Very interesting story. I'm looking forward to the production.

Very thorough article. Nice job SacPress. It really underlines that the city is doing little more than window dressing in response to the shooting last month. I hope that the city will actually use the winter months to think hard about how to return Second Saturday to its roots and focus it on art once again. A comment to Native916 - try to exercise a little tolerance for other peoples' opinions. Saying that two earlier posters' negative opinions about Second Saturday could somehow tarnish the event more than a violent shooting death of an innocent bystander just seems over the top and not conducive to civil discourse.

Very interesting article. Talk about a city boondoggle. How much did the city pay for this fountain that never flows? I also wonder if the city is resisting the requirement to build shower and bathroom facilities in that area because they are anticipating issues with homeless and indigent people being drawn to the ammenities.

hmmm...I don't think its a typo...more like a "read-O." The story clearly says, "11 a.m.-2 a.m." That's 15 hours, not 3 hours.

The Sacramento Fire Department is already doing this to resident of the city!!! I am a long-time resident in the City of Saramento and I was in a bicycle/car accident last year. I was crossing J street on my bike on a green light and was hit by a car turining on to J from the opposite direction. Thankfully I was not hurt but a witness to the accident called the fire department which dispatched two big hook and ladder trucks. As a precaution, the fire departmen's EMT took my blood pressure along with my contact information. The police arrived and spoke to me and the driver of the car but since no one was hurt, they did not file a police report. I got the driver's insurance info just in case. but after several weeks and no lingering injuries, I threw the driver's info away and gave the incident no further thought. A couple of months after that, I received a bill from the Fire Department for the cost of dispatching the trucks! Since I didn't have the driver's insurance info, I couldn't get him to pay the cost (since he ran into me). I protested the bill (for $80.00) with the fire department to no avail. Then I ignored the continuing overdue notices for several months until the fire department turned it over to a collection agency. I grudgingly paid it to protect my credit rating. I guess I relate this story for three reasons: 1) To pose a question: Why was the fire departmentcharging me, a city resident who already pays for the fire department through my taxes, before they had City Council approval for such a program, and 2) To vent and say that I feel duped by the fire department. Had I known they would bill me for their services I would have refused them and not given them my contact information. 3) To point out that this is a dangerous precedent. Soon every city and municipality will implement these fees and we will all be subject to hidden taxes when we travel beyond the confines of our own neighborhoods.

In reply to BBBmer's reply, You clearly have not read most of the staff stories. I completely disagree with your contention that it is not journalism. Some of the best, most in-depth and informative stories I've seen in the sac region press have come from the staff writers at SacPress.com. As far as the self-serving charlatans you mention, I wonder if you are counting yourself in that number. I always am suspicious of people like you who post anonymously. Have the courage of your convictions and put your name on your comments just like the SacPress staff writers do everyday.

Cool new shop! Can't wait to drop by and check it out.

Had lunch here today. The food was excellent! Will definitely be coming back.

I too have been concerned that 2nd Sat. could turn into a giant flea-market. I welcome the efforts to keep the "art" in the art-walks. On their face, the new requirements seem to be reasonable and responsible. I hope that the enforcement part of the equation is equally responsible and even-handed.

Very informative story. I hope the city can find a developer that wants to take on this kind of risk. I'm very impressed with the reporting. I checked out the Sac. Bee story and it is very short and doesn't give much info. I really appreciate the depth that Sac. Press brings to the story and to have it up so fast is impressive. The comparison between the quality of this story and the bee's is very striking - keep up the great work!

Good story! Its nice to see what Mayor Fargo is up to these days. Congrats to Sac Press for landing the interview with her. Agree or disagree with her policies and accomplishments while in office. I think most would agree she served the public with integrity. I sincerely hope we will be able to say the same thing about the current occupant of the office when his service is done.

Great reporting Suzanne. Keep up the good work!

Great article Suzanne and Kudos to Save Our Water Sacramento for organizing opposition and bringing attention to this important issue. I hope it isn't too late to stop Nestles.

Excellent article Suzanne! Very informative and comprehensive. Another piece of great research and writing for the Sacramento Press.

Man, this story makes me hungry! I can't wait to try out the pies at One Speed.

Great story! Can't wait for the new wing to open. I hope the expansion will allow the museum to attract some really good national touring exhibits.

To CCC - Please don't denigrate the concerns of the neighborhood residents. Based on the past practices of some of the bar and restaurant owners, we have legitimate issues with these types of events. And while this weekend's activities turned out well, the crowd was smaller than expected. I am concerned with Paragary Restaurant Group's plans to greatly increase crowd size at future concerts through aggressive print and radio advertising. Also pressure from residents (and publicity from the stories here in Sacramento Press) forced the city and the organizers to step up policing and code enforcement. I hope that continues for future events. Sadly however, our experience teaches us otherwise. So the real test will be how the next few concerts go. Will increased crowds of drinkers overwhelm our neighborhood? Will the city continue to enforce all applicable codes (parking, noise, litter, underage drinking, etc.)? Will the restaurant and bar owners continue paying for adequate security, bathrooms and cleanup?

Your comments suggest that you might be affiliated with the MBA or working for a Midfest organizer. If so, a disclosure would be appropriate.

I live next door to John Paul Olafson. I was told before the event that residents would be put up in a nice hotel. I found out later that we would be put up in the Vagabound Inn which by most peoples' standards would not qualify as a nice place to stay (Think Motel 6). I thought it was a nice gesture on the part of businesses until I learned that they wanted to put people up in a crummy motel. Needless to say, I did not take Paragary up on his offer. I just learned from the article that evidently it was one of our own residents on the Marshall School Neighborhood Association board that suggested using a cheaper hotel. I definitely have to find out who that was and voice my displeasure. On a final note, I think the offer was only for the Cinco de Mayo party and not for any of the other summer festivals.

Nice Story! Very informative. I especially liked the comments from neighbors at the beginning. It put a real human interest into the story. It changed what could have been a dry (but informative) story about city planning into something more compelling. I could see from the start that this development will really have an important impact on peoples' lives and that the decisions of city planners and developers really do shape our community for better and for worse..