Inside Land Park December 2018 by Inside Publications

DECEMBER 2018

LAND PARK/GRID

JANET WEIDEL

LAND PARK • CURTIS PARK • BROADWAY • THE GRID • DOWNTOWN • MIDTOWN • OAK PARK EAST SACRAMENTO • McKINLEY PARK • RIVER PARK • ELMHURST • TAHOE PARK • CAMPUS COMMONS ARDEN

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POCKET • GREENHAVEN •

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THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE, PLACES & CULTURE IN AMERICA'S FARM-TO-FORK CAPITAL

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LAND PARK DOUBLE LOT Land Park cutie. 3 bedroom 1½ bath with a highly desired attached 2+ car garage with plenty of storage. Central heat and air. Re¿nished hardwood Àoors, newer paint and a beautiful wood burning ¿replace in the living room. this home is on a double lot and includes two parcels. Walkable school, shops and restaurants. $480,000 LISA McCAULEY 916-601-5474

PREMIER SACRAMENTO STREET Classic Tudor style home features 5 bedrooms 3½ baths, hand-hewn ceiling beams and mantle, rich wood ceilings and custom leaded glass kitchen cabinets. Spacious master suite features a large walk in closet and new master bath with pretty Silestone counters. Feel-good family room looks out to gorgeous backyard! $975,000 PAULA SWAYNE 916-425-9715

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BEAUTIFUL WEST SACRAMENTO HOME 3 bedroom, 2½ bath features a kitchen with a gas range, island, pantry dining space and plenty of storage. You’ll love the vaulted ceilings and cozy ¿replace in the family room. Relax in your large master suite offering dual sinks, separate tub and shower; walk-in closet. Inviting back patio under the canopy of trees! $445,000 KELLIE SWAYNE 916-206-1458

CHARMING LAND PARK BUNGALOW This 2 bedroom home features updated kitchen and bath including granite counters, tile Àooring plus much more! Original hardwood Àoors in bedrooms and open concept living and dining rooms. Close to Dad’s, Freeport Bakery and Taylor’s The quaint, relaxing front porch and backyard complete this darling home! $459,000 JAMIE RICH 916-612-4000

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HOLLYWOOD PARK GEM Move right in and enjoy this 3 bedroom 1½ bath with open Àoorplan connecting the living and dining areas to the remodeled kitchen with quartz countertops and Kenmore appliances. Plenty of room to play or gather in the park-sized back yard. Remodeled baths, new plumbing and electrical, new Àooring throughout! $439,000 STEPHANIE GALLAGHER 916-342-2288

NORTH OAK PARK DUPLEX 1 bedroom 1 baths units with garage on a super spacious lot. In North Oak Park. Orientation of the duplex makes it feel very private. Beautifully maintained and ready for you. Hardwood Àoors, central heat and air and dual pane windows. Convenient location close to transportation and minutes to down town. $410,000 PAULA LOPEZ 916-719-9210

DUNNIGANREALTORS.COM 916.484.2030 916.454.5753 Dunnigan is a different kind of Realtor.

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

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1 ACRE PARCEL IN SOUTH LAND PARK Unbelievable opportunity, a stunning 3 bedroom with an of¿ce, 2 bathroom home is full of charm and sits on a rare 1 acre lot. An exposed brick ¿replace, built-in bookcases, custom tile and a classic all white kitchen give this home a modern farmhouse feel. Newly built pool with spa, large covered patio. $1,295,000 TINA SUTER 916-247-9262 TIM COLLOM 916-247-8048

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for current home listings, please visit:

LOADED WITH CHARACTER AND CHARM Amazing updated Land Park home! Newly re¿nished hardwood Àoors. Highly desired 2-car garage with plenty of storage. Quality remodeled kitchen. Newer roof, heat and air. Wonderful open Àoorplan with spacious kitchen and nook. Formal dining room and large living room with cozy cottage-like ¿replace. $469,900 MONA GERGEN 916-247-9555

ROSA DEL RIO HOME Amazing remodeled 4 bedroom home in a fantastic community! Club house, pool and tennis court directly across the street. Gorgeous remodeled kitchen and bathrooms in 2015. Windows 2013. New carpet, paint, lights and quality laminate Àoors. 3 bedrooms downstairs, courtyard entry, open Àoor plan. Two patio areas. $380,000 MONA GERGEN 916-247-9555

916.612.4000 | JamieRich.net MIDTOWN • LAND PARK • CURTIS PARK EAST SACRAMENTO • HOLLYWOOD PARK BRE No. 01870143

Jamie helped me purchase my Àrst home several years ago. Her knowledge and professionalism made the purchase smooth and worry-free. Now recently married, I needed to Ànd a home for my new family and once again, I called on Jamie. She is not only an exceptional realtor, but an exceptional person – reliable, patient, supportive, compassionate. She truly understands people, and she understands that “home” is not just a building, but a feeling; that it is not just a Ànancial investment, but an investment in family and in the future. I can’t imagine a better realtor to work with to buy or sell my home with!

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DECEMBER 2018

EAST SAC

ARDEN

LAND PARK/GRID

POCKET

DON TAYLOR

MARIA WINKLER

LAND PARK • CURTIS PARK • BROADWAY • THE GRID • DOWNTOWN • MIDTOWN • OAK PARK

EAST SACRAMENTO • McKINLEY PARK • RIVER PARK • ELMHURST • TAHOE PARK • CAMPUS COMMONS

LAND PARK • CURTIS PARK • BROADWAY • THE GRID • DOWNTOWN • MIDTOWN • OAK PARK

ARDEN

POCKET • GREENHAVEN •

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WILHAGGIN

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SOUTH POCKET • LITTLE POCKET • RIVERLAKE • DELTA SHORES

EAST SACRAMENTO • McKINLEY PARK • RIVER PARK • ELMHURST • TAHOE PARK • CAMPUS COMMONS

CARMICHAEL

ARDEN

SOUTH POCKET • LITTLE POCKET • RIVERLAKE • DELTA SHORES

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ARCADE

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SIERRA OAKS

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WILHAGGIN

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DEL PASO MANOR

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CARMICHAEL

LAND PARK • CURTIS PARK • BROADWAY • THE GRID • DOWNTOWN • MIDTOWN • OAK PARK

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JANET WEIDEL Janet Weidel’s work will be part of the group show, “Here Comes Santa Claus,” featuring artists’ interpretations of Father Christmas and other holiday themes. The show runs Dec. 4–22 at Archival Gallery at 3223 Folsom Blvd. Visit janetweidel.com. Shown: “Santa,” oil on canvas.

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DECEMBER 18 VOL. 21 • ISSUE 11 7 10 12 14 16 18 20 24 26 28 30 32 34 38 42 44 48 50 56

Publisher's Desk Life On The Grid Giving Back City Politics City Beat Meet Your Neighbor Home Insight Sports Authority On The Run Caught Up In The Raptor Garden Jabber Pets & Their People Building Our Future Getting There Spirit Matters Farm To Fork Artist Spotlight To Do Restaurant Insider

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Burnett celebrated at the opening ceremonies of a McKinley Village park named in his honor.

A Man in Full BURNETT MILLER WAS SACRAMENTO’S RENAISSANCE MAN he ancient Stoic philosopher, Epictetus, inspired the expression, “A Man in Full.” His life view was that we cannot control external conditions. All we can do is be true to our own high ideals. R. Burnett Miller died in October after a brief illness, surrounded by family in his East Sacramento living room. He was 95. He was a lifelong Sacramentan and a beloved community leader and philanthropist with a multitude of interests and causes. He was “A Man in Full.” Burnett’s roots ran deep in Sacramento. His family founded Burnett & Sons, a millwork and lumber

CH By Cecily Hastings Publisher’s Desk

company, in 1869. Burnett served on the City Council from 1971 to 1977, representing District 3. In 1982, he was selected by the council to serve as mayor through 1983. He and his wife Mimi were both very active in art philanthropy. But while his long and rich life seemed as good as one could possibly hope for, he suffered much tragedy as a younger man. Burnett fought in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. He suffered a concussion, shrapnel wounds and temporary deafness when a mortar shell exploded in a foxhole in 1945. Three weeks later, he rejoined his Army unit and helped liberate the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star. He was chosen to recount his devastating war stories for the acclaimed PBS documentary “The War” by Ken Burns. He spent 11 hours in interviews for the series.

Returning home to Sacramento after the war, Burnett spent his career running the family millwork and cabinetry business. Tragedy struck again when his first wife died, and later with the death of two sons. Burnett played a vital role in helping save historic Old Sacramento buildings from being torn down for redevelopment. He established a trust for preservation. He was a founding member of the annual conference at Lake Tahoe that mentors aspiring poets and writers. Until recently, he played tennis at Sutter Lawn Tennis Club with his friend Wayne Thiebaud, the internationally celebrated painter. When we built our home 13 years ago, I became friends with Dave Coffin, an employee of Burnett & Sons, who worked with us on custom doors, trim and built-ins. We’ve been friends ever since. I asked him to help explain Burnett’s success as a person. Coffin is 70 and has been employed by the mill for 18 years. Prior to that, Coffin called on Burnett as a sales rep

for a window manufacturer. Their relationship went back almost 50 years. While ready for retirement years ago, Coffin told me he wanted to stay as long as Burnett was alive. The men visited regularly. “His office door was always open and he genuinely cared about his employees and what was going on in their lives,” Coffin says. “He never seemed like a boss, but always like leader. He was a consummate gentleman. And he retained a lifelong interest in the lives of other people. As he aged, he continued to make friends with folks much younger than himself.” Coffin continues, “His knowledge base on so many subjects was so respected. People sought his advice and he gave it thoughtfully and generously. Burnett was both extremely well read and well traveled. He had a depth of perspective that few people ever achieve. His subject matter expertise was extremely broad, well beyond the arts and history which he was best known for.”

ILP/GRID n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

HE WAS A CONSUMMATE GENTLEMAN, AND HE RETAINED A LIFELONG INTEREST IN THE LIVES OF OTHER PEOPLE. AS HE AGED, HE CONTINUED TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH FOLKS MUCH YOUNGER THAN HIMSELF.

His friend, developer Phil Angelides, honored Burnett in 2017 by dedicating Burnett Miller Park at his recently opened McKinley Village housing project. “It’s a great honor,” Burnett said that day. “All the streets here are named after former artists. Almost all of them were friends of mine, so it’s

comfortable being in the place with my old friends.” A couple years ago, I had the honor of serving on the art selection panel for the extensive public art at McKinley Village. Both Burnett and Thiebaud served alongside me. It was a terrific experience. Burnett was engaged and impressive in his knowledge of a variety

Burnett often played tennis with friend and artist Wayne Thiebaud.

Mimi and Burnett honored friend Bob Stanley, Sacramento’s ﬁrst poet laureate, with the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission’s Legends of the Arts Awards in 2017..

of art mediums. He also knew the work of many of the hundreds of artists who applied for the program. The development has won numerous awards for the beautiful public art on display. Burnett is survived by his wife, Mimi, sons Jim, Fitzgerald and Powell, daughters Simone, Mary and Margot, and three grandchildren. The business, located in Alkali Flat, remains in family hands and is run by Jim. One challenge many folks of Burnett’s age suffer is finding purpose to their lives. My husband Jim struggled with this when he retired from our business last year at age 89. Gratefully, Jim has now accepted that living into your 80s or 90s and being healthy, active and engaged is simply an inspiration to others. It gives younger folks hope and an example of how they can age with purpose and dignity. I cannot think of anyone who is a greater inspiration than Burnett Miller. My Friday morning tennis games at Sutter Lawn always ended with Burnett and Thiebaud walking on the courts as we left. And while I only play once a week, they managed to play almost every day. I should be so lucky. Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. n

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

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Updating Traditions BELOVED BALLET GETS A NEW POINT OF VIEW W

n Amy Seiwert’s first season as artistic director of the Sacramento Ballet, she’s tackling a pretty significant project: choreographing “The Nutcracker,” the beloved ballet that has been in the company’s repertoire in one form or another since its inception in 1954. “It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever undertaken,” says Seiwert, who danced with the ballet as a young woman and returned to its helm for the 2018-19 season. “But I’ve been training my whole life to do it.” Seiwert’s extensive history with Tchaikovsky’s iconic musical score has helped her immensely as she’s set to reimaging the holiday classic based on the story by E.T.A. Hoffmann. She first danced “The Nutcracker” at 8 years old and has danced it multiple times since under different choreographers, which has informed her vision. “There are so many different interpretations of the story that I would argue there’s no ‘pure’ ‘Nutcracker,’” says Seiwert, who plans to explore the tale through the lens of Marie—the original name of protagonist Clara— who uses her imagination to empower herself. “I love that we can find different ways to tell this story. It’s often an audience member’s first access point into the art form of ballet, so why not see the story told by a woman choreographer?”

JL By Jessica Laskey Life on the Grid

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

But lest traditionalists fear this will be too modern a take on the tale, Seiwert assures audiences, “I’m shifting the point of view but not shifting the style. We’re using the same beautiful sets and costumes, and we have a cast of 300 children. People will still recognize this as the ‘Nutcracker’ tradition they love, just from a different perspective.” “The Nutcracker” plays Dec. 14–23 at the Community Center Theater. For tickets and more information, visit sacballet.org.

CORPS VALUES The Land Park Volunteer Corps was recently recognized at the first annual Volunteer Recognition Night, presented by the Sacramento Parks and Recreation Commission. The volunteer corps is a nonprofit group, headed by lead coordinator Craig Powell, that meets monthly to keep William Land Park looking its best. “The Land Park Volunteer Corps was nominated for volunteer recognition for its steadfast advocacy on behalf of William Land Park,” says District 4 park commissioner Julie Murphy, who nominated the group for the award. “In economically challenging times, LPVC worked tirelessly to keep William Land Park the beautiful park this community has enjoyed for the past 100 years and will continue to enjoy for another 100 years.” Want to join in the fun? Work days will start up again on the first Saturday of the month come spring (better weather makes for better work) and typically last from 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers, who will receive a complimentary lunch, should check in by the picnic grounds behind Fairytale Town. For more information, email ckpinsacto@aol.com. Donation checks can be sent to 3053 Freeport Blvd., No. 231, Sacramento, 95818, payable to the Land Park Volunteer Corps.

Sacramento Ballet's "The Nutcracker"

SEE’S CANDY FOR SALE Soroptimist International of Sacramento will hold its annual See’s Candy fundraiser Dec. 1–24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in Loehmann's Plaza at 523 Munroe St. The Second Edition of “Inside Sacramento: The Most Interesting Neighborhood Places in America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital” also will be for sale to benefit SIS, a nonprofit service club that supports at-risk women and girls in Sacramento.

The Sacramento chapter of SIS was established in 1923 and is part of a worldwide federation of service clubs whose mission is to improve the lives of women and children. For more information, visit soroptimistsacramento.com.

ANYTIME TOURS “Anytime Tours,” a new app for iOS and Android devices, takes users on a journey through amazing moments in Sacramento history—all for free.

Park commissioner Julie Murphy presents Craig Powell with an award for the Land Park Volunteer Corps. Photo courtesy of Art Taylor.

“Anytime Tours” takes users on a journey through Sacramento history. Sacramento. This was not a place for the faint of heart.” Presented by the Center for Sacramento History, city of Sacramento and Sacramento History Museum, the app can be downloaded for free at anytimetours.oncell.com, the Apple App Store or Google Play.

FITNESS THROUGH FUN Get the whole family moving with Kids Unplugged. The 50-minute digital walking tours wend through the Historic City Cemetery and Old Sacramento at the visitor’s convenience. The app highlights what life was like in 19thcentury Sacramento with gripping true stories that follow in the footsteps of

murderers, ne’er-do-wells and common citizens alike. “These tours are an entertaining way to rediscover a place you thought you knew,” says Marcia Eymann, Sacramento city historian. “Local actors take you back in time to discover how wild the 19th century really was in

East Sac training facility and state-ofthe-art gym Fitness Rangers wants the whole family to have fun getting fit with Kids Unplugged, a program of hands-on classes for youngsters ages 4–13. “The goal of Kids Unplugged is to get children moving,” says Claire Canetti, director of the program. “We believe if we can create a fun and engaging environment, we can help children

develop lifelong healthy habits around exercise and nutrition.” Kids Unplugged offers yoga and Power Hour to give kids the chance to unleash some energy in a creative way, and get a good workout for body and mind. Classes are designed for children in two age groups: Recruit Level (4–6 years old) and Core Level (6–13 years old). Trainers offer strategies for healthy habits, as well as tips for setting and accomplishing goals. For adults, Fitness Rangers offers boot camp classes, on-site personal training, barre, cycle, RxFit and childcare. Fitness Rangers is located at 1717 34th St. For more information, visit fitnessrangers.net. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. n

ILP/GRID n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Perfect

Match

Noelle Anderson

oelle Anderson loves to garden. She also loves the Shepard Garden and Arts Center, the venerable mid-century building in McKinley Park that’s played host to a

JL By Jessica Laskey Giving Back: Volunteer Proﬁle

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

wide variety of gardening, flower and creative arts clubs for more than 60 years. Put the two together and it’s a perfect match. “There’s so much going on here,” says Anderson, who made her way to East Sac after time spent in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Chico, Davis (to earn her master’s degree in applied linguistics) and Arden-Arcade. “The center is open almost every night with meetings of about 30 different clubs.” Anderson’s first experience with SG&AC—which was built by the city of Sacramento in 1958 and later renamed in honor of Iva Gard Shepard, a Sacramento Bee garden columnist

and longtime president of the center’s board—was as a member of the Perennial Plant Club. Upon retiring from her job as an ESL teacher for the San Juan Unified School District and Sacramento City College, Anderson decided to devote even more time to the center. She joined Friends of the SG&AC—the nonprofit arm that focuses on outreach and events—and eventually the center’s board when it gained autonomy from the city two years ago. “By golly, I’ve got ideas,” Anderson says with a grin. Last spring, Anderson put her first idea, the Perimeter Project, into motion. The project centers on upping

the building’s curb appeal to entice outside renters and make the area more inviting to passersby. “We want it to really look like a place that nurtures gardening and the arts,” Anderson says. To that end, she got the city to fix the sprinkler system and then devised a plan to allow various plant clubs to take over specific beds around the property and spruce them up with the help of volunteers. Clubs can request funds from Friends of the SG&AC to pay for plants, mulch, improvements to the irrigation system and a plaque identifying their club as a reminder of the work it takes to make a garden grow. Anderson hopes to encourage club members and outside volunteers who want to get their hands dirty to take up the mantle of SG&AC volunteer superheroes Lee Ruth and Daisy Mah, who currently take care of many of the beds by themselves. “I’ve been warned that nobody will help, but that’s not true,” says Anderson, who still finds time in her busy travel and SG&AC schedule to play piano in a classical quartet and go on hikes with the Sierra Club. “As long as you talk to people and keep trying, the effort will pay off.” To volunteer for the Perimeter Project, email Anderson at nandersn@ surewest.net. Donations can be made to Friends of the SG&AC, 3330 McKinley Blvd., Sacramento, 95816. For more information, visit sgaac.org. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. n

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Show Us The Money MAYOR MUST ACCOUNT FOR MEASURE U WINDFALL

Illustration by Elizabeth Scribner

acramento voters are generous people. Twice now, they have agreed to raise sales taxes on themselves to help pay for city services, including public safety and parks. Never mind that they already pay for police, fire and parks with property and sales taxes and fees. As costs for services increase, local voters are willing to dig deeper. But those free-spending politicians at City Hall, led by Mayor Darrell Steinberg, should be careful. The narrow passage of Measure U in November came with two warnings— generosity has its limits, and educated voters won’t stand for being lied to and manipulated. Measure U, which took a halfcent temporary sales tax from 2012,

RG By R.E. Graswich

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

doubled it and made it permanent, won with 55 percent approval Nov. 6. No doubt some voters believed the spin from Steinberg and his City Council allies that the money—around $100 million per year—is destined for police, fire, parks, neighborhood services, code enforcement and economic development. Steinberg sold Measure U as a dream. That’s the word he used. “A dream is just a dream unless it’s combined with creative and bold action,” he said in June while rolling out the tax-hike campaign. There was a flip side to Steinberg’s dreamy rhetoric. Ominously, threats came from City Hall suggesting core services would be slashed if voters defeated Measure U. The combined narratives of big dreams and dire consequences were sufficient to get the tax bill across the finish line.

The victory margin should not be comforting to Steinberg and the City Council. While a win is a win, 44 percent of voters—23,254 residents— said no thanks to Measure U. And that’s despite a massive money advantage by Steinberg’s Yes on Measure U campaign, which accumulated $1,035,977, mostly from unions, before Election Day. The “no” campaign raised $274,964. Interestingly, the objections weren’t uniformly scattered across the city. They were concentrated in some of the most affluent and civically engaged neighborhoods, including Pocket, Riverlake, Greenhaven, Little Pocket, South Land Park, East Sacramento, Fab 40s, River Park and La Riviera. In the precinct near Didion Park in Greenhaven, Measure U failed 252163. In the Fab 40s, the measure lost 262-187. In River Park, the “no” votes

THE COMBINED NARRATIVES OF BIG DREAMS AND DIRE CONSEQUENCES WERE SUFFICIENT TO GET THE TAX BILL ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

prevailed 250-189. (For what it’s worth, those neighborhoods are prime centers of Inside readership. Presumably, residents soaked up our coverage before voting.) Now Steinberg and the council must deliver on their promises. During the campaign, budgetary evidence suggested a large chunk of Measure U dollars would be diverted to cover pension and benefit plans for city employees— plans that reflect unfunded liabilities caused by negligent control over labor agreements. Measure U is a general tax, which means the money can be spent at the City Council’s whim. They can blow it all on sweetheart labor deals and pensions. But that’s not what Steinberg promised. When he spoke of dreams, the mayor never mentioned pensions. At least 44 percent of Sacramento voters don’t trust City Hall with an extra $100 million. If Steinberg and the City Council aren’t careful with the bountiful gift of Measure U, that 44 percent will quickly grow into an angry, motivated majority. R.E. Graswich can be reached at reg@graswich.com. n

Down and Dirty MEASURE U PROVES WATCHDOG’S IMPORTANCE

n 2016, the new mayoralty of Darrell Steinberg caused worry at Eye On Sacramento, the taxpayer watchdog group. We knew Kevin Johnson had been a politically centrist mayor. But Steinberg was a strident, almost evangelical progressive. He brought a zeal for pricey new programs and had longstanding ties to public employee unions. On his watch as leader of the state Senate, a number of Steinberg’s colleagues were prosecuted and sent to jail. Would the Senate’s culture follow the new mayor into City Hall? To put it mildly, we had our concerns. Steinberg had the good fortune to have his hometown daily newspaper, The Sacramento Bee, firmly in his corner. It’s a tight association that continues to this day. His chief

CP By Craig Powell City Politics • OPINION •

spokesperson spent decades with The Bee before joining the mayor’s staff. When Steinberg took office, it seemed the new mayor was headed for a collision with Eye On Sacramento. The crash came over Measure U, the permanent 1-cent sales tax on the November ballot. The mayor’s office quickly began to prepare for the Measure U campaign. Voters would be asked to double the 2012 temporary, half-cent version of the measure. Steinberg created a “recipient” committee, which allowed him to accept contributions in unlimited amounts. Eye On Sacramento called it a slush fund. The first contribution was $100,000 from the State Building and Construction Trades Council, mother ship of trade unions in California. This summer, Steinberg rammed through a collective-bargaining agreement with the Trades Council that gives unions a monopoly on city construction contracts more than $1 million. City staff could not publicly determine the higher costs associated with the agreement. Despite protests from City Council members Allen Warren and Jeff Harris, Steinberg won a 7-2 council approval for the sweetheart labor deal. Three weeks

later, trade unions gave another $50,000 to Steinberg’s slush fund, now called the Yes on Measure U committee. Eye On Sacramento publicly asked the FBI to investigate whether $150,000 in union contributions was an illegal quid pro quo. Two days after I called for an FBI review, a Bee reporter contacted me. She wanted to write a profile—ostensibly about my longtime involvement in city government and politics. I was reluctant to agree. The same reporter previously interviewed me about my work with the No on Measure U campaign, which I chaired. She characterized our efforts as “ragtag”—an unfair label. Sure enough, the profile was published and included unflattering information from almost two decades ago, ignoring essential context. How my distant past is newsworthy is beyond me. I’m not an elected official. I head up a local government watchdog group. But that’s the way life goes. I know how ugly politics can get when you challenge powerful politicians and special interests. The $150,000 construction trades contribution was only the start for Measure U. In October alone, Sacramento’s police union gave

Steinberg $50,000. Local firefighters gave $125,000. Service Employees International contributed $100,000. By Election Day, the Yes on Measure U campaign had received $1,035,977, mostly from unions. And more money was still being reported. No on Measure U committees had $274,964—almost a 4-to-1 deficit. But there is a larger concern, beyond money. The experience of Measure U sent a scary message to future watchdogs and whistleblowers in Sacramento. The message: there are consequences to telling truth to power. Measure U passed with 55 percent approval. In 2012, the first version passed with 64 percent. Our “ragtag” group lost the battle. But we made significant progress in the ongoing fight to hold the city’s elected representatives accountable. Craig Powell is a retired attorney, community activist and president of Eye On Sacramento, the local government watchdog and policy advisory organization. He can be reached at craig@eyeonsacramento.org or (916) 781-3030. n

OUR “RAGTAG” GROUP LOST THE BATTLE. BUT WE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE ONGOING FIGHT TO HOLD THE CITY’S ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ACCOUNTABLE.

ILP/GRID n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Two-Wheeled Confusion DOCO DRAWS CROWDS, BUT DON’T GO THERE ON BIKE

Jerry and Candace Furlong

erry and Candace Furlong live in Arden-Arcade but enjoy Downtown. To get there, the Furlongs sometimes ride bikes. The trek is about 10 miles each way, enough to produce a healthy sense of accomplishment. Earlier this year, the Furlongs biked to the movie theaters next to Golden 1 Center. The day was warm and lovely. Everything was fine until they arrived at Downtown Commons. At that point, the bikes became a burden. “A guard from the arena asked us to dismount, which was no problem because we’d seen the signs,” Candace says. “Then we asked where we could park. He said he had no idea. We looked

RG By R.E. Graswich City Beat

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

all over for a safe place to park our bikes and saw nothing.” They did see many security guards. Unfortunately, none knew about bike parking. After hauling their bikes up an escalator, the Furlongs were told by movie theater staff to chain up to a railing, which they did. In their adventure, the Furlongs discovered one of the more consequential realities detracting from the total success of DoCo. Working with a $535 million arena and $250 million hotel, condo and retail complex, the mall’s designers showed little love to bicycles. And the Furlongs wandered into an even bigger story. The arena is one of the toughest places in Sacramento to reach and enjoy via bicycle. The location is treacherous, surrounded by cars, light rail tracks and one-way streets. The infrastructure is a mess for bikes. “It’s beautiful, but it’s really hard to get to unless you come in a car,” says Jim Brown, executive director of Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates. “How do we make that part of the city more accessible to bikes? The Kings

and city could be leaders. But there’s no easy solution.” If cyclists know where to look, they can find bike racks at DoCo. The racks look like street art—tall, angled wedges of polished steel. Six racks flank the corner of Fifth and L streets and 21 racks form a picket line by the Sawyer Hotel on J Street near Sixth. More racks are on K Street near Seventh, but they have been hidden behind construction barricades. SABA has worked with the Kings to open a bike corral at 555 Capitol Mall during events. It’s just two blocks away. An earlier corral in Chavez Plaza was too far (not to mention dangerous). After their movie experience, the Furlongs called the Kings to complain

about the lack of bike racks at Golden 1 Center. They received a speedy call back. “The gentleman told me there was a bike rack at Seventh and L, but he was more concerned about the security guard who didn’t know where the parking was,” Candace says. “He asked several times if I could describe the guy.” The Kings quickly answered my call, too. As their work with SABA demonstrates, they want frictionless accessibility for all. But winning an NBA championship might be easier. I’ll explain why next time. R.E. Graswich can be reached at reg@graswich.com. n

THE LOCATION IS TREACHEROUS, SURROUNDED BY CARS, LIGHT RAIL TRACKS AND ONE-WAY STREETS. THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS A MESS FOR BIKES.

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Taylor Made FORMER FRAME SHOP OWNER IS FINALLY READY FOR RETIREMENT

Don Taylor

here are early bloomers—and then there is Don Taylor. The former owner of Taylor’s Art Center on J Street, Don married his teenage sweetheart, Mec, while he was still attending McClatchy High. He purchased the Midtown framing store in his early 20s, expanding Taylor’s to include locations in Arden-Arcade and

DB By Daniel Barnes Meet Your Neighbor

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

Stockton, and later adding an office supplies store and gallery. Don even retired young at the age of 58, selling to University Art when the framing industry nosedived in the 1990s. University Art continues to operate on J Street, while Don at 79 still seems more like a 58-year-old. Residing in Carmichael, the Taylors have traveled the world and started their own jewelry line since selling the business, but Don still misses the frame game. “I wasn’t ready to quit,” he says. “I think we’d opened nine different businesses when I retired—most didn’t make it, but that’s the fun part.” Taylor’s Art Center debuted as Van’s Art Shop in 1949, the same year Relles Florist and Art Ellis opened on J

Street, which was a two-way road at the time. While attending Sacramento City College and working at UPS, 18-yearold Don stepped into Van’s to purchase art supplies, only to be offered a job by the owner, a twinkly-eyed Dutchman named A.M. “Van” Van Soest. Don refused, but Van offered again when Don went back two months later. “This is very weird, considering what ended up happening,” Don says. Then in his late 70s, Van had previously owned art and frame shops in Amsterdam, San Rafael and San Francisco, and they all went broke. Van’s Art Shop seemed headed for the same fate, until Don and Van’s son John, both barely of legal drinking age at the time, bought him out in 1960. “We knew the framing business, and we knew there was lots of business,” says Don. “But Van was pricing us out of the market. He was going broke every day because he didn’t pay his bills.” Taylor’s quickly developed into the go-to frame shop for then-unknown artists Wayne Thiebaud and Gregory Kondos, who both taught college at the time. “If you’re an artist or teacher, they’re not told anything about framing,” Don says. “They had to come to us, if they cared, and learn from us.” While the framing business boomed in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s (at one time there were 63 frame shops in the Sacramento area), Taylor’s became established as the biggest fish in a deep pond. “We were probably working 18-hour days, including Saturdays,” Don says. He tried to aggressively grow the business, adding additional, short-lived locations, first in Stockton and later in Town & Country Village, and expanding the store to include more art supplies. Don bought his fatigued business partner's share in 1969, at which point Mec came aboard, helping the J Street location expand from seven employees to 50, while also adding an office supplies store, home organization

store and gallery. At high tide, Taylor’s had salesmen roaming from Reno to Vacaville, plus two in-house employees who only took phone orders. They also sold supplies to the local airbases, as well as both daily newspapers. “Everybody had to buy from a major store, and we just happened to develop into the major art store,” he says. The industry changed drastically in the 1990s as personal computers became more powerful and accessible. “At one point in time, everything was dependent on materials,” says Don. “Suddenly the Macintosh came along, and we were told that this thing could hurt.” Industry experts predicted it would take 10 years for businesses like Taylor’s to feel the crunch, but it only took two. “We literally lost most of our business,” he adds. Five years after the big drop, Taylor’s was reinvented enough to keep the business afloat, but the magic was gone. “It’s not fun anymore when you can hardly pay your bills,” says Don. Palo Alto-based University Art made an offer in 1998 and, after six months of resisting, Don accepted. Only 58 at the time, Don wasn’t ready to ride off into the sunset. “People talk about being retired, and so many of them retire and die five years later,” he says. “I guess I was too young for that.” In addition to traveling the world and creating a jewelry line with Mec, Don has re-focused on his own painting over the last two decades, mostly working in watercolors. “Since I retired, I’ve been able to do a lot of experimenting,” he says. He also became active in the South Sacramento Rotary Club and started mentoring through his church’s employment center. “Everybody needs a toe up, everybody needs something to grab on to,” he says. “Nobody understands that better than me.” Daniel Barnes can be reached at danielebarnes@hotmail.com. n

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Room for Greatness REIMAGINED TUDOR WILL SHINE ON FAB 40S HOME TOUR

uilt in 1931 in one of Sacramento’s most celebrated neighborhoods, the brick Tudor exhibited a footprint typical of that bygone era. The kitchen was small. The rooms were segregated. Storage space was

CR By Cathryn Rakich Home Insight

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

scarce. But homeowner Katherine Bardis, who saw past the bright blue fuzzy carpet from a long-ago update, knew she could turn the two-story structure into a show-stopping place to call home. “The craftwork in the home was phenomenal,” Bardis says. “You could tell the bones had a lot of room for greatness. The house gave us a really good foundation to be creative.” She knows what she’s talking about. As co-founder of Bardis Homes, a company launched in 2012, Bardis is experienced in home construction, land development and interior design. She was born to the business. Her father

Chris Bardis built thousands of homes in Sacramento and around the West. Katherine Bardis, with husband and Sacramento developer Bay Miri, purchased the 3,439-square-foot, fivebedroom home in 2017. One month later, they initiated the demolition on their wedding day. Renovations took a full year and included expanding the footprint to 5,000 square feet and adding a full bathroom for a total of four and a half baths. Standing stately on a wide, treeshaded street in the Fab 40s, the house will be one of five featured on this year’s Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour, Nov. 30–Dec. 2, to benefit Sacred Heart Parish School.

Renovation began with demolishing the back of the house, including the kitchen and family room. The front living room and fireplace, and most of the original windows, were maintained. “We tried to integrate some of the old feel, especially at the beginning of the house with the trim work and molding,” Bardis says. The floors, which were replaced with engineered hardwood, have a herringbone pattern at the front of the home “to make it feel vintage and appropriate for the house. As you move onto the new sections, it gets more modern,” explains Bardis. “All the ceilings were really low, so we looked at where we could raise them.”

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The couple kept the original front door, which opens up to a remastered staircase that leads to a second-floor landing with a vaulted ceiling featuring an antique crystal chandelier that hung in the home where Bardis grew up. “The staircase was very narrow and dark. It was not this grand entrance that the house deserved.”

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

The exterior of the Tudor was red brick. “But it felt old and tired,” says Bardis, “so we painted it all white to give it some life and excitement.” The couple recycled the brick that was removed during the demo and reused it, either in the addition or landscaping. The kitchen more than doubled in size and now features a large island with a walnut base for “a richer feel,”

Bardis says. The white perimeter cabinets are set off by a marble-patterned quartz backsplash and countertops. A wall of glass sliding doors opens to the backyard. “Our goal was to have an open house where people can move around and feel comfortable, but also feel very intimate,” she says. To conceal the awkward entrance to the basement, Bardis integrated the door into the kitchen area so it blends in like another cabinet. Handmade tiles in the bathrooms and laundry room are hand painted and custom glazed. Upstairs, a bathroom with marble tile doubles as a steam-wet room with a rain-head shower and tub, all in one open area. “My husband will say it’s his favorite room in the house.” What is Bardis’ favorite feature? Her very own, bedroom-size, walk-in closet connected to the laundry room. “You can tell a woman built the house,” she laughs. “And we don’t share.” The couple added a small nook at the entrance of the master bedroom with a coffee station, filtered water and wine fridge. “If we are really tired we don’t have to go downstairs,” she says. Separate toilets, each surrounded by frosted glass, and sinks on each side of room are “very important.” The couple refinished the backyard pool and added a hot tub. New brick and concrete

flatwork, a floating wood deck with a trellis, and plenty of plants and vines create an “intimate, secret garden.” Bardis kept the old baby-blue garage doors with stained glass to embellish a backyard wall. While Bardis served as contractor, the couple used architect John Packowski and designer Leila Jaworski. “She’s classy but unassuming. That’s what we wanted—a very unassuming, comfortable house that is still sophisticated and classy.” Bardis and Miry designed the home for the future with two upstairs bedrooms that would be ideal for children and a downstairs bedroom with a separate entrance that could be used as in-law quarters. “It’s built if you want to live here as a couple, as a single person or if you want to have a family,” Bardis says. “We are proud of the whole house.” The self-guided Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour will be held Nov. 30–Dec. 2 featuring five historic homes in East Sacramento’s Fabulous 40s. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 the day of the event. For information, visit sacredhearthometour.com or email shhometour@gmail.com. Cathryn Rakich can be reached at crakich@ surewest.net. n

ILP/GRID n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Ringside Seats CITY CAN’T FORGET AUDITORIUM WAS HOME TO SPORTS

or those of us who love Memorial Auditorium, it’s nice to see the old brick hulk get some attention from the city. But for sports fans, there’s reason to worry. The city is spending $10.7 million to revitalize the 1927 Mediterranean showpiece, but none of that money will necessarily make the room better for sports. Some people are doing just fine off the Memorial rehab. The project’s senior superintendent gets $303,355 for 61 weeks of work, benefits included. The construction manager pulls $267,348. Theater lovers should be happy, too. The upgrades include millions

RG By R.E. Graswich Sports Authority

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

for theatrical, acoustical, electrical and seating improvements to make Memorial a suitable home for Broadway shows, local ballet, philharmonic and opera. Never mind that those cultural relics draw dwindling and temporary audiences. They will return to the Community Center Theater when it’s rebuilt. Nowhere in the Memorial plans approved by the City Council is there mention of sports. That’s disgraceful. For most of its life, Memorial served as the city’s classiest sports palace. On Nov. 9, 1931, Sacramento residents eager for live entertainment went to Memorial for a wrestling show promoted by the Disabled American War Veterans. That night, fans cheered (or booed) Tommy Thompson, Wild Bill Beth, Marciano Agrava and Jack Reed. Tickets cost $1 to $2. Women were admitted free. Disabled veterans put on weekly wrestling shows every Monday night at Memorial throughout the 1930s. Monthly shows at 15th and J streets continued until the early 1980s. Wrestling thrilled

generations at the auditorium for more than 50 years. After World War II, Jim (Thunderbolt) Casey and Francisco Palacio filled seats. By 1966, the Memorial calendar featured Gorilla Monsoon and Cowboy Billy Watts. Come the 1970s, Pat Patterson, Moondog Mayne, Dr. Ken Ramey, Red Bastien and Playboy Buddy Rose played heroes and heels at the auditorium. Sports fans rightfully consider Memorial a hallowed site for boxing. Among the first events to christen the building was a prizefight on March 4, 1927. Sacramento Bee sportswriter Rudy Hickey wrote, “Never in the history of the boxing game on the Pacific Coast have matches been staged with such a unique and picturesque setting.” In 1976, local champ Pete Ranzany beat Adolph Viruet before 4,713 fans—an incredible crowd, considering the building’s capacity was 4,200. The 1982 Memorial brawl between Bobby

Chacon and Bazooka Limon stands with the greatest prizefights in history. There were more sports. For decades, Memorial was a regular stop for roller derby. Ann Calvello was 43 years old in 1973, but fans saw her skate with the Bay Bombers at the auditorium. Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics played an exhibition at Memorial in 1957. The Harlem Globetrotters made annual appearances. In 1941, Memorial was site of a national tug-of-war tournament. Sacramento State was the last regular sports tenant to call Memorial home, playing basketball there from 1996–2000. The Hornets lost 34 consecutive games—a sports legacy best forgotten. Still, sports deserve a spotlight in the restored Memorial Auditorium. If the city can fix the building for Broadway tunes, there’s room for the legacies of Moondog Mayne. R.E. Graswich can be reached at reg@graswich.com. n

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On the Run

ARDEN PARK RESIDENT KNOWS THERE’S MORE TO RUNNING THAN POUNDING PAVEMENT

College athletes give it their all during the recent NCAA regional cross-country championships held at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex.

cott Abbott readily admits that his favorite thing about running is when he’s done running. “It’s such a physically demanding endeavor,” says Abbott, a championship runner, coach and executive director of the Sacramento Running Association, which operates the California International Marathon. “It’s really just a continual process of enduring pain. The fun begins after you’re done running. You get to evaluate the very unique feelings of either satisfaction or failure that only running can provide. The sport takes

JL By Jessica Laskey Meet Your Neighbor

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

you to a very clear space where you encounter a binary challenge—only you know whether you cowered or towered. It’s uniquely satisfying to be able to engage in at least one thing that is so pure.” Abbott’s philosophical approach to running first began when he was a student-athlete at Jesuit High School. He grew up in Arden Park, attending St. Michael’s and Jesuit, and returned to the area to raise his family—making his children fourth-generation residents. Abbott credits much of his personal development to Jesuit running coach Walt Lange. “He truly is a maker of men,” Abbott says. “A student-athlete who persists for four years in his program—regardless of what level they achieve—accomplishes something more significant than any tangible award or record. They will have developed the understanding that personal success is achieved simply and patiently through showing up on a daily basis and effectively and diligently getting your work done. Such a simple message, but such a powerful tool to

arm young adults with as they head out into the world where shortcuts and instant gratification are the siren song.” Abbott has certainly taken Lange’s advice to heart during his sportsoriented career. After earning three state championships and All-American honors in high school, Abbott attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he ran track and field and cross-country, serving as team captain for two seasons for the Bruins and winning UCLA Student-Athlete of the Year in 1999. After graduation, he worked various jobs for the Los Angeles Lakers, PGA Champions Tour and United States Olympic Committee, and then moved into coaching—becoming the most successful distance-running coach in Sacramento State University history. “I’ve always valued the relationship building that is inherent with coaching,” says Abbott, who currently coaches numerous local post-collegiate, professional and Olympic-level runners and teaches Sport Leadership at the University of San Francisco. “It

isn’t really about teaching a sport or technical skills—it’s about creating space for people where they can be comfortable being themselves.” As much as he loves the job, Abbott noticed that the collegiate coaching lifestyle was becoming a challenge as his family grew with his wife Katie, a fellow competitive runner he met in college and with whom he ran the Boston Marathon last year to celebrate their 40th birthdays. Since he’d already been serving on the board of SRA, he became a natural candidate for executive director—a position he’s held for the past five years. “The SRA does so much for this community,” Abbott says. “Annually, they spend close to $2 million to run programs and events that make our city a better place to live, work and play. I’m thrilled to have a unicorn of a job.” At this time of year, Abbott is busy overseeing the California International Marathon, SRA’s biggest event of the year. As one of the premier running events in the world—it’s the No. 1 qualifying marathon for the Boston

Scott Abbott

Loving, quality pet care in your home. Marathon and the Olympics, and raises $500,000 for charity annually—CIM is a source of civic pride for Abbott and a reminder of why he first fell in love with running. “I’ve run all over the world and been part of some of our sport’s biggest and best championship events—many with thrilling results,” Abbott says. “But if I could relive one day in my life, it would

be the very first race of my high school career. That was the day the fire for this sport first got ignited. It was where I realized this was my bag and these were my people. More than anything, the sport of running has given me deeply valuable, life-long friendships.” Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. n

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Caught Up in the Raptor ONCE ENDANGERED SPECIES CONTINUES NESTING IN OUR SUBURBS

hey’re as common as gulls in Alaska. But frequent sightings of our national bird snatching fish from the American and Sacramento rivers are providing OMG experiences for local kayakers. Noted last year as the closest recorded bald eagle nest to Sacramento, the same eyrie was blessed with more babies this summer. The 2017 hatchlings, named Poppy and Peekaboo by local kindergarteners, are 18 months old and established in new territory. The same kids this year chose Byrd for the alpha chick and Rainbow for the sibling. The twins busted from baseball-size eggs in March. Nourished by nonstop room service, they soon achieved their parents’ great size and, at 13 weeks, spread 7-foot wings and flew. Like his famous namesake, Byrd explored air, land

and water during a dramatic maiden flight. Flapping boldly between trees, the novice clipped a high fence and crash landed near a public trail. For 30 minutes, he strode a clumsy to and fro on the clay path. Observers formed a broad shield against dogs and joggers until Byrd gathered speed and crested the fence to safety. Even after this trauma, the eaglet refused to return to the nest. Explorer Byrd completed extraordinary traverses over the river at its widest and drank from the waterside. While on the lam,

his Mama brought enough fish to prevent starvation without rewarding rebellion. After three days, the parents coaxed the prodigal back to the family buffet. Compared to Byrd’s surf-andturf debut, Rainbow later managed a textbook effort. Papa delivered breakfast and issued flying orders. Talons trailing, Rainbow flew 50 yards to an adjacent pine, then gained confidence for the home flight. Having previously raised several broods, Mama is a nursery pro.

SM S Story and Photos by Susan Maxwell Skinner

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

For two breeding seasons, bald eagle parents have raised families high above the American River.

Her mate is younger (this was his second adult season), but he’s now a confident dad. The parents’ combination of protection and tough love comes with sacrifice. Exhausted by four months of 24/7 hunting, Mom and Pop completed their 2018 parenting season and escaped for a distant vacation. Byrd and Rainbow were left in the care of sub-adults— possibly relatives. The newcomers (whom observers named Juna and Hunter) are perhaps gaining experience for starting their own nursery next year. Trout deliveries for the fledglings guaranteed their immediate acceptance. By this fall, the rejuvenated parents should return to rebuild the nest and prep for a 2019 family. Hard lessons in self-sufficiency loom for the 2018 babies. A testament to the regeneration of a species threatened with extinction only 50 years ago, this American River family is now well established in suburbia. The raptors’ presence is a joy to neighborhoods in their flightpath. Like the nation they represent, bald eagles are resilient. They’re also selfless providers, committed to

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Every personal injury lawsuit begins with a story of betrayal, a trusted relationship intentionally broken for the wrong reason -- the driver who chose to speed, the doctor who chose to cut corners, the truck driver who chose to keep driving when he was too tired. In a lawsuit, how the story ends depends greatly on who tells that story. The large corporate defendant, its lawyers, insurance companies, and, in many cases, 12 ordinary everday people who make up a jury, are listening. At Eric Ratinoff Law Corp, we get to the heart of every client’s story and tell it with dignity. Knowing that the small details can make the biggest impact, we employ some of the best expert witnesses in their fields, create micro documentaries, and build graphic storyboards to break down complex liability and medical issues. But, most importantly, we convey each story with a passion for justice. The people we represent are worth the fight.

...our skill. www.EricRatinoff.com | 401 Watt Avenue Sacramento | 916.970.9100 In accordance with rule 1-400 Rules of Professional Conduct by the State Bar of California, this constitutes attorney advertising for personal injury attorney Eric Ratinoff. The information contained in this advertisement does not constitute a guarantee, warranty or prediction regarding the outcome of your potential legal matter.

Fueled by a room-service diet of ﬁsh, reptiles and rodents, the eaglets quickly grow juvenile feathers in place of hatchling fuzz. preparing children for independence. They control vermin. They neither waste nor pollute. By instinct, they are fantastic stewards of the natural world. Our national icon is well chosen. From these fellow Americans, we might learn much.

The nest location is not disclosed to protect the raptors. Susan Maxwell Skinner has been photographing the eagle family since 2016. Follow her wildlife observations on Facebook under Susan Maxwell Skinner— American River Nature Blog. n

Exploring new territory, the suburban babies enjoy rooftop views. The visit is soon repulsed by territorial mockingbirds.

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Jungle Fever HOUSE PLANTS

CAN ADD DÉCOR, CLEAN THE AIR, REDUCE STRESS

ooking for a present for a millennial? If you haven’t been tracking trends, you may not be aware that it’s once again popular to nurture nature inside. House plants, the darlings of baby boomers in the 1970s, are “taking off,” says Lauren McCrary, house plant buyer at Elk Grove’s Green Acres Nursery & Supply. They are a great gift for people setting up housekeeping in their first homes. What’s driving this trend? McCrary credits social media and home decorating television shows and magazines. Inspired by Instagram and piqued by Pinterest, millennials seem to have an insatiable demand for house plants. Especially popular are plants that make a bold tropical statement, such as fiddle leaf fig and rubber trees. Monstera and split-leaf philodendron have huge, glossy, dark green, perforated leaves that create an instant jungle vibe. Designer Justina Blakeney uses them in her “Jungalow” style interiors, along with many trailing plants that tumble from shelves or hang from the ceiling. Some of the plants that she features hit the Jungalow trifecta of pattern, plants and color. Not everybody wants to live in a jungle. If your millennial is a minimalist, there are many plants that neatly punctuate a living space. Two favorites are good for low-light situations. Sanseverria, often called “mother-in-law’s tongue,” is best known as a plant with tall, skinny leaves, sometimes edged with yellow.

AC By Anita Clevenger Garden Jabber

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

There are many other shapes, sizes and colors of this virtually indestructible plant. Sanseverria plants have been grown in houses since Victorian times, and prefer indirect light, infrequent irrigation and crowded roots. The ZZ plant, Zamioculcas zamifolia, was also known in the 1800s, but began to be commercially available 20 years ago. It’s gotten very popular for its striking, waxy, dark green leaves and ease of care. Low light is an issue in many apartments and in houses built so close together that their windows are shaded most of the day. Other plants that can tolerate low light include pothos, a wide range of philodendron, dracaena (corn plant) and spathiphyllum (peace lilies). If it’s really dark inside, LED grow lights are now available that use little power and don’t overheat the plant. With enough light, you can even grow an indoor herb garden. The Elk Grove Green Acres has one of the most extensive house plant selections in our area, but you can find them for sale in many other retail nurseries. Nursery plants have just left a warm, humid greenhouse and will be in for a shock when you take them home. McCrary suggests that you evaluate your environment before you bring plants home and anticipate how to keep them happy. The term “house plant” is a misnomer for tropical varieties that grow best outdoors with high humidity, warm temperatures and an overhead canopy that filters light. Try grouping plants together or putting them on rock-filled saucers or trays to capture moisture. Keep them away from chilly windows at night or hot sunny windows during the day. Many plants dislike drafts, so avoid placing them under air vents. Some plants prefer evenly moist soil and need watering about twice a week, while others need drier soil. None

like constantly saturated roots. McCrary asks, “Would you like to wear soggy socks?” Make sure that your pots have drainage holes, add water until it flows from the bottom of the pot, and let it drain before putting the pot on a saucer or tray. Brown tips on plants can be a sign of salt damage from too much fertilizer. It’s best to use half of the fertilizer that is recommended on the package and make sure the soil is moist before you apply it. Be aware that some house plants are toxic. If you have a pet or toddler that chomps on leaves, keep the ZZ plant and others out of reach. Despite that caution, plants make you and your environment healthier. They can be a great defense against indoor air pollution. Not only do plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, some are great at scrubbing the air of a variety of toxins such as formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide.

Style and air quality aren’t the only reason to grow plants indoors. Studies show that close proximity to plants reduces stress, boosts our moods, helps us get along with others and encourages creative thinking. The millennials are onto something. For a great holiday gift, the Sacramento Master Gardener 2019 calendar and gardening guide, “Saving the Harvest,” is now available with information on growing and preserving fruits and vegetables, plus advice on gardening in small spaces. To order, go to sacmg.ucanr.edu/gardening_guide. Anita Clevenger is a Lifetime Sacramento County Master Gardener. For answers to gardening questions, contact the UC Master Gardeners at (916) 876-5338 or mgsacramento@ ucanr.edu. n

SEASONAL | LOCAL | ARTISAN | SUSTAINABLE | FRESH

OUR WORST NIGHTMARE LETTER TO THE EDITOR Recently at our synagogue we celebrated a number of milestones. In shule there were families celebrating their 56th wedding anniversary, a 93rd and 94th birthday, and several other birthdays. For each of these Mosaic Law Congregation members we recited a blessing on their behalf and sang “Siman Tov u’ Mazel Tov.” The lyrics and music of this folk song originated between 1886 and 1890 in Poland or Rumania. The song consists of two phrases: “siman tov” means “good sign,” and “mazel tov” means “good luck.” That same day at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pennsylvania, there was no singing of “Siman Tov u’ Mazel Tov.” There was no “good sign” and no “good luck” as a man with an automatic rifle and several handguns entered the synagogue and murdered 11 Jewish adults and wounded six others. It was the deadliest attack of Jews in the history of the United States. Linked by chains of acquaintance, we are just six degrees away from any other person on the planet. That holds true for many who live in Sacramento. Michael and Lorraine Opper texted me that their son Stephen and his fiancé Hannah moved to Pittsburgh days before the attack. Hannah’s family lives in Squirrel Hill and was on lockdown. Thank God they were safe. Judy Weiner, one of our members, shared with me that her nephew lives in a wonderful Jewish group home next door to Tree of Life Synagogue. They hid in the basement during the gunfire. The tragic event at Tree of Life brought messages of sympathy, love and support to the Pittsburgh Jewish community from all over the world. The consoling words are so important for our healing. If ever our entire community should come together, it is now. When my grandparents came to Ellis Island escaping the pogroms of Eastern Europe, they came to a country that welcomed them with open arms. I imagine them turning over in their graves wondering how the greatest country in the world could give birth to such heinous acts which have occurred too often in churches, mosques, synagogues, schools, movie theatres, concerts and other public venues. Our synagogue and our entire Jewish community will continue to look at all options to keep us safe. But we will never truly be safe and secure unless we as a nation have the conversation with our government, civic and religious leaders, and come together to act decisively to eradicate gun violence and hatred toward Jews and accept and honor every single person regardless of color, religion, sexual orientation or ethnicity. If we can work together to accomplish that, then the vigils and community gatherings of solidarity after such tragic events will be fewer as we strive to make our society a more compassionate and accepting one. Let’s not wait for the next tragic event to begin that conversation. Our children’s future and the future of our country depend on it.

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Reuven Taff, past president of the Greater Sacramento Board of Rabbis, is the rabbi and spiritual leader of Mosaic Law Congregation in Sacramento. He can be reached at rabbi@mosaiclaw.org. n

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Feline Family CAT-LOVING SENIORS STEP UP TO HELP HOMELESS FERALS

(From left) Angie Ferrando, Ann Nelson and Lauren O'Keefe work with Albert Einstein Center executive director Les Finke to help feral cat population.

“civil war” is how Leslie Finke describes the situation among residents last year at the Albert Einstein Center in Arden-Arcade. “It got downright vicious,” says Finke, the center’s executive director

CR By Cathryn Rakich Pets and Their People

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

for 37 years. “I’ve been here a long time. I’ve never seen such disharmony in the building. It was a civil war here. People were so mean to each other.” The problem was feral cats. At the height of the controversy, 12 to 15 unaltered felines, mostly untouchable, had taken up residence in and around the grounds of the Einstein Center, a 78-unit independent living facility for people 62 years and older or disabled. Situated close to several large apartment complexes, the center has long been a harbor for cats left behind when tenants move out, as well as those who are just discarded. “Next door is beautifully landscaped now. But it used

to be a field of overgrown weeds,” Finke says. “People were dumping cats there all the time. We’ve had cats there for decades.” The stray and feral felines became a problem when the center was mandated a nonsmoking building, explains Finke. “People couldn’t smoke in their apartments, so we created a space outside for people to smoke. And when people started smoking out there, they started seeing all these cats.”

“The smoking area became a lightning rod for everyone,” says Lauren O’Keefe, a former resident concerned with the cats’ wellbeing. “Some people were feeding them— leaving food out—which was attracting skunks and raccoons and opossums,” Finke says. “So, you had a variety of people who loved the cats and wanted to feed them. And you had a variety of people who hated them.”

THE ORIGINAL COLONY IS DOWN TO SEVEN CATS NOW.

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MEETING WAS CALLED â&#x20AC;&#x153;The cats were getting into the raised garden beds and pooping,â&#x20AC;? Finke recalls. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There were cat fights and meowing at night.â&#x20AC;? It was not long before kittens started showing up. So, in November 2017, Finke called a two-hour meeting to seek resident participation in solving the centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitty conundrum. To help facilitate the meeting, Finke invited a representative from Sacramento Feral Resources, a volunteer group that provides guidance to the community regarding stray and feral cat populations. According to Sacramento Feral Resources, feral cats (also known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;community catsâ&#x20AC;?) typically avoid people and cannot be touched or handled by humans. They usually live outdoors in colonies. Simply trapping and removing the felines has proven ineffectiveâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;other cats will find their way into the neighborhood and quickly repopulate. The initial meeting was well attended by nearly 50 people, weighing in on both sides. But â&#x20AC;&#x153;things got pretty explosive,â&#x20AC;? Finke says. Some residents walked out. Despite the acrimony, the group decided that TNR (trap, neuter, return) was the best solution. With the help of volunteers, residents and family members, the cats were carefully caught using humane traps, transported to lowcost clinics for spaying and neutering, vaccinated for rabies, and returned to the center. Cats that needed medical attention were treated. Ears were notched (a quarter inch removed at the tip of one ear), a universal sign that the cats had been altered.

ONE YEAR LATER The original colony is down to seven cats nowâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Lisa, Harley, Goldie, Lyuva, Alexandra, Blondie and Victor Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;with about seven feeding

stations strategically placed around the center grounds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Two of the cats were relocated to a barn program,â&#x20AC;? says Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Keefe, referring to a safe and secure outdoor area with a barn or other structure to shelter unfriendly felines. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wanted them to take more, but they fill up so fast,â&#x20AC;? she adds. Angie Ferrando and Ann Nelson, who have each lived at the Einstein Center for approximately five years, do most of the feline feeding. Working as a team, they carefully analyze the best locations to place dry kibble and the ideal food/ water bowl arrangements to reduce sabotage by other residents who still donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t approve of cats. Food is donated by the center, tenants, friends and family, and kept in Nelsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apartment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re more than friends of the cats,â&#x20AC;? Ferrando says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We love those cats. Most were born hereâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve become family.â&#x20AC;? Unfortunately, kittens were recently spotted around the back gate of the complex, so the residents set up another feeding station with high-calorie kitten food for the babies and their emaciated mama while sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still nursing. One big unaltered male has proven impossible to trap, and other strays come and go. Trapping will need to resume soon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;TNR benefits the cats and the community,â&#x20AC;? according to the Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation website. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Together, we can educate people about feral cats and spread the word that TNR is the humane and effective approach for feral cats.â&#x20AC;? For information on how to help feral and stray cats in the community, visit Sacramento Feral Resources at www.sacferals.com. Cathryn Rakich can be reached at crakich@surewest.net. n

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AFTER MAKEOVER, R STREET NEVER LOOKED BETTER

rom restaurants, bars and retail shops to music and the eclectic Warehouse Artist Lofts, the R Street Corridor between 10th and 18th streets has become a popular destination in Sacramento, even though

JV By Jordan Venema Building Our Future

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

the district was hardly recognizable just a decade ago. In 2009, the popular bar Shady Lady had just opened, but there was no Ace of Spades, no Shoki Ramen House or Burgers & Brew. Ice Blocks was a distant development, along with tenants Device Brewing Company and Beast + Bounty. A physical transition for the revitalized corridor began in 2011, thanks to new businesses and a joint project between the city and Capitol Area Development Authority that was completed last July. While the $18 million project was broken into three phases completed in 2012, 2015 and 2018, CADA development director Todd

Leon says the vision has roots going back further. “The project has met all the expectations of the community set for R Street in the late 1980s and 1990s,” Leon says. It improved continuity throughout the corridor with rebuilt roadways and pedestrian crossings, better parking and wider sidewalks. “As a result, the project has energized businesses in the area and transformed R Street from an isolated, marginal corridor into a vibrant landmark and attraction in the city,” adds city project manager and senior engineer Zuhair Amawi. Another goal was to make the corridor accessible to disabled people. A

sidewalk was added to the north side of R Street between 13th and 14th streets, along with stop signs to improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. The project also had aesthetic elements. Ornamental tree gates, benches, art pieces and bike racks were added, while preserving elements of the corridor’s historic railway tracks—the first eastbound route from Sacramento. “The project put R Street on the map for the city, and it has become a place to live, eat and socialize,” Amawi says. The third and final phase, which began in late 2017 and focused on the streetscape between 14th and 15th streets, probably had the greatest impact on the corridor since it connects

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the eastern and western ends. But construction caused some inconvenience to business owners. “It was a difficult experience, and phase three was the worst,” says Shady Lady co-owner Garrett Van Vleck, adding that city and CADA officials did meet with business owners to address specific needs. “And we appreciated when they did that, and they kept us in the loop,” he continues. For months preceding the July completion, construction blocked access to the main entrance of multiple businesses on the north side of R Street. Shady Lady lost business, Van Vleck admits. “It was tough. We were starting to get pretty worried,” he says. “But I do think in the long run it was worth it, and that it is an overall benefit to our neighborhood and our corridor. I’m glad it got done. But it doesn’t take away from what a frustrating process it was.” Leon admits construction was an inconvenience to business owners, though officials attempted to mitigate the impact.

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

“We tried to address the visual construction with signs that stated businesses were open during construction, and we tried to use as much social media to get people to support their local businesses. CADA also purchased a few thousand dollars in gift cards from each business, which it used in social media contests and to hand out to area residents and workers to entice patronage,” Leon says. “Ultimately, the best approach to the impacts was to complete construction work as soon as possible,” adds Leon. The work ended sooner than anticipated. And according to Bay Miry, who during construction was vice president of operations at D&S Development, the entity that owns the building at 14th and R streets, improvements to the corridor were worth the inconvenience. The project, he says, “fully connects the entire corridor and now allows for the curating of creative events that effectively bring the community together. There is no experience quite like this elsewhere in the city, especially

when taking into account the presence of such an eclectic mix of predominantly local businesses and R Street’s unique culture and sense of community.” As for future projects, Amawi says the city is currently working on improvements to 12th Street, extending from H Street to Richards Boulevard. “I’m working right now on the preliminary work to make that corridor more bicycle friendly. We’re eliminating one of the vehicular lanes and installing a two-way bicycle track,” he says. Jordan Venema can be reached at jordan.venema@gmail.com. n

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Buzzing Around

TO IMAGINE TRAFFIC UTOPIA, START WITH WINGS

hat would the ideal transportation system be? If we didn’t have to worry about reality, teleportation would probably be it. Beaming oneself to any destination instantaneously seems much better than fighting traffic. The movie “The Fly” suggests the fairly serious glitch of inadvertent species-mixing using this fictional tech, but maybe it could be debugged. (I’ve been told that a former mayor of Davis asked city staff to investigate the possibility of using teleportation for travel. Perhaps she didn’t see the movie.)

WS By Walt SeLfert Getting There

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

Envisioning an ideal transportation system in the real world means we have to decide what ideal means. Is it the most cost-effective system? Is it the most sustainable system, one that does the least environmental harm? Is it the safest system? Maybe it’s the fastest, or the one that’s best for public health. Perhaps it’s the most equitable system, one that assures access for all. Or it could be the one that’s most convenient. If you tried to optimize and balance all these factors, it’s unlikely you’d come up with a system such as we have in the U.S. We’ve focused on the personal convenience of driving. Driving maximizes travel freedom (sometimes) and privacy, but at a very high cost. What’s more, driving’s perceived convenience is on the wrong end of the spectrum when it comes to most other factors, especially personal and social costs, safety and environmental damage. And driving isn’t always convenient or fast. According to the Texas Transportation Institute, drivers in

2014 in America’s biggest cities were delayed 63 hours by being stuck in traffic. They calculated total congestion costs to be $160 billion. Most car trips are made by a single driver. It’s incredibly inefficient to use an SUV, weighing more than two tons, to transport one human. All that weight and size gobbles energy and space. Heavy cars are especially dangerous to those outside the vehicle. Moving tons instead of a few pounds pollutes the air and adds to global warming on a grand scale. Every household with one or two cars pours thousands of dollars a year into ownership costs: depreciation, gas, maintenance and insurance. Economically, everyone would be better off if those dollars were available for other purposes. What would be Utopian for urban areas using current technology? Public transit would be key, but not the transit systems we see in most places in the U.S. We need something like the best

European and Asian models, with easyto-use service that is clean, frequent, reliable and fast. Such systems exist in London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong. Former Bogota, Colombia, mayor Enrique Peñalosa says, “An advanced city is not one where even the poor use cars, but rather one where even the rich use public transport. Or bicycles.” In Utopia, the densest cities would have subways unimpeded by other traffic. Surface rail might serve suburban villages. Light rail or bus rapid transit and fixed bus routes would abound in smaller cities. For short trips, people would walk, bike or use electric scooters. They’d do the same to get to and from transit stops and stations for longer trips. Most trips would be short, because neighborhoods would have most needed goods and services nearby. There would be neighborhood schools, restaurants and grocery stores. Specialty stores and large medical centers would still exist, but the default would not be megastores and schools that require long trips to reach. Between cities, express rail or highspeed rail would take people from city center to city center. There would be no need to waste time going to an airport, parking, checking in hours early, taking your shoes off, getting screened and finally winding up at another remote airport where renting a car is a necessity. You can’t beat the speed of flying for the longest journeys, but that time savings comes with a huge energy cost. In Utopia, all airports would be connected to transit hubs in city centers by express rail service. Those hubs would serve all forms of local transportation, making transfers a breeze. There would be no need for intercity travelers to rent a car. To rent would be counterproductive—a waste of time and money. Many travelers to Europe quickly embrace and extol the high-quality transportation systems there. In America, people put up with inadequate and poorly designed and funded transportation systems. It will take a profound cultural change to get a Utopian system here. Maybe transporters are more likely. Walt Seifert is executive director of Sacramento Trailnet, an organization devoted to promoting greenways with paved trails. He can be reached at bikeguy@surewest.net. n

READERS NEAR & FAR

1. Madeline and Sullivan Groppo in front of a saguaro cactus in Scottsdale, Ariz. 2. Sam Hom, Emma Tom, Naomi Turner, Marilyn Dong, Barbara Hom and Jo Ann Yee with adolescent Maasai boys in Tanzania. 3. Members of Sacramento Bike Hikers enjoy a bike and barge tour on the Po River in Adria, Italy. 4. Shu Sebesta on a beautiful summer night in Sigulufjorour, Iceland.

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Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Sales Closed September 21 - October 10

($% '

5023 OLEANDER DR $270,000 6313 MADISON AVE $285,000 5862 SHARPS CIR $300,000 5230 RITA AVE $360,000 2804 ROOT AVE $478,000 5940 RANGER WAY $495,000 6222 EASTMONT CT $495,000 6624 STANLEY AVE $675,000 5018 KENNETH AVE $390,000 5147 BOYD DR $410,000 5925 RANGER WAY $414,900 4800 GIBBONS DR $335,000 6217 LONGMONT WAY $375,000 5046 BRANDON OAKS LN $425,000 2433 FALLWATER LN $355,000 4242 GALEWOOD WAY $420,000 5900 GRANT AVE #105 $192,000 5421 CEDARHURST WAY $298,700 4895 THOUSAND OAKS CT $389,500 4256 PARADISE DR $440,000 4724 MARGUERITE WAY $579,000 6879 GRANT AVE $1,300,000 2645 STAMP MILL CT $338,888 5012 KENNETH AVE $439,000 3307 FOGLE CT $350,000 6152 VIA CASITAS $179,250 5755 HESPER WAY $290,000 5851 DEL CAMPO LN $332,500 5328 SONORA WAY $365,000 3720 HOLLOWAY LN $410,000 (V) 2341 GUNN RD $335,000 6419 BELGROVE WAY $355,000 7005 TRABERT CT $375,000 7024 WOODKNOLL WAY $450,000 5733 ANGELINA AVE $280,000 2429 UPHAM CT $350,000 5349 HALSTED AVE $367,500 2024 SANTA LUCIA WAY $517,000 3949 OAK VILLA CIR $229,000 4150 WALNUT AVE $395,000

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1711 QUILL 2008 S ST

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120 I ST #202

$662,079 $605,000 $360,000

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

($' $

170 SOUTHGATE RD

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1117 34TH ST 1541 34TH ST 3627 T ST 432 33RD ST 633 36TH ST 1324 W SUTTER WALK

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3811 4TH AVE 3172 U ST 2723 SANTA CLARA WAY 3211 4TH AVE 2399 58TH ST 4105 11TH AVE 4908 U ST 2553 34TH ST 3509 33RD ST 2517 36TH ST 3849 V ST 5641 V ST

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2651 4TH AVE 2208 5TH ST 1880 9TH AVE 779 3RD AVE 2626 27TH ST 2331 V ST 2315 W ST 2019 24TH ST 1641 12TH AVE 2733 6TH AVE 3068 24TH ST 2753 12TH ST 3501 23RD ST

($' (

$525,000 $610,000 $330,000 $329,000 $525,000 $648,500 $575,000

$320,000 $260,000 $370,000 $381,000 $485,000 $254,000 $421,500 $525,000 $283,000 $230,000 $625,000 $405,000 $774,000 $489,000 $1,170,000 $465,000 $435,000 $498,000 $525,000 $625,000 $1,050,000 $425,000 $659,000 $771,000 $452,000

1752 41ST ST $425,000 5819 O ST $469,000 1140 57TH ST $735,000 5011 JENNINGS WAY $560,000 911 42ND ST $639,000 311 SAN ANTONIO WAY $711,500 841 43RD ST $1,290,000 1358 40TH ST $2,100,000

5081 TEICHERT AVE 54 51ST ST 4100 FOLSOM BLVD #6C 5312 N ST 1445 43RD ST 50 36TH WAY 608 55TH ST 5001 T ST 243 SAN MIGUEL WAY

($'!

4100 E NICHOLS AVE 4201 35TH ST 130 BRADY CT 4202 34TH ST 4910 BRADFORD DR 4017 33RD ST 5370 MENDOCINO BLVD 4420 45TH ST 3351 64TH ST 4241 26TH AVE 4631 11TH AVE 5700 CIBOLA WAY 5342 6TH AVE 5340 ALCOTT DR 6431 11TH AVE 4932 12TH AVE 4052 43RD ST 5340 7TH AVE 4850 11TH AVE 43 MANLEY 3745 36TH ST 3050 SAN DIEGO WAY 7441 PEACOCK WAY 6900 14TH AVE 7404 MARIN AVE 3501 58TH ST 4220 CABRILLO WAY 4901 MORENA WAY 2610 24TH AVE 7111 14TH AVE 3200 SHER CT

($'!

3800 PAYTON ST 2585 DANUBE DR 3609 WOODCREST RD 3091 HOWE AVE 2389 RALSTON RD

$510,000 $470,000 $635,000 $765,000 $870,000 $568,000 $419,000 $459,000 $550,000 $250,000 $225,000 $380,000 $220,000 $255,000 $269,000 $187,500 $220,000 $300,000 $264,000 $285,000 $291,500 $450,000 $245,000 $350,000 $360,000 $232,000 $435,000 $376,000 $390,000 $234,000 $225,000 $252,500 $315,000 $330,000 $489,000 $360,000 $233,000 $248,000 $321,000 $439,000 $425,000 $273,000 $365,000 $279,000 $307,000

3001 MORSE AVE $1,775,000 2541 FULTON SQUARE LN #36 $142,500 2918 WHITNEY AVE $325,000 3108 KERRIA WAY $280,000 3815 ROBERTSON AVE $673,000 2124 RASSY WAY $249,000

2100 TEVIS RD 2200 WOODSIDE LN #1 3282 VIA GRANDE WAY 3161 VIA GRANDE 2109 LANDON LN 1083 VANDERBILT WAY

($'!!

1315 VALLEY BROOK AVE $389,900 15 LAKESHORE CIR $432,888 6361 LONGRIDGE WAY $439,900 6649 HEATHERWOOD WAY$369,000 35 SAGE RIVER CIR $440,000 41 FALLWIND CIR $475,000 6750 PARK RIVIERA WAY $438,000 672 CLIPPER WAY $522,500 6685 ARBOGA WAY $735,000 7025 GREENHAVEN DR $300,000 7361 SOUZA CIR $328,000 7026 HAVENHURST DR $500,000 7718 RIVER VILLAGE DR $506,000 110 PORTINAO CIR $555,000 7791 ELENA MARIE DR $465,000 1044 E. LANDING WAY $792,000 6835 STARBOARD WAY $295,000 563 DE MAR DR $315,888 983 BRIARCREST WAY $382,000 35 ANGEL ISLAND CIR $500,000 7353 FLOWERWOOD WAY $399,000 7209 SWALE RIVER WAY $425,000 55 PEBBLE RIVER CIR $580,375 6130 RIVERTON WAY $515,000 95 HIDDEN LAKE CIR $400,000

7554 29TH ST 1421 ATHERTON ST 7525 COLLINGWOOD ST 2901 TORRANCE AVE 1468 OREGON DR 5605 HELEN WAY S LAND PARK DR 1151 OAK HALL WAY 2061 QUINCY AVE 1053 WOODSHIRE WAY 2188 MATSON DR 4148 CANBY WAY 4116 CANBY WAY 4667 CABANA WAY 4436 MARION CT 4656 SUNSET DR 2824 51ST AVE 7449 CARELLA DR 5641 EL ARADO WAY 6324 VENTURA ST 8 CANYON TREE CT 1800 SHERWOOD AVE

($'!$

$248,000 $270,000 $270,000 $256,000 $350,100 $286,000 $764,500 $355,000 $265,000 $465,000 $240,000 $405,000 $555,000 $700,000 $530,000 $850,000 $205,000 $240,000 $285,000 $190,000 $267,888 $407,500

2201 JUANITA LN $290,000 212 DUNBARTON CIR $495,000 520 WOODSIDE OAKS #2 $272,000 1019 DORNAJO WAY #111 $155,000 889 COMMONS DR $385,440 2020 UNIVERSITY PARK DR$425,000 100 ELMHURST CIR $579,000 210 ELMHURST CIR $349,000 1956 UNIVERSITY PARK DR$500,000 2377 ALTA GARDEN LN $165,000 2280 HURLEY WAY #4 $198,000 109 HARTNELL PL $457,500 714 COMMONS DR $380,000 3245 VIA GRANDE $252,000 702 WOODSIDE LN #9 $175,000 2012 BOWLING GREEN DR $255,000

$255,000 $205,000 $209,500 $235,000 $360,000 $360,000

($'"

($'%#

4340 VALMONTE DR $639,000 3112 CHURCHILL RD $245,000 1824 VENUS DR $330,000 4312 LAURELWOOD WAY $430,000 309 WYNDGATE RD $550,000 1712 ORION WAY $357,000 3770 RANDOM LN $1,945,000 4321 VULCAN DR $304,500 704 LA LEITA CIR $799,888 1418 GLENWOOD RD $269,500 4430 MORPHEUS $330,000 4111 LUSK DR $395,000 1325 FITCH WAY $550,000 3347 AMERICAN RIVER DR $900,000

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Paid in Full ONE COUPLE UNDERSTOOD WEDDING ‘FEE’ BETTER THAN MOST

ith more than 35 years in fulltime ministry, I’ve performed scores of weddings. In the initial planning stages, the groom will often raise the awkward question about my fees. For me, this moment is about as tricky as asking a waitress to decide her own tip. I sometimes try to defuse the monetary strain with a joke. Like, “Pay me whatever you think she’s worth, sir.” Boo-hiss. A real Grandpa joke, I know. However, it’s never my fee discussions that generate the most discomfort; it’s the fashion in which the gift is presented to me.

NB By Norris Burkes Spirit Matters

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

In 1986, a groom paid me $35 to perform my first wedding. I should have framed the check, but I deposited it instead. The bank promptly returned it, charging me an insufficient funds fee of $15. Talk about an uncomfortable moment. I had to tell the poor groom that the check he wrote on his new joint account was rubber and he needed to cough up the cash to cover it, plus fees. In another case, the groom sent me to the bride’s dressing room to collect my check. My knock brought a not-fully clothed woman to the door. As I averted my gaze, the bride wrote the check against the door jam. She paused only long enough to repeat the awkward question, “How much do you charge?” When another groom arrived late with a keg of beer in his pickup bed, I rushed him into the dressing room to give last-minute instructions. At the appointed time, I opened the sanctuary door a sliver to see my wedding coordinator giving me the high sign to begin. I motioned the men to follow me out toward the altar. With my hand on the door knob, the groom reached over my shoulder and closed the door. With one hand holding the door shut, he presented me with a $100 bill, adding

the salutation, “Here ya go, bud!” With our decorum shattered, he rushed our party into the ceremony, me still holding a crumpled C-note. But occasionally, I will perform a ceremony gratis. Some years back, a VA nurse sent me to visit an Army veteran in his 50s. He was small in stature and weak in the face. Sitting beside him, a slight, pale woman held his hand under the bedcover. “Your nurse tells me you want to get married,” I said. The couple locked their starry eyes, nodding in affirmation. “When?” I asked. “Now would be good,” he said. “Why now?” I asked. “I’m dying,” said the patient. “Lung cancer.” His response was brutally honest. Silence flooded the room. The bride cleared her throat, draining the last of the discomfort. “Today seems like the right time.” I gave a hard swallow and looked at my watch. “Now is good.” By late afternoon, I stood again before the couple with a dozen staff members as witnesses. The bedridden

groom wore a rose on his chest. The bride managed to freshen her look with a little makeup and a discounted bouquet from the hospital gift shop. A few minutes into the ceremony, I asked the couple to repeat after me their promise to stay together “in sickness and in health…till death do us part.” Without hesitation, they echoed the traditional vows. Suddenly, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. “How much do we owe you?” The new bride asked. I smiled. “What’s he worth to you?” Priceless. “No charge,” I said. Promising one’s love is always risky, but this couple seemed to appreciate that truth. They knew what sickness and health meant. And a few months later, she learned what it meant to be parted by death. At the end of the day, they’d stood “before God and this company” to declare their eternal love with his literal dying breath. Somehow, I think they understood the cost better than most. Norris Burkes can be reached at comment@thechaplain.net. n

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Bringing It Home SACRAMENTO TO HOST 2020 WORLD BUTCHERS’ CHALLENGE

Danny Johnson

hen Danny Johnson traveled to Dublin last March, his objective was to compete in the World Butchers’ Challenge, an international event that pits the most

By Daniel Barnes Farm to Fork

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

skilled butchers on the planet against each other. WBC started in 2011 as a two-team faceoff between New Zealand and Australia, but the competition expanded every year afterward. A record-high 12 countries sent teams to Ireland in 2018, the first year that the competition was conducted outside of Australia. An Oregon Meat Cutting School graduate and longtime co-owner of Taylor’s Market and Taylor’s Kitchen, Johnson went to Dublin to captain the first-ever American team. However, like a skilled American espionage agent, Johnson also engaged in a secret side mission: try to convince the

WBC Council to bring the 2020 competition to Sacramento. The night before the competition, Johnson attended an open council meeting along with his teammate and Taylor’s Market meat department manager Paul Carras. “As they were going through their agenda, they asked if there was anyone here that wants to submit a formal bid,” Johnson says. “I raised my hand and said I could do an informal bid.” Johnson, who had already solicited support from Sacramento Mayor Darrel Steinberg, Visit Sacramento, and local farmers and chefs, sold the council on Sacramento’s farm-to-

fork credentials. He spoke about the potential to hold the competition at the state-of-the-art Golden 1 Center (no official venue agreement has been announced as of publication), he promised the enthusiastic support of city officials and the entire American butcher community, and he vowed to highlight local farmers and prevent food waste during the competition. “I had already talked to some of the local chefs and formed a committee saying that if we get this thing here, make sure the food gets packaged and put where it needs to go, the food banks and stuff, after the event,” Johnson says. “They liked that idea, that nothing was going to be wasted.”

It wasn’t long before Johnson suspected that his informal bid made an instant impact. “At the closing remarks at the gala dinner, [WBC founder] Rod Slater said, ‘We have three countries vying for the 2020 challenge—Brazil, France and Sacramento.’ At that point, I said, ‘I think we might have hooked him.’” Sure enough, it was announced in July that Sacramento beat out Paris and Sao Paulo to host the next WBC, which will take place in September 2020. “The council felt that Sacramento was best positioned to help successfully grow the competition and take it to that next level,” says WBC Council chief executive Ashley Hall. “It does feel as though the whole community banded together to create the bid.” Slater and Hall made their first visit to Sacramento in August, staying at the Kimpton Sawyer, touring the Golden 1 Center and meeting with potential sponsors in San Francisco. They also visited the ranches in Moraga and Chico that will source most of the meat for the competition, which sees teams of butchers break down a side of beef, a side of pork, a whole lamb and five chickens into a themed display over three and a quarter hours. The theme of the American team’s display in 2018 was “sustainability.” “Out of the whole table, we had seven pounds of waste,” Johnson says. “The judges were actually looking under the table skirts to see if we were hiding any stuff.” Visit Sacramento CEO Mike Testa considers WBC a natural fit for the city. “For us, it ties in well to that farm-tofork vein,” he says. “We don’t always get the opportunity to highlight the proteins of farm-to-fork, it’s usually

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916-967-6900 Ć Visit artisansash.com FREE ESTIMATE EPA Certiﬁed Ca. Lic. 949891 agriculture.” An existing relationship between Visit Sacramento and longtime farm-to-fork figurehead Johnson helped cut through any potential red tape. “We’ve known Danny for a long time, which is why when he brought the opportunity to us, it was kind of an instant credibility.” While Johnson plans to remain heavily involved in planning and promoting the 2020 competition, he will also once again captain the American team, which hopes to improve upon their respectable sixth place finish in Dublin. Host country Ireland won the 2018 challenge, and Johnson sees a logistical advantage in competing on home turf. The American team has already settled on a theme for their 2020 display, but Johnson isn’t spilling the beans. “Two years gives us a lot of time to keep tweaking it.” For his part, Hall can’t wait to introduce the spectacle of WBC to America. “The talent and skill of these butchers are second to none and watching the teams transform their displays in just over three hours is some of the most nail-biting, inspiring watching,” he says. Daniel Barnes can be reached at danielebarnes@hotmail.com. n

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Celebrating the Holidays with Seniors T

he holidays are just around the corner—a wonderful season when families and friends gather to celebrate with favorite traditions, and a busy time of shopping, baking, decorating and parties. But the happiness and fun can fade when circumstances change. For families with aging relatives, especially those in a caregiving role, or for any senior living on their own, dealing with illness or experiencing a dwindling social circle—the most festive time of the year can be difficult, sad and even lonely. Don’t lose the magic of the holiday season! You can still find the joy by adapting and appreciating new ways to connect and enjoy time together. Here are some steps to take for yourself and family. And, don’t forget the other seniors in your life, like friends and neighbors. 1. Turkey and all the trimmings. Most families look forward to the traditional baked goods and dishes made year after year to celebrate the holidays. Involve your loved ones in the baking and cooking in the kitchen. Perhaps, package small samples of your baked treats and share these treats with their friends and neighbors. 2. Deck the halls. Whether they are living independently or are in an assisted living community, make seniors’ home environment feel festive and joyful. Seasonal decorations, as well as fresh greens and wreaths

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

are a wonderful way to bring in reminders and scents of the season. 3. Let your loved one help with preparations. Let them help you decorate the house, set the table, or make a simple dish, wrap presents. Break these into manageable smaller tasks that you do together to limit frustration. Sharing these activities together can evoke memories of the past. 4. Inform extended family and out of town visitors. Your loved one’s behavior may be changing. Let your visitors, who have not seen them recently, know what to expect. Let them know that they may no longer be recognized. Setting these expectations before they arrive can relieve the stress and anticipation for you and them. 5. Choose the time of day that is best. Many people who suffer from common ailments of aging feel better or more energetic at certain times of the day. And those with Alzheimer’s become more uncomfortable and agitated in the evening due to sundowning. Suggest that family meals be done in the morning, brunch, or lunch. Who knows, you might create a new tradition? 6. Set limits. Seniors become tired very easily. Try to keep them to their routine as

much as possible. Keep gatherings low key and short or provide them a place to get away and lie down from the noise and activity. For you, give yourself permission to limit how you will spend your time this holiday season. Bake fewer cookies, simplify your decorations, and buy fewer gifts. If you focus on what is most important, you will enjoy this time of year much more. 7. Religion and worship. Attend religious services together as a family. Your loved one may find great comfort in their faith during the season. 8. Ask for help. The holidays are about family and friends. Allow them to help you. Set up a buddy system at parties, so someone else can help you look after elder family members. Have potluck meals, so the burden of all the shopping and cooking does not fall on you. Delegate shopping or meal prep to others who offer to help. 9. Creative gift giving. For a stressed caregiver, a certificate for housecleaning during the holidays would be appreciated or a certificate for respite care so they can enjoy a break. For aging loved ones, think about soft and warm items like robes, slippers, soft clothing, shawls, and blankets, especially for those suffering from poor circulation.

10. Join their festivities or bring the celebration to them. If your loved one lives in an assisted living community, most communities plan events for the whole family during the holidays, so add these to your family calendar and join in the fun. If your loved one can’t make it to a celebration or party, then make an extra effort to bring the party to them with visits from family and grandchildren. As the family member or caregiver of a senior with common ailments of aging or a form of dementia, you may have to adapt your holiday plans, but this does not mean you have to miss the magic of the season. You may create new traditions or enjoy a simple, more relaxed season. You may find joy in the eyes of your loved one as they remember a past holiday or in creating new memories together. You can still find gratitude in enjoying another holiday with those you love and care for even as health, living circumstances and family dynamics change. Have a senior in your life? Feel free to join us at our weekly support group, Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 8:30PM at Aegis of Carmichael, 4050 Walnut Avenue, Carmichael. For more information, call (916) 231-9427. SPONSORED

CONTENT

CHICORY

This plant has a single long, thick root, plus leaves and flowers that can be used in food. In the South, the root is roasted, cut up and steeped to make a coffee substitute. Eat it: The root can be boiled and eaten as a vegetable.

COLLARD GREENS A Southern staple, these loose-leafed greens are related to cabbage, broccoli, kale and spring greens. Collards are a good source of vitamin C and soluble fiber. Eat it: Braise with bacon, onion and crushed red pepper.

MANDARIN ORANGE

This small citrus fruit has few seeds and a loose, puffy orange skin that is easy to peel, making it a popular addition to children’s lunchboxes. Eat it: Peel and enjoy.

Monthly Market A LOOK AT WHAT’S IN SEASON AT LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS IN DECEMBER

MUSTARD GREENS

This cruciferous vegetable is super healthy, with antioxidant, antiinflammatory and cholesterol-lowering properties. Eat it: Saute and serve with walnuts.

POMEGRANATE

Originally from Persia, this fruit is nutrient dense and rich in antioxidants. A glass of pomegranate juice has more antioxidants than red wine, green tea, blueberries or cranberries. Eat it: Add the jewel-like seeds to salads.

DINO KALE

Also known as Tuscan kale and Lacinato kale, it has dark blue-green leaves and a bumpy, embossed texture. It’s called dinosaur kale because it’s said to resemble dinosaur skin. Eat it: It’s great in soups and pastas

ILP/GRID n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Ancient Meets Modern CHINESE-BORN MASTER BRIDGES EAST AND WEST WITH HIS ART

Shimo

f you know where to look, you start to see Shimo everywhere. A Chinese-born, Sacramento-based “Eastern Neo-Expressionism” master, Shimo has created works that range from passionately colorful oil paintings to intricately beautiful porcelains. They can be found on display at the Sacramento Convention Center, Crocker Art Museum and his own Shimo Center for the Arts in Midtown. Shimo is practically a household name in China, where he recently

DB By Daniel Barnes Artist Spotlight

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

helped set up a show for his good friend Gregory Kondos, but the path to international success was never easy. Like the lotus flowers that figure prominently in his work, Shimo emerged in a dark place, only to become a symbol of beauty. He was born in Shanghai, China, in 1962, just a few years before the outbreak of the Cultural Revolution in 1966. For the next decade, the Maoist government forcefully purged capitalist elements from Chinese society, and, as art became a propaganda tool, nonconforming artists were persecuted. Shimo’s family was considered wealthy, so their home and assets were seized, leaving the child in a precarious situation. “During that period for Chinese, we consider it a very dark period, because the government controlled all the things,” says Shimo’s wife Winly Chen, who helped translate during our interview (Shimo speaks

very limited English). Too young to be targeted as a subversive, Shimo initially turned to art as a means of survival. At the age of 5, Shimo was told, “If you want to survive, you need to be artist, learn to do artwork,” says Chen. From there on, Shimo would visit a park every day to work on his sketches. Shimo fell in love with art, building a foundation in classic Chinese water and ink painting before applying

to art school, where he learned oil painting and accrued influences from the West. “That’s the reason why from his painting you can feel a little Western and Eastern,” says Chen. An exhibition at the Beijing Embassy catapulted Shimo to prominence. He was eventually encouraged by the Chinese government to apply for a visa to live in America and promote his art. Once settled in Sacramento, Shimo realized

to his delight that the city was home to beloved artists like Kondos and Wayne Thiebaud, and the city’s slower pace allowed him to focus on his work. “Sacramento is a very quiet city,” says Chen. “Shanghai, it is an international city, very crowded. … Sacramento very calm.” The bridge between ancient Eastern technique and contemporary Western abstraction lies at the heart of Shimo’s work, and he even has favorite flowers for each hemisphere. In China, he focused on the lotus. “The lotus in China is a symbol of the sanctity of the people,” says Shimo through a translator app on his phone. But America inspires him to paint the calla lily. His flower paintings blend these influences like separate streams of water, as flowing lines and bold colors meld in perfect harmony. But perhaps nothing captures Shimo’s East-meets-West, ancientmeets-modern aesthetic better than his porcelains, which garnered him a solo show at the Crocker in 2015. Shimo worked tirelessly to master the high-quality clay found in Jingdezhen, the “porcelain capital” of China since

the 14th century, and he destroyed every piece that didn’t come out perfect. “He doesn’t want to have any defect, which means any bubble or something like that,” says Chen. “He doesn’t want people to see any mistake.” The surviving porcelains are indeed perfect, blemish-free and so thin that they are practically translucent, with a modernist shape that belies the ancient technique. After finishing the porcelain in the kiln, Shimo draws on the outside using blue cobalt oxide, another ancient technique that he subverts with the abstract shapes of his flowers, birds, landscapes and figures. Married since 1991, Shimo and Chen started the Shimo Center for the Arts on the ground floor of their Midtown home in 2012 to promote local artists. “My gallery is dedicated to providing an exchange platform for professional artists in our city,” says Shimo through the translator app. The couple used to hold a show every month or two, but they have scaled back in recent years as Shimo currently splits his time between creating art in Sacramento and

teaching art at Shanghai University in China. Although he has lived in the United States since 2003, he still gets a much different reception in China. “The Chinese people know his name much better than here, for American people still need to learn about him,” says Chen. “But in China, once you say his name, people know about

that.” To that end, Shimo plans to continue improving his art, from the oil paintings to the porcelains to the water and ink work. “I will create a series of works that show the American spirit,” says Shimo. Daniel Barnes can be reached at danielebarnes@hotmail.com. n

ILP/GRID n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

TO DO THIS MONTH'S CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Sacramento Ballet's The Nutcracker Photo courtesy of Keith Sutter.

The Nutcracker Sacramento Ballet Dec. 14–23 Community Center Theater, 1301 L St. • sacballet.org/nutcracker Amy Seiwert’s new take on this Sacramento tradition introduces us to Marie, a heroine for our times based on German writer E.T.A. Hoffmann’s original protagonist. Featuring the Sacramento Philharmonic at select performances. Ticket are $35–$90.

Wells Fargo Home for the Holidays 2018 Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra Saturday, Dec. 8, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

jL By Jessica Laskey

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

Community Center Theater, 1301 L St. • sacramentochoral.com This festive concert features soprano Susannah Biller, the Sacramento Children’s Chorus and puppets provided by Green Valley Theatre Company. Ticket are $35–$50; students receive a 50-percent discount.

Cathedral Music Series The Chamber Music Society of Sacramento Sunday, Dec. 16, 4 p.m. Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 2620 Capitol Ave. • cmssacto.org This program will include the music of Scarlatti, Bach, Beethoven and Dvorak with Faythe Vollrath on organ and Tom Derthick on bass. Ticket are $30 general admission, $25 seniors, and $12 students and children.

INSIDE

OUT

Land Park Volunteer Corps Work Day Nov. 3 Volunteers have worked tirelessly for a decade to keep William Land Park beautiful. Want to join the fun? Work days will start again on the first Saturday of the month in spring and typically last from 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. to noon. Shown left: Jill Mcdonell and founder Craig Powell. For more information, email ckpinsacto@aol.com. Donation checks, payable to Land Park Volunteer Corps, can be sent to 3053 Freeport Blvd., No. 231, Sacramento, 95818.

CONTRIBUTED BY ANIKO KIEZEL

ILP/GRID n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Steel Magnolias Sacramento Theatre Company Through Sunday, Dec. 9 Pollock Stage, 1419 H St. • sactheatre.org Six Louisiana women gather under the hair dryers at their local beauty salon to share gossip, laughter and the bond of friendship. Tickets are $15–$38.

With a Song in Your Heart Sacramento Symphonic Winds Sunday, Dec. 9, 2:30 p.m. Rio Americano High School Center for the Arts, 4540 American River Drive • sacwinds.org Come one, come all to this joyful family holiday concert featuring 17 different Christmas carols and tunes. Tickets (available at the door) are $15 general admission, $10 students and seniors, and free children 10 and younger.

Her Way JAYJAY Gallery Through Dec. 22 Margarita Chaplinska's “Portrait of a Sandwich,” oil on linen, at Tim Collom Gallery.

Diminutive Pleasures Holiday Group Show

5524 B Elvas Ave. • jayjayart.com This all-female, multi-generational painting and print-making exhibition will celebrate the artistic contributions of four artists—Ellen Van Fleet, Katherine Warinner, Jennifer Lugris and Kerry Cottle—who push their chosen medium in new and different directions.

Tim Collom Gallery Dec. 5–27 Preview Reception: Thursday, Dec. 6, 6–8 p.m. Opening Reception: Saturday, Dec. 8, 5:30–8:30 p.m. 915 20th St. • timcollomgallery.com This annual small-work exhibition will feature all types of media 16 inches by 16 inches or smaller and priced at $500 or less to entice visitors to give the gift of art over the holiday season.

A Master Singers Christmas Sacramento Master Singers Sunday, Dec. 9, 3 p.m. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1300 N St.

Saturday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 16, 3 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 18, 7 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 2100 J St. • mastersingers.org An opening candlelight processional sets the tone for this repertoire, from traditional melodies to the latest multicultural songs and carols. Tickets are $25 adults, $20 seniors and $10 students.

Oil on canvas, “Untitled,” by Kerry Cottle at JAYJAY Gallery.

Nutcracker Suite & Christmas Angels Sacramento Civic Ballet Saturday, Dec. 15, 2 p.m. (Nutcracker Suite only) Saturday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 16, 2 p.m.

Sacramento Theatre Company’s Steel Magnolias Photo courtesy of Charr Crail Photography.

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

The Center at Twenty-Three Hundred, 2300 Sierra Blvd. • deanedancecenter.com This two-act holiday production will feature professional and student dancers from the Crockett-Deane Apprentice Company and Deane Dance Center. Tickets are $15 adults, $12 seniors and students, $10 children 10 and younger.

Give the Gift of Fat’s

WELLS FARGO

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Gift cards available in the restaurants and online.

Donald Kendrick Music Director

Soprano Susannah Biller

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2018 AT 2:00 PM AND 7:30 PM Sac Community Center Theater GUEST CHORUS Sacramento Children’s Chorus Alexander Grambow, Director

Frank Fat’s est. 1939

806 L Street Downtown Sacramento 916-442-7092 www.FrankFats.com

NEW VEN UE FOR 2018 ONLY

See Am Se Amid id the he Win inte int ter Sn ter Snow Snow w | Dan For orre rest re st st etts The EElves & TThe Shoemakerr–with Puppet Oldd Ameeririca cann Ca ca Caro rools | O Hol o y Ni Nigh g t gh

Christopher Cook PUPPETS Green Valley Theatre Company

1001 Front Street Old Sacramento 916-446-6768 www.fatcitybarandcafe.com

TWO performances of this Annual Sacramento Holiday Tradition with full orchestra, candlelit procession and audience sing along.

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Carols z Children’s Message Chancel & Bell Choirs z Childcare December 24, 2018 z 7 - 8 p.m. Westminster Presbyterian Church 1300 N Street, Sacramento 95814

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Sacramento Children's Chorus

English Country Dance at Camp Pollock.

English Country Dance

Lights of the World Holiday Concert

Sacramento Country Dance Society Sunday, Dec. 16, 2–5 p.m.

Sacramento Children’s Chorus Sunday, Dec. 9, 4 p.m.

Camp Pollock, 1501 Northgate Blvd. • sactocds.org English country dance has been around for several hundred years. Join the fun to live music—no partners necessary! Introductory Workshop for newcomers begins at 1:30 p.m. Cost is $10 adults, $8 college students, $5 under 18.

St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1701 L St. • sacramentochildrenschorus.org Alexander Grambow and Jessica Suderman will conduct an exciting and vibrant program exploring traditional choral classics and modern arrangements of favorite holiday songs. Tickets are $35 reserved, $20 general and $10 youth. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. n

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

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ILP/GRID DEC n 18

y favorite meal of 2018 was at the newly opened pocketsized and Pocket-located Italian restaurant, Cacio. From the skill in the kitchen to the warmth of the staff, it was a near perfect evening of dining. Co-owners, as well as husband and wife, Katie Kinner-Kersieck and Jonathan Kersieck have created a menu and a space that warms the heart and fills the stomach. The two met while opening Grange Restaurant & Bar at

GS By Greg Sabin Restaurant Insider

The Citizen Hotel. Katie worked front of the house; Jonathan worked the kitchen. They both went on to work at a host of other local restaurants, such as OBO’ Italian Table & Bar and Esquire Grill. Both, therefore, have a successful track record of running kitchens, managing front of house and opening new restaurants. So, when these two Pocket residents sat down one evening at the counter at Ravenous Café to have a glass of wine, they got to talking with the owners. As the couple spun ideas about owning their own restaurant, the folks at Ravenous said, “Why not buy this place?” Long story short, they did just that. Now the small space, which has been home to some fine food over the years, plays host to some of the best pasta in California and some of the coziest neighborhood vibes you’ll find anywhere.

The signature dish, cacio e pepe, is as simple a dish as you’ll find anywhere. It’s the pb&j of pasta. Four ingredients that are (it almost goes without saying) greater than the sum of their parts. Cacio means cheese in Italian, and gives the restaurant its name. Pepe is pepper. Add bucatini (hearty, hollow spaghetti) and olive oil, and you have one of the best plates of pasta anywhere. It sounds simple, but the spicy favors of bloomed black pepper, layers of pecorino cheese and the perfect blend of fruity olive oil make for an actual eating experience, not just a plate of food. Similarly, the mushroom bolognese is a simply brilliant plate of pasta. You’ll never believe that it’s a vegetarian offering given the meaty textures, scents and flavors that Kersieck gets out of his mushrooms and cheese. The playful strozzapreti pasta (“twisted canoes”—new to me) scoops up and cradles the rich sauce. This, again, simple dish shows a wealth of skill and maturity in the kitchen. The near perfect portioning, the easy casualness of presentation and the restraint in ingredients all speak to a clear, rewarding vision coming from this unpretentious eatery. Sides and small plates are rewarding as well. The pork and beef meatballs are, expectedly, divine, and the brussels sprouts, tossed with balsamic and pancetta, are prepared, dare I say it, perfectly. Similarly, traditional offerings like white bean and sausage soup are on the nose, as is a straightforward Caesar salad. The ingredients and care that go into these staples show again how wonderfully focused this enterprise is. The same compliments around focus and vision apply to service as well. Kinner-Kersieck shows a steady hand at controlling the front of house in a

small space. “One of the advantages of a small space is that you can control what you’re doing in the kitchen and the dining room,” she tells me. “It allows us to be a part of every dish, and connect with every customer.” That connection rang true on my visits. There were bright conversations and lively interactions with nearly all members of the staff, which include Kinner-Kersieck’s sister and son dropping by to help out. This “family affair” adds to the warmth of the place rather than distracting from it. It helps that each member of the family seems to be not only affable but skilled at service. Despite a casual attitude, every dish was timed perfectly and coursed out seamlessly. The wine list shows a playful yet knowledgeable approach to Italian varietals. You’ll find almost as many European wines as you will California offerings. The staff is more than happy to smartly recommend pairings based on your dining choices. As far as getting a table at the petite eatery, reservations are recommended, but walk-ins are always welcome. Just be warned that, contrary to what you’d think, the earlier hours seem to be the busiest on most nights. So, whether you can plan ahead and book a table, or come in from the cold on a late evening, you’ll find the service warm, the food outstanding and the experience one to remember. Cacio is at 7600 Greenhaven Drive; (916) 399-9309; caciosacramento.com. Correction: In last month’s column we stated that the Real Pie Company failed at its former location on 12th Street. The owners actually closed the business for personal reasons. We apologize for the error. n

ILP/GRID n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Paragary’s

Vic’s Ice Cream & Café

Fat City Bar & Cafe

French inspired bistro in chic new environment 1401 28th Street • 916.457.5737 • paragarys.com

American cuisine served in a casual historic Old Sac location 1001 Front Street • 916.446.6768 fatsrestaurants.com

Family owned since 1947 3199 Riverside Blvd. • 916.448.0892 vicsicecream.com

The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar

DOWNTOWN

OLD SAC

Grange Restaurant & Bar 926 J St. • (916) 492-4450 B L D $$$ Full Bar Simple, seasonal, soulful • grangesacramento.com

Cafeteria 15L Classic American dishes with millennial ﬂavor 1116 15th Street • 916.492.1960 cafeteria15l.com

Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters

The Firehouse Restaurant The premiere dining destination in historic setting 1112 2nd Street • 916.442.4772 ﬁrehouseoldsac.com

Rio Cityy Café

INSIDE’S

Award-winning roasters 3rd and Q Sts. • chocolateﬁ ateﬁshcoffee.com

Downtown & Vine in ine

Taste and compare the region’s best wines 1200 K Street, #8 • 916.228.4518 downtownandvine.com

Ella Dining Room & Bar New American farm-to-fork cuisine 1131 K Street • 916.443.3772 elladiningroomandbar.com

Esquire Grill Classic dishes in a sleek urban design setting 1213 K Street • 916.448.8900 paragarys.com

Firestone Public House Hip and happy sports bar with great food 1132 16th Street • 916.446.0888 ﬁrestonepublichouse.com

Frank Fat’s Fine Chinese dining in an elegant interior 806 L Street • 916.442.7092 frankfats.com

Grange Restaurant & Bar The city’s quintessential dining destination 926 J St. • 916.492.4450 grangesacramento.com

Hot Italian Remarkable pizza in modern Italian setting 1627 16th Street • 916.492.4450 hotitalian.net

La Cosecha by Mayahuel

California-inspired menu on th the riverfront 1110 Front Street • 916.442.82 916.442.8226 riocitycafe.com

Willie’s Burgers

A quirky burger joint nt 6.44 110 K Street • 916.444.2006 om williesburgers.com

THE HANDLE ANDLE Ginger Elizabeth th C Chocolates ates Unmatchedd sweet sophis sophistication 1801 L Street, #60 • 916.706.17 916.706.1738 erelizabeth.com gingerelizabeth.com

Mulvaney’s Building & Loan an Farm-fresh New American cuisine 1215 19th Street • 916.441.6022 mulvaneysbl.com

Old Soul Artisan pastries and roasted coffee 1716 L Street (rear alley) • oldsoulco.com

The Rind A cheese-centric food and wine bar 1801 L Street # 40 • 916.441.7463 therindsacramento.com

Zocolo Tastes inspired by the town square of Mexico City 1801 Capitol Avenue • 916.441.0303 zocalosacramento.com

MIDTOWN Biba Ristorante Italiano

Casual Mexican in a lovely park setting 917 9th Street • 916.970.5354 lacosechasacramento.com

Legendary chef, cookbook author Biba Caggiano 2801 Capitol Avenue • 916.455.2422 biba-restaurant.com

Ma Jong Asian Diner

Block Butcher Bar

A focus on all things local 2718 J Street • 916.706.2275 • theredrabbit.net

Revolution Wines Urban winery and kitchen 2831 S Street • 916.444.7711 • rev.wine

Sac Natural Foods Co-Op

OAK PARK

Inventive, ve, JJapanese-nuanced seafood Str • 916.737.5767 2319 K Street skoo nks skoolonkstreet.com

Su & Soil Juice Company Sun R organic Raw, nic nutrition from local farms 1912 P Street treet • 916.341.0327 • sunandsoiljuice.com

S zie Burger Suzie her delights Burgers, ers, cheeses cheesesteaks and other 2820 P Street • 916.455.3500 • suzieburger.com

Tapa the World Traditional Spanish & world cuisine 2115 J Street • 916.442.4353 tapatheworld.com

Temple Coffee Roasters

Classic European with locally sourced ingredients 2000 Capitol Ave. • 916.498.9891 waterboyrestaurant.com

LAND PARK Casa Garden Restaurant Outstanding dining in a garden setting 2760 Sutterville Rd. • 916.452.2809 casagardenrestaurant.org

Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters 2940 Freeport Blvd. chocolateﬁshcoffee.com

Freeport Bakery

Iron Grill

Mexican cuisine with a wide-ranging tequila menu 1200 K Street • 916.441.7200 experiencemayahuel.com

Mexican cuisine in a festive, colorful setting 2730 J Street • 916.442.2552 paragarys.com

A mecca to hearty eating 2422 13th Street • 916.737.5115 irongrillsacramento.com

Old Soul

Federalist Public House

Riverside Clubhouse

ILP/GRID DEC n 18

Signature woodﬁred pizzas and local craft beers 2009 Matsui Alley • 916.661.6134 federalistpublichouse.com

Traditional Amercian classic menu 2633 Riverside Blvd. • 916.448.9988 riversideclubhouse.com

Lowbrau Bierhalle

Selland’s Market-Café

Modern-rustic German beer hall 1050 20th Street • 916.452.7594 lowbrausacramento.com

Family-friendly neighborhood café 915 Broadway • 916. 732.3390 sellands.com

Old Soul at The Weatherstone

Taylor’s Market & Kitchen

Artisan pastries and roasted coffee 812 21st Street • oldsoulco.com

xican cuisine Hot spot ot for creative Mexican 400 3501 3rd Av Avenue • 916.400.4676 naditasa lavenaditasac.com

Oakhaus Oakh n a traditional hof brau A modern take on 3413 Broadway y • 916.376.7694 • oakhaussac.com Bro

Old Soul ul Artisan pastries and roasted coffee 3434 Broadway • oldsoulco.com

Vibe Health Bar Clean, lean and healthy breakfast and snacks 3515 Broadway • 916.382.9723 vibehealthbar.com n

The Waterboy

Centro Cocina Mexicana

Timeless traditions of Southern cooking 2005 11th Street • 916.382.9722 weheartfriedchicken.com

La Venadita

2200 K Street • 2829 S Street 1010 9th Street • templecoffee.com

Mayahuel

South

Shoki Ramen House

Skool Japanese Gastropub

Award-winning neighborhood bakery 2966 Freeport Blvd. • 916.442.4256 freeportbakery.com

Preserving delicious produce from local farms 1717 19th Street #B • 916.706.1044 preservationandco.com

CURTIS PARK Ramen becomes a culinary art form 2530 21st Street • 916.441.0011 shokiramenhouse.com

Specializing in housemade salumi and cocktails 1050 20th Street • 916.476.6306 blockbutcherbar.com

Preservation & Company

A quirky burger joint 2415 16th Street • 916.444.2006 williesburgers.com

Omnivore, vegan, raw, paleo, organic, glutenfree and carnivore sustenance 2820 R Street • 916.455.2667 • sac.coop

A colorful & casual spot for all food Asian 1431 L Street • 916.442.7555 majongs.com

Artisan pastries and roasted coffee 555 Capitol Mall • oldsoulco.com

Willie’s Burgers

A reputation for service & quality 2900 & 2924 Freeport Blvd • 916.443.5154 taylorsmarket.com

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13th & Broadway | 916.737.5115 irongrillsac.com Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

Holiday Banquet Room

PLANNING ON SELLING YOUR HOME? LET’S WORK TOGETHER! With low inventory being the leading narrative during this current real estate market, deciding to sell your home now can potentially maximize your home’s Resale Value. Utilize a Realtor that will negotiate the sale of your home with your Best Interest in Mind.

DORNE JOHNSON, Keller Williams Realtor, can be reached at: Phone: (916) 717-7190 Email: SacRealtor@yahoo.com

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COLDWELL BANKER SACRAMENTO RIVERFRONT ESTATE 1.5 acres, 200 ft of waterfront & sandy beach. Single story w/ smart ﬂoor plan, high ceilings, 3 ﬁreplaces, master & junior suites, guesthouse, gym, pool & more! $1,540,000 PALOMA BEGIN 916.628.8561 CalRE#: 01254423

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SOUTH LAND PARK GEM! Boasting both traditional living spaces & open family concepts, this 4bd/3ba home has it all & is waiting for your personal touches. ELISE BROWN & POLLY SANDERS 916.715.0213 CalRE#: 01781942/01158787 CUSTOM SOUTH LAND PARK TERRACE HOME 3 BD/2 BA w/ formal dining & living, ﬁreplace, kitch w/ eating area, plus remote 4th bedroom w/ ½ bath. $610,000 SUE OLSON 916.601.8834 CalRE#: 00784986

NEW PRICE GORGEOUS ELMHURST COTTAGE! Close to UCD Med Center. 2BD/1BA, brand new kitchen & bath, new electrical, plumbing, tankless H20 & gleaming HW ﬂrs. Lrg deck. $399,000 TOM LEONARD 916.834.1681 CalRE#: 01714895

ADORABLE CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW 2 bed 1 bath w/ hardwood ﬂoors & built-ins. Ikea style kitchen w/ SS appliances. Huge backyard w/ room to entertain & garden! STEFFAN BROWN 916.717.7217 CalRE#: 01882787

ICONIC L STREET LOFTS 2-story penthouse loft w/ expansive views & deck. Huge wall of windows, granite kitch, 2 baths, 2nd level loft bedroom. $789,800 MICHAEL ONSTEAD 916.601.5699 CalRE#: 01222608

ONE OFA KIND MCM Fantastic 1963 Custom home designed by John Harvey Carter boasts walls of windows, terrazzo ﬂoors, original woodwork, two copper ﬁreplaces, pool. $849,900 PALOMA BEGIN 916.628.8561 CalRE#: 01254423

NEWLY RENOVATED IN CURTIS PARK Beautiful 3 BED/3 BATHS, approx. 1900 sq/ft Renovated Cottage bungalow in Curtis Park. RICH CAZNEAUX 916.212.4444 CalRE#: 01447558 BOULEVARD PARK BEAUTY Experience the joy of Midtown in this beautifully remodeled 3 bedroom, 2 bath residence just steps to Sacramento’s ﬁnest restaurants, arts & cultural events. STEPH BAKER 916.775.3447 CalRE#: 01402254

HEART OF THE POCKET Attractive single story 4bed 2.5bath home. Freshly painted, newer roof, spacious kitchen, 2 gas ﬁreplaces, pool/spa & more! $629,000 ROZA & KIRSCH GROUP 916.730.7705 CalRE#: 01483907

DOWNTOWN VICTORIAN Unique 2-unit features commercial, ADA-compliant ofﬁce and 3-story, 3 bedroom, 2 bath updated residence on fullsized lot. STEPH BAKER 916.775.3447 CalRE#: 01402254

SOUTH LAND PARK RANCH 3-4 BD, 2 BA, remodeled kitchen, large living room w/ ﬁreplace, bonus den or playroom, sparkling pool. Large lot & 2 car garage. $700,000 PALOMA BEGIN 916.628.8561 CalRE#: 01254423

FOUR SEASONS ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY In Natomas. Open great room concept, 1300 sq ft, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths. Low maintenance back yard. Move in ready. $345,000 CHIP O’NEIL 916.807.0158 CalRE#: 01265774 FOUR SEASONS ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY In Natomas. Open great room concept with formal dining room, 2 bedrooms plus ofﬁce. Move in ready. CHIP O’NEIL 916.807.0158 CalRE#: 01265774

THE RESIDENCES AT THE SAWYER Only a few luxury condos remain! Above Kimpton Sawyer Hotel at DOCO. TheSawyerResidences.com. From $1,066,000 MICHAEL ONSTEAD 916.601.5699 CalRE#: 01222608

NEW HOME RENAISSANCE AT DRY CREEK New quick move-in! Granite kitchen counters, tile ﬂooring, high energy efﬁciency, stainless steel appliance package & more. $315,000 MICHAEL ONSTEAD 916.601.5699 CalRE#: 01222608

DARLING LAND PARK STARTER! Updated Kitchen & Bath. Hrdwd ﬂoors, DP windows. Mins. to downtown. $435,000 WENDY KAY 916.717.1013 CalRE#: 01335180

CAMPUS COMMONS TWO STORY UNIT Spacious unit with lots of light, formal living and dining, ﬁreplace. Den/study downstairs, master suite w/ ﬁreplace upstairs. $419,000 SUE OLSON 916.601.8834 CalRE#: 00784986

SACRAMENTO METRO OFFICE 730 Alhambra Boulevard #150 | 916.447.5900

UPPER LAND PARK 3 bd 1.5 ba, steps to Vic’s & Crocker Riverside elementary. $559,000 JONATHAN EPSTEIN & BRENDAN DELANEY 916.524.7735 or 916.628.0831 CalRE#: 01978041/01873794

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