Newest articles and comments on The Sacramento Press written by Alex Huie

Cafe Community Conversation

2010-05-13T05:42:59Z

What will it take to propel our region beyond the present slump into a thriving vibrant future?

That was the question asked to the community on Tuesday. The Sacramento Region Community Foundation, Capitol Public Radio and The Sacramento Bee have joined forces to organize civil discussions at local coffee houses. A total of eight coffee houses facilitated the conversations Tuesday. Locations were determined by City Council district.

I attended the discussion at the Old Soul Coffee house in Oak Park. Each discussion had a mediator representing the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. To begin, the mediator set the ground rules, making sure all participants understood this event must remain friendly. Oak Park's discussion was mediated by Brian Fischer, Oak Park resident and President at Playpen Hub. It was explained that every person has a different viewpoint, and participants had to respect other's positions. This doesn't mean it's prohibited to disagree, just to proceed tastefully.

The discussion started off by going around in a circle, briefly describing background and home location. Most people were from Oak Park. One couple had purchased a house in the area one month ago, whereas an older gentleman had lived down the street from Old Soul for the last 60 years. There were three men running for the District 5 City Council seat in the crowd along with representatives from California State University, Sacramento, McGeorge School of Law, The Sacramento Bee and a group of architects.

Before getting the discussion underway, Fischer churned attendees' thoughts by presenting facts and model topics that might act as a rubric. "Sacramento has long been considered a government town," Fischer explained. "3 out of 10 jobs in Sacramento are governmental." Fischer proceeded to give figures of unemployment rates, house foreclosures, and so on. "1 out of every 98 home in Sacramento is in foreclosure," Fischer said. "That's more than 1%."

The conversation began and kept reverting back to a few focal topics: Community, education, green jobs, volunteering, public transit, funding and keeping things local.

Although contributors were split between consolidating our strengths to reinforce a stronger core of community and forward mobility aimed at new technology and greener ideas, both acknowledged a need of unity for any decision. As long as we first fix the problems occurring next door, a presence of community will surface. With the loss of so many jobs, a surprising number of individuals in attendance have begun to volunteer for shelters, along with other parts of the community. However, reverting to a simpler ideology, where you move into a friend's or relative's house because of bill troubles or gain an interest in returning to school or becoming an entrepreneur because of a lost job, doesn't fill holes in the economy. There will still be an abandoned house and a lost trade.

This Community Conversation series, if for no other reason, was meant to reveal people care about the problem. Through a collection of knowledge and experiences, maybe 35 people talking over a cup of joe can fill one hole in our local economy: multiply that by eight to represent the other discussions going in the surrounding area, and it's called "progress," a word seldom heard lately.

Tuesday was a trial run of the program. The Sacramento Region Community Foundation will be assessing the success of the event and making a schedule of upcoming conversations. More information can be found here.

The Bicycle Film Festival is Coming!

2010-05-12T05:49:46Z

May is Bike Month, and this weekend is the best time to celebrate. Sacramento has earned a stop on the international tour of the Bicycle Film Festival. The festival will be held Friday and Saturday, with the festivities extending into Sunday as part of the Amgen Tour of California.

The Friends of Fremont Park, along with pizza and panini bar Hot Italian, will host the event. The film festival starts Friday in Fremont Park with movie shorts. They will begin at 9 p.m., but the event will kick off at 7 at nearby Hot Italian, which also will be the site of the night's after-party. And it will continue "as long as people are there and drinking," Lepore said.

"The Bicycle Film Festival is a collection of film, art and music," said Andrea Lepore, co-owner of Hot Italian.

The New Humans will perform at the preparty Friday at Hot Italian and Signal to Red is scheduled before the big presentation Saturday.

The 16 short films range from one to 16 minutes. Among them is "Macramento," a film by Colby Elrick about legendary Italian frame builder Giovanni Pelizzoli. It follows local riders John Cardiel, Squirrel and Ted Shred, aka DJ Ted Shred.

Saturday will begin with a a scavenger hunt, with prizes including bicycle saddles by San Marco, vouchers to the Crocker Art Museum, Hot Italian certificates and messenger bags. The festivities will continue with music in the park, followed by the Bicycle Film Festival features presentation, and concluding with the Urban Velodrome After Party at Venue, at 15th and R streets. The after-party will feature DJ Ted Shred.

There will be a beer garden in Fremont Park at 1 p.m. from which to view Amgen rider. The first leg of the tour starts Sunday in Nevada City and ends in Sacramento. Fans can expect to see the cyclists, including Lance Armstrong, pass at about 3:30.

This is the Bicycle Film Festival's 10th year and its first in Sacramento. Lepore said that cities comparable in size to Sacramento usually have a turnout numbering in the thousands. Many cities charge admission because the films are shown in a museum or a similar venue. Sacramentans can participate in the festival free except for food and drinks.

Other major cities hosting the Bicycle Film Festival include New York, Chicago, London, Melbourne and Tokyo. For more information, visit www.bicyclefilmfestival.com

Alex Huie on "They say breaking up is hard to do. . ."

2010-05-11T17:08:59Z

are you thinking the townhouse?

Postcard History

2010-04-30T05:47:23Z

Tom Myers has melded his passion for vintage postcards and love for Sacramento in his newest book, "The Postcard History of Sacramento," out now by Arcadia Publishing.

For more than 42 years, Tom and Sally have been published photographers located in Sacramento. The last 35 years have been dedicated to freelance stock photography, where their company, Tom Myers Photography, houses more than a half million exclusive images available for purchase.

"The Postcard History of Sacramento" features vintage postcards mailed from 1905 to the 1930s, including antique images of the Sacramento Valley. Each image reveals a scene from a dusty time, giving readers a glimpse into an era before Sacramento was known for government and a pistol was potentially a best friend.

In 1850, Sacramento was almost overrun by 10,000 men whose main objective in life was gold. The postcard book begins with the history of the Gold Rush and maps the several transformations leading up to present.

The disastrous floods of 1861-1862, led to a city-wide effort to raise downtown. Myers depicts the monumental event of elevating 60 blocks 12 feet.

"Most of the postcards were found at the Antique Paper sale, which happens once a year at the Scottish Rite Center," Myers said. "Most collectors want the pristine ones, but I seek the dirty-looking ones, with bent corners. That's history to me."

Myers scavenged the postcards and compiled them for the book. An individual postcard can cost anywhere from 25 cents to $15.

In one of Myers' favorite postcards, there is a picture of a man feeding an ostrich oranges. However, because ostriches apparently eat oranges whole, there is a fist-sized lump protruding from the neck of the animal. This particular postcard was a popular in 1905 because of its comedic value. Myers explained "that this area had ostrich farms back then because their plumes were used for fancy hats."

Along with a visual image of our area's past, each postcard came with a personal note or story, which Myers includes in the book: "Messages, some written with a great sense of humor, reveal life of the people in those days and times," Myers said.

One postcard reads, "Dear Nova, I'll make the children be careful with the piano. Had a tirble dream abut it."

The book is 127 pages, containing 213 postcards and supplemental history of the Sacramento area. It can found for immediate purchase at most bookstores, online at arcadiapublishing.com, or customers can call Tom and Sally at (916) 443-8886, and Tom will personally autograph a copy.

"Bodies Revealed" Open to Public

2010-04-26T04:07:44Z

It begins with utter disbelief and leaves you with a changed perspective on the human body. Saturday marked the public opening of "Bodies Revealed," located at 2040 Alta Arden Way.

"Is THAT real?" was a reoccurring question uttered by patrons at the entrance on Saturday. To answer your question: It's all real.

"Bodies Revealed" has returned, with many improvements and changes, to Sacramento after a two-year hiatus. More than 200 individual organs and 14 full bodies are currently on display, 11 of which were not part of the 2008 tour. All parts have gone though polymer preservation, a process of draining all liquids from an organ and replacing it with a liquid silicon rubber. After the process, the bodies will never decay a sort of advanced mummification.

This year, the exhibit features diseased organs placed next to healthy organs, giving spectators a brutally evident picture of "how lifestyles affect health," said Cheryl Muré, president of education for Premier Exhibitions, Inc. Next to the cancerous lungs, a mailbox-sized clear cigarette depository is visible for all to see, offering an impulse challenge to smokers. On site is a resource center, where people can ask health and nutrition experts questions about health-related habits. Patrons can also find out their body mass index, blood pressure and pulse rate.

A preview was offered to educators on Thursday, with a turnout of more than 1,500 participants. Teachers couldn't stop thinking about "what their kids will think about this," Muré said. The success of hundreds of Northern California schools attending the 2007-2008 debut was one of the main contributing factors to the exhibit's return. Educators are also offered supplemental educational information, which can be downloaded at the "Bodies Revealed" website and use for instruction. As an educational tool, the exhibit does a great job encouraging interest in anatomy and medicine and seeing the physical evidence of cancer and blackened lungs is discouraging of bad habits.

Promoter Karen Bakula, of Karen Bakula & Company, Inc., described a past success story stemming from "Bodies Revealed," where a Las Vegas docent took her 16-year-old son to tour the exhibit a couple years back, sparking an interest in becoming a doctor. The boy is grown up now and received acceptance into medical school, starting in the fall.

"There were a lot of requests from the last time we were here," said John Zaller, vice president of Creative Design, and "Bodies Revealed" has used that information wisely.

Between the vertical cross-sectioned body, the horizontal cross-sectioned body, the vibrant circulatory wing, and the controversial fetal development wing, patrons have a lot of resources to learn from. On Saturday, I witnessed a young family daring enough to tour the fetal development wing. Naturally, the kids had numerous questions about what they were viewing. It was there, at that moment, they learned about the "birds and the bees." "Bodies Revealed" is a multi-functional tool. In this case, the family used it as a diagram for a hard-to-explain lesson.

Tickets start at $14, and visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets online. More information can be found at bodiessacramento.com.

Flatmancrooked Fun

2010-04-24T01:25:51Z

Sacramento's own indie press company, Flatmancrooked, showcased a number of rising literary talents Thursday in Davis.

Elijah Jenkins, executive director and founder of Flatmancrooked, took over the "Poetry Night Reading Series" at the the John Natsoulas Gallery and spiked it up a bit. The first 100 attendees received a complimentary beer or wine, and were rewarded with a second if they purchased a book for $5.

The crowd was lubricated, the talent was hot and the venue was intriguing. At one point in the night, I traveled through a secret door to a disturbed man printing unknown documents at night (requiring an entire ream for his hush-hush project), traveled up a cascade of stairs lined to the brim with lost paintings and ceramic masks, up four flights of stairs and out the fire exit onto the roof, where the light from the open door startled a group of perched cigarette smokers.

The event was hosted by University of California, Davis, Professor Andy Jones, who shares a striking resemblance to Steven Colbert. Entertaining and armed with an iPad, Jones introduced each writer with humor and finesse. First up was poet Brad Henderson, who also produces the series. Henderson read a piece detailing a personal account of a bizarre fly-like creature, hopped-up on stimulants, which he admitted to conjuring up while drunk. The whimsical and lighthearted piece opened the night, setting an easygoing tone.

Following Henderson, N.A. Jong, Andy Duga and Kevin Walsh read excerpts from their short stories from the recent Flatmancrooked publication, "Not About Vampires: An Anthology of New Fiction Concerning Everything Else." Walsh, who was the recipient of the 2009 Flatmancrooked Fiction Prize, admitted, "This is the first time I have read in public since second grade."

Poets featured in Flatmancrooked's upcoming "Slim Anthology of Contemporary Poetics" include: host Andy Jones, Chris "Whitey" Erickson, Shideh Etaat, and Julia Halprin Jackson. Jackson read three poems, the first of which was written while attending Davis High School and dedicated to her high school English teacher, who was in attendance.

Unexpectedly, Jenkins' longtime friend and Flatmancrooked's co-creator, James Kaelan, joined Flatmancrooked's lineup. Kaelan, who is a professor at Pepperdine University, read a section from his new book, "We're Getting On," titled "Surrogates," which describes a vulgar, ineffable love shared between the main character and a woman, whose name he never received, despite numerous encounters and immense attraction. If read in a mall, parents would cover their children's ears. However, at the John Natsoulas Gallery, the audience roared with cheers, accepting and appreciative that their ears were just defiled.

Jenkins concluded the night's showcase by rapping to Outkast's "Bombs Over Baghdad," a spectacle that could soon become a ritual.

The Flatmancrooked publishing house is making waves. Kaelan announced at the reading that "We're Getting On" has been selected for the cover of the upcoming issue of "Poets & Writers." The book will also be going on tour, in a unique two-wheeled style. Kaelan is a huge bicycle enthusiast and will be promoting the book by pedaling 1,300 miles from Los Angeles to Vancouver, British Columbia, stopping in 23 cities.

The book is part of the Zero Emissions Book Project, a project aimed at reinventing the way books are published. Printed on 100 percent post-consumer material, with a cover containing birch seeds, capable of growing a tree if planted, the idea is to create an awareness about resources.

Sacramento is included in the tour. Check out Flatmancrooked for upcoming events and Zero Emissions for info on tour.

Sacramento's Business or Monkey Business

2010-04-23T06:52:09Z

Sacramentans participated on Wednesday to discuss the Sacramento Zoo's plans: Should it relocate or find a way to improve its current location? The meeting was held at the Belle Cooledge Center in Land Park, and hosted by the Sacramento Zoological Society, the Community Development Department, and the Parks & Recreation Department.

The meeting was the first in a series intended to obtain feedback. The main topic was the Sutter's Landing Feasibility Study, a proposed relocation of the zoo to Midtown. The majority of Sutter's Landing, which is only accessible from the 28th Street entrance, is owned by the city of Sacramento. Other parts of Sutter's Landing are occupied by the Blue Diamond Company, SMUD, an 172-acre landfill, and the Harbor Sand and Gravel Co.

"Harbor Sand and Gravel would have to be acquired or move sites" to execute the Sacramento Zoo's relocation, said Scot Mende, new growth manager for the Community Development Department.

Mende also said that in order to have a successful zoo, "park access needs to be fairly obvious." Keeping the current entrance to Sutter's Landing for zoo use would overwhelm the city, imposing on a quiet corner of Midtown. The Sacramento Zoo receives more than 500,000 visitors per year. The city proposed a new exit for Sutter's Landing from Highway 160 if the zoo were to relocate. It is estimated a basic execution will cost $17 million. However, if the city decided to make a more attractive and welcoming exit for the zoo, it could cost anywhere from $40 to $80 million.

In addition to the cost of a new entrance, construction of the zoo is estimated at $625,000 an acre. Mary Healy, director and chief executive officer of the zoo, estimated that 100 acres will be needed for a world-class zoo. That means a cost more than $30 million for 50 acres. The high cost of construction is partly because of the required reinforcement of Sutter's Landing's ground, the result of years of landfill compost settling. Seattle's newly expanded Woodland Zoo, considered world class, requires $8 to $10 million a year simply to cover daily operations.

Other relocation areas also were discussed at the meeting, including the 10,000-acre Natomas Joint Vision Area, an area 100 acres north of Arco Arena that is the site of the first, partially-built River Cats Stadium, and the Job Corps site in Meadowview.

There is also the possibility of expanding the current location, although it is hemmed in. A map at the meeting showed how close the zoo is to Fairytale Town, Funderland Amusement Park, the William Land Park Golf Course and Holy Cross School. The zoo occupies a 14-acre lot, so any modifications would have to be modest. One downside to the zoo is an inability to house larger animals. Past expansions were responsible for the reduction of the primate exhibit and the zoo's lost of its rhinos and bears.

Healy contacted the Urban Land Institute for options on improving the current site. Small adjustments were suggested because there was no room for grander moves. The zoo has "no intention of violating the integrity of Fairytale Town, the ball fields, or the golf course," said Healy. Possible improvements include a "friendlier" entrance with a cafe/souvenir shop that would be separate from the zoo and open earlier, a train stop for the zoo that would be accessible from Old Sacramento and turning the stop in front of the entrance into a roundabout so school kids could be dropped off. The bus stop now is across the street, requiring thousands of kids a year to cross the street.

After the speakers representing the city and zoo finished their presentation, they turned the floor over to the public for what became an emotional forum. At one point, residents called the zoo's proposal a mere extension of a board proposition made 22 years ago. Several of the 90 people in the audience approached the front to make their voices heard.

Scott Rose Craig Powell, vice president of the Land Park Community Association, said that "even though the zoo lost some of their bigger animals, their attendance hasn't suffered." The LPCA is against the zoo's expansion because it could move into nearby parks. Rose Powell said it was former Mayor William Land's wish, for whom the park is named, to use the area for the "recreation sport of children and a pleasure ground for the poor." The zoo, which began as a free park, was meant to be used by all. Rose Powell concluded by saying, "If you put a wrought-iron fence around 40 more acres, you will have done a great violence to the will of William Land."

The next community meetings about the feasibility study will be April 28 at 6 p.m. in the Hart Multipurpose Senior Center, 915 27th Street, and June 3 at 7 p.m. at the Robertson Community Center, 3525 Norwood Avenue.

Passion Pit Play Davis

2010-04-16T05:46:33Z

More than 1,200 fans attended the sold-out Passion Pit show Wednesday at UC Davis Freeborn Hall and were ready to get their groove on. An hour before the event kids were lined up, dressed to impress with glow stick and all, ready to stake their spot close to the stage. It was a spectacle to see such an interactive audience harmonizing, chanting and singing along.

Passion Pit received quick success from its introductory ep "Chunk of Change," which was released in September 2008. Since the ep's release, the band has released a full-length album, "Manners," and is currently making its way south to play at this weekend's Coachella Festival in Indio Valley. The Southern California desert festival has seen the likes of Radiohead, The Pixies, Daft Punk, and Paul McCartney, so it's safe to say Passion Pit has officially made it.

Wednesday opened with The Middle East, an up-and-coming Australian indie-folk band whose single, "Blood," has been gaining popularity on indie-rock stations like XMU. The seven-piece band is extremely melodic, with all members playing a range of instruments with a microphones in front of them. No member ever stops contributing, and at one point the rhythm guitarist played the trumpet with an acoustic guitar still strapped around his neck.

Following The Middle East was Mayer Hawthorne and the County. The band is hard to narrow down by genre, but was loads of entertainment for the crowd. At one point, the lead singer asked the audience, "Where's my ladies at," and proceeded to play music likely to be found in a '50's ice cream shop. That song smoothly transitioned into a funky cover of ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky" and further transitioned into a soulful, James Brown-esque rhythm. It felt like a wedding with showmanship, original covers and good times.

Mayer Hawthorne hyped up Passion Pit, and anticipation mounted as the stage technicians took their time connecting the mess of wires to the electronic-savvy band's instruments. When the lights finally dimmed, the crowd erupted and was rewarded by a frenzied light show. The band's studio sound is extremely synth-based, but the musicians managed to create a more impacting rock sound live, captivating the audience to listen past the fisode of gadgets and keyboards.

Instead of chanting "Encore," the audience rallied together with "Sleepyhead, Sleepyhead...," the name of the band's first hit song. Passion Pit came back to play a cover of The Cranberries' "Dreams" and concluded with "Sleepyhead," satisfying the crowd's urge. If you missed out on this event, don't get too upset. During the concert, Passion Pit front man, Michael Angelakos, took a minute to thank his dedicated band, which will be joining him on a year-long tour.

For future shows at Freeborn Hall check out freebornhall.ucdavis.edu

Swainson's Hawk Soars

2010-04-12T02:52:12Z

Citizens advocacy group Friends of the Swainson's Hawk on Saturday hosted "Return of the Swainson's Hawk," presented by the California Raptor Center.

People at Sutter Landing Park were treated to an up-close encounter with Swainson's hawks Grasshopper and Evie. The event was held at the park because members of Friends of the River discovered a Swainson's hawk nesting site close by. After a presentation by the California Raptor Center, people were led on a nature walk along the American River during which relevant nature sites were pointed out and discussed.

Swainson's hawks are "listed as threatened by the state," said Judith Lamare, president of Friends of the Swainson's Hawk. "The Sacramento Valley is considered one of the most raptor-rich environments in the world, so we have a lot to look after." About 2,000 Swainson's hawks nest and reproduce in California. They migrate to Mexico for the winter and recently returned to Sacramento, Yolo and San Joaquin counties.

Saturday's event was meant to create an awareness of the raptor's presence and threats it faces. Lamare explained, "Urban sprawl is our No. 1 problem. Swainson's hawks have recently been tracked going up to 18 miles for food." The area in which raptors hunt, known as their prey base, is only one mile from the nest.

More information on the Swainson's hawk and how you can help the raptor is at swainsonshawk.org.

The California Raptor Center, which is part of the University of California at Davis, brought the Swainson's hawks to the event. The center rescues injured raptors. Evie is 23 and is unable to fly because of a broken wing, Grasshopper is blind. Staffers explained that certain injuries result in euthanasia, so the sight of the majestic birds only a foot away seemed a special treat.

The California Raptor Center is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to noon. The center is hosting an open house May 1, starting at 8 a.m. For more information, go here.

Alex Huie on "Pi Exhibit Saturday"

2010-04-10T03:37:13Z

Here is the artist's link: www.sifting.org/doodlelab/pi_at_Axis_Gallery.html

Pi Exhibit Saturday

2010-04-10T03:35:13Z

Axis Gallery, at P and 19th streets, will host a Pi exhibit Saturday.

Husband and wife duo Jiayi Young and Shih-Wen Young have combined math and art, using the power of Pi to educate and stimulate art lovers. Numbers are represented by lines, shapes, and colors, giving the audience an alternative perspective of the mathematical constant.

Shih-Wen Young, an artist and physics professor at American River College, said, "I try to teach the simplicity of randomness."

"Pi is hidden everywhere," Shih-Wen said. "When I go through Pi, I am taken back: My birthday, my mom's birthday, the day she got in her car accident." The Pi exhibit is an homage to the symbol that is about much more than just numbers to the artists.

The exhibit features an ice sculpture with a four-and-a-half pound ring-shaped weight balanced on top. It is called "Circling the Square" and changes for every show. The ring melts down the cubic-foot sculpture over two days, leaving a cylinder behind. "Gravity itself has Pi," Shih-Wen explained. This sculpture is a new take on an old concept of squaring the circle in attempt to discover Pi in nature.

A preview of the two-day event was held Thursday, at which the husband and wife explained, in scientific and artistic detail, each piece. Hearing the significance of the 11 paintings added depth to the experience.

"Science is art," Shih-Wen said. The Pi exhibit truly harnesses that concept.

The show is from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, at Axis Gallery, 1517 19th St. For more information, visit here. Information on the gallery can be found at axisgallery.org.

Second Saturday Whiskey Tasting

2010-04-09T07:35:36Z

Looking for something different to do on Second Saturday? Cafe Americain is offering a solution that will not only please the taste buds, but educate them as well.

There will be a single malt scotch whiskey tasting and seminar at the restaurant from 5-9 p.m. Saturday.

Mike Wahba and his wife Natalya, owners of Cafe Americain, are hosting the tasting seminar, which has been on hiatus for a couple years now. This will be the inaugural event for the the couple, with hopes of successfully revitalizing it to become an annual occurrence.

Although the Cafe Americain is only a few months old, it has already begun to pique the interest of locals with its unique style offerings. The restaurant is a champagne and caviar house, but also offers a strong raw foods selection prepared by in-house expert Heather.

I was a bit skeptical at first, but Wahba asked Heather to bring me a plate of their raw foods lasagna, paired with spaghetti squash, and quickly made another believer. Wahba explained he is very proud to own "Sacramento's first restaurant to have caviar and raw food as regular dishes."

At the whiskey tasting, Cafe Americain will feature some classic dishes originally made for the Russian Imperial Court incorporating caviar. Traditional whiskey food parings will also be featured, such as imported cheese and chocolate, which are meant to complement and bring out hidden flavors of the single malt scotch.

Wahba has paired up with longtime friend and owner of gourmet grocery store Corti Brothers, Darrell Corti. Corti helped with the whiskey selection and will be responsible for personal orders through JVS Imports after the demonstration.

Wahba, who's knowledge is significantly stronger with champagne than whiskey, said he thinks "the event will be really interesting" and is excited about the idea of bringing new faces together. He also guaranteed that "this is single malt at its best."

Cafe Americain will have a guest lecturer, Signatory National Brand Ambassador Ed Kohl, who will lead the seminar. Kohl, who represents the largest independent bottler in Scotland, will guide the audience through the distilling and aging process as he tastes each whiskey along with the crowd.

The event will take place in the exquisite Mediterranean-style patio in back of Old Sacramento's Edwardian Mansion, 1023 Front st. Ticket prices are $55 per person and include appetizers. To purchase tickets, call (916) 498-9098 or visit cafeamericain.info.

Anyone attending the event looking for something to do afterward can head downstairs, where The Necropolis and Cafe Americain will be hosting the Capital's First Bohemian Ball. The event will feature a burlesque show, fire dancers, live music and a fashion show. Visit bohoball.com for more details.

Kevin Best at Bows and Arrows

2010-04-09T07:03:59Z

Saturday, the vintage boutique Bows and Arrows is hosting returning Sacramento native artist Kevin Best. Known for his comic book-influenced pop-art and unorthodox choice of canvas, Best will be showcasing and selling some of his artwork and clothing.

Best currently lives in Los Angeles and commands a style that capitalizes on the current high-speed world. Inspired by tabloid media and harnessing the power of the Internet, he has attempted to upload himself in the public eye, "taking the last six months very seriously to expose my art," Best explained.

Celebrity gossiper Perez Hilton and "Californication" creator Tom Kapinos are two art owners who have caught on to Best's work. He connected with the celebrities through e-mail and Twitter.

Best has contracted other work, creating an 8-foot by 12-foot mural to spruce up the Hermosa Beach office of Circus Boardwear, as well as designing the cover for Flatmancrooked's collection of short stories, "Not About Vampires: An Anthology of New Fiction Concerning Everything Else."

Best got in touch with Bows and Arrows though Bob Macauley, Sacramentan and co-founder of Best Apparel. Macauley consulted the vintage boutique for advice on launching the clothing line, and estimates an "earning of $1,500 since its inception two months ago." Support mostly came from friends, however Saturday night's event will display the full line of men's and women's T-shirts in an attempt to broaden their market.

Best will present two separate collections of work, Celebz and Thrift Store Remix. Celebz is part of his "Versus" series, featuring a mash-up of pop icons set to an electric acid-washed monochromatic backdrop. Thrift Store Remix is a collection of forgotten paintings the artist discovered in various thrift stores and modernized with a pop-art flair.

Best admitted the TSR collection has turned into an interesting hobby, and he is developing a keen eye for bad taste.

"It's like I've become a connoisseur for awful paintings," Best said. "I'm looking for something people don't want to buy."

Examples of the TSR collection included prehistoric raptors hijacking an old covered wagon, a UFO invasion of a Spanish countryside, and the Technodrome, which some might remember from "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," sitting atop Half Dome in a Yosemite landscape.

When asked if he had a favorite, Best replied, "The Matador Vs. Zombie Bull was the first painting in the collection and still the favorite."

The event will be held from 6-9p.m., at Bows and Arrows, 1712 L. St. Best will be available to answer questions. It will also feature musical performances by Slumgum and Electropoetic Coffee (guitarist Ross Hammond and Poet NSAA, a.k.a. Lawrence Dinkins).

More information on Kevin Best and his work can be found at kevinbestart.com

Alex Huie on "Bike Swap in Fremont Park this Second Saturday"

2010-04-07T19:52:16Z

Thumbs up to you good sir! I'll get in touch with you about the BFF.

Alex Huie on "Sacramento Bike Swap Meet in Midtown"

2010-04-07T19:41:37Z

The more publicity the better.

Alex Huie on "I Like Mine With Lettuce and Tomato. . . ."

2010-04-07T16:56:05Z

Fiction916, you know what's good. Your suggestions trump the competition. For burger joints outside Sac, no trip to Reno would be complete without a stop at the Awful Awful under the Nugget. $4 gets you a large burger and a pound of fries. One could honestly split it with a friend.

Alex Huie on "Sacramento Bike Swap Meet in Midtown"

2010-04-07T04:06:28Z

$3 for the first beer, $2 for a refill at the fundraiser!

Sacramento Bike Swap Meet in Midtown

2010-04-07T03:27:37Z

Saturday, the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen and the Friends of Fremont Park are holding the inaugural Sacramento Bicycle Swap Meet in Midtown.

The swap meet, which is planned to be an annual event, will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fremont Park, located on the block bordered by P, Q, 15th and 16th street. Vendors will set up shop, trading and selling bicycles and accessories. One man's trash will become another man's treasure on Saturday morning, and some might find the diamond in the rough they have been looking for.

Vendor spaces start at $10 and are available up to the event, and all proceeds will go to the nonprofit organizations Friends of Fremont Park and the Sacramento Bike Kitchen. The Sacramento Bike Kitchen is composed of volunteers working to promote a cost-efficient alternative means of transportation. Since 2006, The Bike Kitchen has kept its tires inflated and sprockets spinning through community donations and hosting events to make contributions outside the local community.

Following the swap meet, the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen will be hosting a party for the Second Saturday Art Walk at its 1915 I St. location.

"This month, Sacramento Bike Kitchen is going to donate the proceeds from the party to our AIDS/LifeCycle team," said Ryan Sharpe, the organization's head volunteer. The team consists of 12 cyclists aiming to raise $36,000 for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. The Bicycle Kitchen's plan is to periodically host fundraising events through June, when the cycle team will depart on a 545-mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Saturday's fundraiser begins at 6 p.m., and admission will cost $10. The event will feature locally made arts and crafts donated to raise money for the cyclists.

More information on the bike swap and becoming a vendor can be found at fremontpark.net. Details pertaining to the after-party and Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen are available at sacbikekitchen.org

Full Steam Ahead

2010-04-06T03:02:23Z

All aboard! This weekend kicked off this year's first run of the Excursion Train, a 27-year-old attraction put on by the Sacramento Railroad Museum.

The ride spans six miles on the original Sacramento Southern Railroad route. Looking out from the antique passenger cars, scenic views are decorated by the serene river waters and color-splash of spring leaves. Between the guides, conveniently posted in every car, and the speaker announcements, patrons are bombarded with facts throughout the tour.

The Excursion Train ride will run every weekend for the next seven months and, for an additional price, offers a unique experience on the El Dorado, a renovated 1924 first-class observation car.

I was fortunate enough to ride on the El Dorado with Train-master Mike Collins as my guide. Collins is one of 32 volunteers needed to operate the Excursion Train each day. Volunteers keep the Sacramento Southern Railroad chugging along. They are responsible for renovating the cars, manning the locomotive and guiding the tours.

The conductor enjoys trains so much that he has driven from Stockton to Sacramento for the last 11 years to volunteer. He also does carpentry work at his own cabinet shop, and his extensive knowledge proved vital during the restoration of the El Dorado, transforming the original peat-moss-colored interior panels to a classic cherry-stained finish.

It seemed like every staff member had a story to tell, whether it be attending a two-classroom, 30-person schoolhouse as a child or powering the Excursion Train's oil-burning locomotive using 20 gallons of French fry oil, which released an aroma that inevitably caused hunger pains throughout the day. The best advice to any tour patron is ask questions, because an interesting story is more than likely waiting to be told. The volunteers' devotion to the railroad has managed to preserve the train's old-time soul.

In the El Dorado, Collins explained the history of the train and future of the surrounding area. When the train reached the end of the line, I was invited out onto the canopied platform, a spot notorious for an old-fashioned political soapbox. Observation car platforms have been used in campaigns for Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ronald Regan, who apparently was an avid train enthusiast. The El Dorado screams elegance, giving patrons an honest glimpse of luxury during the '20s and '30s - a glitzy outcast born into the Great Depression.

Currently, the ride is three miles one way and three miles back. The track continues 14 miles past Miller Park, the current turnaround point on the tour, but sections of the track are divided by ownership. Regional Transit owns the four-miles strip from Land Park to Florin Road. Having two titles hinders the possibility of expanding the tour, something the museum is attempting to work out.

Collins spoke of a possible "two-and-a-half-hour tour and an added stop at the Sacramento Zoo" in the future, but the museum must first posses the entire track. Collins also explained future plans of implementing a trolley system to connect West Sacramento and extending the current promenade from Old Town to Miller Park.

The Excursion Train lasts 40 minutes and departs every hour from 11 am to 5 pm on the weekends. Kids ride free, youths ages 6-17 ride for $3 and adult tickets cost $8. El Dorado tickets cost $15, which includes a soda and cookie. More information can be found at csrmf.org

Sacramento Marches for Cesar Chavez

2010-03-30T07:43:32Z

Saturday morning, Cesar Chavez Park came alive with 1,500 marchers participating in the 10th Annual Cesar Chavez March.

Cesar Chavez Park marked the finishing point for the marchers, who initially began at Arteaga's Supermarket in West Sacramento. Al Rojas, first vice president of the California State Employees Association and executive board member for the Sacramento Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, said he believes the march had "a lot more enthusiasm, spiritually, compared to last year." The march has local significance dating back to 1965, when Chavez led grape pickers on a 340-mile march from Delano, Calif. to Sacramento.

Jobs, education and immigration reform were some of the issues addressed throughout the day. Moreover, Rojas explained the march expanded to Yolo County this year in response to a perceived increase in recent oppression and racial profiling by judicial law enforcement in the county.

The festival in the park that followed the march was a much lighter side of the event as a whole. It featured traditional Mexican cuisine, classic cars and live musical entertainment, covering crowd favorites such as Santana.

Informational booths, like the Latino Democratic Club's, were set up to discuss current politics affecting the Latino community and ways to get involved. Other booths contained information on subjects like drug awareness and deportation.

The park's perimeter sidewalk was lined bumper-to-bumper with classic cars, creating a wall of positive vibes. Many of the cars had extra bells and whistles, like hydraulics, which allowed the cars to be positioned on three wheels. Members of the Sacramento Lowriders Club were present to answer any question about the cars showcased.

Cesar Chavez Park showed tremendous life on Saturday commemorating the departed Latino civil rights leader. For more information on the 10th Annual Cesar Chavez March and upcoming events, visit www.lclaasacramento.com

Sacramento Tweed Picnic Ride

2010-03-24T18:38:48Z

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Sunday marks the Sacramento Tweed Picnic Ride, an event where bicyclists dress up as old-fashioned dames and gents.

'Tweed' can conjure up the classic image of a newspaper boy yelling the morning headlines, which is exactly why the sight of more than 100 passing bicyclists, cloaked in tweed, would cause a double-take. The bike ride will start at 8:30 a.m. at The Zebra Club for breakfast and finish at 4:30 p.m. at Hot Italian for dinner.

After breakfast, riders will cruise to The Sacramento Bike Kitchen where coffee will be provided by Temple Coffee. Riders will then trek over to the Capitol, capture a group photo and make their way to Land Park for a picnic.

Organizer Rick Houston, who said he thinks of "West Sacramento as our own Brooklyn," made an effort to incorporate the district in the Tweed Ride. The last stop before finishing at Hot Italian will be The Shady Lady, which is spiking up a punchbowl for participants.

The Tweed Run was established in 2009 in London, and since then, chapters have popped up in cities around the United States. Sacramento was the fourth city in the country to develop a Tweed Run, following San Francisco, Boston and Chicago. The first Sacramento Tweed Ride was Nov. 8 so the chapter is still young.

Rick Houston, wife Erin Astleford Houston, friends Brad Gleed and Rick Mahan, owner of restaurants OneSpeed and The Waterboy, joined forces and witnessed their event grow from 35 friends to 100. The unexpected number of bicyclists once again finished at Hot Italian and "totally destroyed the restaurant for the day," Houston said. Chapters have also been established in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Dallas, Portland, and Washington, D.C. Saturday, the day before Sacramento's Tweed Ride, Berkeley will be hosting its first attempt at tweed. Rick Houston even spoke with Mayor Kevin Johnson, who said he was interested in participating in the next event.

Raffle tickets will be sold at the Tweed Ride to benefit California Bicycle Coalition. Two ticket holders will have a chance to win a bicycle donated by the Bicycle Business. Visit www.calbike.org for more info on the CBC. Also, Prizes will be awarded for dapperest chap, snappiest lass, and best mustache (real or prosthetic).

The Houston's said they believe in the Slow Bicycle Movement, which Rick Houston explains is "to go slowly, but purposefully."

Apart from bicycles, the Houstons' lives honor the same motto. Both Rick and Erin don't own cars, live in Midtown, sleep in a Murphy bed, and use a bike and public transportation to get to work, which is impressive considering Erin works at the University of California, Davis. Rick Huston is organizing this event to promote sustainable transportation because he said he believes "Sacramento has the potential to become a first-class bicycle city."

Visit http://sactotweed.blogspot.com for more information about this and upcoming events.

Interested in attending, but don't have tweed to wear? Erin Astleford Houston tailored a thrift store find for husband Rick Houston's tweed, costing only $4. Rick recommends thrift stores for last minute shoppers, SacCityChic for tips on "how to look good while riding a bicycle," and B. Spoke Tailor for more classy fitted garments. Links are provided at Sacramento Tweed's Blogspot.

Photos: Sacramento Tweed

Casino's Expansion Fits Into Community

2010-03-23T17:13:00Z

A keyword search of "Thunder Valley" brings up a lot of press about the casino's new hotel expansion and the accompanying 600 new jobs. Even the San Francisco Examiner reported on the mass hire. sfexaminer.com/entertainment/Thunder-Valley-is-hiring-to-staff-expansion--87388637.html

Six hundred new jobs are a ray of light during these rough economic times, and people would be willing to commute or relocate to find employment. Thirty-six hours after the job-hire press release, 640 applications had already been fully completed, and the average 2,300 website hits per day skyrocketed to a quarter million hits per week. So, with so much collective interest, what's the casino's course of action when it comes to hiring?

Thunder Valley Casino spokesman Doug Elmets said, "their goal is to keep it local and hire the best person for the job." Elmets said he understands that the overwhelming number of applicants has been brought on by the "current economy and the desire for good benefits". Dental, vision, health and paid time off are offered with full time positions. His intentions are to help the situation, starting with his closest neighbors, Placer and Sacramento County.

Thunder Valley's grand opening will be July 1, however the bulk of the 600 open positions are expected to be filled by May. This will provide ample time to properly train the newly hired staff. Two hundred of the new jobs will be dedicated to the new, 12-story, 297-room hotel and spa. Sought professions include, but are not limited to, concierges, estheticians and life guards, who will be responsible for watching over the new 35,000-square-foot pool.

The actual casino side will also be receiving a makeover, requiring 400 new employees to assist with casino operations. Bartenders, surveillance specialists, dealers, slot technicians and others are encouraged to apply.

Thunder Valley Casino has worked very hard to have a positive working relationship with local government and the community since first opening, and want to keep that trend alive by hiring locally. Moreover, the casino recently purchased a new fire engine for the city and a helicopter for the sheriff's station.

Interested applicants can apply thundervalleyresort.com/employment.aspx, visit thundervalleyresort.com to see the schedule of upcoming events.

When asked what people could expect at the grand opening, Elmets announced plans to construct an outdoor amphitheater with scheduled entertainment.

Stock Photos: Thunder Valley Casino

Crocker for Kids in Local Libraries

2010-03-17T04:45:10Z

The Crocker Art Museum is hosting a new children's program combining books and art projects at local libraries.

The series of free events will kick off at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Colonial Heights Library on Stockton Blvd. The idea of a series event stemmed from Wee Wednesdays, a free event inside the museum for kids ages 3-5. Emma Moore, manager of Experiential Learning for The Crocker Art Museum, has teamed up with local librarians to create "Stories and Art." Each library features a different storybook that will be read aloud by a librarian and serves as the inspiration for a different on-site, hands-on art project for the children that will follow each story. Moore said she believes "books are an art form too" and wants to introduce that concept to children early.

The Colonial Heights Library event will feature the books "Mouse Paint," by Ellen Stoll and "Hello, Red Fox," by Eric Carle. Author and Illustrator Carle is best known for his children's books, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" His style utilizes watercolors and paper mache techniques. Thursday's event will use similar techniques as a foundation. On April 14, Courtland Library on Primasing Ave. will host a Spanish and English bilingual event with a cartoonist in charge of the hands-on art portion. The program will expand to North Highlands in May and finish at the Elk Grove Library on Elk Grove Blvd. The final Elk Grove series will include a performing arts display with a choreographed puppet show.

The exhibits are meant for ages 3-5, but that is just a suggestion. Discretion is up to the parents. The Crocker Art Museum does have specialized events geared towards toddlers which focus on more physical activities. Moore said she expects coverage of color theory; the understanding that "red, blue and yellow cannot be made they just are." This might be too simple of a concept for an older child, who might lose interest.

Wee Wednesdays are free for children, but not for adults. The Crocker's "Stories and Art" is free for all. The difference is that actual art from the museum's collection will not be put on display. However, vouchers for free admission to The Crocker Art Museum will be granted to patrons of the "Stories and Art" events.

Check out www.crockerartmuseum.org/about/releases/2010/012610_stories_and_art.htm for locations and details.

DeVere's is Balding

2010-03-17T02:22:07Z

De Vere's Irish Pub held its inaugural St. Baldrick's event Monday, raising more than $81,000 for cancer research, $10,000 of which came from De Vere's.

The pub's roped-off sidewalk was packed with spectators trying to get a glimpse of local participants shaving their locks to conquer kids' cancer. De Vere's had 221 shavees lined up for their turn to get snipped.

Publicly displayed on the patio, shavees winced when they felt the cold steel clippers reach deep down to the scalp. The participants' reactions caused perpetual laughter, since there was a four-barber-rotation, and each head took only a minute to shave.

The crowd stirred when Shawn Eldredge, a City Council candidate for District 3, stepped up and removed his two-foot-long surfer-style hair. After the shocking transformation, many audience members turned to each other and commented, "I think he looks pretty good."

Other well-known Sacramentans included Chief Executive Steve Hammond of the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau, restaurant owner Patrick Mulvaney and The Sacramento Press' own Sonny Mayugba. The shavees all seemed to have a sense of humor, and possibly a couple pints, to manage the onlooking crowd and media.

The St. Baldrick's Foundation has 621 events scheduled this year. Robyn Raphael, CEO and founder of the Keaton Raphael Memorial, was responsible for the events downtown and in the Roseville Galleria Mall, which produced almost 400 Shavees in only four hours and raised $96,000.

In memory of her son, Robyn Raphael created the Keaton Raphael Memorial and has so far raised more than $1 million to finding a cure for cancer. Raphael first met the three founders of the St. Balrdrick's Foundation in Washington, D.C., where they were being honored for their accomplishments. After the event, she spoke with the St. Baldrick's founders and discovered that the foundation was born out of a bet during a round of golf. In 2000, three Irish insurance executives wagered they could raise $17,000 for charity by the 17th of March, or else they would shave their heads.

More than $100,000 was raised, but the three shaved their heads anyways and started the St. Baldrick's Foundation that has thus far raised more than $74 million. Raphael was challenged to raise $30,000 or shave her head. A contract was even created on a nearby cocktail napkin, which Raphael signed and still has today.

2010 marked Raphael's first year hosting the St. Baldrick's Event in Sacramento and the eighth year in Roseville. In 2003, she shaved her head, and for two years straight had to explain why her hair was so short -- ; what Raphael called a "kind of awareness you can't buy."

For more information on upcoming events and foundations, check out Keaton Raphael Memorial at www.childcancer.org and The St. Baldrick's Foundation at www.stbaldricks.org

Photos by Tia Gemmell

Riverview Media Photography

phototia.com

'The Migrant Project" at The Sacramento Railroad Museum

2010-03-12T06:20:07Z

Rick Nahmias’ Photography exhibit, “The Migrant Project,” is currently on display at The Sacramento Railroad Museum.

“The Migrant Project” has toured from gallery to gallery for eight years and was transformed into a book two years ago. However, The Sacramento Railroad Museum might be its most unlikely stop.

Initially, Nahmias sought out the Sacramento Capitol Museum to display the photos to the public. Due to the Capitol being booked, Nahmias and his colleagues had to think outside the box. Nahmias’ colleagues are very committed to his message and his work, which is why he trusted their proposition of the Railroad Museum.

The museum’s old produce car has been converted into “The Migrant Project” gallery, and Nahmias said that he was convinced it would work at first sight. Because of numerous labor issues associated with the railroad’s history, Nahmias said he can see a common ground for the project, but acknowledges a disconnect with museum-goers’ motives.

Nahmias is an artist with an activist edge, and his exhibit presents an agricultural dilemma, what he refers to as a doom-and-gloom scenario. Most railroad enthusiast go the museum to see the mammoth remains of a golden era relics that encapsulate the grandeur of Manifest Destiny and the American Dream. Nahmias’ exhibit brings some politics and forethought to museum, one of the stable staple of Sacramento.

“The Migrant Project” traces Nahmias’ eight trips across 50 cities throughout California’s agricultural heartland spanning a full year. Initially, the project was self-funded, but received outside funding from advocacy groups when he presented his midway progress. Food is Nahmias’ issue, and he said he feels viscerally connected. His agenda is to give people the sight to see the human struggle behind food: to draw a line between the harvesting of a crop and its last stop on a dinner plate.

One of Nahmias’ most-recognized photos at the exhibit is “Tomato Tokens,” a photo of a farm laborer’s callused hands exposing the uncommon currency. One "tomato token" is given to a worker every time he or she presents two 25-pound pails of tomatoes. On the day of the taken photo, tokens were worth 95 cents. Nahmias recalled a moment on one of his last trips across the state when he discoved a migrant farmer hunched over on a beat-up truck tailgate clenching his tomato tokens and vigorously eating a taco before get back to work. Nahmias’ goal is to foster some compassion and educate viewers on the engine that drives California. “The Migrant Project” is in recognition of the 1.1 million California farm laborers.

Nahmias said his overall theme with his bodies of work is “bridging us with them.” Currently, he’s working on his new project, “The Golden States of Grace: Prayers of the Disinherited,” which covers how people find their faith through unorthodox examples from religious groups, such as Zen Buddhists in prison. The collective work of more than 100 photos and personal essays will be presented is his new book, which is due out in September.

“The Migrant Project” is currently on display at The Sacramento Railroad Museum. General admission tickets are $9, and kids' are $4. Admission is free on March 27 in honor of Caesar Chavez and will include a book signing event by Rick Nahmias and forum by the Fair Food Project Organization.

"Decade Under the Dome" Exhibit

2010-03-07T07:48:09Z

Photojournalist Robert Durell's exhibition "Decade Under the Dome," is at the Capitol through March 12. Fifty-eight photos, shot during Durell's long career at The Los Angeles Times, are on display.

Durell's work included coverage of the riot incited by Los Angeles police beating Rodney King and the 1994 U.S. invasion of Haiti, which won three group Pulitzers. In 1998, the Times switched to digital cameras. This meant photos could be sent over the Internet and photographers could be based anywhere. Durell relocated to Davis, taking over The LA Times' Northern California region, and began taking photographs in and around the Capitol. Durell said he believes the Capitol is a human-built Yosemite for photojournalists: Yosemite attracts nature photographers, but the Capitol is a special place for capturing human traffic.

Durell contacted the Capitol about the "Decade Under the Dome" a month back and was given the green light along with complete control over the choice of photos. However, Durell said, with total freedom comes great responsibility. Given the size of the gallery, he had to consolidate about 1,200 photos down to 50.

Durell explained that each photo had only a 24-hour lifespan because of the news cycle. He said he has used this exhibit to reawaken the photos from what he called a crypt. "They needed to live again." Considered a people photographer, Durell is most passionate about capturing images involving politics. "Decade Under the Dome" reveals the humanistic side of the political realm. Viewers see candid shots of governmental figures, bizarre protests and everything in between.

In one of Durell's favorite photos, politicians were caught smoking cigars and drinking scotch in the Capitol lobby while a filibuster extended their debate well into the night; a lockdown was ordered until a budget passed. Here, Durell seems to point out that sometimes more fruitful discussions can be done over cigars and scotch. Capitol tour guides have enjoyed the photos so much that they have added a stop on their regular tour.

Photos from "Decade Under the Dome" can be viewed for free in the Capitol's Eureka Room or online at www.robertdurellphoto.com.

Dad's Kitchen Under New Management

2010-03-05T04:12:31Z

Dad's Kitchen on Freeport Blvd. has experienced a few transitions over the last couple of years. Now, at the hands of new co-owners Christine Collins and Julio Peix, the restaurant is preparing for its greatest modification yet.

Plans are to unveil the establishment under it new management April 1. Collins, owner of Deep Art and Yoga at the corner of 21 and H for the last five years, has a new vision for the eatery where she has been a longtime patron. Being a regular of the breakfast crowd, Collins said she appreciates the existing menu. However, she would like to infuse her holistic lifestyle by changing the quality of the ingredients. Collins and Peix will work with local farmers and focus on products that conform to sustainable agriculture practices. Dad's will also offer "hippy alternatives" to everyday favorites, complementing vegan and vegetarian diets, Collins said.

While Collins is using her business knowledge to manage the new staff and a modern twist on the menu, Peix is taking the restaurant one step further by modifying the ambiance and drink selection. Peix, former nationwide senior sales representative for Anchor Brewing Company for 10 years, is passionately implementing a sophisticated microbrew selection that will frequently change. The co-owners began dating after being introduced through friends at Rubicon Brewery, and the extensive beer selection seems like a fitting homage.

Patrons will be able enjoy beer introductions on the newly renovated outdoor patio. Collins and Peix are focusing heavily on the patio with the goal of providing depth to the place and an atmosphere that will encourage locals to converse. Friends with a variety of food experience will take over as the cooking staff and Collins' yoga friends will act as the servers. Peix supports Collins "love for community building," and the two are making this contribution together.

Both have very different backgrounds and seem to complete each other. Collins attributes the joint venture "flowing so beautifully" to their harmonious companionship. At the beginning of next month, we can all be the judge of their success.

Dad's Kitchen is located 2968 Freeport Blvd.

Sunday Fling Ping Pong Tournament at Hilltop Tavern

2010-03-02T21:18:30Z

Sunday night, the Hilltop Tavern in East Sacramento held a Fling Ping Pong Tournament. This was the first attempt for the bar at hosting a ping pong tournament, though plans for a second are already underway.

Sixteen Sacramento locals competed in the event, which took place on the final day of Beer Week. The tournament was sponsored by Pyramid Brewery, hence the name Fling, which is the company's newest seasonal Pale Ale.

Challengers first competed in a traditional 21-point game of ping pong, followed by a side game of Pyramid Fling Pong. Fling Pong is played on a miniature collapsible ping pong table, small enough to stow away in a school bag, and with paddles the size of large sand-dollars.

A total of four Fling Pong tables were set up, and winners received two lift tickets to Sugar Bowl. The whole thing looked like something one might find in a frat house for drinking game purposes.

A $5 entry fee included tournament play, chili dogs, Pyramid t-shirts, the chance to win first and second place prizes in both Fling and ping pong, Beer Week priced drinks, and a whole day of fun. East Sac local Christina Riker said outside the bar, "The weather's perfect and I'm having so much fun. Today is a great day."

About 50 people came out for the event and all really seemed to enjoy the spectacle of watching challengers taking ping pong seriously - a game most people would channel-surf right by in the early hours before bed.

The crowd encircled the main event table cheering for a good match throughout the tournament, but the biggest excitement happened during mid-game when USA tied Canada in Olympic hockey with 24 seconds left in regulation. In that moment, ping pong became obsolete. People were hugging and screaming, never turning their fixed gaze away from the TV.

After people regained their composure and a couple of beer spills were cleaned up around the table, it was back to ping pong.

The final match was battled out between Robbie LaCasse, bassist for the band The New Humans, and John Cavanaugh, favorite in the tournament and a really nice guy. Cavanaugh took home the gold and upon receiving the trophy exclaimed, "This is for the old guys." Don't feel bad for LaCasse, he finished second place in ping pong and first in Fling pong.

The Hilltop Tavern is planning another ping pong tournament, along with other games and food for St. Patrick's Day. If the weather permits, "the event will be outdoors and profits will help breast cancer research," said manager Adam Reinertson. For future events, check out the Hilltop Tavern's website hilltoptavern.net

Be Brave Bold Robot, CD Show

2010-03-02T02:14:38Z

Saturday, local band Be Brave Bold Robot hosted a CD release party at the Fox and Goose. The band released its second full-length album, "Take A Deep Breath."

With Beer Week coming to a close, it seemed like everyone in Sacramento went out over the weekend in search of frosty pints, and the Fox and Goose was no exception. The bar's side venue, with its narrow entrance hall, featured patrons packed snugly near the stage, over-stuffed booths, and standing on chairs. The band's friends, family and co-workers all attended the party. About 200 people ended up attending the show.

I was able to meet up with some of front man Dean Haakenson's co-workers for the state, who only had flattering words for both Haakenson's band and his work ethic.

One co-worker/friend, Kyle Larson, even did the cover art for the honorary CD of the night. After describing his affinity for the band's music, Larson explained how "excited and honored" he was to create the cover. (Kyle Larson)

BBBR played a bunch of songs off its new CD, which the audience warmly embraced. When older songs were performed it was very impressive to witness the large amount of lip-singing mouths and satisfied smiles of familiarity. Such a strong display of loyalty for a local band is rare and I predict BBBR's new songs will be on a fast-track to finding a home amongst fans.

In addition to the usual live band, BBBR also added welcomed Jake Gleason (horns), Jhon Bellizia (banjo), and Humboldt native John Ludington (guest vocals), who was introduced to Haakenson through Sacramento singer-songwriter Justin Farren. Ludington took lead vocals on the night's second to last song and the crowd went nuts.

Haakenson took a step back to focus on the guitar, while Ludington covered his song. Sweat was flying, axes were shredding, Catie Turner's viola bow was doing whatever viola bows do, and Carly DuHain was doing her Janis Joplin thing.

Collectively they sounded great, jamming in the style of Blind Mellon, and the crowd roared concluding the performance. The addition of the banjo added a Eastern European flavor, comparable to the band Devotchka (Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack). The very last song of the night was a calm duet between co-vocalists Duhain and Haakenson. The song grounded the audience, after having just sent them on a frenzied trip.

It's mood seemed more fitting for the front row, who had been sitting cross-legged for the entire performance, than the chair-standing fans. However, it was a comforting end to an exciting night. Duhain and Haakenson have great chemistry together, and even talk about continuing a side project in the near future.

For future show go to BBBR's official Myspace www.myspace.com/bebraveboldrobot

Alex Huie on "Scary Kids Scaring Kids Bids Farewell To It's Sacramento Fans"

2010-02-26T18:56:25Z

Great Job! Scary Kids is a exciting band and we'll miss 'em.

Be Brave Bold Robot, CD Release Show Saturday

2010-02-26T03:04:52Z

Be Brave Bold Robot is hosting the release of their second full length album Saturday at the Fox and Goose.

Established for six years now, the band is stronger than ever. Started in the shadows of The 24K Cafe, now The Golden Bear bar, Dean Haakenson (front man) and Jeremy Pagan (guitarist) joined their musical forces to play under the name Double Helix Collective.

Since their underground start, the band has grown in maturity, popularity, and contributors. BBBR's internal relationship is what sets them apart from your average band. Although the face of the band has been subject to some changes, there is still a maintained friendship between them.

Most breakoffs from BBBR have been prompted by the simple lack of time and the obligations of day-jobs. Haakenson, who's cluttered the same cubical for six years now, understands that the band "isn't my job, it's a hobby," though he wishes it were. The band's 9-5 ranges from computer geek to community planner, and BBBR is their way of unbuttoning the collar and throwing down the tie.

Drummer Tony Ledesma believes that Haakenson is "the bread of the sandwich, holding the pieces together." This is not only true of their camaraderie, but also with their genre-bending music. Haakenson believes BBBR's collective musical influence institutes "no boundaries" to hinder their creativity. Although hard to narrow down what their sound is, BBBR manages to focus a complex collaboration of an eclectic band throughout production; the audience is left with a complete sandwich instead of an abstract salad.

If a sound comparison must be made, BBBR's vocal styling are similar to Adam Duritz (Counting Crows) with hip-hop-esque lyrics. Through and through, BBBR has a folk-rock foundation that can get funky on a whim in the style of bands like Beck or Wilco. Haakenson fell in love with underground San Francisco hip-hop during his rebellious high school years and, to this day, would still "like to be a rapper."

For Saturday's performance, BBBR is rounding up all members that played on the album to give the audience an experience "closest to the original recording," Haakenson said. Expect to see Dean Haakenson, Matty Gerken (Bass), Tony Ledesma (Percussion), Catie Turner (Viola), Carly DuHain (back-up vocals), Jeremy Pagan (guitar), Jake Gleason (horns), and Jhon Bellizia (banjo) who will be performing before BBBR as Sir Jhon. Calling on the full staff will require some of BBBR's previously members to saddle up one more time. Also, tonight at The Naked Lounge BBBR will be performing their set-list from the new CD, 'Take A Deep Breath.'

Fox and Goose is located at 1001 R Street. The show starts at 9 p.m. ($5 cover)

"Introduction to Journalism" at Sacramento Press

2010-02-18T07:01:46Z

The Sacramento Press presented its "Introduction to Journalism" workshop Wednesday evening hosted by Sacramento Press' copy editor Brandon Darnell.

The 28 attendees came for advice on a wide spectrum of journalistic problems. Some wanted to alleviate their sarcastic and biased writing voice, others came to discover proper format.

Chelsey Miller, who said she wants to cover articles focusing on culture (music and fashion), came because she felt it was an opportunity to help "people to see me as a professional."

Ira Cohen, who is more interested in covering business and technology, said he always had a hankering for journalism but considered it in his "I'll get around to it pile." His objective was to use the workshop as a way of sharpening his tool set and increase his confidence to get the show on the road.

"The biggest thing in journalism are the facts," Darnell said. "News has to be useful, or at least interesting."

He stressed that if the effort is put into an article, through research, focused interviews, and supportive facts, the result will be a strong article.

Darnell, who wrote for The Lincoln Messenger and The Sacramento State Hornet, presented rules and guidelines to the audience that have proven successful in his years of experience.

Now that the workshop is over, the only one thing left to do is go out there and write. But have thick skin, because there are a lot of critics.

Temple Coffee " The Art of Home Brewing"

2010-02-16T05:41:30Z

How well do you know your coffee? From the grinder to the filter (bleached or brown), from the water to the method of brewing (Mr. Coffee or French press), Temple Coffee and master barista Ben Lance have the answer.

Thursday, Temple Coffee informed the java-loving public with its "The Art of Brewing" event at the newest 2829 S St. location. The event started off examining the flaws of the common coffeemaker notoriously associated with cramped hotel rooms and finished with what looked liked, at first glance, a chemistry set equipped with Bunsen burner and all.

The common home coffeemaker produced a light-flavored cup of coffee that the crowd felt lacked the desired viscosity. As a novice, I remained less vocal. It tasted like the tried-and-true cup I was accustomed to.

However, the class was designed for all levels of expertise.

Through careful examination, Lance showed the class how this brewing method was extremely wasteful of the grounds. Moreover, the hotplate and brewing temperature caused the coffee to be too hot. Temperatures hotter than 145 degrees Fahrenheit cause tastes to be indiscernible, flavors to be masked and tongues to be burned.

The class ran the gamut of different brewing methods and finished with a visually stimulating Japanese method. The class watched transfixed as the Bunsen burner's flames licked the belly of a beaker and magically levitated all the contained liquid upward. Lance looked like a warlock making a potion, and the class loved it.

"The Art of Brewing" was a trial run at the new location and is one of many events to come. The new location is equipped with an in-house roasting machine, which will likely be covered in upcoming classes.

Powered by a knowledgeable staff, great inside and outside ambiance, and a killer music playlist, Temple Coffee, owner Sean Kohmescher, and manager Ben Lance are pleased about the dozen coffee lovers at its inaugural brewing class. Temple Coffee's next event is March 13 and will discuss coffee tasting and profiling.