Newest articles on The Sacramento Press written by Nha Nguyen

A guide to Shoki Ramen House for the diet-restricted

2011-07-04T23:24:19Z

Dining out as a vegetarian or vegan can be difficult. For those with dietary restrictions, modifying menu items or asking for substitutions becomes a normal part of ordering at restaurants.

Many restaurants have menus that accommodate those with food allergies or whose diets are restricted, but the best way to be sure you are not eating foods you are allergic to or you choose not to is to ask.

Shoki Ramen House is a popular destination for vegetarians, vegans and meat eaters alike.

The Sacramento Press recently spoke with a vegan who frequents Shoki Ramen House regularly. His experience prompted The Sacramento Press to do some research and create a guide to Shoki Ramen House for vegans and vegetarians.

The customer said he had been going to the original Shoki on 24th Street for quite some time and that he had learned the right way to order a vegan-friendly meal.

When the new location opened on R Street, he started going there, and after about 10 visits of ordering the same thing he was informed that the bamboo shoots were cooked in meat broth.

He said after that he stopped ordering the bamboo shoots until he was later told that the establishment was no longer soaking the bamboo shoots in the meat broth. On another visit, he was told the bamboo shoots were being soaked in seafood broth.

“I was frustrated about the whole thing, but I love their ramen so much,” he said. “I just wish they would define the dishes more clearly, at least with the term vegan. Honestly, it would be better for the company to just adopt the standard vernacular of the clients.”

When this story was recounted to Kathy Ueyama, part-owner of the business and wife of Chef Yasushi Ueyama, she said, “The company works really hard to be as proactive as it can when it comes to preparing food for those with dietary restrictions.

“All of the employees, from busser to server, are required to take a 55-question exam about the company and its menu to ensure that all customers are well-informed when choosing their ramen,” she said. “They have to get a 100 percent to pass and are motivated with a raise upon passing.”

Kathy Ueyama said that when she and her husband first began the company, it was to be all about the ramen and the original triple soup broth (meat, seafood and vegetable). When Yasushi Ueyama saw customers come in who couldn’t eat any of the ramen because they couldn’t eat meat, specifically a friend who couldn’t eat pork for religious reasons, she said he felt bad and created a vegetarian broth.

That vegetarian broth is actually made of a combination of vegetable and seafood broth. Kathy Ueyama said that as more people started to order the vegetarian ramen, there started being issues that it was not truly vegetarian because of the seafood broth in it.

As a result, Yasushi Ueyama once more worked to create a vegan broth. The concept of veganism was new to Yasushi Ueyama since Japanese culture did not really make that sort of differentiation, Kathy Ueyama said.

Kathy Ueyama explained that when Yasushi Ueyama was creating the vegan ramen, he had customers taste and provide their opinions.

“Yasushi is very health-conscious, but he’s also very flavor-conscious,” Kathy Ueyama said.

They love the business and all of our customers, Kathy Ueyama said, adding that it is very difficult to accommodate everyone, as each person has their own preferences.

“One vegetarian customer may be OK with a little bit of seafood broth, and a so-called vegan customer has been seen eating tomago (sweet fried egg),” she said.

Here are a few tips for ordering at Shoki Ramen House:

1. All the servers are required to ask customers if they have any dietary restrictions, but if they don’t, always tell your server, who can then guide you when ordering ramen.

2. The vegan ramen only comes in one size and flavor, the tan tan men, or spicy ramen. Kathy Ueyama explained that this is due to the delicacy of the flavoring. The flavor can be adjusted by adjusting the spiciness of the dish.

3. While the broth and ramen in the vegan dish are vegan-friendly, not all the toppings are. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you should steer clear of the bamboo shoots (menma), shiitake mushrooms and tomago.

4. When ordering steamed cabbage, make sure it is vegan-friendly by asking. The type of sauce used to season it depends on the ramen ordered.

5. When ordering the spinach (oshitashi), make sure to take off the bonito (fish) flakes or put them on the side.

6. Err on the side of caution and ask questions.

The first and the last of the tips were emphasized by Kathy Ueyama. She said the menu does change from time to time.

Shoki Ramen House also provides a gluten-free option for its customers. Kathy Ueyama said they are in the process of finding a company to provide them with gluten-free noodles, so currently the gluten-free option is actually a gluten-free broth with a side of white or brown rice. This is available in the vegetarian option, but not the vegan.

For more information, call the restaurants directly: 454-2411 (2675 24th St.) or 441-0011 (1201 R St.).

‘King of Shadows’ revealed by Big Idea Theatre

2011-07-02T05:15:22Z

Though many find comfort in the familiar, there’s also an enjoyable thrill that only a bit of change can provide. Big Idea Theatre’s “King of Shadows,” which opened Thursday, finds a great balance using a familiar plot in a modern-day setting for an interesting theatrical experience.

I parked at the front of the building which faced closed business doors and a large locked gate. I was convinced that somehow this was the wrong location. As I frantically called around for someone to give me directions, I saw just behind me a small sign designating the location as Big Idea Theatre.

As I turned into the alley and parking lot area of the business, I was pleasantly surprised by the small art-filled courtyard that greeted me before I reached the box office. And I hoped that the play I was about to see would be just as pleasant and as magical as the location felt and how it sounded on paper. I was not disappointed.

“King of Shadows” centers on Jessica (Gina Williams), who is a graduate student studying teenage runaways in hopes of discovering a way to help them. In her pursuit of their perspectives, Jessica meets Nihar (Andrew Perez).

In their interactions, Nihar reveals a whole other world, a mythical world, ruled by evil demon-like creatures known as the King of Shadows and The Green Lady, who are hunting San Francisco’s homeless population in search of him.

As Jessica and the audience are deciding how much of the story is real or fantasy, Jessica’s police officer boyfriend, Eric (Brian Harrower), is adamantly against her desires to be helpful but her younger sister, Sarah (Josephine Longo), instantly connects with the young storyteller.

While the play takes place in modern-day San Francisco, the urban thriller incorporates enough talk of demons, supernatural fog, other realms and magical portals that you could be forgiven if you thought it was happening in the days of old with the great Merlin.

At one point, Jessica even compares Nihar’s seemingly tall tale to William Shakespeare’s famed “A Midsummers Night’s Dream” plot.

The set was both simple and detailed. Designed to fold and slide out, it was able to illustrate a number of different locations throughout the play with the scenic art-covered walls. The lighting followed suit, supporting the fantasy-versus-reality battle in the play with subtle and supportive spot lighting.

Last but not least, the four actors of the piece were all animated, making the unbelievable questionably believable and at the very least allowing the audience to trust in the sincerity of each character.

It was an intimate viewing. The small theater was filled with about 30 people Thursday night composed mostly of friends and family as well as a few regular patrons, all there supporting the company on opening night. The audience was very receptive and made for an even more enjoyable show.

Though the audience does not get to see much of the grand stories described by Nihar played out on stage, the play is well-written, and the audience remains engaged, wondering what will happen next and if it is all just one big extravagant lie.

In the end, with all these factors combined: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s words, the actors’ execution and the simple yet detailed stage decorating, envisioning it all was not difficult. One could even say it came surprisingly naturally.

For audience member Nicole Smith, there supporting her friend, Robert Perez, the whole play was “surprisingly sweet.”

So, if you’re looking for more than your average Shakespearean play, definitely check out Big Idea Theatre’s latest.

“King of Shadows” will run through July 23, starting at 8 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Ticket prices range from $13 to $15.

For more information on “King of Shadows” and Big Idea Theatre, click here.

Preview: Cash Prophets sing the Gospel of Johnny Cash at Blue Lamp

2011-06-28T20:23:48Z

“If you missed the opportunity to see Johnny Cash perform live before he passed, seeing the Cash Prophets is the next best thing,” said Cash Prophets manager and longtime friend Michael Perry.

Cash fans throughout Sacramento can soon make their own judgements, as the Cash Prophets will be returning for their fourth performance at Blue Lamp at 1400 Alhambra Blvd. Saturday

The Cash Prophets is a tribute band to famed American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. The three-piece band is made of father Bobby Dickson, lead singer and rhythm guitar, and his two sons, Nate Dickson, upright bass, and Bobby Dickson Jr., guitar.

Perry, a big fan of Johnny Cash, said he met the band members three years ago, just after their first performance at Blue Lamp. On the suggestion of a friend, he went to see them perform and said, “They gave me goosebumps.”

Bobby Dickson said he’d been playing music for a long time and was part of another band before, called Dead Billys. He went on to explain that during that time, both his sons, about 10 and 11 at the time, would always jump on the instruments and have since, become great players.

When Dead Billys broke up, Bobby Dickson said Cash Prophets formed some time after by chance.

“We’d always played together, but never on a professional level,” he said, “We would always be jamming together, and one night we decided to do an open mic night where we played some Cash songs and were really well-received. It just kind of took off from there.”

Since then, the Cash Prophets have played in a number of different venues, including one where Johnny Cash himself both performed and recorded, Folsom Prison.

Just last summer, the Cash Prophets performed live for the staff and prisoners inside the walls of both Folsom and California State Prison Sacramento.

“It was a very humbling experience,” Bobby Dickson said.

When asked about why Johnny Cash and why Cash Prophets, he responded, “Honestly, I had no idea I sounded like Johnny Cash until people started telling me so, but I think I’ve lived my life pretty close to the way he did.... When it came time to pick a name, we wanted one true to what we sounded like, and since we always described ourselves as preaching the gospel according to Johnny Cash, Cash Prophets made complete sense.”

Doors open at 8:30 p.m. The Cash Prophets will perform at 9 p.m. Saturday and entry will be $8.

There will also be performances by Vintage Vandals and the Refuzniks.

For more information, visit the Cash Prophets’ page here.

Fresh Freshii on Third and Q Streets

2011-06-28T14:32:07Z

Freshii opened a new location in downtown Sacramento on April 11, and owner Eric Heffel said they are happy to be in the area.

According to Heffel, there are about 12,000 daytime office workers and 3,000 residents in the surrounding area and only one restaurant within walking distance to choose from.

“Freshii can now provide all of those people another choice,” Heffel said.

Located at 400 Q St., on the corner of 3rd and Q streets at the CalPERS building, the newest Freshii location is providing a variety of items to patrons in the area including, but not limited to, frozen yogurt, freshly made wraps, soups and salads, and a variety of snacks and drinks.

Menu prices range from $1.79 to $9.79.

But, if being told what to eat isn’t your thing, one of the main features of Freshii is that everything is customizable. There are more than 70 different ingredients to choose from, such as avocado, chopped almonds, grilled salmon, edamame, feta cheese or bean sprouts, to name a few.

Patrons are welcomed to build their own meals from scratch by checking off wanted ingredients on the provided menus/checklists. First, customers choose what type of meal they want to build, either a salad, bowl, classic or grilled wrap or soup.

After choosing from a base of romaine, spinach or a Freshii mix of greens for a salad or wrap base as well as vegetable, chicken and lemongrass broth for soup, they can choose from two lists of ingredients before finally selecting a dressing/sauce.

Though it opened in April, the Q Street location waited to hold its grand opening on Friday and Saturday evening, when its liquor license came through. Heffel said they are the only Freshii out of the 48 locations throughout Canada, America, Austria and Dubai that serves beer and wine and said he hopes that this will allow them to provide the residents in the area with a cool hangout spot.

This particular location is also the only one with a full self-serve yogurt section. Normally, Freshii locations only sell one flavor of frozen yogurt, but Heffel, also the owner of Yogurtagogo, said when CEO and founder of Freshii Matthew Cornin came across Yogurtagogo, he really liked the concept and wanted to try it out at the Q Street corner.

The new location has three seating areas, including an outside patio that can serve up to 60 people.

The Freshii brand is about fast, fresh and healthy food, Heffel said. And being that it is also a very green company, it provides food delivery service throughout the downtown area by bicycle.

To read more about Freshii's menu and manifesto, click here.

Revamping Old Sacramento

2011-06-24T02:15:09Z

Wednesday evening, the Department of Parks and Recreation presented plans to expand Old Sacramento’s excursion train and further explore the underground ruins to provide visitors a more exciting learning experience of the Gold Rush, commerce and river transportation. The preliminary general plan for Old Sacramento State Historic Park would span 20 years.

The project is currently set to develop the Front Street area between J and I streets.

Capital District Superintendent of Capital District State Museums and Historic Parks Catherine Taylor explained that the project will educate visitors on the Gold Rush era. The underground ruins will feature active archaeological digs and exhibits and the above street level will showcase the reconstructed buildings of the 1860s and 1870s.

The plan also includes waterfront development, in which the existing sunken ship will be lit up for viewing. Taylor said they would also like to bring in a 19th- or 20th-century ship that can be docked in the area and/or have a water taxi for tours. She said that each of these exhibits would be a great way to allow people to reconnect with the river.

Taylor said they want to expand the excursion train operation to the Hood neighborhood.

Upon completion, there would be two train rides. The first would run from Old Sacramento to the Sacramento Zoo, stopping at the Crocker Art Museum, Miller Park and the town of Baths. The second would begin in the Pocket/Meadowview area and extend into Hood and would include a Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta trip with dinner or brunch or other themed excursion rides.

Several Planning Commission members applauded the presentation, including Anna Molander, who said, “It is a fantastic vision and I can’t wait to see it implemented.”

Taylor and Allen Folks, AECOM planning consultant for the project, said they want to finalize the plan by spring of 2012.

The general plan has been in the works since the summer of 2010.

Taylor and Folks told the Planning Commission that they have worked hard to incorporate the voices and opinions of the local community, especially those directly affected by the potential changes to the area.

Since last October, three public workshops were held to gather input.

Folks said that during those workshops, the public expressed support for the Gold Rush, transportation and commerce themes, but were also concerned about the physical adjustments being done to the area.

The plan will therefore address issues such as bike trail improvements and minimal use of trains through the Land Park and South Land Park neighborhoods, he said.

The preliminary plan will now go through public review once more before being submitted for approval by City Council.

For more information on the project, click here.

River Cats are game 4 champions, 3-2

2011-06-21T01:08:37Z

Olympians from all over northern California joined Sacramento River Cats fans Monday afternoon at Raley Field to celebrate Olympic Day and see the final game in the four-game series against the Fresno Grizzlies.

While the Cats claimed the first run of the day, the Grizzlies soon came back with two homers of their own in the top of the fifth. By the second half, it appeared the Cats might be in for another loss, but the team turned its offensive game on high, scoring once to tie during the eighth and once more at the bottom of the ninth for the big win and a final score of 3-2.

The game started off slowly. Though Cats first baseman Chris Carter gave the Grizzlies a scare in the second, tripling on a fly ball (his first for the year), designated hitter Adrian Cardenas grounded into a double play, and the scoreboard remained 0-0 until the third inning.

But fans remained hopeful as the game picked up for the Cats during that inning. The first three batters for the Grizzlies quickly struck out swinging, and though Cats right fielder Matt Carson grounded out, left fielder Shane Peterson came through for the team, doubling on a fly ball.

Finally, thanks to a sacrifice fly by River Cats third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, Peterson scored the first run of the game.

The Cats held the lead until the top of the fifth inning, when the Grizzlies’ offense fought back hard. With right fielder Brad Eldred already on first, Grizzlies first baseman Tyler LaTorre hit his first homer of the year, bringing the tally to 2-1.

Things looked grim by the bottom of the eighth when Carson started off by grounding out, but the game started to turn when second baseman Mark Ellis came to bat and doubled on a fly ball to center field, allowing Peterson to run home and tie the game at 2-2.

Tied, it was now down to the wire at the top of the ninth. The Cats once again got the first three batters out quickly. Though center fielder Jai Miller batted first and popped out, Carter, catcher Anthony Recker and Cardenas would all manage to single.

With the bases loaded, Carson came up to bat and singled on a ground ball, allowing Carter to score the winning run and win the game for the Cats.

It was fitting that it was Olympic Day, as the Cats came out champions. Determined to come back after their last two losses, the Cats fought hard, both offensively and defensively, and it showed.

By the ninth inning, pitcher Travis Banwart was making River Cats history with 12 strikeouts.

After the game, manager Darren Bush said, “(Banwart) threw the ball outstanding.”

The River Cats will take on the Tucson Padres at Kino Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Photos by Ron Nabity.

Bias in journalism?

2011-06-15T22:04:08Z

It is every journalist’s duty to provide the facts as they are, but does bias still manage to exist in journalism? This was the question posed by Clare Noonan, editor of 11 East Bay Patch.com sites and speaker at Tuesday’s workshop at The Sacramento Press.

While both Noonan and almost all 14 participants answered yes, Noonan said there were ways to pinpoint personal opinion as a reader and avoid it as a writer.

In order to provide objectivity, Noonan said that writers should make sure that facts are accurate and that the reporting is fair.

Referencing a University of Michigan website, Noonan listed five areas where bias can occur: word choice, omissions, limiting debate, story framing and sources.

Taking a closer look at each of these areas can help a writer to maintain the integrity of an article and a reader to recognize the presence of opinion in what he or she is reading, Noonan said.

The group included a variety of writers, community activists and the general public. Most, if not all, vocally expressed how extremely difficult, if not impossible, it is to find neutral reporting.

Finding unbiased sources is important, said Linda Maher, mother and regional sales director for Extended Day Hotels. She said she is worried about how her children will often take information at face value without considering the background.

“I’m not a writer, but I was just personally interested in the subject matter,” Maher said. “I’m hoping the workshop will teach me how to be an even more cautious reader by showing me how to recognize bias in writing.”

Noonan began the evening by defining bias as prejudice for or against someone or something.

Though characterization or stereotyping were noted as prevalent forms of bias, such as issues of gender, race, religion and country of origin, Noonan said these were very obvious means of bias.

“These are the type of subjects that often tick people off the most when they suspect a bias or prejudice,” Noonan said, “but there are many other ways to influence an article with bias without necessarily addressing any of those issues.”

Structured as an open forum, Noonan created and facilitated discussion around these topics and other areas where bias could be present, including but not limited to frequency of coverage, story layout and advertising. She also provided examples and excerpts from various pieces of writing.

Omissions and sources were community activist Darlene Anderson’s biggest concerns.

“I came to the workshop because I feel that journalism today is very biased and always trying to persuade the reader,” Anderson said. “For example, when it comes to public policy, the stories of the policy makers are provided, but not that of who the policies affect and how that process (is omitted). When forming an opinion, it’s important to hear all the perspectives of a situation.”

By the workshop’s end, it was the group consensus that bias exists and is unavoidable. Noonan pointed out the group’s jaded attitude and in hopes of lightening that, insisted that unbiased journalism and journalists do, in fact, exist. Quoting a co-worker, Noonan said with a laugh, “A journalist without bias is one whom both sides hate equally.”

Empress Hornblower sails into the past

2011-06-13T04:35:37Z

About 250 formally and historically dressed guests gathered at the L Street Dock on Front Street in support of the preservation and exploration of Sacramento’s historical legacy Friday evening. Under the guidance of the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation, party-goers traveled through the 1850s, 1960s and back to the present on the Empress Hornblower along the Sacramento River for the hour-long cruise Casino Royale on the River: Where Old Sacramento Meets Monte Carlo.

This was the second year HOSF had hosted the event to raise funds for its educational and interpretive programs, including the historical exhibitions in the Sacramento History Museum on I Street.

Last year the event was held on the Delta King, and while “the whole thing was a hoot and wonderful success,” the foundation wanted to spice things up a bit, deputy director Kristina Swanson said. Not only did this year’s vessel allow for about 100 more passengers, it provided people with the wonderful experience of a leisurely ride down the river that started the city of Sacramento.

As guests made their way to the boat, they were encouraged to spin a wheel for prizes before being warmly greeted by the captain and crew. Upon entering the ship, they were immediately transported into an 1850s casino room with the help of the live folksy music of Claudia’s Kitchen.

With feathers, petticoats and top hats abound, several members of the Old Sacramento Living History Program were fully dressed in authentic 1850s garb, manning the floor and at least 14 gaming tables. Set both port and starboard, the volunteer gang was more than ready to help guests gamble away their complimentary bag of playing chips.

Not only did the members look the part, they acted it as well. At the Faro card table, working women Flora “Lily of the West” and Miss Bud, “A Flower-in-Training,” refused to leave character. With Derringer pistols visibly placed in their bosoms, anyone could see this was serious play.

Flora reported having to pull her piece out on a cheating party-goer, and Miss Bud wasn’t too shy either, threatening another guest who dared to question the “period appropriateness” of her husband’s costume.

After a bit of nudging and lots of winning on their part, the two women revealed themselves as Catherine Hanson, Flora, and Mary Aye, Bud, and discussed their passion for history, especially Sacramento’s. Hanson works for the California State Library in the history section, and Aye is a docent, leading local school groups on historical tours.

“History is so important, especially that of Sacramento’s,” Aye said. “You really need to learn about the past to know where you’re headed. Most people don’t realize it, especially these days with the focus on standardized testing topics, but Sacramento was such an important part in the development of the West Coast and America.”

If party-goers needed a break from the excitement downstairs, they went up to the second floor, with specially-made Gold Rush drinks in hand, to where James Bond-themed cuisine awaited them. While guests were served hors d'oeuvres on all levels, here they could feast on “The Man with the Golden Bun” mini-burgers and “Aston Martini Mashed Potatoes,” while bidding on various displayed auction items.

As guests finished emptying their pockets and filling their stomachs, they were able to dance their way up the stairs and back into the present day to more contemporary tunes spun by a live DJ on the third floor. On the rooftop, guests were able to take advantage of the warm weather, slight breeze and gorgeous view of Sacramento as the boat glided along the Sacramento River during sunset.

Executive director Marcia Eymann, explained how the boat ride is both a fun experience and great way to remind and share with people how important the Sacramento River is to the history of the city.

“Location, location, location,” Eymann said. “Outside of Sacramento’s part in the Gold Rush, because of this river, Sacramento was and is such an important part of history. For example, historically speaking, because of the river, Sacramento was once San Francisco’s No. 1 trading partner, as well as the ‘fruit basket’ of America.”

Prior to the ship’s voyage, VIP ticket holders, which included a number of former and current elected officials and local dignitaries, attended a reception at the Sacramento History Museum, where Former Mayor Burnett Miller was honored as the first ‘007 Hero of Historic Old Sacramento’ for his continued contribution to the preservation and development of the area.

After the honoree was roasted and toasted by a few of his friends and colleagues, Miller talked to The Sacramento Press about his investment in the history of Sacramento.

“Myself, my father, my grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather all lived in Sacramento,” Miller said. “So there is obviously a personal interest, but mostly I’m invested because I enjoy it so much.”

“The history of Sacramento is important, and people of Sacramento should be invested, if not because of that, then simply because it is their community and thus their history.”

The Historic Old Sacramento Foundation has been providing historical programming for Sacramento since 1985.

For more information on their mission and various events and programs, check out their site.

Photos by event photographer Tia Gemmell, Riverview Media Photography

Tacoma Rainiers take game four 4-0

2011-06-13T04:05:03Z

Though coming high off an 11-4 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers Saturday evening, the Sacramento River Cats were unable to repeat the strong lead needed to keep the visitors from getting their third win in the fourth and final game, losing 4-0.

The sun was shining brightly Sunday afternoon and with the slight breeze, the 80-some-degree weather felt pleasant, especially when compared to the recent gray and rainy fits. Fans wore smiles and seemed to be enjoying themselves, as were a number of dogs out that day for Raley Field’s Bark in the Ballpark event, some of whom pranced in a pre-game dog parade around the field.

Post-parade, River Cats pitcher A.J. Griffin made his first start at the Triple-A level that afternoon, and things looked good at the top of the first inning. Rainier Michael Saunders struck out, and the following two batters didn’t make it past first, but the home team was unable to make it on base either.

Rainier Mike Wilson claimed the first run of the game during the second inning, which was also his sixth for the year, with a fly ball to left field. While River Cats’ Anthony Recker managed to get onto first base, steal second and run into third during the bottom half, he was unable to bring it home.

Despite a double play and a yet another stolen base for the River Cats by Eric Sogard at the bottom of the third, the score remained 1-0 through to the fifth inning, when Tacoma pulled further ahead with two more runs.

Johan Limonta started off the fifth for the Rainiers by walking onto first, followed by teammate Sean Kazmar who doubled on a line drive to left field. While Michael Saunders was batting, a passed ball by Josh Donaldson allowed Limonta to score, and Kazmar to make it onto third. Soon after, Saunders singled on a ground ball and sent Kazmar home.

The scoreboard remained at 3-0 until the top of the eighth as both teams kept one another at bay.

During the top of the eighth, while Alex Liddi was batting, teammate Saunders stole second base and then advanced onto third due to a throwing error by River Cats’ Josh Donaldson. The mistake later contributed to the Rainiers’ fourth and final run of the game by Saunders on a ground out by Luis Antonio Jimenez.

With no points handed out to either team in the ninth and final inning, the victory was Tacoma’s with a final score of 4-0.

The River Cats will now make their way to Spring Mobile Ballpark for the four-game series against the Salt Lake Bees, which is scheduled to kick off on Monday at 6:05 p.m.

Retention of jobs and public safety are priority for Mayor Kevin Johnson

2011-06-08T02:41:36Z

Despite reports of the city’s proposals to lay off more than 350 jobs, including 80 sworn police officers, during Tuesday’s press conference, Mayor Kevin Johnson said that avoiding such layoffs will be a priority.

Throughout the conference, Johnson said he wanted Sacramento to remain a full-service city and that he hopes to alleviate any distrust between police officers and the city by playing a more active role in addressing the interests of both parties.

“We’re trying to preserve as many jobs as we can and keep public safety at the top of our priorities,” he added.

“We’re about to pass and adopt a budget in about three weeks or so, and we do not want to be in a position where our community, our constituents and the greater Sacramento area are impacted because we can’t create an environment where our streets are safe.”

The weekly press conference was supposed to address city business and the future of an entertainment and sports complex in Sacramento via the “Here We Build” arena campaign, but when the floor opened to questions, the discussion quickly became centered on the current budget situation and, consequently, what Tuesday evening’s City Council meeting might entail.

Tuesday’s council meeting agenda was set at the end of May to address all the controversial potential budget cuts to the Parks and Recreation, Police and Fire departments.

When asked about concerns and potential alternatives to the current budget proposals, the Mayor said that it depended on the discussion that would occur during the council meeting.

He provided three possible outcomes of the upcoming meeting: 1: Tentative decisions will be made on whether the current proposals for each department will occur, 2: Time will run out and the vote will carry on to Thursday or 3: Possibly vote on two of the three departments and keep one floating for discussion again later.

During the conference, Johnson also mentioned the city and state of California’s interest in a high-speed rail due to its long-term cost-effectiveness, decreased carbon footprint and its potential to be an “unbelievable job creator.”

Documentary Foundation's 'Age of Champions' premieres at Silverdocs

2011-06-06T23:51:12Z

After two long years of tilling, sowing and watering the fields, Documentary Foundation, a local film organization, will finally be able to reap the rewards of its labor, making its debut at the prestigious Silverdocs Film Festival in Washington, D.C., on June 19.

Producer of the film and Managing Director for Documentary Foundation Keith Ochwat said he and Creative Director Christopher Rufo grew up in Sacramento. When they got into film after college, they realized that the city had a lot to offer and they wanted to contribute to that as much as possible, especially with the next generation.

As a result, the nonprofit Documentary Foundation was born in 2007. Based in Midtown, its mission is to educate and inspire by producing documentaries for PBS as well as teaching high school students how to make documentary films through their Doc School, a fundamental film production course for local high school students, at KVIE’s studios.

“Age of Champions,” their third film, is a documentary about the Senior Olympics. Submitted in March for consideration, the film was selected out of more than 2,200 submissions from around the globe representing 50 countries to be one of 100 films viewed during the festival, according to Ochwat.

Ochwat explained that while at a conference for a nonprofit organization in San Francisco, he and Rufo met a woman who helped organize the Senior Olympics. As she went on to describe her work, they both knew it was worth pursuing for a film. “It was all very serendipitous,” he said.

Documentary Foundation did a casting call to all athletes enrolled and received more than 1,000 responses, from which it chose four to film. The Celadrin Tigerettes, a women’s basketball team and winner of six U.S. gold medals, was one of the chosen. Mavis Albin, team captain, said that while they are located in Baton Rouge, La., the team is made up of six women from all over, ranging in age from 64 to 69 years old.

Albin said Ochwat and Rufo began filming them everywhere, inside and outside of playing basketball, in June 2009 till the fall of 2010 and that the whole process was a “wonderful” experience.

“It all started out as a way to just get our name out there for our sponsor, Celadrin. I never expected it to turn into a documentary, but it was all just great,” Albin said. “Keith and Chris worked really hard to get it right. I think the final product is very inspiring to other people, especially to the 50-and-older group. I hope it makes them realize how absolutely breathtaking their retirement years can be.”

Silverdocs is exclusively a documentary film festival that was created out of a partnership between the American Film Institute and The Discovery Channel, said Festival Director Sky Sitney.

The festival is going on its ninth year and has produced 14 Academy Award nominated films, according to Sitney.

All six Academy Award-nominated documentary films in 2009 were screened at Silverdocs 2008, Ochwat said.

“Two years ago, we were kind of just these two little guys, and now we feel we’re on a real trajectory to success,” Ochwat said.

“We weren’t sure what our chances would be, but you always want to throw your hat in the ring for the big show in town,” Ochwat added. “Everyone has been really supportive, and there’s really no better festival to premiere at.”

In regard to the film’s selection, Sitney said, “It is a beautifully crafted film. It tells a really compelling and, quite frankly, inspiring story. We also knew this film would have large audience appeal, and it just represented exactly what we are always looking for, which is great artistry and direction.”

Both Sitney and Ochwat noted that it was also a plus that two of the film subjects are from Washington, D.C., and will actually be there when it premieres.

“The organization has grown tremendously the past three years, and the Silverdocs premiere will be a huge step forward for the organization,” Ochwat said.

“Chris and I usually get a kick out of doing these kinds of things, especially being the only Sacramentans,” Ochwat added. “They’re always amazed, wondering how we do things in little old Sac, but there are a lot of benefits. We were born and raised here, and the culture is welcoming and warm. More importantly, it’s where our roots, family and friends – our support network – are.”

Currently, Documentary Foundation is trying to raise $7,500 for finishing funds and travel costs for the festival. If you’d like to donate, click here.

For more information on Documentary Foundation and its current work, check out its website.

Berryessa Gap’s Springtime in the Vineyards

2011-05-30T02:47:37Z

Family and friends followed the smoke and scent of carnitas cooking on the grill up and down a windy dirt path, sharing their love of wine on the normally private lands of Berryessa Gap for the Sixth Annual Springtime in the Vineyards event on Saturday.

Despite the gray skies and even a light sprinkle, about 250 visitors, some with lawn chairs and blankets in tow, made the trek to enjoy three newly released wines: 2010 sauvignon blanc, 2010 Sunset Rose of Primitivo and 2008 petit sirah. The wines were paired with live bluegrass music by Doc Holler and a self-catered and, thus, essentially home-cooked meal, which included carnitas, corn salad, shrimp and strawberry-pineapple fruit skewers, all served in the vineyards under a 300-year-old oak tree.

Though Winters resident and Berryessa Wine Club member Debbie Carbahal forgot her jacket to keep the cold winds at bay, she said, “I’ve to been a few other events before and they’re fun. So I came with family today and am still having a good time. I really enjoy the petit sirah and I’m pretty sure we’re going to be picking up a couple bottles.”

Part owner Corrine Martinez, who handles the company’s marketing, said the event was one of their most popular and has sold out the last few years. This year was no exception.

Martinez explained that there were three other partners, her brother Daniel R. Martinez, Santiago Moreno and winemaker Mike Anderson. All four individuals have known each other for years, and the business kind of all began with her father and Anderson’s uncle, who about 30 years ago partnered to grow and sell root stock to wineries in neighboring areas. Martinez said the history, growth and development of Berryessa has always been family- and friend-oriented and very synergistic.

“It wasn’t just a business that started then, but a friendship, too,” Anderson said. “When the partnership ended, the friendship remained, and that’s what allowed for us to get together years later and start up this business.”

What began as just a bit of fun between friends and a way to showcase to buyers what kinds of products the grapes could produce became Berryessa Gap, which is a company determined to provide people with the best product they can, Anderson said.

“We are trying to make the best wine this place can produce, without being a slave to variety,” he said. Both Anderson and Corinne Martinez said the goal was not production of multiple wines, but rather production of the best kind of wine for that location.

They really want the wine to reflect the land location and community, Corrine Martinez said. She added that the proceeds of their events often go to groups at Winters High School. Saturday’s proceeds went to the football team, who were there that day helping out.

“Today’s events, like many of our events, is about sharing an experience with the people who support us,” Corrine Martinez said. “These are actual farming lands and are not usually open to the public, but we want to give people the opportunity to see and share this beautiful space with us, as well as give us the opportunity to meet as many people who are fans of what we’re producing.”

For more information on the Berryessa Gap wine club and future events, such as their fall paella cook off, check their website or call (530) 795-3201.

New spillway increases Folsom Dam flood protection

2011-05-28T00:59:56Z

Floods in 1986 and 1997, as well as a levee break in 2004, costing lives and billions in damage, contributed to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declaring a state of emergency due to the threat of major flooding in northern California and San Joaquin Valley in 2006, and current work on Folsom Dam is helping alleviate that threat.

The construction of an auxiliary spillway at the Folsom Dam will provide the Sacramento region a greater level of flood protection than it has now. More specifically, it will provide a 200-year level of protection, meaning a one-in-200 chance for flooding in any given year.

Friday morning, 25 state and federal workers and even a few spectators gathered at the Folsom Dam for a presentation and tour of the ongoing work known as the Folsom Dam Joint Federal Project (JFP).

The JFP is a cooperative effort between the Central Valley Flood Protection Board (CVFPB), Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA), Department of Water Resources (DWR), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

The $962 million project involves the construction of an auxiliary spillway consisting of a control structure, spillway chute, stilling basin and approaching channel. Beth Salyers, lead project manager on JFP for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said the new control structure will operate in conjunction with existing spillway gates on Folsom Dam to manage flood flows from the Folsom Reservoir.

“The solicitation on the original modifications to the dam had been canceled in January 2006 due to funding issues. At the same time, the Bureau of Reclamation recognized that there were some dam safety issues, such as to prevent overtopping, that needed to be addressed,” said David L. Neff, the technical lead on the JFP for phase three from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “That served as the impetus to combine the two single-purpose projects into one.”

Salyers said the JFP consisted of five phases. The first two phases included extensive excavation at the site, which was recently completed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Phase three is the construction of the control structure, and phase four is construction of the chute and stilling basin. Phase five involves construction of the approach channel. The project is currently in phase three.

The new control structure will be similar to the current dam, but built with the gates built 50 feet lower than the existing gates.

“What this means is that now we don’t have to wait for the reservoir to fill up in order to release water. Water can be released sooner to provide more efficient use of the storage space and, consequently, free up capacity in the reservoir,” Neff said.

During the tour, Mark Curney, chief of project integration for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation , pointed out other construction and modifications being done on the main dam, which include gate and pier modifications.

Curney said the parties involved have done their best to ensure that construction does not interfere too much, if at all, with current public access or current operations (such as bike trails and jogging trails). For example, in the event of an emergency, all the scaffolding present can be taken down within six hours. Salyers added that since the dam itself is a secure site, public access should not be too much of an issue regardless.

The new auxiliary spillway will require 3.5 million cubic yards of soil excavation, 350,000 cubic yards of concrete and 26 million pounds of steel. But more importantly, it will be able to safely pass 312,000 cubic feet of water per second into the river, which according to Salyers, can be likened to 312,000 basketballs rushing past you per second.

At the moment, construction of phase three is expected to take 45 months and constructions schedules for the other phases are still in the works.

While the process will take a lot of time and money, according to Neff and Salyers, by working together as opposed to separately, the agencies will be able to complete the project faster and more cost-effectively, saving about three or four years and as much as half a billion dollars.

Red Lotus and Formoli's Bistro Slow Beer Movement Dinner No. 4

2011-05-25T03:58:47Z

Monday evening, 40 guests were welcomed into Red Lotus Kitchen and Bar by friendly staff and the smell of hops-smoked chicken wafting through the restaurant. These individuals gathered together for the fourth in a series of ongoing dinners known as the Slow Beer Movement. Hosted by Red Lotus and Formoli’s Bistro, the dinners are meant to highlight local food and, of course, beer.

In the past, foreign beer, such as the Belgian brew Duvel Green, had been featured, but recently the event founders felt that finding a place closer to home would coincide better with their practice of supporting local food. That evening, each of the five courses and even the dessert was paired with a beer from Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco.

The menu included a baby arugula salad with fried pork belly in a horse radish/chive sauce with Anchor Summer Beer, the lightest beer. Together they would help to start up each diner’s stomach for the night. The asparagus soup seasoned with 7-spice was matched with the spice of the original Christmas beer, Liberty Ale. The udon noodles with Shimeji mushrooms and pickled ramp was paired with the Anchor Steam. The grilled monkfish cheek with poached monkfish liver was served with Brekle’s Brown and the hops-smoked chicken with the Anchor Porter. Lastly, a fruity dessert of peaches and berries was macerated in a sweeter brew, Anchor’s Old Foghorn Beer.

The beer dinners were a collaborative project between the owners of each restaurant, Aimal Formoli and wife Suzanne Ricci, Billy Ngo and Red Lotus Bar Manager Mark Neuhauser.

According to Formoli, he and Ngo, both chefs and restaurant owners, had been wanting to do something together for a long time. They found that wine dinners were popular, but they wanted to do something different. With Neuhauser’s passion for beer and years of previous bar work at Outback Steakhouse and Suzanne Ricci’s direction, it all just came together.

Kane Kunst, sales manager at Anchor Brewing Company, represented the company and educated the guests on what they were drinking.

“I’ve been to and a part of a lot of beer dinners elsewhere, but this one is definitely unique. They actually close down the restaurant for the event, which really creates a much more intimate setting for people to share their knowledge and experience in a sort of open forum,” Kunst said.

Formoli and Ngo both said they wanted this to be a fun and educational experience for the guests.

Formoli said, “The idea and name for these dinners stemmed from the concept of the slow food movement, where there is a focus on local products and slowing the pace of dining to heighten the experience and enjoyment of the food and drinks.”

“Of course, we want people to love everything they eat, but we also really want to change people’s minds about what they eat and how they eat it,” he added.

Adam Saake, who does social media marketing for Red Lotus and the beer dinners, said sometimes people expressed concern over how much food and alcohol they’d be consuming.

“While each dish is paired with a beer, it’s not a full-size dish and pint,” he said. “Each person gets a good serving of food and about four ounces of beer served in a wine glass, that complement each other. It’s not about getting drunk; these are very hand-crafted artisan beers that have very intelligent, complex flavor profiles and rather than stuffed, people should walk away satisfied.”

That was a point reiterated by all parties involved.

“Beer is so much more complex than people think, and it’s made up of so many more components than they realize,” Neuhauser said. “With wine, you pair with pretty specific types of food or cheese, but at these dinners, the chefs work hard to make something different that really brings out the flavors of both the dish and the beer.”

As tables of guests waited for each dish to be served, the food was definitely a point of discussion.

Malea Heim, a hairstylist in East Sacramento, came with her husband Toby Heim, who services a lot of the restaurant equipment at Formoli’s.

“Honestly, when Toby said he was taking me to a beer dinner, I hesitated because I’m not a big fan of beer. But really, you don’t have to be to come. The food is great and the environment is really fun because everyone is able to mix and mingle,” Malea Heim said.

While a number of attendees and the chefs themselves were most excited about the hops-smoked chicken, Malea Heim said she was really interested in the dressing on the salad. She said she was pleasantly surprised by how tasty the horse radish/chive sauce ended up being.

Toby Heim though, said he was especially impressed with the asparagus soup,which had a spice that matched that of the Liberty Ale, his favorite beer, perfectly.

At the other end of the table, diners were talking about a dish at the last Slow Beer Movement dinner, which involved baby octopus in black ink noodles.

Scott Anderson, MC of the dinner and deputy sheriff in Sacramento County, talked about why he came.

“Sacramento has great food scene that a lot of people don’t know about or realize,” he said. “This is my fourth dinner, and it is a great thing. The dishes are truly memorable, and it’s made to be about the experience...We’re encouraged to take our time and enjoy the food and beer. I don’t plan on missing a single dinner unless I happen to be out of town.”

Adam Pechal, chef and co-owner of Tuli’s Bistro and RESTAURANT THIR13EN, was also present and said he was most excited about the collaboration between two great local chefs.

“That these two phenomenal chefs, who I would also love to work with, are working together is what really drew me in. You know that the food will be amazing.”

Formoli said that they plan to keep the dinners going indefinitely. The dinners are scheduled to occur the third Monday of every month with the location alternating between the two restaurants.

Both Formoli and Neuhauser said they are trying to stay as local as they can, so next month’s event will be held at the new location of Formoli’s Bistro, 3839 J St., in conjunction with another local brewery and restaurant, Brew It Up!, 801 14th St.

Owner/founder of Brew It Up! Michael Costello, who was present, said the co-founders of the beer dinners have already brewed their own Japanese-style pilsner with a special twist to be served on that evening’s menu. Costello said three of the five featured beers, will be specially brewed for the event.

For more information on the dinners, check out their Facebook page.

A taste of Asia in downtown and Old Sac

2011-05-23T02:13:55Z

The streets of downtown and Old Sacramento were filled to the brim for the 19th Annual Pacific Rim Street Fest Sunday. According to Event chair Merlayna Yee-Chin, thanks to the beautiful weather, she was expecting to reach participant numbers of at least 40,000.

Yee-Chin has been involved with the event since the very beginning, which started 19 years ago as Frank Fat’s dream for people in the community to understand the large and growing Asian population in Sacramento.

“When we first started, people didn’t know or even really understand what it was, but that has changed over time,” Yee-Chin said. “This is an event that now takes about nine to 10 months to plan.”

This year’s spice-themed event boasted four entertainment stages throughout downtown, each providing audiences with at least six performances throughout the day. Yee-Chin said there was plenty to see and do during the festival, with 17 food vendors, 17 community and health organizations and 23 arts and crafts vendors, all in addition to a number of sponsor booths.

Attendees came out for reasons as diverse as the people present. But whether it was to learn more about the community or simply because it was nice out, people came in droves to take advantage of what the festival had to offer.

Roseville resident Rowena Asuncion had been at the event for a couple hours with friends and family during which they were able to enjoy the Polynesian dancers at the downtown stage.

Asuncion said, “It’s really all about the kids today though. While we’re Filipino, I really want to educate them about the various cultures out there. I’ve been to a lot of other festivals, but I like this one best so far. It’s the most diverse I’ve seen.”

Asuncion said she felt that the festival really illustrates how culturally diverse Sacramento actually is.

“We’ve been involved almost every year with the festival and think it’s a great opportunity to share our culture with the rest of the community,” said Dexter Labonog, head instructor of the Bahala Na Multi-Style Filipino martial arts group. “I think that’s what this festival is really about, sharing and educating the community, especially the children. A large part of our group is made up of the youth community. We find the best way to keep tradition and culture alive is by propagating it through them.”

Event volunteer Nick Mamola said the event is great for Sacramento, allowing people to experience the various cultures and providing great business for downtown and Old Sacramento.

“This is my second year volunteering, and I’ve always noticed that during the festival there are always so many more businesses open than normal.”

Kevin P. Nguyen, vice president of the Greater Sacramento Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce, noted that the structure of the festival is exactly what they hope to pull together for the local Vietnamese community.

“The festival is a cultural event about the Asian community, but it’s not just the Asian community out here today,” he said. “It’s a melting pot of cultures. While the festival is set up to educate the community about its diversity, it is also helping out the economy by bridging the culture gap and providing business for the various vendors out there.”

RESTAURANT THIR13EN previews its menu and location

2011-05-16T04:25:57Z

Tuli Bistro owners Adam Pechal and Ulrike “Ulli” Lesk Petersen previewed the space and menu of their second restaurant, RESTAURANT THIR13EN, on Friday. The restaurant is located on the bottom floor of the Sterling Hotel at 1300 H St., where the restaurant Chanterelle was until it closed last January.

All evening invited guests were provided teasers of THIR13EN’s menu, which included oyster shooters, sous vide quail wings, seared scallops, Kurabuta pork belly and seared sirloin with potato puree. Each guest was also provided a drink ticket to sample offerings from their full bar, such as wine from Berryessa Gap Vineyards, international beer taps and a number of signature cocktails.

Petersen and Pechal — who is also the head chef — expanded their business with the Smoked-Out Trailer, a mobile culinary rig, and Tuli Catering, but when they were approached by the building owners through Bay Miry at D & S Development, about taking over the space, they couldn’t resist, they both said.

They said they were especially interested in the ballroom, which would allow them even more business via catering events. Pechal said the ballroom had not initially been part of the deal, but the real estate company made it happen, convincing the hotel to include the ballroom to sweeten the pot and finalize the agreement.

Marketing director and Pechal’s longtime friend, Johnny Shin said the company is now the exclusive caterer for the Sterling Hotel Ballroom.

“The large kitchen at the Sterling allows us to ramp up our catering services with the same quality that Tuli Bistro serves daily,” Shin said. “House-made pastas and meats combined with seasonal and local sources are at the heart of Chef Adam’s goals. We are now able to support Tuli Bistro, Tuli Catering and our Smoked-Out Trailer to full capacity.”

While Pechal said he wants to maintain the tradition of local sustainable food and keep the general vibe of the two restaurants the same, THIR13EN will be at a higher, more refined level.

“Tuli Bistro is a bit more rustic than THIR13EN,” Pechal said. “Here at THIR13EN there will be more attention to detail.” He specifically mentioned the use of different cooking techniques, such as the sous vide used on the quail wings that night .

Shin said the THIR13EN idea stemmed from wanting to do more with space. Shin talked about how he and Pechal would take “research trips” to San Francisco, a place that was really able to demonstrate how to make the most of small spaces.

One thing they came across in their research was the idea of a “community table.” Shin explained that a community table was a larger table set aside in a restaurant with open seating. It seated at a first-come, first-served basis and allowed people to enjoy the food while mingling with other diners.

The community table at THIR13EN will seat 13. It was not ready for the preview event, but Shin said it will be custom-built from a Boos Block cutting board. Besides the community table, the restaurant can seat 40 inside and 40 more on the patio outside.

While the exact arrangement of the restaurant is still being determined, Pechal said they were going for a “humbly elegant” look and feel, and the community table will help in that respect. He said that the community table will be placed between seated tables and the bar, a position he noted would functionally break and yet blend the room.

Shin said the restaurant will begin taking reservations Monday for their first dinner bookings for May 27 and 28 and each weekend after. They will open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting in June.

Shoki Ramen House opens its second location

2011-05-14T11:42:38Z

Japanese couple Kathy and Yasushi Ueyama officially opened their second location of Shoki Ramen House on R and 12th streets May 3.

The new location has an outdoor patio and enclosed parking and can hold roughly twice as many customers as the 24th Street location.

The menu will remain the same at the new location providing a variety of made-from-scratch ramen, including shuyo, shio and tan tan men spicy ramen.

Yasushi has 20 years of cooking and restaurant experience under his belt. Born and raised in Japan, he owned four restaurants during the time the couple lived in Kobe, Kathy Ueyama said.

According to Kathy Ueyama, the couple moved back to Sacramento in 2001, and though Yasushi continued work as an owner/chef in the Japanese food industry, he really wanted to do something different.

Yasushi Ueyama always had an interest in ramen. Many of his friends and colleagues told him that it was a bad idea to open a ramen restaurant because they said they thought it would not be well-received and the weather was too hot for it. But despite their opposition, the original Shoki Ramen House opened in the summer of 2007.

Yasushi Ueyama’s vision for the restaurant was to create a healthy dish for every customer, from babies to the elderly. Kathy Ueyama said she believed this was what really set them apart from other places and that it was likely that was how they were able to slowly draw in such a strong and loyal clientele.

The ramen house grew beyond their expectations. Kathy Ueyama recounted how sometimes, especially during the winter, they’d have people waiting outside in the cold and sometimes rainy weather for an hour or more for just one bowl.

Since 2007, Kathy Ueyama said the business had steadily grown, and it was situations such as the one described above that really pushed them to open up the second location. The 24th Street and 2nd Avenue location had a max capacity of 20 people, and it became clear that they needed a bigger venue to accommodate larger parties.

While the couple hesitated at taking on the responsibility of opening a new location, Kathy Ueyama said the whole thing kind of just fell into place. She noted that when she and her husband looked into locations for the first store, the R Street location was actually one they really liked, but it just didn’t work out.

“When the R Street location became available in January, it was the final sign needed to push us to open up another location. We felt it was all meant to be,” she said.

Each bowl of ramen is made of a broth, noodles, finishing sauce or tare and toppings. The process of making each bowl is much more complicated than most people think, she added.

“The original soup base is actually made of a blend of three different types of broth. We call it our triple soup and from that, with the use of a finishing sauce or tare, we can achieve the various other flavors on the menu. Yasushi also makes a vegetarian and vegan broth separately.”

It’s very important to Yasushi Ueyama that the expansion not affect the taste of the food at all, his wife said. Other than the location and extended hours, nothing else will change.

Yasushi does his best to make sure of that, doing all the cooking for both locations, said Kathy Ueyama. She said he gets minimal sleep, waking up very early to prepare the broth for each location and going back and forth as needed throughout the day.

Quality is really important to Yasushi, Kathy Ueyama said. He is the only person who knows exactly what goes into every bowl sent out. Most of the ingredients are imported from Japan, and only local produce is used.

“Also, everything is made from scratch. From the broth to the tare, to the chili sauce, everything, even the noodles. Our noodle company makes the whole-wheat noodles to his specifications,” Kathy Ueyama said.

When asked about opening a third venue, Kathy Ueyama said it was too soon to tell.

“Yasushi looks into all possibilities as to how he can share his passion of cooking with more and more people, but it depends on a lot of things,” she said. “If an opportunity arises and the current situation asks for it, it’s a possibility, but it is very important to keep the same quality and expectations, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”

In addition to the ramen favorites, there are also a number of side dishes and appetizers to choose from, such as edamame and spicy menma (bamboo shoots). The ramen bowls range from $5.90 to $9.90, with additional costs for extra toppings.

The restaurant will be open seven days a week. Monday through Friday, lunch will be from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and dinner from 5:30 - 10 p.m. Saturday lunch is from noon - 3 p.m. and dinner is from 5 - 10 p.m. Sunday, the restaurant is open all day from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

For more information on the the newest location, call 441-0011.

Squeezin' into West Sacramento

2011-05-12T02:51:02Z

The original Squeeze Inn on Power Inn Road was made famous by Food Network’s Guy Fieri, who raved about their infamous cheese “skirt,” the restaurant’s twist on the classic cheeseburger. Since then it has opened up restaurants in Roseville and Galt.

Tuesday morning, the Squeeze Inn’s fourth location – at 1350 Harbor Blvd. in West Sacramento – officially opened its doors at 10 a.m.

The newest addition to the Squeeze Inn line is the biggest location so far, seating up to 80 people, according to West Sacramento Squeeze Inn’s publicist, Heather Atherton.

The Squeeze Inn has been a regular on the burger scene in Sacramento for at least 30 years according to co-owner Dave Chambers.

“We’ve always wanted to own our own restaurant, and we love the Squeeze Inn brand. It’s not fast food, and it’s so unique of a brand that it has this crave-ability factor, especially with the cheese skirt. There’s a strong following and we thought it was a great opportunity to start and own something we all loved,” Chambers said.

When Chambers says “we,” he is referring to his longtime friends and partners – Joe Mousley and Eric Ostberg.

The group also has a fourth silent investor who was the one that linked them with the original owner, Travis Hauser, to get the ball rolling on the project. The group were regulars at the Power Inn location, driving in from Roseville to get their Squeezeburgers with cheese skirt fixes.

Atherton mentioned that all three men had previous food industry experience.

“They’re all restaurant industry veterans, some from fast food and some from food services,” Atherton said. “So, there’s a really great depth of understanding of how to deliver great customer service and a really high-quality product.”

Chambers said they had looked at a number of potential locations in Natomas, Vacaville, Davis and Auburn. In the end, West Sacramento proved to be prime location as it was far enough out from the other locations, but close enough in proximity to draw from the original fan base. Chambers also said that it was a truly business-friendly environment.

Atherton seconded Chambers’ comments by saying how welcoming local officials had been.

“We had two soft openings last week to prepare everyone for Tuesday. Friday’s soft opening included a luncheon with the mayor, Christopher Cabaldon, and other officials as a thank-you before their Cap-to-Cap event, which conflicted with the grand opening. We wanted to give them an opportunity to experience the food for all their support,” said Atherton.

Both Atherton and Chambers said the soft openings last weekend had been very busy. Chambers said about 200 people came through on Friday and 500 on Saturday. He expected about 600 to 1,000 at the actual opening.

“There hasn’t been too much real marketing for the event,” Chambers said. “Most of the buzz was created by fans by word-of-mouth. The city and customers have expressed a lot of excitement about it.”

Though the doors wouldn’t open to the public till 10 a.m., the grand opening had an early start as Good Day Sacramento’s Mark S. Allen and Don Geronimo were there at around 6 a.m. helping to further generate noise about the new location with their chatter and antics, including a burger-eating contest with Allen against customers. To watch the contest, check out their website.

By 11 a.m., the restaurant was fully packed and the line was out the door and wrapped around the corner.

Nina Galvan works as a yard supervisor at Stonegate Elementary School and lives near the new location. It was her first time eating at any Squeeze Inn.

“My co-worker was raving about this place for months, and I had been wanting to go, but the other locations are a bit far from here,” said Galvan. “So when I heard about this location opening a few months ago, I was pretty excited to finally be able to try it.”

Galvan brought along her friend, Velina Gonzalez, who works for the city as a site leader for an after-school program.

“I’ve had a burger at the Power Inn location before, but that was years ago,” Gonzalez said. “It was pretty good from what I remember, so I’m glad this place opened up. It’s much closer.”

Both women planned on ordering the classic “Squeeze with Cheese,” with Galvan modifying hers with the addition of some avocado.

Jeff Garrick also came to the opening Tuesday. He’s a forklift driver at Tony’s Fine Foods and a West Sacramento resident.

“I used to work night shifts over at Crystal Milk near the Power Inn location, and my wife, Melissa, would always have me pick up a ‘Squeeze with Cheese’ on the way home ever since we saw them featured on the Food Network show (“Diners Drive-Ins or Dives”).”

The West Sacramento location will feature the same menu and hours as the others. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with all locations closed on Sundays.

For more information, visit the site or call the West Sacramento location at 371-6779.

Jane’s Walk in Southside Park

2011-05-10T06:07:57Z

On Sunday, author of “Sacramento’s Southside Park” and board member of the Sacramento Old City Association (SOCA) William Burg led a walking tour of Southside Park and the surrounding area.

“The tours stemmed from Jane’s Walk USA, a national organization that began in 2007 using neighborhood walking tours as a way to help people get in touch with their environment,” said Kay Knepprath, event coordinator and fellow board member of SOCA.

This is the event’s second year in Sacramento. The tour of Southside Park was one in a series of five tours that occurred throughout Sacramento on Saturday and Sunday.

While the morning was a bit gray and chilly, a group of about 20 gathered together just inside Southside Park at Callahan Bandstand – the designated meeting point – near Seventh and T streets for the two-hour event.

As the group was waiting for a few more walkers, Citrus Heights resident Maria Burg, mother of William Burg, explained that while she was there in support of her son, she was also very interested in the history of the area being toured.

“I used to work downtown near this area, and we would always take walks during lunch, but we never quite made it over here,” Maria Burg said. “So, I’m really interested in walking around the area and hearing all about the history of the place and the neighborhood.”

William Burg began the walk just a little after 10 a.m. by saying, “The theme of the walk today, and all other walks, is how neighborhoods function and work. Jane Jacobs was not an urban planner, rather just a woman who, after moving to New York, had fallen in love with the sidewalks and streets that people walked and lived on.”

“In the past, urban planners such as Robert Moses felt that cities were places to work and shop, not live, and the areas they built often reflected that,” William Burg said. But he also noted how the people of a neighborhood greatly contributed to the growth and development of the areas they lived in, as was the case with Southside Park.

He said that it was in the early 1900s when Southside Park first really started to grow and professionalize. It was then that a group of local immigrants, wanting to make the neighborhood a better and safer place to live, formed the Southside Improvement Club.

The organization worked to accomplish a number of things, including closing down the old city incinerator on Front Street and removing the R Street levee to build a new one on Broadway. The club also encouraged the streetcar company to extend a line to Southside and, of course, convinced the city to create a park.

William Burg said that the area where Southside Park was built was originally made up of a vegetable garden, small peach orchard and small depression that stayed damp most of the year.

The owner of the latter portion, G.O. Hayford, wrote the city of Sacramento when he heard that planners wanted to include a pond in the park. Hayford thought that particular area of land would be easiest to convert, as it was already waterlogged.

The city began acquiring land for the park in 1906, and it was essentially completed by 1912.

“While development and redevelopment are large contributors to the change and growth of a neighborhood, transportation is also a strong factor,” he said. “Our own California Robert Moseses decided that the block between W and X streets would be an excellent place for Highway 50. The freeway now covers what was once a quarter of the park, which also took out two blocks of the neighborhood and a number of local community venues.”

William Burg said that while the freeway took away so much of the park, the neighborhood has adapted by making use of the large space under the freeway for the biggest farmers market in the city of Sacramento, which is held every Sunday morning.

As the group walked along, just past the freeway entrances near Sixth and W streets was a Japanese Tenrikyo Church next to an Italian and Portuguese club known as Tony Beretta’s. It was there that William Burg discussed how the neighborhood was a sort of League of Nations made up of various immigrant cultures including Italians, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese and more.

Because it was one of the few areas where non-whites were allowed to buy property, William Burg pointed out that many immigrant groups were able to form longstanding ethnic neighborhoods here.

While on the walk, the group was invited into a local mosque, which turned out to be the oldest mosque in the western United States, built by immigrants from what is now Pakistan, according to an imam there.

“Southside in the ’50s was changing a lot, and you’ll notice that all of these areas are mixed up. Some of them changed over time, but for the most part, this is a neighborhood where people were pretty much cheek-by-jowl,” William Burg said.

Farther down the street, the group was introduced to the different forms of housing. William Burg said that in the mid-19th to mid-20th century, land was very expensive, and people got around by walking or horsecart. So, an efficiently built neighborhood needed small and narrow lots for homes, which is where the Italianate row house style came in.

He then pointed out how, as the the area developed for electric streetcars, the neighborhoods became wider and got more bungalow-style housing, which had a broader roof and wider lot, which were apparent just across the street.

The group then made its way to Fourth and T streets, and William Burg said that in the mid-1960s many displaced people from downtown neighborhoods affected by redevelopment moved to the area.

A part of that population included prostitutes, who helped to give the corner the nickname “Hooker Hollow.” During that time, the neighborhood pulled together to combat prostitution and improve the living environment for the whole community.

Catherine O’Brien, director of business development for Stanford’s television station, was also on the tour that morning and mentioned that she had recently moved back to Sacramento.

“My husband is an artist and has a studio in the area,” she said. “So when we were looking for homes, a Realtor showed us property here, which we were really opposed to initially based on the history of the area. In the end, we realized what a different place it was now and currently live in a newly built infill home not too far from here.”

The group walked on working its way back to the original meeting area, where William Burg pointed out how the construction and development of Southside Park is similar to a number of other areas in Sacramento and across the nation, which was about building a heart – a desirable location such as a park – for a neighborhood to grow around.

For more information on the walks, visit the Jane’s Walks USA or SOCA websites.

H Street Bridge Repairs Project

2011-05-05T22:26:17Z

The City Council approved $30,915 for the design phase of H Street Bridge Repairs Project Tuesday, which will be done by Dokken Engineering.

H Street Bridge is located where H and J streets come together on the west side of the bridge. The bridge turns into Fair Oaks Boulevard and connects the areas of downtown and East Sacramento.

Assistant Civil Engineer for the Department of Transportation Josh Werner said the bridge was built in 1932, and improvements were last done in 1991 to 1992 to widen the bridge and reconstruct the bridge approach on the east side.

Department of Transportation Engineering Services Manager Nicholas Theocharides said that while the work being done is nothing major and fairly routine, it is important for a number of reasons.

“For example,” he said, “joint seals allow for expansion in the heat and contraction in the cold of the structure. If those seals are not in good repair, rocks can get in, and when the bridge expands again with the weather, this can lead to damage.”

“It’s a very important preventative measure,” he added.

He said the same of resealing the bridge deck – the actual street driven on – in order to prevent air exposure and water penetration, which would eventually corrode the reinforcing steel in the concrete.

Initial designs were created to repair damaged joint seals, seal the bridge deck, repair chipped concrete and add a concrete approach slab at the west end of the bridge.

But as a result of the discovery of new damage to the concrete slab at the east side of the bridge, further repairs were added to the design, which were approved at Tuesday’s meeting.

Theocharides said the addition of those repairs brings the total cost of the design phase to about $113,000.

The project was initiated by complaints from neighbors over the past year about damaged joint seals that are causing a lot of vehicle impact noise. The joint seals are protected by a plate, which is actually what is making all the noise. Werner said that the use of a joint plate to protect the seals is an old method and that the old joint seals will be replaced in the renovation project.

Theocharides said the design phase of the project should be done in the next month or so and, once completed, it will be about eight to 12 weeks before construction can begin. Actual construction will last a couple of months, during which one lane in each direction will remain open.

Theocharides said Sacramento residents can expect a fully renovated bridge by the end of the year.

Preview: Fox and Goose royal wedding festivities

2011-04-27T16:50:05Z

Friday, the wedding of the century, between Prince William and Kate Middleton, will be occurring across the pond. If you can’t afford the airfare and are looking to take part in the celebration a little closer to home, you’re in luck. Local family-owned pub the Fox and Goose Pub, located on 10th and R streets, will be staying open late for the occasion.

The royal wedding is scheduled to take place at Westminster Abbey at 11 a.m. in London, which means it will be happening here on the West Coast at about 3 a.m. With that said, Fox and Goose is currently scheduled to make itself open and available at 2:30 a.m. to serve all interested partygoers.

Fox and Goose will be doing a viewing of the wedding while serving a light breakfast buffet for $12, which will consist of coffee, tea, fresh juice, various pastries and Devonshire Cream. There will also be a non-alcoholic champagne toast (since it is against the law to serve alcohol after 2 a.m.) just after the ceremony finishes to salute the royal couple, said server and manager Andrea Hirschinger, who will be working the event.

“This is the first event of its kind for us here. We’re not normally a late-night venue, but this is a special occasion, and being that we are an English pub, very appropriate,” said General Manager Dino R. Grassini.

Grassini also mentioned the event was the idea of current owner, Allyson Dalton, daughter to the original English co-founders Bill and Denise Dalton. Since Allyson Dalton’s parents and husband are English, Hirschinger noted that all of this is of personal interest to Allyson.

“It’s not just work for her, but a part of her culture,” she said.

Grassini and Hirschinger said they are looking forward to seeing who will be out to show their support during those wee hours of the morning.

This particular event will end at 5 a.m., but Fox and Goose will be reopening at 7 a.m. to continue the party with the cutting of a three-tiered traditional white wedding cake. Complimentary slices will be given out while supplies last.

Throughout the day, a special menu item of Cottage Pie (a lamb variation of Shepard’s Pie) will be served with a smaller portion the pub’s Kensington Garden Salad (named after Kensington Palace where Princess Diana resided), which is a mixture of baby green leaf lettuce and marinated onions with your choice of any of the house-made dressings.

Hirschinger expressed her excitement about the events at Fox and Goose, as well as for the wedding itself.

“I’m excited because this is something new for us, and I’m also looking forward to (seeing) the wedding dress,” Hirschinger said. “Will she have a long train like Princess Diana or will she go for a more modern look?”

No matter what your interest, whether it be the royal wedding itself or just a really late-night place to hang out, those at Fox and Goose said they hope you will come out to help make the event a success.

For more information, call 443-8825 or log on to the website.

Tipping off Tipsy Tokens

2011-04-26T04:06:08Z

What do you get when you mix drink specials and poker chips? Tipsy Tokens, founded in Sacramento in 2011, is similar to the concept of Groupon, but focuses its promotions on local bars and nightclubs.

What sets Tipsy Tokens apart from the other coupon sites is its social focus, co-founder Robert Cima said.

“Though you’re purchasing something online, there’s a social aspect involved. There are reps on-site at the event checking people in and making sure everyone is having a good time. Also, you’re provided something physical: Tipsy Tokens. These tokens are colorful poker chips with the company logo on them used for buying drinks and playing games.”

According to Cima, the project began about six months ago when Kory Lanzel (another co-founder) was working for the Major League Soccer team Real Salt Lake in Utah.

The team was in the process of doing a deal with Groupon, which gave Lanzel the idea of applying that concept to his social life.

Lanzel called his friends Cima, Steve Gunsch and Nick Baldi, who all agreed that there was a great market for a social buying site that focused on nightlife.

Monkey Bar, at Capitol Ave. and 28th St., is the first bar to feature Tipsy Tokens regularly.

For $10, Tipsy Tokens’ users can get two Wiki Waki Woo's or four draft beers at Monkey Bar on Thursday nights.

Jamie Marcus, the general manager at Monkey Bar and Cafe Bernardo Midtown, noted the Tipsy Tokens program has had a positive impact on business.

“People who normally wouldn’t come here get an opportunity to see what it’s like at a discounted rate,” Marcus said.

“With Tipsy Tokens, Thursday nights weren’t just busy, but very busy, and eventually we started seeing people from Thursdays on the weekends,” added Marcus.

Sacramentan Cole Valadez, 26, works in sales for eye care insurance technology and heard about Tipsy Tokens through a friend who came across the viral campaign on Facebook.

He said he has used the Monkey Bar deal about three or four times.

“I like that they are selling a very specific product and that the deal is available every week,” Valadez said. “The reason I keep coming back is their consistency. And of course, it’s just fun. You can share your tokens, too, and it really brings people together.”

Another difference between the social buying or group buying sites (where companies offer a special deal on products or services if a minimum number of deals are sold) and Tipsy Tokens is that Tipsy Tokens must be used that same night.

Cima said this benefits the business because if the customers don’t use the token that night, the customers lose out on the purchase. It also benefits the buyer, Cima added, because you can see how many other people bought the deal and there is a good chance those people will be out at that particular bar or club that night.

Overall though, the niche nature of the company is a valued point reiterated by several users and potential buyers, as well as the creators themselves.

The consistency was part of the appeal to Blue Cue owner Dominic Vella. Vella came across Tipsy Tokens on Facebook and then noticed that they were doing something over at Monkey Bar.

“I try to be cognizant of what everyone else is doing, and after popping in and checking out the crowd for about five minutes during their Monkey Bar night, I contacted them about setting up a deal for Blue Cue.”

Blue Cue, located at 28th and J, will offer Tipsy Tokens specials on Pineapple Delights, Shocker Deuces and pint draft beers Friday night during the live-band karaoke.

Vella said he is looking forward to not only bringing in new faces, but hopefully turning those newbies into regular customers.

Baldi spoke about taking up the endeavor with his three friends.

“Right now, it’s on the side, just kind of something we thought up and decided it seemed like a great idea for us to all go out and have a great time,” he said.

“Honestly, there’s just us four handling everything from the website to social media to marketing, but our friends have been instrumental in supporting and promoting the idea.”

They said they are currently working on a smartphone application that can help users search for places to go in their area and purchase associated deals.

Lanzel, Cima, Baldi and Gunsch are not only partners, but longtime friends, as well as born-and-raised Sacramentans.

Now back in their hometown, they said they hope to turn this part-time startup into a full-time company.

“We don’t have any investors, but it’s our own thing, and every dollar earned is really exciting,” Baldi said.

For current deals or more information, check out their site.

Easter Events Extravaganza

2011-04-20T05:02:44Z

Spring is nearly a month in, and as April turns into May, the forecast promises warmer weather and plenty of outdoor activities, especially this weekend, as Easter is Sunday.

There are plenty of ways to celebrate Easter, whether you’re looking for a traditional egg hunt or a nice place to eat Sunday Brunch.

What: Southside Park Spring Egg Hunt

When: Saturday, 11 a.m. - noon

Where: Southside Park, 2107 Sixth St.

Cost: Free

With help from the Southside Park Neighborhood Association and St. John’s Baptist Church, Vineyard Church, the city of Sacramento will host the Southside Park Spring Egg Hunt, which will have a plethora of activities for the kids, including an egg hunt, face painting, carnival games, pictures with the Easter Bunny, various bunny-related crafts and Easter-related worksheets. Mounted police and the K-9 unit have also been invited to join the festivities.

Orange juice and coffee will be served, and there will be a raffle for two $250 Safeway gift cards.

The egg hunt will begin at 11:30 a.m. with 15,000 eggs for the hunting. There will be a total of four hunts, divided by age group. While most of the eggs are easily accessible, there will also be 10 golden eggs that will be a little more difficult to find. The golden egg discoverers can exchange their find for an Easter gift basket filled with various stuffed animals, games and toys.

Jessica Equihua, event coordinator and executive assistant for council member Rob Fong, said they are preparing for 500 participants on Saturday.

“The event is free, and there are plenty of fun takeaways, and one of the major highlights is that families are also provided with resource bags filled with information about services and events, such as this Easter event, in Sacramento,” she said.

For more information, call 808-7004 or go the the city events website.

What: Easter Egg Hunt and Pancake Breakfast

When: Saturday, 8 - 11 a.m.

Where: Clunie Clubhouse at McKinley Park, 601 Alhambra Blvd.

Cost: $5 for adults and $3 for children. Tickets are available at the door.

“The Kiwanis community, along with local Key Club and Circle K volunteers, has been putting on this event for hundreds of parents and children for about 24 years,” said Michael Flynn, coordinator of the event.

Traditionally, thousands of eggs are filled with goodies and hidden each year. The hunt will be done in age groups, beginning at 9:30 a.m. starting with the youngest and adding the next age group every 15 minutes up to the age of 9, according to Flynn. The breakfast is all-you-can-eat and includes pancakes, orange juice, fruit, coffee or tea and bacon or sausage.

There will also be face painting, carnival games and of course the playground itself for the children to roam free.

President Leslie Merker said, ”The Kiwanis’ mission statement is to serve the children, one child and one community at a time. It will be a fun event for the children, very family-orientated.” In fact, Flynn noted that the proceeds of the event will be for improvement and maintenance of the play structure in the park.

For more information, call 484-1314 or go the the Kiwanis’ website.

What: Spring Egg’stravaganza

When: Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Where: The Pavilion, Elk Grove Regional Park, 9950 Elk Grove-Florin Road

Cost: Prices vary, $0.50/ticket

Kristyn Staby, recreation supervisor in special events, said that while the name has changed over time, the Spring Egg’stravaganza has been going on since the Cosumnes Community Services District (CCSD) came into place in 1985.

This year, the event will boast several carnival games, an egg drop competition and even a petting zoo by a local nonprofit 4-H Club. Last year, they welcomed about 1,800 guests and are expecting a similar number this year.

From 8 - 10:45 a.m., the Pride of Laguna Creek Lion’s Club will be offering a pancake breakfast for $5, children under 2 can eat free with a paying adult.

Outside of pancakes, they will also be serving ham, fruit and orange juice or hot chocolate. This Breakfast with the Bunny event usually draws about 600 people, according to Staby.

Carnival games and the Egg Scramble, the CCSD’s egg hunt, will occur all day.

The egg drop competition is done in partnership with the CSD Fire Department and takes place at 11:30 a.m. Children construct a simple holder for their egg in hopes that it will not break when dropped from the fire department’s ladder truck. Undamaged eggs are awarded a prize.

For more information, call 405-5300 or go the the CSD’s main website.

There will also be two other Easter hunting events in the area.

Westminster Presbyterian Church will be holding its very first Easter egg hunt in Capitol Park on Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon. The event is free and hunting will begin at 11:30 a.m.

For more details, call 747-9592.

Fairytale Town will be hosting its annual Spring Eggstravaganza on both Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Both days will be filled with egg hunts, prizes, pictures with Peter Cottontail, puppet shows and spring-themed hands-on activities.

For more information call 808-7462 or check out Fairytale Town’s event list.

BYOB: Bring your own basket to all egg hunting events.

For those of you who want to head straight to the meal and skip the hunting altogether, there are a couple of local places offering an Easter feast or just a few special eats.

What: Easter is Easy at Ten22

When: Sunday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Where: 1022 Second St.

Cost: $12 per special; prices vary on regular menu items

Ten22 will be adding three brunch specials to its regular menu this Sunday: Walnut Levain French toast, a Dungeness crab omelet and roasted apple crêpes.

Jay Veregge, the executive chef, said, “We want to provide our customers with the regular menu and have additions for holidays.”

Veregge also mentioned that the restaurant really tries to stay organic and farm-driven.

While the restaurant has only been in Sacramento for a little over a year, it was voted “Best New Restaurant” in 2010 by subscribers of Sacramento Magazine.

Specials will be available from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Reservations are recommended.

For further details, call 441-2211 or log onto their website.

What: Celebrate Easter at the Firehouse

When: Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: 1112 Second St.

Cost: $39.95 for adults, $14.95 for children 12 and under

The Firehouse is the sister restaurant to Ten22 and they have been hosting Easter Day Brunches since 2001, said Christi Stevens, marketing specialist.

The Easter brunch was specially created by Chef Deneb Williams and diners will enjoy a three-course menu beginning with a buffet of freshly baked pastries by Pastry Chef Jill Berger, seasonal fruit and assorted meats and cheese. Guests are provided with five entree options of pork chop and eggs, Newport eggs Benedict, Santa Fe tenderloin scramble, vegetarian polenta and prawns and scallops and either chocolate-peanut butter gâteau or lemon cheesecake for dessert.

A three-course children’s menu is also available. This menu also includes the starter buffet and a choice of Triple Berry Pancakes, chicken Alfredo or the Rise & Shine dish, which consists of scrambled eggs, crisp bacon and potatoes. For dessert, an oatmeal raisin cookie sundae is served.

Both The Firehouse and Ten22 have outdoor seating for you to enjoy that great spring weather.

More for information, call 442-4772 or check out the website.

Those in search of some Easter entertainment can check out either of the following two events.

A local church is changing up its regular routine this Sunday, with a performance in place of the normal service.

What: Easter Sunday Performance: Bow at the Knee

When: Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 11:45a.m.

Where: 2805 El Camino Ave.

Cost: Free

This will actually be the second year that El Camino Baptist Church will be putting on this specific production. Last done in 2004, Pastor of Worship David Burckhardt said it was very well-received and looks forward to watching the production again.

April Schrokosch, the ministry arts director, said “Bow at the Knee” is a very relatable play.

“It’s a great production about a man who struggles with looking at two different worlds. He is confronted with a different way of thinking and this applies to many people.”

With a cast of over 50, both Burckhardt and Schrokosch said, it was a true and full-on musical Broadway-style production about the story leading up to Jesus’ death and Crucifixion through the eyes of a Roman Centurion.

More further details, call 488-1522.

If daytime outings aren’t really your thing and you’re interested in something different, you might want to check out Easter Sunday School at Movies on a Big Screen.

What: Easter Sunday School

When: Sunday, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Where: The Guild, 2828 35th St.

Cost: $5.00, advance ticket sales on site, cash only at door

This Sunday night, Movies on a Big Screen (MOBS) is showing a collection of vintage Christian material including but not limited to Christian scare films, kids’ shows and other religious video strangeness.

Robert McKeown, co-founder of MOBS, said, “We always try to play with special times of years or holidays. For example, around August, when school usually starts back up, we do a Back-to-School-Night with old educational films from the 50s and 70s. This year’s Easter viewing will be pretty similar.”

MOBS had always done Easter-related films before, such as a showing a Peeps documentary, shot in Sacramento, two years ago, but McKeown said that last year was the first year they had to deal with a movie viewing actually on Easter. So, they wanted to do something different and decided to show the video, “Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter.”

For this event, McKeown scoured through hours of obscure videos for the night’s line-up, which remains a secret until the big night. But after some prodding, McKeown hinted that film clips may include material from an old Christian children’s show with a real life amputee dressed up as a pirate doing autopsies on sinners.

Themed snacks and drinks will be available for purchase, and you are also allowed to bring your own food.

For advance tickets or further details, check out the event page.

If you know of any events not mentioned above, please feel free to put the suggestions in the comment box below.

Las Vegas 51s remain on top, 6-5

2011-04-14T05:28:18Z

The Las Vegas 51s started Wednesday’s game off strong scoring four runs in the first inning, holding the lead until the bottom of the sixth when the River Cats took over. Having lost the previous two games against the 51s, it seemed that the Cats were finally on their way to a win, but their energy waned at the top of the ninth and the 51s were able to claim their third victory in the four-game homestand.

The 51s’ Darin Mastroianni started the game singling on a ground ball and advanced to second thanks to a sacrifice bunt by Mike McCoy. Eric Thames followed, hitting the ball high, making it to first and sending Mastroianni home from third.

David Cooper hit a home run, allowing teammates Thames and Ryan Shealy to run home, bringing the score to 4-0. The Las Vegas 51s seemed determined to maintain their winning streak, allowing the River Cats only one run in the bottom half.

The River Cats refused to let the 51s’ three-point lead or the drizzling rain keep them down and came up during the bottom of the second inning. When Adam Heether went up to bat, the bases were loaded with Josh Horton on first, Jai Miller on second and Adrian Cardenas on third. Heether made it to first and pushed both Miller and Cardenas home thanks to an error by Brett Lawrie.

The scoreboard remained at 4-3 until the bottom of the sixth inning when Cats’ Miller hit a double sending Cardenas home. Horton batted next and was walked. While Heether was batting, both Horton and Miller managed to steal a base. Heether singled and sent Miller home. Jemile Weeks grounded into a double play ending the sixth inning with a score of 4-5.

As the sun edged its way through the clouds, the River Cats managed to keep the 51s at bay. And up until the top of the ninth inning, it looked as though they could have taken the game.

The 51s came hard at the top of the ninth. There was a slow start with Ryan Budde walking onto first and Mastroianni popping out soon after. But McCoy followed and things soon picked up as he made it to first allowing Budde to advance to third. Brett Lawrie then doubled on a fly ball giving his team two more runs.

Despite the crowds cheering them on, the River Cats were unable to score at all in the bottom of the ninth and the 51s ended strong with a final score of 6-5.

The 51s will challenge the River Cats one last time at Raley Field Thursday at 7:05 p.m.

Preview: Slumgum Sophomore Album Release Concert

2011-04-13T17:05:42Z

It’s been almost three years since Slumgum released its self-titled debut album, but the band members are ready and excited to let the public hear how hard they have been working since then.

The jazz quartet from Los Angeles will kick off the release of its sophomore album, “Quardboard Flavored Fiber,” with a performance in Sacramento on April 18 at Luna’s Cafe and Juice Bar, 1414 16th St.

According to Rory Cowal, Slumgum’s pianist, the band was drawn to Sacramento because of the city’s strong community for jazz and improvised music. The band first played in Sacramento about a year ago during a Second Saturday Art Walk.

“Since then, we have been visiting Sacramento more and more and are hoping to make a real presence here,” Cowal said. “We made friends here the last time, and we look forward to visiting them and meeting new folks, too.”

Slumgum’s three other members include Jon Armstrong on tenor sax, Dave Tranchina on bass and Trevor Anderies on drums. The four bandmates and friends met in school at the California Institute of the Arts and have been playing together for about five years. Cowal said that since the first album, the band has changed a lot, and they all felt that they needed to create an album that represented that.

“We are all invested into this musical project,” he said. “You can recognize the growth, comfort and strong bond in the unique musical sound that only exists as a combination of all the players working at the same thing together for so long.”

Cowal said he felt that the title track of the album was especially demonstrative of the group’s sound now, noting that it reflects their sense of humor and how much fun they have. Furthermore, it features a lot of the extremes, moods and sonic places they explore as a band.

A sense of playfulness remains at the core of Slumgum, whose name stemmed from Tranchina’s summer work with a beekeeper. It was then that they all discovered what slumgum was – the impure residue of the beeswax rendering process.

“Slumgum is goopy, goppy stuff, and the imagery was inspiring for us,” Cowal explained. “In the honey-making process, there is a little impurity, which is slumgum. That little impurity is the sense of adventure we put into our playing, the unknown that is part of our performance, and that mystery is what we really enjoy most.”

“The name is also kind of off the wall and sort of suggests that imagination and playfulness that we go for in our music.”

While jazz is the genre the four musicians work in together, they come from various backgrounds and gather inspiration from each, including but not limited to classical, country, pop and rock. They also point out the musicians around them in Los Angeles, who support one another, as a huge influence.

Cowal likened a successful performance experience for an audience member to a trip down the rabbit hole in “Alice in Wonderland” and suggested that all listeners approach the music with open ears and an open mind.

The evening’s bill will also include a set from concert series organizer and local Sacramento jazz musician Ross Hammond, who will be performing alongside ROVA Saxophone Quartet member Steve Adams.

“This is a pairing that makes sense,” Cowal said, “The two groups complement each other, and the whole evening of performance will be really fun.”

The concert will begin at 7 p.m., and cost of entry is on a sliding scale of $5-$10.

The album will be available for purchase at the concert but can also be purchased online on iTunes and CDBaby.

For more information, visit the band’s website.

Man on the Street: Where in Sacramento would you never want to take your parents?

2011-04-11T21:37:32Z

We all have parents. But while many may love and appreciate their mothers and fathers, there are just some things not meant to be shared between parents and children.

The Sacramento Press recently posed the question, “Where in Sacramento would you never want to take your parents,” to individuals at Westfield Downtown Plaza. After speaking to some fellow Sacramentans, the most common response was nightlife activities.

Kevin Watson, 29, lives downtown and works as a graphic designer. He said he thought taking his dad to a club could get pretty weird. “I wouldn’t want to take my dad to Faces (Nightclub). That place is pretty crazy, and it would just be really awkward if he got hit on while I was there.”

A number of people felt a club was a good place not to take their parents. A couple of individuals even specified strip clubs. Joe Morales, 21, who works as a gold buyer for Gold Rush at the mall, said, “I would never take my parents to a strip club. That’s just uncomfortable and real awkward!”

Whitney Phillips, 23, head cashier at Forever 21 who lives in Sacramento, also said she wouldn’t want to take her mom to a club, adding “She’s just kinda old and it would be embarrassing.”

Malwina Wnorowska, 23, a third-year student majoring in managerial economics at UC Davis, had a very specific answer.

“I would never want to take my parents to Cal Expo during Halloween. They host the Exotic Erotic Zone Ball. I don’t think my parents would want to see that, and I don’t want to give them a heart attack. But then again, maybe they’d like it...”

Despite a number of responses keeping parents away from potentially risque scenes or just away from their social lives in general, a few people noted they don’t go anywhere they wouldn’t take their parents.

Actress Bridggett Bess, who lives Midtown, said, “My parents are pretty open-minded. I think I could take them anywhere and be OK.”

Tell us where in Sacramento you would never take your parents in the comment section below.

Senior Legal Hotline reopens phonelines statewide

2011-04-08T22:44:00Z

Mickey Rooney recently brought media attention to the issue of elder abuse in his testimony to Congress on March 2, and it’s an issue the Sacramento-based Senior Legal Hotline (SLH) can now offer help with across the state. Thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women, the SLH is able to reopen its phone lines statewide in regards to issues involving domestic violence.

David Mandel has been with the SLH for more than 16 years and highlighted the problems seen with the loss of funding. The organization is continually searching various databases looking for any possible donors and grants, but has had little success. Mandel said there is currently nothing available.

At its peak about five or six years ago, the SLH was getting about $250,000, mainly from the federal and state governments. It was serving more than 10,000 cases per year during that time, but with major budget cuts, that funding is completely gone.

The total caseload has decreased to 3,581, with 2,041 cases belonging to Sacramento County seniors.

“If we had a stable $500,000 from the federal or state governments, or even a combination, we could really serve any California senior who wanted to call.”

Despite the losses in funding, the SLH continues to do what it can to help senior citizens, especially in Sacramento County, where the program is allowed more services because it originated here and continues its work from here.

Mandel said that in Sacramento, the hotline continues to aspire to not limit the types of cases it takes on. But with limited funding and the growing complicated nature of cases, the number of people the staff is able to help has been greatly reduced.

Douglas Myers, 64, who lives in Rancho Cordova, was having trouble tracking down his pension from a company he worked for that went out of business. He found an SLH flier at the Cordova Senior Center and called to see if they could help recover his pension. They were able to locate it for him and he can now collect on it for the rest of his life.

Another elderly woman said she felt like she was being taken advantage of by a company who she called to inspect her heating system.

Sacramento resident Grace Coan, 86, said she couldn’t figure out why the heater in her home wasn’t working.

“I wasn’t getting enough heat in my home and called a company to come in to see why,” Coan said. “When the first person came over, they just said, ‘You’re just not getting enough heat. It doesn’t work.’ ”

The proposed solution was to install a new gas heating system, which would cost her $9,000. However, after speaking with a neighbor, she found out the problem centered around replacing a battery in the thermostat and turning on the water heater.

The neighbor then helped Coan contact Mandel at SLH, who was able to cancel the contract within the three-day statutory limit, avoiding the unnecessary $9,000 heater. He also was able to get Coan reimbursed for the initial inspection fee, since the company provided no explanation in regard to why it chose not to inform Coan about the thermostat and water heater.

Mandel mentioned that he was able to meet Mickey Rooney last week on March 31, 2011 in San Francisco during a lunch meeting for the Elder Financial Protection Network Organization. Rooney was there speaking about and raising awareness of the plight of the elderly. Mandel said he thought it was great that there is now a media spotlight on the issue and added that he hoped it would really get people thinking.

“If Mickey Rooney can be abused, imagine the thousands of people who we never hear about who are taken advantage of by their family, caregivers, businesses and even strangers,” Mandel said. “Even if you have money and are famous, you can fall victim to such abuse. Now imagine if you don’t. Who can you turn to?”

While, the SLH cannot represent callers in court cases, it does provide certain mediation services, as it did with Elizabeth “Betty” Burt, 83, a resident of Elk Grove and client of the SLH for more than 12 years. The Area 4 Agency on Aging was how she heard about SLH’s services.

Burt said that the SLH has been a resource for a number of problems, including car accidents and issues relating to her mortgage.

Sherri Newman, a staff attorney and coordinator of the organization’s Domestic Violence Project, said that the SLH tries to offer a holistic approach when helping seniors.

“For example, if the person, as a result of the domestic violence, loses their job, we are able to offer advice and counsel over the phone about their legal rights in the given situation,” Newman said.

The SLH was formed in 1991, when the Area 4 Agency on Aging recognized how effective a legal company in Sacramento was at specifying representation for local seniors. Because there was available funding at the time, the agency created the Senior Legal Hotline (SLH) to be a program of Legal Services of Northern California (LSNC).

At the moment, the grants are helping the SLH stay afloat, but the company is looking to lay off almost half the current staff. Furthermore, Mandel noted that the grants they currently receive are very specific and, consequently, there is a lack of flexibility in services. He said that as a result, they spend most of their time turning people away because don’t qualify for the specifics.

With funds low and the specific and complicated nature of their cases, the organization is always looking for trained attorneys or paralegals willing to make a significant ongoing commitment. If you are interested in extending a hand, check the website for volunteer and donation information.

Sacramento Senior Legal Hotline is located at 444 N. Third St., Suite 312. They can also be reached at (800) 222-1753 or online at www.seniorlegalhotline.org.