike repairs for the homeless. It operates entirely on donated bicycle materials and the help of volunteers.

“The number one thing that I have learned is that a bicycle helps a homeless person not feel homeless," Holiday said. "It gives them the opportunity to be at par with everyone else. It helps them forget the bad situation they are in.”

After Holiday spent a morning downtown this past July and saw the conditions the homeless live in, he began to wonder what it must be like to live in Sacramento in the middle of the summer heat and have no means of transportation to get to a shelter or somewhere cool.

He realized that something many people take for granted, a working bike, can make a huge difference in the homeless’ lives.

“A bike can get you to a place to cool off such as a community pool or the river. A bike can get you across town to a shelter for food, a bath and a clean bed. A bike can get you to a job that is helping you get back on your feet,” Holiday said.

Once a month, volunteers gather for “Wrench Days” to prepare and repair donated bikes. Outreach days are held the following day to provide free repairs to those who already have bikes as well as give away bikes that are donated to the organization.

On Saturday, 10 bicycles were given away to those who showed up early and entered a raffle.

While they waited in the blistering heat, many gathered in prayer circles, danced to the beat of live music and received free Bibles from members of Roseville’s Metro City Ministry, who attend the monthly gatherings to speak to the homeless.

“[Cycles 4 Hope] are meeting their physical needs, and we’re meeting their spiritual needs,” said Paul Fore, a leader from the ministry.

Earlier in the morning, the ministry gathered at Union Gospel Church and served breakfast to the homeless who are not able to make it as far as B Street. Afterward, they moved to the Cycles 4 Hope location to hand out free Bibles and preach a message of hope to the homeless.

The Outreach days are held once a month in Sacramento across from the Salvation Army, and Holiday said that as more people find out about their services, the numbers of those who show up in need of repairs grow every month.

Another one of Cycle 4 Hope’s targets is downtown Old Roseville, where the numbers of homeless are increasing. They have held several Outreach days there and will continue to do so as needed.

Holiday’s organization currently has 10 volunteers who volunteer on a monthly basis and around 30 who participate at least once a year. Last year, Cycles 4 Hope logged 400 volunteer hours, gave away 150 bikes and repaired more than 300 bikes in only six months.

Cycles 4 Hope is currently in the process of receiving its Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) approval that will make it exempt from federal income taxes. With more volunteers and donations, Holiday hopes that their services can expand beyond just the Sacramento region.

For those who wish to volunteer but are not able to make the Wrench or Outreach days, Holiday offers an adopt-a-bike program where volunteers can repair bikes at their own homes and return them upon completion.

“Cycles 4 Hope's mission is to provide hope, one bicycle at a time," Holiday said. "Providing hope to someone in need is the best thing we can do.”

To volunteer or find out more information, visit Cycle 4 Hope’s website

All photos taken by Ed Fogle of Maverick Photography

Broadway gets In the Flow for weekend jazz festival

2009-06-27T00:39:08Z

Sacramento jazz fans, get ready. The second annual In the Flow jazz festival starts Friday and will be invading four venues on downtown's Broadway.

Last year's festival was held on the patio of True Love Coffeehouse. This weekend, Beatnik Studios, The Comedy Spot, R5 Records and Java Lounge are opening their doors for three days of live jazz performances.

"Sacramento has an incredible jazz scene. We have great players with great, original ideas that span all things jazz and beyond," said Ross Hammond, the main coordinator of the festival.

The idea for the festival was dreamt up during a coffee outing with Hammond, jazz musician Byron Blackburn and some of their friends. They wanted to hold a jazz festival that really represented Sacramento and would showcase new and creative music. From that desire, In the Flow was born.

The organizers of the event have been given a grant from the Sacramento Metro Arts Commission and sponsorship from the Greater Broadway Partnership, enabling them to not only expand the event this year but allowing all proceeds from tickets sales to go directly to more than 20 artists and groups performing throughout the weekend.

While all of the performances are worth checking out, some of the must-sees this weekend are Byron Blackburn's CD release, Vinny Golia, the Harley White Orchestra, Nagual, Tony Passarell's Thin Air Symphony and the poetry/music showcase.

"[In the Flow] is trying to push some musical boundaries while at the same time showcase all of the different kinds of jazz you'll find in the area," Hammond explained.

Also making a special appearance is George Holden, a light show extraordinaire that will be putting on the famed "Abercrombe Liquid Lightshow." Holden has been putting on his psychedelic light shows since the 1960s and has done lighting effects for bands like the Grateful Dead, Dooby Brothers and Carlos Santana. He's bringing his strobe lights, black lights, ink and gels to Broadway for the weekend to give a special performance at Java Lounge from 8 p.m. to closing Friday night and Beatnik Studios from 11 a.m. to closing Saturday and Sunday.

In the Flow differs from Sacramento's popular annual Jazz Jubilee, which focuses more on "Dixieland" jazz, the main form of jazz coming out of New Orleans and Chicago in the early 1900s. In the Flow will have something for almost every jazz fan, except smooth jazz followers, and will be showcasing a broad span of local and regional jazz musicians, artists and poets.

"We're planning on doing this festival annually, so just mark your calendars now for the next decade or so," Hammond advised.

Tickets are $20 for the entire weekend and can be purchased at R5 Records. R5 is located at 2500 16th St. in Sacramento.

For the complete festival schedule, visit myspace.com/intheflowfestival.

Photos are of last year's In the Flow festival and were taken by Tommy Van Wormer

Dennis Newhall gives sneak peek of museum to Sac history group

2009-06-25T05:09:36Z

Members of the Sacramento County Historical Society were treated to a guided sneak-peek tour of the Rock and Radio Museum and a talk from music collector Dennis Newhall and Mick Martin of Mick Martin's Blues Party Tuesday night.

The museum, packed with Newhall's personal collection, normally only offers tours during Sacramento's Second Saturday Art Walks, but owner Newhall opened his doors to around 30 members as a part of the society's monthly meeting.

As an example of one of Sacramento's low points in music and a nod to how far the city has come, the talk opened with a story of the cancellation of Lou Reed's show at the Memorial Auditorium after being oversold by just two rows. While there have undoubtedly been the lows, the walls of the museum boast proof that Sacramento has been and still is a haven of rich musical performances.

Tour-goers reminisced and exchanged their own stories and concert experiences while they scanned the memory-provoking walls and rooms packed with handbills, ticket stubs, and concert posters. Thousands of bands have made stops on their already-successful tours in Sacramento and Davis at venues like The Boardwalk, Old Ironsides, Java Lounge and Memorial Auditorium.

Newhall said that although some bands played at gyms and some venues lasted mere months, they have all played an important role in music history.

Newhall is a media producer and former KZAP DJ who began collecting local rock music memorabilia more than 10 years ago. His collection has grown to around 2,500 pieces from the 1950s to the present and fills almost every inch of the walls in the six-room gallery that was once home to Oasis Ballroom concert hall.

Up until fall 2008, the museum was owned by Nakamoto Productions and doubled as a recording studio. Newhall's collection was merely a small display at the studio before Tucker Media Group moved in and allowed Newhall's collection to entirely take over the gallery. Newhall's collection made a comeback at this month's Second Saturday Art Walk and will continue to do so at future walks.

Some of the many notable names that make an appearance in his collection include the Grateful Dead, Smashing Pumpkins, Sting, Van Halen and, more recently, Death Cab for Cutie. The rooms and walls are broken up into different categories including the "AM" and "FM" rooms that will eventually be consolidated into one, the "Davis" wall, the "Sound Factory" wall and a living room-like setting decorated with Frank Carson's calendar designs for Tower Records.

"There are 600 [pieces] on the wall, but there is also a lot of history in the books that tells about the rise and fall of music in Sacramento," Newhall said in reference to the books of play charts on display in the museum's front rooms.

Coincidentally, the tour was given the same evening as The Crest Theatre's screening of "American Artifact," where rock poster artist Paul Imagine made an appearance and displayed his works of art.

In his talk to the audience, Newhall said Imagine is one of the few talented poster artists still creating in Sacramento. Some of Imagine's many colorful works are on display along with play charts in the museum's front room.

Doors to the museum will be open again to the general public in July during Second Saturday. Admission to the museum is $1.

The Rock and Radio Museum is located at 907 20th St.

To read about Paul Imagine on Sacramento Press, click http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/9781/Rock_poster_artists_in_American_Artifact_at_Crest.

Author's Note: The images above are of pieces in Newhall's collection and Dennis Newhall himself

Lambda Players host auditions for longest-running play in Sac

2009-06-25T05:02:26Z

The longest-running play in Sacramento theater history is back after a three-year hiatus and is seeking talented singers to fill six roles in the comedic musical revue.

Auditions for "Six Women with Brain Death, or Expiring Minds Want to Know" were held Monday and Tuesday night at the Lambda Players Studio Theatre, and hopefuls were asked to bring 32 bars of uptempo comedic song with sheet music and one comedic monologue one to two minutes long.

A call went out to experienced actors in their 30s to 50s with backgrounds in the music industry and a strong sense of humor. Callback dates have yet to be determined but will be within the next few weeks, as rehearsals begin in July.

The musical comedy, which opens Aug.14 and will run until Oct. 4, is series of humorous songs and sketches that poke fun at life and pop culture. The play had a previous stretch from 1996 until 2006, and the Lambda Players are determined to keep the play and Schultz's theater spirit alive in Sacramento.

Press-on nails, tabloids, self-help books and Barbie and Ken are just some of the seemingly lighthearted and humorous topics brought up throughout the scenes. Behind the comedy, however, is the analysis of mixed messages and expectations that women get from the media and culture.

The upcoming two-month run of the play will be a tribute to the previous director, choreographer, actor and owner of The Studio Theatre, Jackie Schultz, who suffers from chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome.

Schultz has suffered a public battle with the disease for the past 12 years, and her health has declined considerably over the past year. Her condition forced her to sell her 92-seat theater in 2005 and will no longer allow her to direct.

Kitty Czarnecki, one of the major Sacramento theater players, will be taking over Schultz's position. Previously co-producer and owner of Sacramento's Garbeau's Dinner Theatre, Czarnecki will have a busy month in July when she is also teaching a children's theater camp in El Dorado Hills.

The Lambda Players is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that began in 1989 to fill the void of local gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender theater. Their goal is to provide a safe place for actors and actresses of all sexual orientations to act, educate and entertain.

The players moved into the Lambda theater in 2007 and plan on keeping "Six Women" alive by making the theater its permanent home.

The Lambda Players Studio Theatre is located at 1028 R St.

All-natural bodybuilders go muscle to muscle

2009-06-22T04:32:10Z

Folsom Middle School's auditorium glistened with rhinestones, spray-on tans and hard bodies Saturday evening.

More than 20 men and women entered the eighth annual All-Natural National Gym Association (NGA) Mr./Ms. California Fitness Extravaganza to determine who will go on to compete in NGA's pro national competitions.

Johnny "The Motivator" Carrero, owner of Sacramento's Fitness in Mind, hosted the annual event where local and national athletes competed in 10 different divisions for what he calls "pro status." Winners of Saturday's competitions received a Pro Card, which enables them to compete for any NGA competitions.

Emceed by April Cabrera, who is a fitness industry professional, the competition opened with Carrero singing the national anthem and inviting his wife onstage, who he calls the "Real Ms. California" to receive a bouqet of roses. Carrero said that besides fitness, his children are his life.

Following his touching opening, competitors flexed their toned bodies in a series of posedowns and routines with music for close to two hours while the panel of nine judges looked on and decided the hopefuls' fates.

Each competitor was given a polygraph test the day before the competition to ensure that he or she has been clean from drugs for at least seven years. If the polygraph showed otherwise, the competitor would need to take a urine test at his or her own expense.

Carrero, an advocate for natural fitness and a former steroid user himself, has dedicated his life to helping athletes get in shape without using substances or drugs to enhance or speed up results. He has been in the industry for more than 20 years and began hosting all-natural bodybuilding competitions in 1993.

In a speech to the audience, Carrero told the audience that while each competitor was tested before the event there is no way to guarantee that all of the bodybuilders are 100 percent drug-free from the substances banned by the NGA.

"Even if they win today's competitions, they are losers," Carrero said in a message to anyone that might have tried to fool the polygraph test.

All competitors were given either medals, roses or trophies in the closing awards ceremony where pro-qualifiers Ms. California (April Witt) and Mr. California (Jeff Alberts) were announced along with the other division winners (see list).

After the competition, the competitors and their friends and families headed over to Folsom's Hacienda Del Rio, one of the event's sponsors, for the official Fitness Extravaganza after party.

For information about next year's competition, visit fitnessinmind.com

Winners from each division

Teens: Bryan Fowler
Men's Masters (40 and up): Dave Blumgold
Women's Masters Figure (40 and up): Mary Loeffler
Men's Novice: Vincenzo Coriloni
Women's Open: Kelly Carlson
Men's Open/Middle: Jeff Alberts
Men's Open/Light heavy: Dave Blumgold
Men's Overall/Mr. California: Jeff Alberts
Women's Figure Open (short class): Linh Nguyen
Women's Figure Open (tall class):April Witt
Women's Overall/Ms. California: April Witt
Ms Physique: Brendin Barbour

All photos taken by Paula Aguirre

Sac Convention Center gets inked

2009-06-21T03:58:48Z

Guns and needles took over the Sacramento Convention Center Friday.

Tattoo guns and needles, that is. The first day of the eighth annual Forever Tattoo’s All American Tattoo Festival kicked off the weekend with the best of the best in the ink industry, tattoo contests and circus-style side performer George the Giant.

Sponsored by Tatt life, Tattoo Energy and Budweiser, the festival gave ink fans the chance to peruse and purchase the work of more than 80 tattoo artists from not only the United States but as far as Sweden (Living All Tattoo), Greece (Nico Tattoo) and Italy (Cherry Tattoo).

“I usually go to the festivals in San Francisco, but this is the first year I’ve gone to one [in Sacramento]," festival-goer Zachary Bacon said. "They have a lot of great artists and I’m really impressed."

Some festival-goers had blank flesh canvases and others had mere inches of available space to tattoo. A few artists offered “festival” specials, knocking anywhere from $20 to $40 off their prices, and some charged several hundred dollars to customers, who more than willing to pay for their expertise.

Newly tattooed festival-goers have the opportunity to enter their pieces into contests, which will continue throughout the weekend. Friday’s contests included best sleeve and leg tattoos, and the recipients of the coffin-themed plaques (and bragging rights) were Samantha Schue and Matthew Kleinhauas (pictured).

The evening’s main attraction, besides fresh ink, was George the Giant, a stunt performer who starred in the movie Big Fish and was on “America’s Got Talent.” George stunned his captive audience by swallowing a sword, hammering a nail through his nose and inviting an audience member to walk on his face, which was resting sideways on a pile of broken glass.

In the center of all the action, an art showing that will remain through Sunday lined the aisle leading up to the stage. The tattoo-themed paintings were created by various local artists whowill be inking throughout the festival, including Sacramento’s American Graffiti and Folsom City Ink.

Tattoos weren’t the only things being hawked, however. Livermore’s Charlotte’s Web sold tattoo-inspired clothing and Belzel Books set up a tattoo book nook. Tattoo aftercare companies took the opportunity to boasts their products as well, with companies like Tattoo Genie and Tattoo Goo claiming faster and better healing.

Hells Angels Sacramento, whose many members are tattoo collectors, set up shop to sell their gear and promote their organization. Passion Parties representatives handed out free samples of their intimate party favors, and Nos energy drink supplied boosts to the crowd.

Tattoo fans of all ages roamed the convention center until the doors closed at 11 p.m., many preparing to return the next day and get inked.

The All American Tattoo Festival will continue through Sunday, June 21 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 at the box office, located in front of the Sacramento Convention Center.

For Saturday and Sunday's schedule, click here

All photos taken by Jonathan Mendick

Christmas rolls into Old Sac on Disney train

2009-06-19T04:10:56Z

Despite the sweltering temperatures, it will be Christmas in June this weekend in Old Sacramento.

On a 40-city interactive train tour,"Disney's A Christmas Carol" train will be pulling into Old Sacramento Friday through Sunday as a promotion for the upcoming "Disney's A Christmas Carol," which is scheduled to open in November and stars Jim Carrey.

Carolers, Christmas decorations and fake snow will transform the train tracks near the California State Railroad Museum into a winter wonderland for families and children of all ages.

Those who hop aboard the train will be treated to several different exhibit cars highlighting the making of the movie and featuring props and costumes from the film. A sneak preview of the film will be shown in the "3D Tent," and visitors will have the chance to pay a virtual visit to the Charles Dickens Museum in London and see actual artifacts from the museum.

Children can morph their own faces to look like characters from the movie and have the chance to win prizes from Disney and Hewlett Packard, which is providing the technology for the train.

The tour, which began on Memorial Day Weekend in Los Angeles, will come to an end in November at New York's Grand Central Terminal when the film will be shown in Digital 3D and IMAX 3D across the United States.

Visiting the train is free to the public, and for those who wish to visit the museum afterward, the admission box in front will be offering coupons good for two-for-one admissions.

The California State Railroad Museum is located at 111 I St. in Old Sacramento.

The Railroad Museum will have extended hours through the weekend. Hours are 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. Sunday.

To follow the train's tour, click here

All-natural bodybuilders to compete for "pro status"

2009-06-19T03:12:05Z

Saturday, June 20, men and women will flex their sculpted bods and bulging muscles to compete for what Johnny "The Motivator" Carrero calls "pro-status."

This isn't your average bodybuilding competition, however. Carrero, an advocate for drug-free fitness, is holding his annual "all-natural" bodybuilding competition at Folsom Middle School, which hosts the competition every year.

"I promote drug-free bodybuilding and show youth and athletes that they can still look fantastic naturally without using steroids or other drugs," Carrero said.

Carerro, who's been in the fitness industry since 1993, is a personal trainer and knows firsthand how dangerous drugs like steroids can be. He began using steroids when he was 19 and after learning about their side effects, he got clean and dedicated his life to fitness free of pills or substances.

He has not only promoted natural bodybuilding shows for the last 25 years, he also has his own personal training company, Sacramento's Fitness in Mind, and is devoted to helping athletes get off and stay off drugs.

"Back in the day, steroids were not illegal in sports. Once it got on the black market, people started making money from them and that was when they found out all of the side effects," Carrero said. He said that steroid use is a serious problem and can be potentially deadly, but that many people are just looking for an "edge" that drugs might give them instead of long-term consequences.

The more than 20 local and national athletes competing in Saturday's competition must be drug free for at least seven years and as a way of ensuring that they are clean, competitors are given polygraph tests the day before the competition. If it appears that he or she is lying, the competitor is subject to a urine test at his or her own expense.

Touted as the most competitive drug-free competition in Northern California, Saturday's competition will be broken up into different categories including the Natural Gym Association (NGA) Natural Mr./ Ms. California bodybuilding event, the NGA Natural Ms. California Figure Championship and NGA Natural Ms. Physique California Championship. Qualifiers will be given a Pro Card, which will enable them to go on to compete in the NGA's professional competitions held nationwide.

Prejudging rounds will include a series of posing. Final rounds will include posing routines with music, pose-downs by class, symmetry and muscularity comparisons within classes and presentations of class and overall awards.

All proceeds from ticket sales will go to local educational programs that teach youth about the harmful effects of anabolic steroids.

Folsom Middle School is located at 500 Blue Ravine Rd. in Folsom. Prejudging will begin at 10 a.m. and tickets cost $10. The final rounds will start
at 6 p.m. and tickets cost $25.

For more information about Johnny "The Motivator" Carrero or Fitness in Mind, click here.

Here is a list of the N.G.A. banned substances:

-Anabolic steroids

-Testosterone

-Growth hormones

-Prescription diuretics

-Prescription psychomotor stimulants (i.e. amphetamines)

-Muscle implants

-Chemicals/drugs for purpose of changing polygraph results

-Clenbuterol (drug used to treat breathing disorders)

-Any FDA/IOC banned substance

-Any illegal/illicit bodybuilding drug or substance

Images are of competitors and winners from past competitions

Safetyville USA celebrates birthday at Healthy and Safety Expo

2009-06-15T02:38:50Z

There was reason Saturday for double celebration at Sacramento's Safetyville USA.

It was not only the 12th annual Family Safety and Health Expo, it also marked Safetyville's 25th year of teaching safety and life skills to more than 200,000 children to date. The free event hosted around 3,000 children and their families for a fun-filled day of learning and celebrating.

In the middle of the expo, birthday festivities took the main stage and were led by Liz McClatchy, President and CEO of Safetyville Center Incorporated (SCI) and Terry Polvado, Vice President of SCI. Children sang "Happy Birthday" to Safetyville and were introduced to the new and yet-to-be-named mascot of Safetyville, a dog donning a blue helmet and red vest.

Children were invited to help name the mascot by dropping off their ideas in a box at Safetyville's table.

SCI Board Chairman Ralph Sugimot led a cake-cutting ceremony, and happy kids lined up for cake and ice cream after taking part in a conga-line dance around the stage.

"It was such a great event for everyone. My daughter [three-years-old] and I both had a great time, and we both learned a lot," said Tabatha Barkley, who attended the event with her family.

Other birthday festivities throughout the day included a dance performance by Granite Bay Dance Connection, a "Red and Black Attack" by Kovar's Karate Satori Academy and a magic performance by magician Trevor Wyatt.

More than 84 community safety and health organizations set up booths around the faux-town, which is a 1/3-scale replica of an actual city with mock streetlights, intersections, fast food stops and businesses.

While there was plenty of fun to be had at the Expo, there were also many resources for families in Sacramento and surrounding areas. Information on health care, child care, crisis centers and immunizations were just some of the booths on hand to teach families how to get help if needed.

Insurance companies State Farm, AAA and Allstate provided information on insurance. Shriners and Kaiser hospitals taught about preventative health measures, and groups like Bikers Against Child Abuse made an appearance on behalf of issues like child abuse.

Parked in front of the town were traveling organizations like D.A.R.T., an all-volunteer dive recovery teateam and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, with a smashed-up car from a fatal drunken driving accident.

Inside, the Sacramento Area Sewer District, another event sponsor, taught how to properly dispose of fats, oils and grease, and Safetyville's own Safety Center taught about its driving simulation programs for teen drivers.

Government organizations like Sacramento Police Department, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department and the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District set up booths in front of their respective Safetyville buildings and handed out rulers, stickers and pens to children, along with lessons from firefighters and police officers on preventative safety and how to be a law-abiding citizen. Kids could see a California Highway Patrol motorcycle up close and sit behind the wheel of an actual fire truck.

Home Depot, one of event's main sponsors, set up an assembly line where children of all ages were given flower pots and learned how to pot plants. Children were given Home Depot aprons with their names written on them, and by the end of the day, Safetyville was a sea of orange aprons.

Kids were encouraged to get stamps from the different booths they visited around the town and fill up Safetyville "passports." Full passports were eligible for raffle entries for three separate raffles held throughout the day. Passes to the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento Zoo, a child's bike and helmet, boat rental from the Sac State Aquatics Center and a go cart from Rocket Motorsports were just some of the more than 15 prizes given away.

Kids leaving the Expo were weighed down with heavy bags filled with pencils, toothbrushes, pedometers, packages of Band-Aids and coupons to pick up their free child I.D. kits along with smiles and lessons learned.

Halfpipes and skate decks on board at art reception

2009-06-15T02:04:12Z

Art enthusiasts and skateboarders came together Saturday at downtown's A Bitchin' Space Gallery for a night of skating, dance music spun by DJ Chris Martinez and, of course, art.

The show, "Boards and Graphics," ran from Friday through Sunday and hosted its reception last night as part of the Second Saturday Art Walk.

Curator of the show, gallery owner and skateboarder Gale Hart invited more than 30 artists from around California to participate in hand-painting skate decks, most of them created by Sacramento-based Legend skateboards.

"It's really interesting to see the different styles and techniques via the skateboard as a canvas," said Mike Edwards, who attended Saturday's reception.

The artists were left to their own discretion and could choose their own themes. Artist Ron Peetz painted male and female genitalia on his decks, while Ianna Frisby embellished her colorful peacock-themed board with sparkling rhinestones. Other themes ran the gamut from steak to hop scotch to heartbreak.

"Skateboard culture is open to many different styles, and some have transcended into pure art that is NOT usable. I found this the opportunity to do other things on a board," said Frisby, an artist from Sacramento.

Frisby also helped artist Eddie Stein build a spiral display of Stein's board collection from the 1950s and 1960s in an installation with more than 25 retro boards from companies like Santa Cruz and Banzai.

John Soldano, another artist and skateboard collector, gave an exclusive glimpse into his private collection, with decks from the 1980s up to the present. The majority of Soldano's boards were neon memories of the past couple decades, with glowing snakes and skeletons. His collection also featured several current boards designed by the clothing company Obey.

Hart took part in designing art for the exhibit as well, displaying three boards that she chopped up, reassembled and painted.

After checking out the decks, anyone who signed a waiver was invited to hop on the "Gnarly Nook," a halfpipe set up just steps away from the art, for $1 for every ten minutes on the ramp. The halfpipe itself is a work of art, painted by several of A Bitchin' Space's own artists.

Scion sponsored the evening, taking the opportunity to park its newest models in the front and back of the gallery, where company reps talked up vehicle specs and handed out Scion chapstick, light-up drink stirrers and CDs.

Sacramento-based Legend skateboards designed several boards specifically for sale at the event, including a "Natural Ice"-themed board and "Sacto Blue Ribbon," a local take on Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.

Hart said she has no idea what's up next for the gallery and its talented team of artists, but judging from the off-the-wall themes in the past like the first and second "Annual Circus Show" and this weekend's excitement, it's worth staying tuned.

For information about the gallery and artists who participated in "Graphics and Boards," visit abitchinspace.com.

All photos taken by Paula Aguirre

Artists get on deck for skate-themed art show

2009-06-12T21:51:10Z

Gale Hart, owner of the art gallery A Bitchin’ Space, is also a skateboarder and artist.

So it makes perfect sense that this Saturday, as part of Downtown’s Second Saturday Art Walk, Hart will be curator of “Boards and Graphics” at her gallery, a showing featuring all things skateboarding.

The show, sponsored by Scion, will feature hand-painted skate decks by more than 30 artists from Sacramento, Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

Most of the decks featured in the show were made by Sacramento’s own Legend Skateboards and the artists were personally invited to participate in the show by Hart .

"[Gale] asked me to participate in this show and my knee-jerk reaction was, 'I'm not a painter' ... I was never immersed in the skateboard culture but watched from afar with admiration and fascination. I am interested in style and aesthetics ... so I was bent on making a pretty piece; hence the peacock," said Ianna Frisby, one of the participating artists.

In addition to the painted decks, skate decks from throughout history will be showcased from artists’ personal collections.

“The retro show [a part of the exhibit] represents every decade of skateboarding from a 1950s and 60s installation piece of retro boards by Eddie Stein and Frisby to John Soldano’s personal collection of designed skateboard decks from the 1980s to the present,” Hart said.

If all of that’s still not enough excitement in one gallery, Hart has planned for live skaters to skate the “Gnarley Nook,” a skate ramp that will be set up at the gallery.

In the background of all the action, DJ Chris Martinez will be on hand to spin tunes while attendees get an eyeful of graphics and murals on skateboards from past and present.

The show opens Friday, June 12 through Sunday, June 14.

Show hours:

June 12- 12-7 p.m.
June 13 (Second Saturday Reception)- 6-10 p.m.
June 14- 12 to 4 p.m.

A Bitchin’ Space is located at 2114 19th St.

For a list of participating artists visit www.abitchinspace.com/GraphicBoardhtml.html

The decks featured in the images are from the following artists :

Jared Tharp- Untitled

Dave Wong- Untitled

Patricia Gillespie- "Layered Cake"

Kim Scott- "Fresh"

Safetyville USA turns 25

2009-06-11T01:50:29Z

This Saturday, Safetyville USA will be celebrating 25 years of promoting safety and accident prevention to the community's families and children.

Held in combination with the 12th annual Safety and Health Expo held at Safetyville every year, this year's expo is sure to be extra special. More than 3,000 people are expected to attend the free event throughout the day.

The expo will run from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and birthday festivities are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., when a birthday cake will be served with ice cream to children. Afterward, Safetyville will unveil their new mascot to the public. The mock-city's dignitaries, former mayor and citizens-of-the-year will be on hand to partake in the celebration.

Safetyville is a scaled-down faux-city designed to replicate an actual city (but one-third of the size), and features sidewalks, crosswalks, streetlights, fire and police stations and businesses found in real cities. The city gives tours to over 10,000 kids per year, and since its opening in 1984 has educated around 125,000 kids from all over Northern California, according to their website.

While Safetyville is geared toward the younger set, families and members of all ages are welcome to attend. The event will feature more than 84 booths offering health and safety resources through interactive displays, and members of local law enforcement and firefighting chapters will be on hand to meet and greet children, along with many other organizations.

Kid-friendly snacks like nachos, popcorn and snowcones will be sold, and raffles and giveaways of various safety-related products are planned for attendees.

Kovar's Karate, Granite Bay Dance Connect and magician Trevor Wyatt are all scheduled to provide entertainment, and News10's Darla Givens and 96.1 FM's Jennifer Wood are also scheduled to make appearances.

The goal of Safetyville USA is to reduce the amount of injury and deaths of children by preventable accidents through teaching of skills like fire, bicycle, electrical, pedestrian, railroad and stranger safety.

Happy birthday, Safetyville!

Safetyville USA is located at 3909 Bradshaw Rd. off Highway 50.

Be sure to check out Sacramento Press' coverage of the event on Sunday.

Pearl on the River serves up Northern California cuisine with a view

2009-06-10T02:14:53Z

Jeff Pooler and Matthew Jones have just about done it all in the restaurant industry. They have a combined experience of over 35 years in the business and have held positions as everything from chefs to managers and owners.

With enough experience to go at it alone, Pooler and Jones decided to combine their dining expertise and take it to the next level. In late April, the talented duo opened Sacramento’s newest waterfront dining locale, Pearl on the River.

“I’ve always wanted to open my own restaurant and [experience] helps tremendously," Pooler said. "I love coming to work, and every day is fun for me."

The pair met through the Paragary Restaurant Group several years back, but that doesn’t mean that Jones, the executive chef at Pearl who was recruited on by Pooler, was given any special treatment in the interview process.

Just like every other candidate, he was required to give cooking demos and go through an extensive interview process. Pooler feels like he made the right choice, saying the two work extremely well together.

The restaurant‘s home, located next to Chevy’s on the River and above Crawdad‘s, was the previous home of Blue Gecko Bar and Grill, but almost all evidence of the previous tenants has been replaced with a classy, yet unpretentious and upscale dining ambiance. As a bonus, the restaurant boasts two levels of scenic patio seating.

Another unique aspect of the restaurant is its “live” menu. This means the menu can change on a daily basis, depending on what is available and fresh around Northern California. This allows for the menu’s reasonable prices ( $15-$20 for large plate entrees and even less for small plates) as produce, seafood and meat items will be available seasonally.

“We’re all about local products," Pooler said. "We’re really geared toward freshness of the food as well as quality and price."

From delectable sandwiches like their grilled chicken sandwich with sprouts, crispy bacon and sweet roasted peppers piled on fresh French bread to their pork sliders on their small-plate menu, the menu features something for everyone.

Seafood selections include seared Hawaiian ahi and king salmon, prepared alone or in sandwiches, and meat lovers can choose from Niman Ranch kobe sirloin or baby back ribs from their Applewood Grill menu.

There is a kitchen centered in the upstairs dining room, set up sushi bar-style with only a glass window separating the chef and diners. Diners who order a selection from the small-plate menu can watch while their food is prepared.

Despite barely any advertising the first month, Pooler says business has gone very well so far, with around a 20 to 35 percent increase in sales per week and they're very pleased.

To help with the midday lull common with most restaurants, Pooler and Jones have come up with a happy hour from 3 to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. With any purchase of a small-plate appetizer and drink, an additional drink (well cocktails or draft beer) is on the house.

Starting Father’s Day weekend, Pearl on the River will serve brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

Pearl on the River is located at 1379 Garden Highway.

For menu offerings or more information, visit pearlontheriver.com.

Images courtesy of Pearl on the River

Foodies and wine enthusiasts unite at Raley's 7th annual Grape Escape

2009-06-08T01:52:06Z

Foodies and wine enthusiasts united Saturday at Cesar Chavez Park for Raley's and Seventh Annual Grape Escape, presented by Raley's and Bel Air for an evening of drinking and munching.

For $40 in advance and $50 at the door, ticket-holders took part in a three-hour taste marathon, sampling cabs, chards and merlots from more than 50 top wineries from six counties in Northern California and gourmet appetizers from Sacramento’s favorite eateries.

Award-winning wineries like San Joaquin’s Van Ruiten winery (voted Wall Street Journal’s Best Zin) and Calaveras County’s Twisted Oak winery (Gold Medal winner from the Riverside International Wine Competition) set up shop along with brewery favorites Hoppy Brewing Company and Pyramid Alehouse.

“Wonderful wines, coupled with great bites, made for a fun social outing. The weather was perfect, the vendors all very fun and upbeat, and the crowd was amazingly large. I look forward to next year's event,” said Lori Moody, who attended the Grape Escape.

Tried and true eateries served up menu samplings like Zocalo’s shredded pork and salsa, Mikuni’s popular Fair Oaks Roll and Ruth’s Chris new cold crab and asparagus summer menu offering.

Up-and-coming businesses like Pearl on the River and recently opened de Vere's Irish Pub and Mix Downtown used the event as an opportunity to plant their name in the brains of potential customers.

“We’re thrilled with the attendance and even more thrilled with the weather,” said Sheri Graciano, volunteer coordinator for the event, in reference to the clear skies and cool temperatures that made for perfect weather for the outdoor event.

While somewhat long lines formed at popular booths like Chipotle, P.F. Changs and Barefoot Wine Cellars, the park wasn’t overwhelmingly crowded and the well-organized event kept glasses filled and plates full in an orderly fashion.

Graciano explained that one of the reasons for the smooth flow of foot traffic was Raley’s V.I.P. entrance offered to its wine club members this year, which allowed a large portion of the crowd to enter an hour early.

Despite the numerous food and wine offerings, the majority of the excitement took place during the Chef’s Challenge, presented by the Institute of Technology and emceed by Mark S Allen.

Each chef was given a basket of fresh ingredients and a half hour to whip up a gourmet dish. The first round was a face-off between Grange’s Michael Tuohy and L Wine Lounge’s Ame Harrington. The second round featured Mason’s John Gurnee and Mikuni & Taro’s Taro himself.

The action culminated in a final championship round, where Harrington took first place and second place went to Taro.

Next to the stage, the Institute set up a buffet line with creations by their own skilled students with concoctions like bacon-wrapped almond rolls, pork bruschetta and blue cheese wraps.

A full range of culture was featured at the event with art for sale and on display from Patris, owner of Patris Art Center, and artists from the Capitol Art Center at S12. Makeshift music stages were set up as well featuring up-and-coming local music artists like jazz singers Jackie Bryant and Marcelle.

As 7 o' clock rolled around, the food was devoured and the wineries' bottles were emptied within the three-hour span. However, no one was left empty-handed.

Not only did each ticket-holder receive a complimentary Raley’s wine glass and many coupons for discounts on wine, but many also took home cans of garlic-seasoned olives from Lindsay Snackers, pineapples and watermelons from Raley’s disassembled display, wine openers and back issues of Sacramento Magazine, which also sponsored the event.

A great time was had by all, judging from the smiles underneath their wine mustaches.

For a complete list of wineries, restaurants and artists that participated in the Grape Escape, visit raleysgrapescape.com.

All images taken by Jonathan Mendick

Muse Hair Boutique joins R Street strip

2009-06-08T01:45:26Z

"Every woman and every client should be a muse ... a lot of women don't know the power in their own beauty."

From that idea, owner and stylist Marci Landgraf (pictured) came up with the name for Muse Salon and Hair Boutique, which opened Tuesday and joined a string of eateries and bars on the thriving R Street corridor.

When the space became available, Landgraf says she jumped at the opportunity and echoes the sentiment of other business owners on the corridor who believe that the growing strip is a great location for business, especially being in such close proximity to one another.

"More business brings more business," said Landgraf.

Muse's walls are bare and the decor is simple with white walls, black styling stations, concrete floors and a few scattered plants adding a few subtle splashes of color.

Landgraf plans on keeping the minimal look, explaining that it's all intentional because "the client is the art."

Located just steps away from Space 07 Salon and only minutes from Downtown's numerous other hair salons, Muse sets itself apart from the rest by focusing solely on hair and creating an individualized and upscale experience for the client instead of a factory line of snip, color and dry.

All of the stylist stations have been custom-designed and despite the small 800-square-foot space, there is more space per stylist than most salons that are closely crammed together, which contributes to an intimate setting for each client.

"We cater to our clients and want to offer a sophisticated, high-quality service," said Landgraf.

Landgraf brings with her an impressive résumé with more than 18 years in the hair styling industry. Most recently, she worked at Downtown's Senses Salon and has traveled the world with Sebastian hair company as an artistic director. Her impressive work has scored her a spot as a stylist for New York Fashion Week and her styling has been featured in Vogue, Elle and Harper's Bazaar.

Landgraf's experience along with the other two stylists, Heather Andersen and Curtis Gayden, offer a high level of technical and artistic expertise.

While Landgraf plans on adding to their small team, she will keep the amount of stylists to a minimum as she is focused more on quality than quantity and hopes to find stylists that possess unique and special personalities, helping to create a one-of-a-kind styling experience for clients.

Landgraf will also be working to bring back the actual concept of getting hair styled for a night out or a weekly blowout. While this used to be very common in previous decades, the trend is somewhat lost in the industry now. She hopes her location in the middle of Downtown's nightlife will be conducive to bringing customers in before nights out on the town.

The salon's current business hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. with plans to extend hours until 9 p.m. as the salon moves forward and builds its staff.

Muse Salon is located at 1409 R St. To see Marci Landgraf's hair designs, visit hairbymarci.net

Update: VIBE Youth Lounge gains funding and support

2009-06-05T01:06:11Z

On Wednesday night, members of the VIBE foundation's Youth Leadership Board met at their 3,000 square-foot future lounge site, a building donated to them by the Sacramento Housing Redevelopment Agency, to discuss their recent accomplishments and funding plans.

The youth lounge, which is scheduled to open in August, aims to provide a safe and fun environment conducive to the success of its youth members. In addition to after-school tutoring, the lounge will offer a game area and career center with a network of resources to help teens find jobs, internships and apprenticeships.

VIBE is an all-volunteer organization, and the entirety of its fundraising efforts have been conducted by the VIBE Youth Leadership Board, composed of around 15 teens. Christina Giffin has been serving as the adult project lead and as an adviser to the youth that has been overseeing the project and lending a hand or guidance wherever needed.

For the past two years, Giffin and the youth board have been collaborating on research, creating a business plan and meeting with people who will play a role in the creation of the lounge.

"During this time, Vibe has remained low-profile because we wanted a strong and compelling final product to showcase to the community," Giffin said.

At Wednesday's meeting, Chair David Schenirer reminded the Youth Leadership Board that their project is "revolutionary" and is unique to the entire nation in that the model was dreamt up and is being executed by youth.

"I think the thing that impresses me the most about VIBE is the attitude of the youth involved. Their dedication to an idea and their goal sets an example for youth everywhere," said Ben Wangerg, a Youth Aide for the Sacramento County Office of Education who is coordinating the Regional Opportunity Program project with VIBE.

As a way to cut costs once the lounge is open, around 75 teen employees per year will be paid with school credit through ROP credits instead of actual paychecks.

While it is undoubtedly a hard time in the economy to secure funding for any type of project, the lounge has still gained momentum and has begun to catch the eye of community members, including Sacramento City Councilman Steve Cohn, who is helping to get the word out about the lounge.

Scheduled for a soft opening in August, the VIBE Youth Leadership Board is working diligently to hammer out the final details in the coming months.

The teens' dedication to the lounge is paying off. The foundation was recently granted a $10,000 check from Wells Fargo that will be given to them by month's end, a huge accomplishment for the teens who have been left to their own devices to secure funding.

They will be continuing fundraising efforts in the coming months through their capital campaign, with a goal of raising $500,000 by December of this year.

On Monday, June 15, the VIBE foundation will be holding a meeting and delivering a presentation to potential backers. Invitations to the meeting have been sent to various organizations, philanthropists and people who may be able to contribute to the lounge's financial needs.

To shave costs, a network of adults has been contacted to volunteer time and services, including community members like Peter Castles of the Hoyt Company, who will be assisting with marketing and public relations. Other adult volunteers will include contractors, web designers and artists for their planned July participation in Downtown's Second Saturday Art Walk.

The tentative business hours for the lounge are 4-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4-10 p.m. Friday and 5-10 p.m. Saturday. These hours allow teens to be home before the city's mandated 10 p.m. curfew on weekdays and time to get to the center after school gets out.

The VIBE Urban Lounge will be located at 1725 K St. For more information, visit thevibefoundation.org or e-mail Christina Giffin at christina@thevibefoundation.org

The graphics above are architectural renderings of the proposed lounge, created by designers Stantec and Mas Mojica

The group photo is of the VIBE Youth Leadership Board.

Fun, food and the four-legged make Midfest a success

2009-06-01T05:49:41Z

Despite resident complaints from previous festivals, last-minute scrambling for permits, and tow-away zones on almost every residential street surrounding, Midfest 2009 turned out to be a success.

The free two-day festival, held at Midtown’s Marshall Park, was a collision of art, food and entertainment and offered entertainment for all ages.

“[Midfest] was held in a great location and wasn’t too crowded. I really like that it went on the whole weekend and there were so many different types of entertainment for everyone,” said Nikki Carlson, a stylist from Land Park’s Artisan Salon who attended Midfest.

The festival was sponsored by the Midtown Business Association, who manned many of the booths, as well as Red Bull, Budweiser and De Vere’s Irish Pub, who had a VIP tent set up for the second day of festivities.

Saturday kicked off with the Paragary’s Bloc Concert Series and break-dancing performances, inspiring many to kick off their shoes and dance in the grass while they watched the performers and enjoyed the music.

Right in the middle of the action were graffiti artists like Neal “Lopan” Bergman, who was recruited by Red Bull, grooving to the music and spray-painting giant wooden canvases.

The four-legged got in on the excitement, too. Splash Dogs, a national traveling organization, set up a giant pool for dogs to compete and see which pooch could cover the most distance after jumping in after toys.

Many of the competing dogs continued to partake in the fun afterward, lounging on the grass while their owners ate, drank and mingled.

Popular Midtown eateries set up booths selling inexpensive sampler-like snacks such as $2 sliders from Ink Eats and Drinks and $4 tacos from Paragary’s Centro Cocina.

To wash down the great food, a sectioned-off Hefeweizen beer garden offered a plethora of beer and a makeshift wine bar hosted by Sterling Vineyards offered wine while Red Bull reps handing out energy drinks circulated the park grounds.

All proceeds from the garden will be put toward the Marshall Park Beautification Fund, with plans to create a fountain in the park that will serve as a sound barrier between park events and residential areas.

Just as the garden filled up, the Bloc Outdoor Concert Series heated up with cover bands Cuesta Drive, Utz and the Shuttlecocks covering songs from various decades while the break dancers continued to impress the crowd with their moves.

The show continued on through the night and although the alcohol was flowing, the Members in Black security teams kept their muscles and force securely in tact. Concert-goers were on their best behavior Saturday night.

Sunday kept the party going with more live music, food and an urban art competition to raise money for the T & M organization for the arts.

The Sacred City Roller Derby Girls were ready to be dunked to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and local band favorites like Sammie nominees ZuhG performed on the main stage.

Based on the success of the weekend’s events, may there be many more festivals to come.

All photos taken by Chris Demere, for more photos visit http://gallery.soundesigns.com/midfest2009

Space 07 Salon named Hair Games Style Champion

2009-06-01T03:21:56Z

Clouds of hairspray were being shot every which way, cameras were flashing and frantic girls and boys were scrambling around a tightly-packed room to line up for preliminary judging.

This was the scene in the backroom of Barcode Nightclub at the finale round of the Hair Games 2009 charity fundraiser last night.

The chosen recipient of funds for this year is Auburn-based Village Care International (VCI), an organization focused on empowering African widows and around 30,000 orphans that have become victims of the AIDS/HIV pandemic.

Beginning on April 25 and continuing for four consecutive Saturdays, 12 top salons from around the Sacramento region have been competing in four separate semi-final rounds, leading up to last night’s grand finale.

Repeating the Marie Antoinette doll theme that deemed them winners in the first semi-final, downtown Sacramento’s Space 07 was crowned “style champion” with their high energy mixture of break-dancing and ballet-style dance moves.

Contributing to their talented team and impressive choreography was Kevin Brewer, a member of the dance group Jabbawockeez, made famous by reality show “America’s Best Dance Crew.”

It was a close call, with only a few points between each of the salons competing in the finale round, which included Rio Linda’s Hair Gone Wild, Auburn’s Visions Salon, Sacramento’s Bellara Salon and Spa, and winners Space 07.

Hair Gone Wild rocked the stage with a Total Knock Out theme, staging a “girl fight” between several female “fighters.” Black light effects, neon hair extensions and scantily-clad male refs came together for a wild performance.

Visions Salon used skin to their advantage as well, with shirtless boys acting as lifeguards and sun-bathing girls shimmying around with a mermaid, sharks and “kelp”-covered dancers for their “Visions of Summer” theme.

Bellara salon went all out with an angels and demons-themed performance in a flurry of pleather, fishnets and halos and horns sculpted out of hair.

The salon competition, started in 2007, was the brainchild of Patty Nehrer, beauty supply chain Maly’s Salon Product Distributor, and Jo Ann Baumert, the owner of Granite Bay’s Bella Toscana.

They decided it was a fun way not only to unite the salon industry but to have a good time despite dark economic times.

For each semi-final round, salons were given free rein to choose a theme and five minutes of stage time to put their best hair-styling and performance efforts on display for the crowd. The same rules applied for last night’s show.

Judges mainly focused on technical aspects of the performers’ hair but the salons were also scored on their theme’s creativity and overall performance, including lights and music.

The competition has been sponsored by hairstyling empire CHI/Farouk, who provided hair color, shampoo and tools for the competition.

Each salon paid an initial entry of $500, which went directly to VCI, along with 100 percent of ticket sales sold at participating salons.

All participating stylists from Space 07 will receive airfare and hotel accommodation to the CHI/Farouk Academy in Houston (the company’s headquarters).

For contact information on how to participate in next year’s competition, visithairgames2009.com.

Images taken by Anthony Bento

For more photos by Anthony from Hair Games 2009 Finale visit http://www.hatlesslincoln.com/photography/v/bento/hairgames/

Panel discusses Broadway's appeal and future

2009-05-28T23:53:32Z

“What brings you to Broadway?”

Greg Taylor, president of Sacramento’s Urban Design Alliance (UDA), posed this question to city planners, residents, professors and employees that attended a dialogue about Downtown’s popular Broadway held at the American Institute of Architects on Wednesday evening.

Taylor answered his own question by saying that Broadway has “great urban character, great bones and great food.”

Many agreed that food is Broadway’s main attraction, with popular eateries like Tower Café and Pancake Circus dotting the strip.

One woman said that Broadway is a place she feels safe to spend time after hours. Others chimed in that they enjoy perusing specialty shops like R5 Records and the Avid Reader.

Perhaps most popular was the echoed sentiment that Broadway has everything one might need and is sort of a one-stop shop with Target, Walgreens, restaurants and gas stations lining the street.

The dialogue, facilitated by Midtowngrid.com founder Brian Fischer, was a question and answer session by a team of three panelists and a room full of interested and concerned residents and stakeholders of Broadway and surrounding areas.

Attendees were welcomed to the discussion with catering by Broadway’s Bali restaurant and a display of design work created by students from UC Davis and Cosumnes River College featuring plans and highlights of the Broadway corridor.

To begin the one hour question and answer session, three panelists were given 5 minutes each to discuss different aspects of Broadway.

Tina Suarez-Murias, environmental planner, explained Broadway’s status as a sociotone and to help the audience understand the concept first described, ecotone, which forms when two different types of landscapes converge to form an “edge effect.”

In ecology, the effect occurs when elements such as soil, plants and animals are different between the two parts, which creates for a wider range of plants, animal and shelter within the effect.

A sociotone is essentially when humans develop around the sociological edge effect and Suarez-Murias explained that Broadway is a perfect example of this phenomenon, still serving and attracting neighbors from either side of the “edge” because of its wide range of diversity.

Robin Datel, an urban geographer, focused on Broadway’s rich history from the donation of land in the Sacramento City Cemetery in 1849 up through 1990 when the State of California leased the Bishop Manogue High School building to become part of the DMV complex. Datel described Broadway as a sort of “service” to its residents, not only as a shopping street but as an “urban and suburban arterial.”

David de la Pena, who is both a member of the UDA and an architect and designer, focused more on the future of Broadway.

“It’s our responsibility to acknowledge what’s there and then enhance it,” Pena said. He continued on to discuss areas that can be improved, such as accessibility and traffic issues.

After a question and answer session from the audience, Teresa Rosa of the Broadway Partnership assured everyone that change will happen organically and stressed the importance of Broadway and its diversity.

“There are many Broadways. There is a Broadway-Monday-through-Friday. There is a Broadway-at-night and Broadway-on-Sunday-morning...It’s not pretentious and each of us can relate to it,” said Rosa.

The Urban Design Alliance holds planning meetings on the first Tuesday of each month. For more information about upcoming events visit uda-sacramento.org.

Below are highlights from the question and answer session with the panelists

Tina Suarez-Murias

“[We need to] look at physical barriers and one little step at a time tear them down”
-In response to an audience member in a wheelchair who noted difficulty accessing the street

“We can’t design for just one slice of community, have to design for it all”
-Responding to a concern about Broadway losing it’s small-town feel and low-priced restaurants

“It’s unique that we are making use of area under a freeway”
-Commenting on development opportunities

Robin Datel

“More signs, self-guided tours, organized walking tours, naming districts”
-Discussing ways to bring more attention to Broadway

“Because the freeway is so high, there’s a lot of back and forth and opportunity with that”
-Commenting on development opportunitiesDavid de la Pena

“More energy needs to be put into the designing process”
-In response to the current involvement with development

All photos by David Watts Barton

Disability Capitol Action Day reflects on Olmstead case 10 years later

2009-05-28T06:58:04Z

"We're here to fight! Day and night! For our basic human rights!"

That was just one of the chants shouted by both the disabled and their caretakers and supporters on their march from the U.S. Bank Building to the Capitol for today's sixth annual Disability Capitol Action Day.

Coordinated by the Disability Action Coalition, the gathering of more than 2,000 people was held on the 10th anniversary of the Olmstead Court Decision, a landmark case involving plaintiffs Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson that set a precedent of helping the disabled to live in community settings as opposed to confined in homes and institutions.

Despite being highly functioning and capable of living in a community, both women were kept in institutional settings. In 1997, the court deemed this a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Judge Marvin H. Shoob suggested the women were being unfairly segregated. The state appealed the decision but lost, and in 2000, the case came to a close in favor of the plaintiffs.

This year's Action Day theme was "Where is California 10 years after the Olmstead Decision?" and speakers and legislators as well as Lois Curtis, a plaintiff in the Olmstead case, took the stage to let the crowd know that California has plenty of room for improvement in its programs for the disabled as well as funding and accessing those programs.

Serving as a message of empowerment as well as a backdrop to the stage was a flag made up of more than 700 handmade "story sticks" with feathers and pictures of individuals who have contributed to a nationwide tour of creating a video archive of stories of both struggles and accomplishments of the disabled.

The state's recent budget woes have led to cuts of essential programs such as in-home support services, supplemental security income, and Medi-Cal that are necessary for the disabled to be able to live and thrive independently. February's budget led to two cuts to SSI/SSP grants, which help to support more than 1.1 million low-income seniors and people with disabilities. By July 1, when the second cut is scheduled to take place recipients will only be receiving a maximum of $850 per month.

Signs posted around the grounds reading "Can you live on $850 a month?" conveyed the sense of frustration felt by many relying on the funding. During intermissions between speakers, attendees danced together on stage and chanted messages of hope and a shared understanding for one another.

Reflecting on her frustration after struggling to find assistance for her son more than 15 years ago after his ADHD and bipolar diagnoses, Misunderstood Einsteins founder and Action Day attendee, Cheryl Maxson, said, "It's gotten a little better, but not much."

She started the company after searching through the Yellow Pages and only coming up with two organizations that could help her son. She recalls being sent in circles in a territory that was new and unknown to her. She said she was given many "politically polite" reasons as to why agencies couldn't help her and wasn't sure where she could turn. Maxson's mission is to fill in the holes in the system and to provide assistance to all.

"If I have to turn someone away, I turn them to someone," Maxson said.

Misunderstood Einsteins is just one organization that showed up to provide information and education at the event. Programs like AT Network, which provides technology to assist people with disabilities, and the California Association of Family Empowerment Centers provided resources to attendees as well.

Spandex and helmets take over Capitol at BikeFest

2009-05-22T07:55:51Z

Spandex and helmet-wearing cyclists dominated the Capitol as they circulated from booth to booth after valeting their bikes at BikeFest 2009.

As part of a monthlong celebration of bicyclists and Bike to Work Day on Thursday, bike vendors, transit companies and biking teams from around the area set up shop on the steps of the Capitol to inform and encourage both avid and potential cyclists of the benefits of biking and how to get involved in Sacramento's growing bike scene.

"Bike Fest is a great way to promote health and wellness in the community and I'm always happy to see so many cyclists adding up their miles...," said Jennifer Lemos, a representative for Sacramento County Parks and Recreation who attended BikeFest.

To hydrate and cool down hot and hungry bikers that rode to the festival, Hagen's Orange Freeze and an ice cream station were on hand to give out treats in exchange for printouts of miles logged on bike during May. Cyclists were able to rack up miles by registering at mayisbikemonth.com.

Davis Mayor Pro Tem Don Saylor and Roseville City Councilmember Jim Gray (pictured at podium above), the public faces of Sacramento's month-long bike campaign, presided over the festivities and encouraged Sacramentans to keep on biking.

Natomas Bike Shop provided free bike safety checks, tested brakes, pedals and filled tires with air if needed. Cycle shops, the Bikes and Bites rental company and Trek bike company booth along with more than 40 other vendors hawked the latest and greatest products to fulfill a cyclist’s every whim.

Walking organizations got in on the action too, with organizations like WalkSacramento spreading the message that transportation via bike or foot is not only better for the environment, but is a much healthier alternative as well.

"Forty years ago, around 40 percent of children walked or rode their bikes to school. Now it's only 12 percent," said Terry Preston, the streets project coordinator for WalkSacramento.

The organizers of May is Bike Month set a goal of individual cyclists logging 1 million miles. Schools and employers have been challenged to set goals and exceed them, and awards will be handed out to those who've achieved and surpassed their goals by month's end.

Sacramento is not the first or only city with residents opting to leave their cars at home. There have been been Bike to Work Days for more than 50 years in different parts of the country, according to Erik Johnson, the Public Information Coordinator for the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG).

SACOG organized Bike Month and all the surrounding events along with the help of the region’s transportation organizations.

As of Thursday, 6,808 registered cyclists in the Sacramento region have logged more than 740,000 miles with 10 days left in the month to reach the goal of 1 million.

Those who attended went home with complimentary bicycle lights from Spare the Air, maps of local bike routes and, perhaps most importantly, a feeling of camaraderie among fellow bicyclists coming together for a greater Sacramento.

All images taken by Jonathan Mendick

Floods, bugs and oil spills made a great day at Capitol

2009-05-21T04:52:43Z

Laughter, awe and high-pitched squeals of excitement made the 21st annual State Scientist Day seem more like a carnival than a day of teaching science lessons and experiments to more than 2,000 elementary school students. However, education is exactly what was taking place.

The California Association of Professional Scientists (CAPS) sponsored the event on Thursday on the west steps of the Capitol. Third and sixth graders from about 30 elementary schools showed up to participate in hands-on science experiments teaching them about conservation, plants, oil spills and other earth-related and science lessons.

"This is our way of giving back to the community... especially now, schools are lucky if they take one field trip, and that's why we started [State Scientist Day]," said Kristen Haynie, a consultant for CAPS.

More than 26 state departments set up tables and exhibits to engage children. CAPS asked that all departments bring a hands-on experiment for children to interact with and they discouraged the use of papers for hand-outs.

The UC Davis Oiled Wildlife Care Network invited people into its veterinary van to see how animals are saved, along with the tools of the trade. Up a little closer to the Capitol building, volunteers were picked out from a crowd sitting in front of the Mad Science stage to participate in experiments involving fire. Behind them, a JUNKraft supported on 15,000 plastic bottles was beached on the concrete. Amidst it all, scientists and professionals were on hand to talk to and engage the students.

Haynie said that it's great to see schools come back year after year and noted that even the adults accompanying the children have fun.

"That's why we always say third through sixth graders of all ages!" Haynie said.

Other hands-on exhibits included a mock fishing pond by the Department of Fish and Game, a pen where children could observe a desert tortoise, a chemistry lab by the California Environmental Protection Agency and a "Make a Quake" computer simulation-station ran by the Department of Water Resources.

Recycle Rex joined in the fun too, making two separate appearances to dance with and entertain the kids while showing them that recycling can be fun.

After visiting the different exhibits, students had a chance to test out the knowledge they picked up from all of the booths. Bruce Johnson, who is with the Department of Pesticide Regulation and a member of CAPS, dressed the part of a mad scientist and gave eager students a pop quiz with questions like how fast a Tyrannosaurus rex runs (15-25 mph) and what bed bugs eat (blood).
After loading the school buses, there was barely any litter left behind despite the thousands of students who showed up, which was perhaps a nod to a job well done by CAPS.

All images taken by Jonathan Mendick