Inside land park jun 14 by Inside Publications

INSIDE

I N S I D E P U B L I C A T I O N S . C O M

S T R E E T

S A C R A M E N T O

2014

C A

9 5 8 1 6

POSTAL CUSTOMER ******ECRWSS******

PRSRT STD US Postage PA I D Permit # 1826 Sacramento CA

G E T

3 1 0 4

JUN

LAND PARK CURTIS PARK SOUTH LAND PARK HOLLYWOOD PARK MIDTOWN DOWNTOWN

I N T O

T H E

N E I G H B O R H O O D

A REAL GEM! Hidden away in Old Land Park. This home is stunning … can you believe this kitchen? WOW! All new - including plumbing and electric. Only one original wall. Quality features throughout plus super deep lot (.20 acres). Constructed to 2012 building codes. 4 bedroom 3 bath home! $985,000 SHEILA VAN NOY 505-5395

EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTY The “Didion House” in Poverty Ridge! 4 bedrooms 2 full baths and 2 half baths with 3rd Àoor media room that features state-of-the art equipment. Turn of the century woodwork and detailing; new kitchen and full basement. Beautifully updated while reserving the home’s original quality and style! $1,495,000 SHEILA VAN NOY 505-5395

SPACIOUS HOME BIG LOT Unique 3 or 4 bedroom 3 bath home with a lovely garden and pool; that also includes an additional lot in rear. Downstairs master with sitting area, ¿replace, walk-in closets. Large separate family room marvelous sunroom and remodeled kitchen with great storage. $1,000,000 PAMELA RICHARDS 716-3615

CHARMING SPACIOUS WITH POOL Land Park 2 bedroom, 1½ baths major energy ef¿ciency upgrades made in 2013 including all new windows, HVAC and more. Formal dining room opens to side patio. Sunny kitchen with inviting breakfast nook looking out to pool & backyard. Large 2-car detached garage with lots of storage space. $415,000 JESSICA BILLER 761-6035

ART DECO CLASSIC Bring your decorator ideas; only one family has lived here. Featuring 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and a little over 1300 sq. ft., backs to Cal Jr. High, and is just a few steps from McClatchy’s side gate. There’s a detached 2-car garage, and a nice work shop behind the garage. You’ll love the styling, and charm. $365,000 MIKE PUENTE 395-4727

SOUTH LAND PARK TERRACE Spacious 3 bedroom 2½ bath home is light and bright throughout. The kitchen has lots of storage and a great eating area with views to the backyard. The well-manicured yard is ready for your personalization in the Àower bed areas. Meticulously maintained for your enjoyment. $469,000 TIM COLLOM 247-8048

QUIET S LAND PARK Seller is the original owner of this custom home in a South Land Park cul-de-sac. 3 bedrooms 2 baths on .27 acre lot. Updated baths, original kitchen, hardwood Àoors under carpet. Newer roof, windows, HVAC. Call to see. JAMIE RICH 612-4000

4 BEDROOM HOME Super clean, close in, and ready to go! Hard to ¿nd 4 bedroom home with 2½ baths in Land Park! Energy ef¿cient and beautifully maintained. Conveniently located, an easy walk to Land Park, Vic’s Ice Cream and Crocker Riverside Elementary School. It’s waiting for you! $329,000 SHEILA VAN NOY 505-5395, ERIN STUMPF 342-1372

CONVENIENTLY LOCATED Land Park location, location, location within easy walking distance of Taylor’s Market and Light Rail. Recently updated 2 bedroom home with a new kitchen and bath. This property also features a deep 155 foot lot awaiting personal touch. JAMIE RICH 612-4000

pending

for current home listings, please visit:

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

ILP JUN n 14

916.612.4000 | JamieRich.net HOLLYWOOD PARK . MIDTOWN . LAND PARK CURTIS PARK . EAST SACRAMENTO

BRE No. 01870143

We wanted a realtor who would take the time to understand us and to understand where we are in life. We wanted to be in Land Park. Jamie gets how cool this neighborhood is and how much we love it. She made it happen for us!

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

COVER ARTIST Lindsay Filby Filby’s a fourth generation Sacramentan and works with stained glass. Her show "Big Hard Color" is featured in June at the Alex Bult Gallery. She studied fine art at Sacramento City College, Cuesta College and Sac State. She's worked in a variety of mediums over the years but enjoys glass because of the color and the freedom it gives her to install her pieces outdoors.

EAST SACRAMENTO

L A N D PA R K

ARDEN

POCKET

Visit alexbultgallery.com

LOCAL JUN 2014

PUBLISHER Cecily Hastings publisher@insidepublications.com 3104 O St. #120, Sac. CA 95816 (Mail Only) 916-441-7026 (Information Line) EDITOR PRODUCTION DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHY AD COORDINATOR ACCOUNTING EDITORIAL POLICY

VOL. 16 • ISSUE 5 7 8 13 14 18 20 24 26 30 32 34 36 38 42 44 45 46 48 50 52 54 58

Marybeth Bizjak mbbizjak@aol.com M.J. McFarland Cindy Fuller, Daniel Nardinelli Linda Smolek, Aniko Kiezel Michele Mazzera Jim Hastings, Daniel Nardinelli 916-443-5087 Commentary reflects the views of the writers and does not necessarily reflect those of Inside Publications. Inside Publications is delivered for free to more than 65,000 households in Sacramento. Printing and distribution costs are paid entirely by advertising revenue. We spotlight selected advertisers, but all other stories are determined solely by our editorial staff and are not influenced by advertising. No portion may be reproduced mechanically or electronically without written permission of the publisher. All ad designs & editorial—©

SUBMISSIONS Submit cover art to publisher@insidepublications.com. Submit editorial contributions to mbbizjak@aol.com. SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions at $20 per year guarantees 3rd class mailing. Send check with name & address of recipient and specify publication edition.

VISIT INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Publisher's Desk Inside City Hall Steinberg's World Life in the City City Beat Shoptalk Local Heroes Home Insight Volunteer Profile The Club Life Doing Good Garden Jabber Building Our Future Pets & Their People Spirit Matters Art Preview Writing Life Getting There Science In The Neighborhood Artist Spotlight River City Previews Restaurant Insider

CONTACT OUR ADVERTISING TEAM

Ann Tracy

Duffy Kelly

East Sacramento

Arden - Pocket - Native Advertising

Central City - Land Park

798-2136

224-1604

341-9755

ILP JUN n 14

Michael Boyd

Cecily Hastings Publisher - Select Accounts

Rediscover your freedom to move. Back and neck pain is a discomfort you shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to live with. The Dignity Health Neurological Institute of Northern California can help you enjoy freedom of movement again. We offer the latest in technology and treatment, including minimally invasive procedures and nonsurgical options to get you back to living pain-free. Our Spine Center of Excellence in California is one of only four nationwide certiďŹ ed by The Joint Commission. Attend one of our informational events, where you can meet our renowned spine specialists to learn more about spine pain causes and treatment options. Register online at dignityhealth.org/SacramentoSpine or call 916-851-2511.

Tuesday, June 10 Courtyard Marriott at Cal Expo 1782 Tribute Road Sacramento, CA 95815

Tuesday, June 24 El Macero Country Club 44571 Clubhouse Drive El Macero, CA 95618

Wednesday, June 25 Hampton Inn Folsom 155 Placerville Road Folsom, CA 95630

Monday, June 30 Hilton Garden Inn Roseville 1951 Taylor Road Roseville, CA 95661

All events are from 6:15 to 8:00 p.m. Healthy appetizers and beverages will be served.

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

help for

hip pain

Feel better, faster with hip arthroscopy When hip pain and stiffness interfere with your life, Summit Orthopedic Specialists can help. Hunter Greene, M.D., is the only orthopedic surgeon in the region who is fellowship trained in hip arthroscopy.

Our highly trained surgical team offers hip arthroscopy, a minimally invasive technique to diagnose and treat hip pain so you can do what you want â&#x20AC;&#x201C; without pain. Spend less time recovering and more time doing the things you love. Contact Summit to learn more about hip arthroscopy.

CARMICHAEL: 6403 Coyle Avenue, Suite 170 (916) 965-4000

ILP JUN n 14

GRASS VALLEY: 150 Glasson Way Suite, 150B (530) 272-7593

www.mysummitortho.com

Signs of the Times POLITICAL LAWN SIGNS ARE FREE SPEECH, BUT ARE THEY DIVISIVE?

BY CECILY HASTINGS PUBLISHER’S DESK

ith an election coming up early this month, political campaign signs have been prominently displayed in our neighborhoods for many weeks. This year, there are city council races in three of the four districts we serve. In the county, there’s a competitive race for district attorney, not to mention a couple of very competitive races for the state assembly and senate and a hotly contested race for the U.S Congressional District 7 seat. Within the city limits, campaign signs tend to be small ones posted on front lawns, with an occasional larger sign or two. In less congested neighborhoods, a few property owners post large signs along busy thoroughfares. This past weekend, I was in Napa and was astounded by the number of bold, 4-by-8-foot political signs along beautiful bucolic Highway 29. Within a single mile, I stopped counting at 25. Signs of this size are legal but regulated under state law. Some cities restrict their use to 30 days before an election. Other cities restrict them so much that no one even uses them.

While political signs are as old as our republic, new printing technologies have made them less expensive to produce, and they now come in more durable materials. They are more readily used these days to endorse a voter’s candidate of choice. Most political campaign consultants dislike them. They say they don’t produce winners and are a pain to store and distribute. On the other hand, candidates love them because they provide visible proof of the candidate’s support. Polls usually aren’t conducted for local races, so voting trends can be tough to call. It is understandable that candidates and their supporters want to count something to gauge their progress with the electorate. And I wonder if anyone ever made their decision based upon a lawn sign. I’ve seen some pretty effective campaign strategies that employed lawn signs. Four years ago, District 3 City Councilmember Steve Cohn was challenged by Chris Little, a relatively unknown and comparatively underfunded candidate at the start of the race. But Little walked every precinct and talked to voters early and often—all the while amassing a list of supporters who wanted lawn signs. A few months before the election, hundreds of Chris Little signs appeared almost overnight throughout the neighborhood. No doubt it signaled to Cohn that he had a real race on his hands. Three-term incumbent Cohn ultimately prevailed with 53 percent of the vote to Little’s 38 percent, but Cohn significantly outspent him. Sacramento district attorney candidate Anne Marie Schubert was the first in my East Sac neighborhood

to put up lawn signs this election cycle. This led to a bit of confusion among voters. I had several readers wonder why we didn’t include her in our question-and-answer coverage of the district’s city council race. The city code allows political or campaign signs on behalf of candidates for public office or measures on election ballots, provided that the signs are not erected earlier than 90 days before the election and are removed within 15 days after the election. A sign cannot exceed 6 square feet in area, or about 2 feet by 3 feet.

Another relatively common practice is for candidates to post signs on commercial property without the owner’s permission. It’s illegal to post political signs in public right of ways. Yet as I ride my bike on the mile-long stretch of Elvas Avenue in East Sac, I see numerous illegally posted signs for three council candidates on the railroad right of way. I see the same practice in other parts of town for other candidates. When they appear in parks, I take them down myself. To me, that illegal practice just shows an amateurish campaign desperate for attention. Although commercial property owners have the same right to post as residents, their signs often exceed the city’s legal size limit.

Another relatively common practice is for candidates to post signs on commercial property without the owner’s permission. In many cases, an unsuspecting property owner doesn’t see it for a while—maybe never. The candidate hopes he or she will get away with it long enough to gain some visibility. While retail business owners also have the right to post political signs, I am always surprised when they do. My sense is that a business owner might not want to risk alienating potential customers. Truth be told, I am not a fan of political lawn signs. My husband and I put up signs many years ago but have sworn off it for several reasons. I believe that political signs tend to polarize neighbors. I’ve heard stories of neighbors yelling at each other in their yards over political differences. That is not good. With a country desperately polarized politically, I’d prefer our neighborhoods be gentler and more tolerant places. I find it easier to develop relations with neighbors without getting into politics. As a publisher covering local political races, I’d rather not have my neighbors know my voting preferences. While major newspapers routinely endorse candidates, they have relatively faceless editorial boards that zealously assess candidates for endorsement. We, on the other hand, strive to embed our business into the communities we serve. Even though we employ dozens of writers, I tend to be the public face of our papers. In my own East Sacramento neighborhood, I’m PUBLISHER page 11

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Balanced in Name Only SMALL BUDGET SURPLUS IS NO CAUSE TO BREAK OUT THE CHAMPAGNE

All three of the city’s primary sources of income (property, sales and utility user taxes) are expected to grow modestly next year with Sacramento’s very modest economic recovery. The city will see a onetime bump in property taxes from the rapid return of housing prices to 2008 levels, which will lead to a quick restoration of reassessments for many BY CRAIG POWELL (particularly newer) homeowners. INSIDE CITY HALL The 11 percent utility tax on city utilities is generating a gusher of new here is only a tiny handful taxes for the general fund as a result of policy wonks who actually of three years of double-digit hikes in look forward to the release water and sewer rates. (The final year each year of the city manager’s of hikes kicks in on July 1.) But the proposed city budget for the fiscal city decided in 2012 to set aside those year that starts on July 1. I’m fresh revenues ($3.8 million next one of them. City budget manager year) to fund a new subsidy program Leyne Milstein drove that point to insulate low-income homeowners home in my interview of her last (but not low-income renters) from the month, joking that I was one of impact of the major run-up in water only three people who have actually and sewer rates. Given the city’s read the document that only a wonk coming fiscal problems (see below), could endure, much less enjoy. don’t be surprised if this new welfare But endure it I did and, knowing program gets the ax sometime in the that most of you don’t spend your next few years. nights curled up with the city budget, The one-half-cent sales tax hike I’m offering you the CliffsNotes approved in 2012, Measure U, is version of it this month. expected to bring in $31 million The good news is that after five next year, up from $29 million this years of battling chronic budget year. The city, having already used deficits, city manager John Shirey current Measure U money to reopen is proposing a $383 million generalall browned-out fire stations, plans fund budget that actually ekes out to use it next year to hire 14 new a small $2 million budget surplus. sworn police officers and preserve 10 (The total city budget, which includes police positions that are funded with fee-collecting “enterprise funds” like expiring grants. Measure U, however, city utilities, the convention center expires in five years, and city officials and marina, is actually $872 million, have announced no plans to adapt the but most attention is paid to the city’s city budget over the next few years general-fund budget, which funds to a post-Measure U world. My city basic city services such as police, fire, hall sources report that city officials parks, etc.) That means no cuts next hope to make the case to voters in year in services or city employees.

ILP JUN n 14

2018 that an extension of the tax is essential to avoid cuts in city services, which may be considered by some residents who voted for Measure U a breach of faith since it was sold as a temporary fix of the city’s temporary budgetary problems.

The 11 percent utility tax on city utilities is generating a gusher of new taxes for the general fund as a result of three years of double-digit hikes in water and sewer rates. On the expense side of the budget, the city is actually “bending the cost curve” and reining in health-care costs for current employees. From 2009 until 2013, the city’s cost of health care per employee rose from about $10,500 to more than $15,000. By offering city employees a $2,000 incentive (all right, call it a bribe) to shift from traditional insurance coverage to a high-deductible, healthsavings-account-based health plan, the city, for the first time in memory, is actually holding the line on healthcare costs on a year-over-year basis. With the arrival of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), the city is dealing with the ACA’s requirement that benefits be provided to all employees working “full time,” meaning 30 or more hours per week.

Like private employers, the city is making sure that part-time employees do not exceed 30 hours per week without having a darn good reason for doing so. Also, the city is expected to be caught by the ACA’s 40 percent excise tax on “Cadillac” health-care coverage beginning in 2018 due to the generosity of its coverage. The Cadillac tax kicks in on individual coverage valued at more than $10,200 annually and family coverage valued at more than $27,500 annually. One question that remains unanswered is whether the city could reduce its health-care costs for current and retired employees if it were to shift health coverage for lower-paid workers from city plans to plans offered under the ACA, taking advantage of the significant ACA subsidies. Several cities around the country are actively considering such shifts. Human resources director Geri Hamby, however, was unavailable to discuss the issue. A major uncertainty for the city in planning next year’s budget is that it’s negotiating new contracts with each of its major unions. The city and the police union are locked in binding arbitration that will result in a highrisk “winner take all” resolution, with one side or the other prevailing based on the terms of its last best offer. The city is trying to compel police to pay their full “employee’s share” of pension contributions, which amounts to 9 percent of their salary. The only significant change in the city’s fiscal circumstances since Measure U was approved by voters in 2012 has been the council’s approval of the arena deal and issuance of up CITY HALL page 10

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Keep Your Original Wood Windows ass with Low-E, Double P e old gl ane G h t e d lass a r g Up

Our patented Bi-Glass® System will save energy, reduce drafts and rattles while preserving the authenticiy of your home.

916-967-6900 Ć Visit artisansash.com FREE ESTIMATE EPA Certiﬁed Ca. Lic. 949891 CITY HALL FROM page 8 to $325 million of arena bonds. The arena bonds will impose a projected $21.9 million annual hit to the general fund, softened by the $6.5 million annual lease payments (which will increase 3 percent annually) from the Kings owners. The city plans to cover the net $15.4 million shortfall, at least in the first three years, by borrowing more on the arena bonds and by tapping a modest one-time $6 million liquidity reserve that the city plans to fund from the city’s hotel tax. After the first three years, the city expects to cover the shortfall through a major increase in city parking profits, according to city treasurer Russ Fehr, despite the fact that close to one-half of city parking garage spaces are being handed over to the Kings owners as part of the arena deal. But there is a disconnect between Fehr’s projection that the city’s parking profits will increase by $7.5 million and Milstein’s far more modest projection that city parking revenues and expenditures will grow

ILP JUN n 14

by 1 percent to 2 percent annually for the next five years. Fehr claims that the city plans to rapidly grow parkingmeter profits by expanding the number, hours, rates and locations of parking meters in the city. If so, either no one told Milstein or she’s not buying the projected rapid rise in parking profits. Fehr claims that measures to hike parking profits are not being designed merely to raise revenue for the arena. According to Fehr, the city’s public works department developed the measures to “modernize” the parking system and use it most efficiently. This is, to put it charitably, balderdash. The plan to increase parking profits was developed solely to fund the city’s arena obligations. If the plan to greatly increase parking profits had originated in the public works department, the city budget director would have been privy to the plan and would’ve included the higher profits in the city’s five-year budget forecast. Why is this rather obscure budgetary issue so important? Because the Legislature enacted a

statute in 1943 limiting how local governments can use profits from municipal parking. It provides that such profits can be used only to fund a municipality’s parking operations and may not be used for any other purpose (like making arena bond payments). Fehr is trying his best to portray his plan to spike parking profits as an ongoing city effort to “modernize” city parking and make it more “efficient” in order to shoehorn his arena financing plan into the state law that strictly limits the use of muni profits to supporting parking operations. In my view, and as a president from Texas used to say, that dog won’t hunt. A taxpayer suit may be brought against the city to enforce the state law restriction on the use of parking profits (or under Proposition 26, which limits the amount a government can charge for certain fees to the “reasonable cost” of services). If such a suit succeeds in embargoing parking profits from being used to make arena bond payments, the city will have to scramble to fund the $15.4 million

annual arena bond funding shortfall through other means, most likely by using the tried-and-true method of cutting city services. The city manager is projecting that the general fund will return to deficit in two years, starting with a $2.2 million deficit in 2016, a $12 million deficit in 2018 and by 2019, due to sharp increases in pension contributions mandated by CalPERS and the 2019 expiration of Measure U, leaping to $41 million of red ink. If higher parking profits are either not realized or are legally prevented from being used to fund arena bond payments, the general-fund deficit would likely grow to around $53 million. The city is being hammered with a third round of pension contribution hikes from CalPERS. The first two hikes were to deal with losses in the pension fund’s portfolio and a reduction in its forecasted earnings rate on invested funds from 7.75 percent to 7.5 percent. The latest contribution increase (to be phased CITY HALL page 12

A Green Cleaned Home is a SAFE Home

“Now that my teeth are straight I am always smiling!”

House cleaning services by professional, well-trained staff

CALL 497.0333

$20 Off Your 1st Cleaning* *Not valid for past service or existing clients. Expires 6/30/14.

californiagreenclean.com

Express Your Feelings With Flowers

“With our new custom braces system, a beautiful smile has never been faster, easier or simpler to achieve. Treatment can be completed in less than 15 months.”

You’ve never been more proud. Let your Grads and Dads know it.

Relles Florist 2400 J Street • 441-1478 RellesFlorist.com

Leading-Edge Technology Featuring:

Voted Best Florist 12 years by readers of Sacramento Magazine

PUBLISHER FROM page 7 involved with neighborhood and business associations and run a nonprofit that maintains McKinley Rose Garden and Clunie Community Center. We need to solicit volunteers and raise funds each year, and any polarization among neighbors makes those jobs more difficult. We also need to work with whoever wins the local elected offices on coverage of issues in our neighborhoods. Political recriminations are always possible. I’ve seen some deep memories among elected officials. Lastly, I believe political signs tend to make our neighborhood streets less beautiful. Sadly, struggling neighborhoods tend to have far more illegal signs and postings than better neighborhoods. The freedom to publicly endorse candidates is an important part of your constitutional right to freedom of speech. But so is the right to keep your voting preferences private. At a recent city council meeting, Councilmember Steve Hansen

Insignia Custom Braces™ Invisalign tm, Damon Systems™ Lythos Digital Impressions™

recalled a great quote I first heard years ago from Lady Bird Johnson: “The clash of ideas is the sound of freedom.” Maybe—despite my own thoughts to the contrary—that is the appeal of posting political signs on one’s property.

BIG DAY OF GIVING UPDATE The Sacramento Region Community Foundation and its partners spent months gearing up for the BIG Day of Giving on May 6, which I covered in my column last month. They hoped to raise $1 million in donations and $250,000 in matching funds. The results far exceeded that goal: $3,020,000 was raised from 18,915 donors among 394 local nonprofit organizations. Sacramento ranked second in the entire country in terms of total donations. To those of you who joined the effort, we offer a great big thank-you!

Call Today (916) 392-5670

! n i W ! n i W ! n i W

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY FROM DR. GUESS

Tell us why your Dad is the WORLD’S BEST DAD Win 2 Tablets, one for you and one for Dad! Just how great is your Dad? In about 250 words tell us why your Dad rocks! Bring your story to Dr. Guess’s office at 7600 Greenhaven Dr. by June 20. Winners announced June 30 Second place wins two iPod shuffles! Good luck!

Call 916-392-5670 for complimentary Initial Exam (a $65 value)

Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. n

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Expect MORE from your Realtor Character. Competence. Commitment. Community.

“Steffan’s engineering background really helped when we were looking at various properties. He was able to steer us and stay focused on what was important to us. He really exceeded our expections and treated us like family.” —Colin Bailey and Kathy Angkustsiri

Steffan Brown ł 717-7217 ł SteffanBrown.com

CITY HALL FROM page 10 in over five years) is both good news and bad news. The good news is that city employees are living much longer. The bad news is that the city must pay for their pensions for a longer time. Cumulatively, these increases will raise the city’s annual CalPERS contribution by $33 million over the next five years, from the current $49 million to $82 million. In terms of salaries, the city’s current pension contribution rate for public safety workers will rise from 31 percent of

ILP JUN n 14

salary to about 42 percent. For all other city employees, the rate will increase from 14.5 percent of salary to almost 19 percent. Also looming on the horizon is the possibility of a fourth increase in the pension contribution rate should the CalPERS board conclude that the new 7.5 percent earnings assumption is still too optimistic, as pension reformers, a major ratings agency (Moody’s) and even the Government Accounting Standards Board assert.

While the city manager’s proposed budget reflects a small surplus, it relies on weak government accounting rules that ignore the current costs being run up for city retiree healthcare costs, as well as deferred maintenance of city facilities. Because the city hasn’t been setting aside funding for retiree health-care costs until very recently, the city is facing a $470 million unfunded liability for such costs. The city is accruing $29 million per year in such costs, which are

CaBRE #01882787

owed to city employees for services rendered in the current year, but which are not reflected in the city’s general-fund budget. If the current costs of providing retiree health-care benefits were included, the projected $2 million surplus would become a $27 million deficit, while the $41 million projected deficit in 2019 would become a $70 million deficit. This year, for the first time, the city manager is proposing a contribution to a trust fund for such costs as part CITY HALL page 16

Steinberg’s World CORRUPTION AT THE CAPITOL COMPLICATES THINGS FOR THIS POCKET POLITICIAN

BY R.E. GRASWICH

he senator from the Pocket was at a coffee shop trying to make a point about his integrity, explaining that he was proud of his career and he was not like some of his colleagues, the corrupt ones. As the senator spoke, people walked in front of him to get coffee. The interruptions broke the pace. “Sorry, excuse me, hello there,” the senator would say before returning to the thickets of political integrity and senatorial corruptions. “I believe I have conducted myself with integrity,” he was saying. “I feel terrible about what’s happened. I have a hard time sleeping.” None of this is how Darrell Steinberg envisioned the final months of his career in California statehouse politics, a chapter that ends this November when his term expires and he is replaced in the State Senate. This was supposed to be his victory lap. Steinberg should be smiling and taking bows as the first politician from Sacramento to lead the Senate as president pro tem since 1883. Instead, the Pocket resident is alternatively defending himself and apologizing for the sins of others: senators Rod Wright, Ron Calderon and Leland Yee, who were convicted (Wright) or are facing changes (Calderon and Yee) of crimes stretching from perjury to corruption and conspiracy. Rule No. 1 in politics is never explain and never complain. Steinberg is doing both. At this point, he expected to be preparing for his next move, which should have been smooth

State Senator Darrell Steinberg vistis with a community member

and easy. His friends say he wants to become Sacramento’s mayor. Now, that may not be so simple. The State Senate’s corruptions are hardly Steinberg’s invention. The institution has a checkered history of creating criminals. Yet Steinberg was in charge when the latest felonies were alleged. He was the boss. The buck must stop somewhere. So rather than dressing up final bits of legislation, rather than meeting with consultants to figure out the smoothest path to the mayor’s office, Steinberg has been scrambling around Sacramento, visiting coffee shops and parks and meeting with voters, all to make people remember him as a good and honorable man, the Pocket neighbor who could be found many mornings jogging down Greenhaven Drive and shopping for

groceries at Nugget Market on Florin Road. “I’m here to answer all of your questions. I’m not ducking anything,” he says. In some ways, Steinberg is the perfect local politician. A lawyer trained at UC Davis, he’s smart enough to have done other things for bigger paychecks, but he was drawn to the power and prestige of elected office. His power was immense as Senate president pro tem, but he downplayed it. He was never “Slick Darrell.” As a Sacramento City Council member from 1992 to 1998, he was known for bad haircuts and mismatched clothing, a guy with striped shirts and brown shoes. He polished up his act in the Assembly from 1998 to 2004, acquiring a taste for pinstriped suits

and skilled barbering and a slower cadence in speeches. While there is nothing common about Steinberg, there has always been a commonality about him: a goofy smile, an awkward greeting, a squeaky voice that made him likable and approachable. When he became president of the Senate, he would attend his son Ari’s soccer practices like just any other dad, albeit a dad who got on his cell phone to argue with the governor. The common-man character served Steinberg well, because it was authentic and never contrived. It helped separate Steinberg from his screamingly ambitious and vain colleagues, at least in public, masking his own ambitions in a haze of normalcy. The fates of Wright, Calderon and Yee, men hunted by county attorneys and federal prosecutors, have made everything so much more difficult in Steinberg’s world. Now he must scrub away the senatorial stench, despite his presence as Senate leader. “I want them to leave,” he tells the crowd at the coffee shop, and he launches into an explanation of the sleazy system. His defense provides a thin semantic distinction between special-interest political contributions and outright bribery. “Do interest groups give campaigns money and then ask for a vote?” he asks. “Yes.” And he complains how the U.S. Supreme Court has legalized the dirty process and how voters refuse to intervene with publicly financed campaigns. What comes next? Probably mayor. But here, too, is trouble. Kevin CITY BEAT page 22

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Excellent Taste FOOD, WINE AND MORE ARE ON THE AGENDA AT ANNUAL EVENT

BY JESSICA LASKEY LIFE IN THE CITY

ith the return of our Sacramento summer comes some exciting annual outdoor events. Welcome the sweltering season with Land Park Community Association’s A Taste of Land Park on Sunday, June 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. on 14th Street between Vallejo and Markham ways. Your $30 advance ticket ($35 at the door) will not only help support the LPCA and its crucial work in the community—which includes enhancing William Land Park—but will also buy you access to a decadent afternoon of food tastings from neighborhood eateries, wine and beer pairings from regional beverage makers, live music, art galore and a Wall of Wine that’s not to be missed. (As you can guess, guests must be 21 or older.) While this is all fun and games for adults, little ones can have fun, too, with Kids Night Out at Planet Gymnastics (3202 Riverside Blvd). The kids’ gym will offer child care—including pizza, movies and playtime—from 3 to 7:30 p.m. on June 8, so parents can party undistracted nearby. To reserve a spot, call 4474966 or visit planetgymnastics.net.

ILP JUN n 14

Don't miss A Taste of Land Park on Sunday, June 8, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Questions about the event? Contact event coordinator Kelly Mishell at (310) 251-4197. To purchase tickets, go to landpark.org or stop into Vic’s Ice Cream (3199 Riverside Blvd.) or Espresso Metro (2104 11th Ave.).

TWILIGHT THURSDAY Get ready to party hearty at Sacramento Zoo this summer with the return of Twilight Thursday, a special members’ night and many more wild adventures. On Thursday, June 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., zoo members can enjoy a special after-hours event that will include keeper chats, a wildlife stage show, face painting and more exciting excursions. Feel free to bring your own

dinner, or fuel up at Kampala Cafe. Not a member yet? Get in on the fun by calling 808-5888. The warm weather and longer sunlight hours mean that zoo denizens are skippin’ and hoppin’ late into the evening. Now you can, too! On Thursday, June 19 and 26, the zoo will remain open until 8 p.m. for Twilight Thursday, a familyfriendly fest full of fun activities, dinner specials, live music and more. Check out saczoo.com for special theme nights coming up this month. Have you ever had dreams (delusions? nightmares?) about being locked in the zoo overnight? Now you can make those fantasies a reality with Family Overnight Safaris on Saturday, June 7, Friday,

June 13, and Friday, June 27, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 a.m. the following day. These exciting, educational evenings include behind-the-scenes access to some of the zoo’s nocturnal animals, games, activities and a chance to sprawl out under the stars and catch some winks (if the lion’s roar doesn’t keep you awake). Dinner and breakfast are provided. If being queen for a day sounds like something you’d like, then you’ll love King of Feasts on Saturday, June 21, from 6 to 9 p.m. This annual gourmet food and wine luau for adults will feature fare from dozens of fine local restaurants and bakeries, premium beer, wine and spirits, live entertainment including Polynesian dancers and a silent auction. Buy your

or email him at ckpinsacto@aol. com. As always, donations are greatly appreciated. Mail your check to Land Park Volunteer Corps, 3053 Freeport Blvd. #231, Sacramento, CA 95818. Base Camp is located at 3901 Land Park Drive.

tickets now by calling 808-5888 or visiting saczoo.org. With much mirth comes some sadness, though. On March 31, the zoo lost one of its North American river otters, Wilson, who was thought to be around 14 years old—that’s old for an otter! “Wilson will be a tough loss for everyone,” says zookeeper Erik Bowker. “He was an amazing otter to work with due to his incredible intelligence and love for foods of all kind. He was a wonderful ambassador for his species and drew the attention of kids and adults alike. His ability to interact with the public delighted many, as he often stood nose to nose with children at the glass of his exhibit. He will be greatly missed.” For more information, call 8085888 or visit saczoo.org. Sacramento Zoo is located at 3930 W. Land Park Drive.

IF THE SHOE FITS

NOT SO SMALL You may be aware that Sacramento Zoo is in the process of rebuilding its Small Wonders of Africa exhibit to better display and care for the animals inside. Well, students from 16 Merryhill School preschools and elementary schools in Sacramento and Roseville, made it their goal to do more than a small thing for the zoo: On May 3, they presented the zoo with a $13,000 check to help with the exhibit. Merryhill students had been learning about the six species of animals featured in the exhibit, which will include straw-colored fruit bats, banded mongooses, aardvarks, Wolf’s guenons, red-billed hornbills and crested guineafowl. They held fundraisers such as T-shirt and artwork sales to donate to the zoo’s reconstruction project. While they may be small, these kids clearly have big hearts.

GREEN THUMBS If you’re itching to get down and dirty with the summer season in full bloom, lend a hand at Land Park Volunteer Corps’ work day on Saturday, June 7, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. (The schedule has been moved

Fairytale Town offers several summer camps for youngsters, including Farmer Brown’s Junior Farmers for children ages 4 to 6

Merryhill School students raised $13,000 to help rebuild the zoo's Small Wonders of Africa exhibit

up an hour to accommodate the heat of the day.) Park beautification is an ongoing project of the corps, and the help they get from Land Park residents is invaluable. This is a case in which many hands really do make light

work. Fuel up with a complimentary breakfast from Espresso Metro and cool off after a day of digging with lunch provided at the picnic tables at Base Camp (behind Fairytale Town). For more information, call lead coordinator Craig Powell at 718-3030

School’s out—if you’re looking for a way to help burn off some of that kid energy, there’s no better place than Fairytale Town. With outdoor play structures, puppet shows, fundraisers, campouts and summer camps galore, there’s something for everyone at Sacramento’s favorite kid zone. Puppet Art Theater Company’s playful puppetry will take on the classic girl-meets-boy-runs-awayfrom-boy-and-leaves-breakablefootwear fantasy “Cinderella” on Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8, at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Tickets are only $2 for nonmembers (in addition to park admission) and $1 for members. Not a bad price for a live show! If your family is looking for some nighttime entertainment, why not schedule a Family Campout at Fairytale Town on Friday, June 13, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. the next day? This overnight adventure includes a theater performance, arts and crafts activities, a scavenger hunt, bedtime stories and a sing-along, as well as breakfast the next day. Prices range from $25 to $30 per person, with a member discount available. For more information, call 808-7462. Yet another way the whole family can spend time together doing something fun—and delicious—is by attending Fairytale Town’s annual ice cream extravaganza, A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy, on Saturday, June 28, from 5 to 9 p.m. Don a costume for a magical midsummer’s evening and enjoy all-you-can-eat Crystal ice cream, live entertainment, no-host food and bar, activities, an “olde worlde” marketplace and more. Advance tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 2 to 12. Day-of tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children LAND PARK LIFE page 16

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

REMODEL WITH AN AWARD-WINNER! Sacramento’s MOST Award-Winning NARI Remodeling Firm Kitchens • Baths • Room Additions • Whole House Remodels

Oriental Rug Bazaar We bring the world to your feet

^JFWX TK J]UJWNJSHJ >L HSZV KV WYVMLZZPVUHS JSLHUPUN YLWHPYZ HUK HWWYHPZHSZ

/ :[ :HJYHTLU[V 916-731-4444

100% Guild Quality Satisfaction Rating “This company is highly professional, hugely communicative, and has earned our complete trust! I recommend Eberle to my friends and associates.”

aspiring actors, writers and designers learn all the necessary skills to write, design, produce and perform their own short play at the end of the week. For more information on all Fairytale Town events, call 808-7462 or visit fairytaletown.org. Fairytale Town is at 3901 Land Park Drive.

includes food). Tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com/event/640321. For more information, call 8085621 or visit oldcitycemetery.com. The Old City Cemetery is located at 1000 Broadway. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. n

COMING UP ROSES

CITY HALL FROM page 12

–Jo F., Curtis Park

Visit EberleRemodeling.com for MORE Guild Quality Customer Ratings

Call today to schedule your FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION

369-6518

Lic# 659954

LAND PARK LIFE FROM page 15

Lorene Warren 799.2121 Trust 34 Years of Experience. View All Homes on My Website!

• Services Guaranteed • Pre Sale Home Repairs • All aspects of preparing your home for sale • Professional Home Interior Staging

LoreneWarren.com

ILP JUN n 14

ages 2 to 12. For more information, call 808-7462. Now for the truly entertaining part: summer camps for kids. Options abound for keeping little ones learning during the summer months… For children ages 4 to 6, there’s Farmer Brown’s Junior Farmers (June 16-20 from 9 a.m. to noon), where kids learn how Fairytale Town’s menagerie is cared for, with plenty of hands-on activities; and Rock School (June 23-27 from 9 a.m. to noon), where kids can channel their inner rock star and experiment with instruments including guitar, bass, drums and keyboard. For children ages 6 to 12, choose Adventure Play (June 16-20 from 1 to 4 p.m.), where campers will learn about basic survival skills, weather identification, plants and animals as well as take nature walks, make bird feeders, construct cardboard forts, use a solar oven and more; or Curtains Up! (June 23-27 from 1 to 4 p.m.), a theater arts camp that will have

The Old City Cemetery gives new meaning to “deadhead” with its early-evening deadheading event on Monday, June 2, from 6:30 p.m. until dark. Traipse through the Old City Cemetery’s Historic Rose Garden and help ready the rosebushes for next season by removing spent blooms and tidying up the garden. Tools and training will be provided and light refreshments will be served, so you can refuel throughout the evening. If you’d rather learn about the cemetery’s human history, don’t miss the tour on Saturday, June 7, at 10 a.m. focusing on Sacramento’s rich theatrical history, as told through the stories of cemetery residents who were part of our capital’s exciting theater scene between 1849 and the 1920s. Are you spooked easily? If not, join the frighteningly fun tour The Unlucky 13 on—when else?—Friday, June 13. Costumed storytellers will lead brave tour goers through the cemetery and its many superstitions. Test your luck with door prizes and other fun-filled activities, and don’t forget to look up: It’ll be a full moon that night! Friday the 13th tours will take place at 6:45, 7:30 and 8:15 p.m. and are $13 per person (which

of the annual budgeting process. While the $1 million allocation is largely symbolic, it’s a start. Unfortunately, it’s also designated as a one-time allocation, not a recurring one. Another off-budget expense that misses the general-fund budget is the accrual of deferred-maintenance expenses. The city currently has a $37.4 million backlog of deferred maintenance on city facilities and intends to accrue (instead of paying) another $1.5 million to $2 million in deferred-maintenance expenses in the coming year. If the city council is wise, it would protect its physical assets by using its $2 million surplus next year to fully fund current maintenance costs—and set up a funding plan to work off the $37.4 million maintenance backlog as soon as practicable. Author’s note: This column went to press before the May 20 city council meeting at which the council was expected to approve the arena deal and the sale of arena bonds. Craig Powell is a local attorney, businessman, community activist and president of Eye on Sacramento, a civic watchdog and policy group. He can be reached at craig@ eyeonsacramento.org or 718-3030. n

Free community event at

www.shoppavilions.com

Discover Unique Fine Art . . . on display from over 150 artisans: paintings, pottery, glass, photography, jewelry and more.

56th annual

Fiesta! sponsored by the Sacramento Suburban Kiwanis Club

Saturday & Sunday

■

June 7 & 8 10 am – 5 pm

Pavilions Shopping Center Fair Oaks Blvd. near Howe Ave. • Sacramento

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Reimagining the Bike Rack ARCHITECT CREATES A CIVIC PRODUCT THAT COMBINES FORM WITH FUNCTION

BY R.E. GRASWICH CITY BEAT

ehold the lowly bicycle rack, simple and essential, a functional chunk of urban infrastructure that’s become the ubiquitous successor to the hitching post. Where people once tied horses, today they lock bikes. The bike rack doesn’t have to be pretty. All anyone really expects are solid anchorages and the ability to deter a 42-inch set of bolt-cutters. Now meet Jason Silva, an architect from Curtis Park who trained at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. He’s drawn to the mystique of art in artless places, of designs that captivate and inspire, of perspectives that shift as the viewer moves. And imagine a bike rack that doubles as an art piece and seems to be something else entirely, depending on where you stand. This is Silva’s postmodern hitching post, coming to a park near you. “As architects, we typically deal with the basics of a building,” Silva says. “We create shelter, functional spaces, places to live and work. But occasionally, we get to do something that’s more like sculpture.”

ILP JUN n 14

Jason Silva has designed a bike rack that is also a piece of art

This is one such occasion. Supported by $50,000 in capital improvement dollars marshaled by City Councilmember Jay Schenirer, Silva came up with a design for 15 artsy bike racks that will soon

blossom across Schenirer’s district, from Oak Park to South Land Park. The Silva-imagined bike racks defy description. In fact, the description changes as you approach. Seen from straight ahead, the rack looks like a tubular person riding a bike. Seen

from the side, it looks like three distinct pieces of metal sculpture. Seen from a certain place in between, well, that depends on you. “There is a sweet spot to view the racks, but even then, it’s designed to change depending on whether you’re 6 feet tall or a child who’s 3 feet tall,” Silva says. “It deconstructs itself.” It’s time for a little background. Silva’s design is part of Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission’s Art in Public Places program, whose mission is precisely what the name suggests. Sometimes, public art generates controversy—a naked Poseidon and a giant red rabbit leaping to catch a plane come to mind. Other times, public art seems to blend naturally, like a slender tree spreading its branches around a library. The Silva bike racks are a different beast. They are functional. If they don’t attract bikes, they will have failed. They must deliver an essential service, which means they have to be more resilient than the aforementioned bolt cutters. And they have to be beautiful. There was no easy route for Silva. The arts commission made an open call for designs. Twelve visionaries responded, Silva among them. A jury panel trimmed the number to seven in January. Two months later, amid much learned contemplation and head nodding, the jury voted Silva the winner. “It was a very close competition,” says Shelly Willis, executive director of SMAC. “But Jason’s design was fantastic. As an architect, he’s familiar with the technical aspects of how to create such a complicated

design. One of the requirements was you must be able to actually build it and keep it within budget.” Silva calls his design “anamorphic,” which means it changes appearance depending on the viewer’s location. He hopes to get people in cars to notice the shifting perspective as they drive past the bike racks, and thus encourage motorists to leave their cars and ride bikes. Then there’s the problem of building the darned things. Silva can launch into a 10-minute soliloquy on the technical challenges of turning a fancy art concept into several pieces of metal that bolt to the sidewalk and protect bicycles. “You’re talking about lasercutting a half-inch plate of steel and welding the base pieces and grinding and powder coating,” he says. “It’s specialty work. I’m building a test model out of cardboard first.” The first non-cardboard Silva rack is being anchored at McClatchy Park near McGeorge School of Law. Others will be placed around Schenirer’s District 5, which includes Curtis

Park, Oak Park, Hollywood Park and other neighborhoods on the city’s south-central side. When you see one, you will know you’ve reached a special place in Sacramento. “The bike rack project is a unique opportunity to create some amazing art that’s both functional and inspiring for District 5 communities,” Schenirer says. “I love the fact that you can walk down the street and watch an art piece change perspective while it’s providing a service.” Which leaves us with one final tantalizing question: How come it took so long for a creative mind to design a bike rack that’s both beautiful and safe for our bikes? “Unfortunately, bike racks are a catalog item,” Silva says. “They are an afterthought. No one bothers to think about how much better we can do.” Until now. R.E. Graswich can be reached at reg@graswich.com. n

Christopher J. Cantrell, DMD Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry Esthetic Smile Design As a dental professional I have the ability to educate, motivate and inspire my patients. The power of a smile promotes confidence, which can change lives.

A good place to find a great dentist. • Children & Adults • Cosmetic Dentistry • Dental Implants Always accepting new patients.

44-SMILE or visit us at

www.sutterterracedental.com

3001 P St. Sacramento, CA

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Everything & the Kitchen Sink WHEN D&J BIDS ON REMODELING, HUNDREDS OF REFERENCES GIVEN

BY JESSICA LASKEY SHOPTALK

arius Baker has been in the business of remodeling kitchens and baths for 33 years. As the founder of D&J Kitchens and Baths Inc. (he’s the “D” in D&J—his business partner, John (“J”) Scofield, retired in 2011), he knows his way around a remodel from the pipes to the paint, the foundation to the fittings. So he’s the guy you want to ask if you need advice about an upcoming remodel. “The most important thing is who you pick to do the job,” Baker says, in a rare moment of quiet between visits to job sites and meetings with clients. “There are things you should look for in your selection process aside from how long any particular company has been in business. Some of these companies have survived (the economic downturn) ‘in spite of themselves,’ so to speak. “There are many ways to check on a company you’re considering. You should check license information and currency at the state contractor license board and call the Better Business Bureau to see if they have a track record there. However, there is no better way to get the best report on a company than to talk to folks who have been down the road with that company. I honestly feel it is the single biggest mistake consumers make when they don’t check references.” Baker himself supplies potential customers with a seven-page document containing the names and contact information of all his past

ILP JUN n 14

Darius Baker, of the founder of D&J Kitchens and Baths Inc.

clients—his projects number in the 400s—organized by ZIP code. Like most of this bright businessman’s actions, there’s a method to his madness. “Calling references will give you a lot more information than simply, ‘Yes, they did a good job, on time and on budget,’ ” Baker says. “You might learn about things people would do differently if they did it over. “You should learn how the company’s employees were to work with. Were they considerate of my family? Did they respect the rest of my property? Were they clean and tidy? Did they communicate well through the course of our

relationship? Were they helpful in solving issues/problems throughout the project? “You might be really surprised at the things past clients might discuss with you that you would never consider at the early stages of a project.” For Baker, more information is good information, especially when a client is looking at making a major investment in improving their home for years to come. “Don’t be swayed by the bottom line,” Baker cautions. “Obviously there’s no money tree, but you’re investing—you need to get the most out of your money. IKEA might come

in with the lowest bid, but how can you think that [product] will last you a long time?” The longevity of a project is coming into play more than ever before— Baker has noticed an overwhelming trend in the baby boomer population of “aging in place” (revamping their current homes with accessibility features like widened doorways, safety bars and curbless showers) instead of selling their current home to downsize. “Now people are deciding to make this house what they want,” Baker says, “so they can go out of it in a box.”

In addition to the advancing age of some of his clients, Baker has noticed an uptick in the interest surrounding green remodeling—“the whole ‘green’ thing,” as he calls it. To meet a growing demand for more eco-conscious housing features, the city of Sacramento is working on a series of guidelines and building codes to address the increased interest in residential projects such as gray water recycling systems (bathroom water being recycled to irrigate property, for example). But regardless of how gray, green or otherwise a project may be, Baker recommends considering one other crucial reality of a remodel. “Be sure to consider the emotional trauma of living through a remodel,” Baker says. “I tell folks I will guarantee one thing over all else: You will get to the point where you want us out of your house—and we won’t even be there yet. Therein lies the value of references. I have people tell me that they didn’t realize how much it would mean to them that the workers left the toilet seat down until they had them in their house day after day.” So go ahead, call any one of Baker’s hundreds of references. We bet they’ll tell you he left the seat down. In need of a new kitchen or refreshed bath? Call Baker and his team at D&J Kitchens and Baths Inc. at 925-2577 or go to djkitchen.com.

A NEW KIND OF CLEAN I don’t know anyone who would describe doing laundry as “fun,” but Sacramento native Chris Wilson is out to change that. When he opened midtown’s Love Laundry in December 2013, Wilson was determined to change the boring reputation of the sudsy spin cycle forever. “We want to be the cleanest and hippest laundromat in Sacramento,” Wilson says. “We’re trying to break the stereotypical mold of dirty, dark, old and broken equipment. Our laundromat is super clean and has modern equipment that accepts both coins and ATM/credit cards, and is inviting and has friendly attendants to make laundry easy.”

laundry fun, people would appreciate it.” Between the convenient location (25th and K streets), unusual extras and Wilson’s bubbling business acumen, Love Laundry is the freshest thing to happen to laundry in years. Got a load to do? Check out Love Laundry at 2431 K St. For more information, call 469-9840 or go to lovelaundry.com.

A HEALTHY SOLUTION

Love Laundry floor manager Julie Amaral

Laundry? Easy? We know Wilson’s not new to the laundromat business (he owns another outpost in West Sacramento), but how could this be? “Love Laundry is unique by going beyond what a ‘typical’ laundromat is,” Wilson explains. “We offer great service and all the amenities to make the customer feel comfortable in our business. We offer free WiFi, five LED TVs, a variety of snacks and drinks— we even offer bottled Perrier water— coin machines, an ATM machine and same-day drop-off laundry service using the best detergents on the market.” But surely the snazzy suds can’t be the only draw for a fairly common laundromat service … “We do drop-off laundry service for only $1.25 a pound,” Wilson says. “We do everything from stain removal, bleaching, hanging collared shirts, separating items—anything you request and we have it done the

same day. I think people need a little break in life. With this service, we’re giving them a couple more hours to enjoy it.” Wilson may be onto something, considering a large percentage of his clientele are busy working professionals who live and work in midtown. “We realized that downtown and midtown Sacramento were underserved markets for laundromats,” Wilson says. “There’s a high percentage of the population that lives in rental housing—either small apartments or converted houses—[in the area], therefore the laundry facilities are limited. We figured if we could remodel Fort Sutter Laundromat (the laundromat that formerly occupied Love Laundry’s site) into something cool, inviting, with new modern equipment and all the amenities to make doing

“Yoga is for all people, not just 20-year-olds,” insists Jennifer Sadugor, owner of the Yoga Solution studio on Elvas Avenue. “I work with people in wheelchairs and people who’ve run the Boston Marathon. Yoga is adaptable to so many different abilities. Our philosophy at the studio is being able to help people work wherever they are.” This all-inclusive attitude has drawn students to Sadugor for more than 18 years—she established the Yoga Solution in April 1996, just weeks after moving up to Sacramento from Los Angeles. “I wasn’t here two days when I got a phone call from a woman who had broken her ankle asking if I would teach her yoga classes while her leg was healing,” Sadugor says. She agreed, and soon found herself renting space all over the city—at the Turn Verein on J Street, in the main clubhouse of the Campus Commons housing community, at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Sierra Boulevard—all with one goal in mind: helping others with yoga the way yoga had helped her. Sadugor came to the calming practice after 12 years as an office administrator for a law firm in L.A. Panic attacks and the stress of her job were taking their toll and she decided she needed a different outlet before she ruined her health. “I knew from the first class (I took) that yoga was going to help,” Sadugor says. “I knew somehow that yoga was going to change my life, and the more I practiced, the more I realized it was going to help me.” Fast-forward 18 years and Sadugor owns her own studio and oversees a SHOPTALK page 22

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Jennifer Sadugor (far left) started The Yoga Solution in 1996

SHOPTALK FROM page 21 staff of 10 teachers, each as dedicated to the myriad benefits of yoga as she is. “All of the teachers are well-loved by the students,” Sadugor says. “A major part of that is because of what they bring: They’re stable, they’re passionate about yoga and they like to share what they learn. I couldn’t have hand-picked or hand-designed each teacher better.” In some cases, that’s nearly what Sadugor did: If she met a yoga teacher who was looking for a place to practice, she would often offer them a class or two of hers to take over. When Sadugor realized how much she enjoyed working with these emerging educators, she decided to offer them a 200-hour teacher training program that gave them even more specific skills—and a place to work once they’d graduated. Now, Sadugor has an inspiring stable of yogis whom she’s proud to call colleagues.

Van Moore 4 Bedrooms | 4 Baths

Rivertree Way

South Land Park

3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths

3 Bedrooms | 3 Baths

• Drought Tolerant Landscapes • Consultations • Sprinklers & Drainage

Without them, what would there be?” she says simply. Perfect your downward dog with Sadugor—or seek yoga therapy for various ailments—at the Yoga Solution, 5290 Elvas Ave. For more information, call 383-7933 or go to yogasolution.net. n

CITY BEAT FROM page 13 Johnson will certainly run for a third term in 2016 if his “strong mayor” play passes in November. Steinberg and Johnson are not friends and don’t trust each other. Neither would savor the aggravation of a combative mayoral campaign. So the senator from the Pocket works to heal his wounds and regain his footing. He has no plans to become a man who reached for stardom only to be destroyed by it. R.E. Graswich can be reached at reg@graswich.com. n

• • • •

Exterior Lighting Pruning Plantings & Sod Full Landscaping

916-648-8455 Cont. Lic. #874165

ILP JUN n 14

Neighborhood References • Since 1984

T JUS

D! E T IS

1005 Piedmont Drive $650,000

Sleek and modern with expansive views of the lush yard describe this custom built Streng Brothers home, designed by Carter Sparks. You’ll think you are on the set of Mad Men when you step into this ultramodern masterpiece. The home features 3 bedrooms and 2 remodeled baths, living room with breathtaking views of the yard, dining room and a stunning kitchen with breakfast nook. The master bedroom suite has doors to a private outdoor oasis, all situated on a huge

For a Beautiful Home. In a Beautiful World. Professional Cleaning, Repairing & Appraisals Free Consultation in Your Home SACRAMENTO 2550 Fair Oaks Boulevard (916) 486-1221 ROSEVILLE 1113 Galleria Boulevard (916) 780-1080

Come see this stunning example of modern architecture that has been painstakingly maintained to keep the original 1965 detail.

Wendi Reinl

REALTOR ® CAL BRE# 01314052

(916) 206-8709 Wendi@WendiReinl.com www.WendiReinl.com

www.mansoursruggallery.com

E v e r w o o d ®

Come See Our Showroom Open Monday - Saturday 9am-6pm In Home Consultations Available

Heritance® hardwood

Paula, Patti & Lori

Architella® Meritage

Blinds – Shutters – Shades

Meet your Designers

Davis Home Trends 2300 Fifth Street Davis, CA 530-756-4187 www.DavisHomeTrends.com ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Giving Back A FORMER CLIENT NOW VOLUNTEERS TO HELP HER PEERS

BY TERRY KAUFMAN LOCAL HEROES

ameerah Abdullah could have just fallen through the cracks. Like so many residents of downtown single-roomoccupancy hotels, she was living hand to mouth, struggling with the demons of addiction and mental illness. When she walked through the door of the nonprofit agency TLCS, she was at the lowest point in her life. Today, Abdullah is the picture of dedicated volunteerism. Over the past three and a half years, she has organized and energized TLCS’s food distribution program, making a difference in the lives of scores of mentally ill seniors in the downtown area. Through her efforts, homebound elderly residents of several of the hotels receive custom care packages personally delivered with love. “Their rent is $550 to $600 a month, not including utilities, and they receive an average of $700 to $1,100 a month,” says SRO case Volunteer extraordinare Sameerah Abdullah helps a client load up his groceries at TLCS manager Sharon Berry. “There’s no they’re being robbed by the corner Senior Gleaners, sent over from cooking allowed in their rooms, and grocery store.” Sacramento Food Bank or donated by they share a bathroom and laundry On a meager budget of $200 a local businesses. On Friday mornings, room. How can they afford to eat? month, the TLCS program stocks residents from 20 nearby SRO hotels Either they go to Loaves & Fishes or its pantry with food purchased from and senior apartments, as well as

ILP JUN n 14

many homeless, line up for food. For those unable to leave their rooms, Abdullah is a godsend. “Sameerah knows just what people need to eat,” says Berry. “She knows if they’re diabetic or vegetarian, and she also knows about their different cultures. She makes a connection with them, and that’s very important.” TLCS’s SRO program office has one part-time and two full-time paid staffers, so it relies heavily on volunteers like Abdullah. Most are former clients of the program. Few have had the impact that Abdullah has had. “We stumbled along before she came,” says Berry, “and now I don’t know what we’d do without her.” When the case managers are out of the office, Abdullah runs things.

“We stumbled along before she came,” says Berry, “and now I don’t know what we’d do without her.” Abdullah is candid about her journey to this point in her life. “I was busted for drugs, and I had to come here to use the phone every day,” she says. “I started pulling myself together. My faith is strong, and I decided to use my energy to be productive.” When she first came to TLCS, she was living downtown in Hotel Sequoia with sex offenders and parolees, cleaning up after everyone and compulsively recycling. She had

( )L[[LY 4H[[YLZZ

Naturally

also raised four children and held many physically demanding jobs. She wasn’t afraid to take on a new project. She started at a desk job, “not thinking she could do anything,” says Berry. “She’s done that and more. She single-handedly runs the food closet. She multitasks like nobody’s business. There aren’t enough words to express the gratitude we have for her every day.” It’s a never-ending challenge: people walking in from Greyhound buses, sleeping on the doorstep, waiting just to use the phone or get a cup of coffee. TLCS provides support and services to the mentally ill homeless and elderly. Having been on the other side of the handouts, Abdullah knows exactly what these people are going through. “I’ve lived in this community,” she says. “When they come in here, they have problems, and we don’t need to make them worse. We give them coffee and a place that’s warm and safe. If I was in that position, I would want my family to know that I’m taken care of.”

“This woman here is the definition of a hometown hero,” says TLCS development director Erin Johansen. “She has compassion because she experienced this stuff herself, plus she has a boatload of energy that she can channel and do amazing things.” Johansen says that the SRO program has seen its primary funding sources dwindle or disappear in recent years. “It’s funded by a ragtag of cobbledtogether resources,” making someone with Abdullah’s skills and vision indispensable. “This community saved my life,” says Abdullah. “This is how I’m giving back. I live for that. All I have is love. Now my kids are proud of me, and I’m back on track. Now I get respect, but I give respect too.” For more information about TLCS, go to tlcssac.org. Donations of nonperishable food products, such as canned goods, cereal and rice, are always needed and welcomed. Terry Kaufman can be reached at terry@1greatstory.com. n

Deeper Sleep By Design • • • • •

Authentic European style mattress systems Natural and organic mattresses, bedding and pillows Custom firmness options within same mattress Inquisitive, non-commissioned sales environment No gimmicks, sensible pricing

Come in for the Personally Fit Pillow

Furniture of Strength, Simplicity and Quality • • • •

Finely crafted American hardwood bedroom furniture Simple, clean, yet elegant designs. Platform and storage beds Styles from contemporary, mission, arts & crafts to traditional Sustainably grown – FSC Certified

EUROPEAN SLEEP DESIGN 12 Months Same as Cash O.A.C.

6606 Folsom Auburn Rd. Folsom, CA. 95630 916-989-8909 www.sleepdesign.com

Chip & Jill

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Designing Woman A STORYBOOK COTTAGE IN CURTIS PARK GETS A CHARMING MAKEOVER

BY JULIE FOSTER HOME INSIGHT

“It was important to me that we kept the cottage scale and feel of the home and that the addition looked original to the home.”

elding her professional and personal lives came easy to Joan Muttera. An interior designer since 1976, Muttera remodeled her 1926

ILP JUN n 14

Curtis Park home with her former partner, Vince Dutcher of Dutcher Construction Company. The home’s previous owner, a 90-year-old woman known in the

neighborhood as The Fern Lady, lived in the two-bedroom, one-bath brick cottage for 50 years. When Muttera moved in, not much had been updated during the previous five decades.

There was a laundry room but no washer or dryer hookup. (The owner preferred to use an outdoor HOME page 28

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

A curved walkway leading up to the house and a retaining wall encircling a large Deodar cedar were constructed from broken brick to emphasize the house’s fanciful look.

HOME FROM page 26

The home is filled with details, including the arches throughout the house

ILP JUN n 14

clothesline.) The house had knob-andtube wiring, copper water pipes and a gravity-flow heater. Muttera wanted to update and expand the house without sacrificing any of its considerable charms. “It was important to me that we kept the cottage scale and feel of the home and that the addition looked original to the home,” she says. Her experience as an interior designer made hiring subs for the electrical, plumbing and cabinetry work a snap. Muttera and Dutcher also did plenty of the work themselves, painting the interior, replacing the window sashes, ropes and weights and refinishing the redwood jambs on numerous doublehung windows throughout the house. “The process was really time consuming,” she says. They added diamond-pane windows in the kitchen, breakfast nook and living room to enhance the home’s storybook feel. The kitchen received a face-lift, including new appliances, custom cabinets and dark marble countertops. Several of the cabinets have glass panels so that Muttera can display her collection of dishes, which includes a few pieces of her grandmother’s Haviland china.

In the dining room, a new curved staircase with a wrought-iron handrail leads to the second-story addition. Natural light from a large window at the top of the stairway illuminates the staircase. Configured out of the attic, the 700-square-foot suite consists of a master bedroom and bathroom. Muttera designed the plan. The bedroom’s stunning coffered ceiling engages the eye. Two large walk-in closets provide welcome additional storage. Painted in Restoration Hardware’s Silver Sage accented with crisp white trim, the room is soothing and elegant—no fussy details. The original attic rooflines are evident in the bathroom. Two dormer windows, on the street side of the home, provide natural light. Two sinks are set in vanities topped with classic Carrara marble. “I wanted a clean, classic feel for the addition,” Muttera says. “It is a bit less traditional than the downstairs but still has that sort of feeling.” A cabinet in the bathroom displays Muttera’s collection of 1930s powder jars, all in shades of soft pink. “My mother and I would go to flea markets and antique stores when I was a

Hollywood HAR DWAR E

Remodeling Homes for Life

...Your Neighborhood Store!

Happy Fathers’ Day Nominate your choice for Hollywood Hardware’s

Father of the Year

He’ll win a $250 shopping spree at our store. It just doesn’t get any better than that! Bring your entries into our store by Saturday, June 28th. *Winner selected by random drawing

#1 Housewares for 5 years on

• Design/Build to your budget • Kitchen / Bath Remodels • Additions • Guest Cottages • Over 25 Years Experience in Sacramento’s most established neighborhoods • Free Consultation • Ask about our Financing Options

5303 Freeport Boulevard 455-6488

Family Owned & Operated Since 1948

Homeowner Joan Muttera

girl,” she says. “I fell in love with the figurines on top of the powder jars.” Outside, Muttera showcased the home’s storybook quality by painting the beams over the front porch. “Our neighbors said they didn’t realize the brick house had beams until we painted them,” she says. A curved walkway leading up to the house and a retaining wall encircling

Lic# B548643

| 916-215-9293 | fuginaconstruction.com

a large Deodar cedar were constructed from broken brick to emphasize the house’s fanciful look. The unique concrete roof tiles were custom made. “They allow you to choose the color as well as what percentage of moss you want included on your tiles,” Muttera says. Muttera stresses the importance of having a solid plan at the initial stages of a project. “Many people will complete portions of a project, then find themselves backed into a corner when it doesn’t all come together,” she explains. Personalizing with family furnishings or antiques you love is key. When working with clients, Muttera draws inspiration from what they like and already have in their homes. “People generally know what they want,” she says. “But they often can’t achieve the look they want.” If you know of a home you think should be featured in Inside Publications, contact Julie Foster at foster.julie91@yahoo.com. n

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Jane Richardson SHE HAS A TASTE FOR LAND PARK

BY JESSICA LASKEY VOLUNTEER PROFILE

ane Richardson has discovered the daily benefits of being part of a neighborhood community firsthand. “I’ve met so many more people in the community through the Land Park Community Association than I would have otherwise,” Richardson says. “It’s been such a learning experience.” Though Richardson didn’t land in Land Park until 2009, she had long heard its praises sung by her father and grandparents (all native Sacramentans). “I would hear from them that it was such an established neighborhood, but I didn’t experience it until I moved here,” Richardson says. “Now I’ve gotten used to the structure, to being part of the community that lives around the park. I love seeing the same faces every day.” That sense of camaraderie was in fact Richardson’s main goal in joining LPCA last year. After completing her master’s degree in business at Sacramento State and establishing a small environmental consulting business out of her home, Richardson decided it was time to meet and greet. “I was finding that being self-employed might not be a forever thing, so I wanted to do more outreach in community,” Richardson says. “I wanted to gain more experience in issues and advocacy in the area, and

ILP JUN n 14

Jane Richardson enjoys the camaraderie of the Land Park Community Association

that’s what the LPCA does. Its most valuable asset is its connectiveness. The organization has great name recognition with city officials. And because the membership body encompasses the whole neighborhood,

it’s very useful as a voice for Land Park residents.” Now in her second year with the association as both a board member and the communications chair, Richardson is responsible for a variety

of tasks, including managing the website, moving the newsletter from paper to digital (a clever cost-saving and readership-boosting move) and, for the second year in a row, prepping for LPCA’s big annual event, A Taste of Land Park, on Sunday, June 8. “I’ve worked on the event web page, online ticket sales, marketing, T-shirt design and troubleshooting,” Richardson says. “But it’s really Kelly Mishell, the event coordinator, who runs the whole show.” A Taste of Land Park is the association’s largest event of the year, with dozens of beverage and food vendors, lots of live entertainment, art and activities galore. “The whole organization is really about giving back to the community,” Richardson explains. “The proceeds from events like Taste and our membership dues go to fund local projects, like bike racks made by a local artist going up in front of the Sacramento Zoo and park benches, as well as grant scholarships for school kids. We recently donated money to the McClatchy High School debate team. We’re also hoping to eventually fund a part-time position at the LPCA to respond even more quickly to people who contact us and maintain an active dialogue between our members and city officials. The more stable and consistent we are, the stronger we can be.” For more information on LPCA or A Taste of Land Park, go to landpark.org. n

HAVE “INSIDE,” WILL TRAVEL 1. Colleen Perez near the visitor center at Valley Forge Park, King of Prussia, PA 2. Chase Haman’s graduation from Texas A & M with Haman/Vogeli families 3. Joyce Wing with iconic landmark, Burj Al Arab, in Dubai 4. Bill and Jo Anne Bernhard in Arromanches, France in front of the D-Day Museum 5. Larry Friedman and Susan Orton at Iguazu Falls in Brazil 6. Ted Cobb at Wave Rock near Hyden in Western Australia

Take a picture with Inside Publications and e-mail a high-resolution copy to travel@insidepublications.com. Due to volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee all photos will be printed.

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Get Your Walking Shoes on THIS GROUP’S MEMBERS LOVE TO WALK AND TALK

BY GWEN SCHOEN THE CLUB LIFE

ou have to love a walking club that begins and ends its evening exercise route at a bakery. Maybe that’s why Sacramento Walking Sticks is the nation’s largest American Volkssport Association club. When Barbara Nuss, president of Waking Sticks, called to invite me on a walk with the club, I was a bit hesitant about starting out with a 5k on a warm evening. I do a lot of walking, but it’s mostly on a golf course or dragging our old dog around the block for what we call a museum walk (walk a few steps, look around, walk a few more steps, etc.). Then Nuss mentioned they would start and end at Les Baux bakery on Folsom Boulevard. That sounded quite delightful. At least there was the promise of a treat at the end of the trail. “The group is a chapter of the American Volkssport Association,” said Nuss. “It is a national walking organization. There are a variety of membership levels, which are designed to get you off the couch. Some members track the number of events or distances they walk in event books. Others just go for fun.” Walking Sticks has 573 members. They walk at least once a week,

ILP JUN n 14

Walking Sticks members enjoy a walk. The club was started in 1984.

usually more often. The routes vary. The evening I joined them, they met at 51st Street and Folsom Boulevard in East Sac, then walked to McKinley Rose Garden and back to the bakery, just over three miles. The previous weekend, the group walked the North Laguna Creek Wildlife Area. Upcoming walks were scheduled for the historic Sierra Oaks Vista and Woodland neighborhoods. To celebrate World Walk Day in May, many members drove to Redding to walk the botanical gardens at Sundial Bridge.

“The length of walks varies from 5k to 10k, and often the longer walks have an optional route for people who can’t go the whole way,” said Nuss. “Volkssporting uses the metric system to measure distances, primarily because the sport started in Germany. One kilometer is approximately .62 miles, so 10k is about 6.2 miles and 5k is 3.1 miles.” Routes are always well planned with rest stops, parking suggestions, locations of restrooms and other amenities. Although they walk in a group, everyone is given a map and

cell phone number to call if they get separated or have problems. According to Nuss, anywhere from a dozen walkers to 300 might turn up for an event. Besides walks for humans, the group also sponsors Doggie Do Walks for members and their dogs. Registered dogs receive an achievement button and a pat. The evening I joined them, there were about 15 walkers. A few were very serious and looking for a challenge. Most, however, were just there for a leisurely walk

on a pleasant evening. The pace was comfortably quick but slow enough that we could have easy conversations. I was, however, glad that â&#x20AC;&#x153;old dogâ&#x20AC;? stayed home on the couch. The 5k took about an hour and 20 minutes. Most walkers were age 40-plus, and there was a big variety of fitness levels. As promised, the end of the walk was delightful, not just for the sweets at Les Baux, but for the new friendships forged along the way. For membership information and lists of future walks, go to the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website, sacramentowalkingsticks. org. You can also reach the club by mail: Sacramento Walking Sticks, P.O. Box 277303, Sacramento CA 95827-7303. Feel free to drop in for a walk with the club. But beware: They are an infectious group and before you know it, you will be pulling on your walking shoes. To learn more about AVA, visit the national associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at ava.org. If you know of an interesting club in the area, contact Gwen Schoen at gwensclubs@aol.com. n

Building or Remodeling? OVER 20 YEARS in the construction industry!

NEW LAUNDROMAT

NOW OPEN!

Experience & craftsmanship within your budget

FREE DRY w/ wash! New Equipment SML/MED & Jumbo Washers & Dryers

Designâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Build

Drop-Off Laundry $1.25 per pound

Kitchens & Baths

WiFi/ATM

Room Additions

Machines accept credit/debit

Work with our designers or your architect

Whole House Remodeling Custom Homes

FREE CONSULTATION in your home

Garages & Casitas

www.millsbuilders.com 451-9733, ext. 2

2431 K ST lovelaundry.com 916 â&#x201E;˘ 469 â&#x201E;˘ 9840 HOURS 5 a.m.â&#x20AC;&#x201C;MIDNIGHT

CA License No. 782869

lovelaundry.com

More kittens are born each year than there are families available to give them a home. Join the Sacramento SPCA in reducing pet overpopulation. Schedule an appointment to have your cat spayed or neutered at its affordable, highquality spay/neuter clinic. Call 504-2811

D! A E OR T S PAW Summer Reading â&#x20AC;˘ June 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; August 31 5HDG ERRNV :LQ SUL]HV )UHH IRU DOO DJHV Sign up at

any Sacramento Public Library branch or at www.saclibrary.org Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out on exciting free events for all ages at all 28 branches!

You could win: L3DG PLQL *UDQG 3UL]H

one per age group

%DUQHV 1REOH JLIW FDUG

three per library branch

6XQGD\ -XQH Č? 6XPPHU 5HDGLQJ .LFNRÎ? SDUW\ Č? Č&#x201A; S P DQG 6FKRODVWLF %RRN )DLU Č? QRRQ Č&#x201A; S P Č? &HQWUDO /LEUDU\ FRIENDS OF THE SACRAMENTO PUBLIC LIBRARY

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Money for Scholars BLACK CAUCUS HONORS TWO LOCAL STUDENTS

who began working with Junior Achievement eight years ago when she joined the Deloitte company. Since then, she has been involved in several “JA in a Day” programs, most recently teaching a local fourth-grade class. Interested in learning more? Go to jasac.org or call 480-2770.

BY GLORIA GLYER DOING GOOD

he Sacramento Area Black Caucus recently presented academic scholarship awards at its To Be Young Gifted & Black recognition dinner. Sandra Kamba, a nursing student at Sacramento State University, received the Cheryl Ann Fisher Memorial Scholarship. Originally from Zimbabwe, Kamba was instrumental in creating Munhu Inc., a nonprofit that provides tuition for AIDS orphans in rural Zimbabwe. She is on the dean’s honor roll at Sac State. Tanisha Wilson, a senior at McClatchy High School, received a Rosenwald (Robbie) Robertson memorial scholarship. Wilson plans to major in astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz. For more information, go to sacramentoabc.blogspot.com.

A GOOD EXAMPLE Junior Achievement has more than 500 local volunteers who go into classrooms to talk to students about financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. They encourage students to shoot for the stars. One such volunteer is Denise Shepherd,

ILP JUN n 14

STOP BY FOR A BITE My Sister’s Cafe recently opened at 455 Capitol Mall. The restaurant, staffed mostly by volunteers, serves breakfast and lunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Proceeds go to My Sister’s House to help survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Before opening its doors, My Sister’s Cafe received a helping hand or two from local businesses and organizations, including Blue Shield of California Foundation, Teichert, Bella Bru Cafe & Catering, Paul Blanco’s Good Car Company and Soroptimist International. For more information, call 475-1864.

HELP WANTED If you know a Santa with a beard, red hat and suit, Roseville Home Start has a job for him at its annual Holiday Teddy Bear Tea Nov. 30 at Flower Farm Inn in Loomis. Roseville Home Start helps homeless families find permanent housing. For more information, call 782-6667 or email info@rosevillehomestart.org.

WEAVE WALKERS About 620 men slipped into women’s shoes for WEAVE’s annual

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event, held April 27on Capitol Mall. The walk raised more than $237,000 for WEAVE. WEAVE operates an emergency shelter program for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. More than 50 percent of the women arrive with children. Often, they come with little but the clothes on their backs. To find out how you can help, call WEAVE at 448-2321 or go to weaveinc.org.

TWO GRANTS Women’s Empowerment helps homeless women find work through a comprehensive job-readiness program. The organization recently received two major grants: $25,000 from Save Mart CARES and $15,000 from Anthony Robbins Foundation. For more information, go to womensempowerment.org or call 669-2307.

FOR FITNESS Triumph Cancer Foundation, a local nonprofit that provides a free 12-week fitness program for cancer survivors, will sponsor an event called Triumph Uncorked on Friday, June 20, from 5 to 10 p.m. at Helwig Winery in Plymouth. Here’s a nice touch: charter bus service from Dante Club to Plymouth at $20 per person. What a great idea. The event includes a gourmet picnic dinner supplied by Taste Restaurant, an insulated backpack, a bottle of wine and a concert by Chicago Tribute Authority. The fee: $225 for two, $135 for one. Tickets must be purchased in

advance. For more information, go to triumphfound.org.

CELEBRATE THE SPIN The 10th annual Mustard Seed Spin—a cycling fundraiser for Mustard Seed School—will take place Sept. 28. In the past decade, the Spin has introduced many kids and their parents to organized cycling while raising more than $215,000 for Mustard Seed School for homeless kids. Through the event, hundreds of underprivileged children have received bikes and helmets and attended bike safety rodeos. For the September anniversary ride, a jersey by Voler will be available for purchase. For more information, go to mustardseedspin.org or call 955-5065.

TRAINING TIME On Saturday, June 7, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) will sponsor a training program on how to prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of children. According to law enforcement data, girls in foster care in the Sacramento area make up 60 to 85 percent of sexual assault victims. The training program will teach CASA members how to advocate for girls who are at risk of sexual exploitation. For information on attending, email patricia@ sacramentocasa.org. Gloria Glyer can be reached at gglyer@sbbmail.com or (530) 4775331. n

ESKATON INDEPENDENT LIVING with SERVICES

Land Park Lively

Come see our brand new ﬁtness center!

People are friendly at Eskaton Monroe Lodge. Maybe it’s the lively environment or the set-your-own-pace lifestyle. Friendships blossom at our picturesque lodge, where you can join in on the recreation and excursions, spend time with friends, and interact with children through Kids Connection. Surrounded by three acres of trees and minutes from downtown Sacramento, Eskaton Monroe Lodge offers independent living in a country-like retreat with all the city advantages. Housekeeping, dining and personal services keep life easy (and fun.) Eskaton Monroe Lodge is the active senior’s answer to living the fullest, most independent life possible. So, call or visit us today. Come to an event! Talk to our residents. Find out why life at Eskaton Monroe Lodge is so inviting. Call 916-264-9001 to respond. Live here ... Live at your own pace.

Eskaton Monroe Lodge Independent Living with Services

3225 Freeport Boulevard | Sacramento, CA 95818 916-264-9001

YOU ARE INVITED! An Afternoon with Author Kiyo Sato Thursday, June 19, 2014 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Enjoy an afternoon with the author of Dandelion Through the Crack — Kiyo’s Story, a true story told through the eyes of the author of her Japanese-American family’s struggles in California. It is a compelling story of starting a family, coping during the Depression, being swept off to concentration camps, and ultimately succeeding despite terrible odds and oppressive prejudice. Kiyo Sato is an inspiration. Come meet her.

eskaton.org

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Bee Friendly CREATING A BUZZ IN YOUR GARDEN

BY ANITA CLEVENGER GARDEN JABBER

he news has been full of reports that bee populations are declining across the world for reasons that scientists still don’t fully understand. Farmers and home gardeners worry about how our food crops will be pollinated if Colony Collapse Disorder continues. You and your neighbors can make a difference by creating a colorful pollinator paradise in your home gardens. Plant a variety of flowering plants, provide appropriate water and shelter, and the bees will come. How best to do that? It depends on the type of bees. If you weren’t aware there were thousands of different species of bees, you are not alone. Most people think that all bees live in hives and make honey. Actually, we know what honeybees are, but we don’t understand them very well. Did you know that they were brought to North America by early European colonists? Did you know that millions of honeybee hives are moved across the country in order to pollinate many key agricultural crops? Did you know that honeybees scout for sources of nectar and pollen, then return to the hive to tell their sister worker bees

ILP JUN n 14

Christine Casey in the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Garden at UC Davis

where to go? The workers are all business. They fly directly there and visit every flower. No flitting allowed! Then they make a beeline home. If you look closely at bees in your garden, you will discover many are not honeybees. There are a thousand native California bee species ranging from tiny iridescent green bees to big black or golden carpenter bees. Nearly all of them are solitary, not hive dwellers. Individual bees make their nests in the ground, in hollow stems

or reeds, or holes in wood. Native bees are threatened, too, because their habitat is declining as people clear weeds from hills and roadsides, cover up soil with pavement and mulch, and cut down dead trees. A visit to UC Davis’ HaagenDazs Honey Bee Haven shows how beautiful a bee-friendly garden can be. Despite its name, this half-acre garden is designed for all bees. To accommodate honeybee foragers, each variety of plant is grouped in an

area at least three feet square. Bees vary considerably in size and tongue length. Some bees use colors and others use chemical cues to find their hosts. Accordingly, the garden has plants with blossoms in many shapes, sizes and colors. Plants are chosen that bloom throughout the seasons because different species of bees are active at different times of the year. In this garden, bees find many places to nest, including blocks hung in trees, bare undisturbed soil and sandy areas between pavers. There are rocks to shade their nests. Bees need water and congregate at dripping faucets and puddles. The haven has specially designed blocks to collect water and simple water-filled basins with stones in them for the bees to rest upon. The Honey Bee Haven has at least 10 to 15 diverse bee-friendly plants blooming in each season of the year. Christine Casey manages the garden. When asked for plant recommendations, she is especially enthusiastic about Ceanothus, also known as California lilac. If a California garden doesn’t have this plant, she says, it’s not a bee garden. It’s possible to have one variety or another of Ceanothus in bloom from January until frost. She considers catmints (Nepeta) one of the best plants for bees and advocates other members of the mint family such as salvias. Bees are attracted to composite flowers such as asters, daisies and sunflowers. They like members of the rose family, too. Single or semi-double roses that open to reveal their stamens attract more pollinators than those that are packed with petals. Eighty-five different native bees have been identified in the Honey

Bee Haven. Sacramento Historic City Cemetery’s perennial garden, Hamilton Square, has been studied by UC Berkeley researchers who found 65 varieties there. Other pollinators, including moths and hummingbirds, also frequent these gardens.

Some people are reluctant to have bees in their garden because they are afraid of them. You have to work at it in order to be stung. Bees are going after flowers, not people. Some people are reluctant to have bees in their garden because they are afraid of them. Casey says that you have to work at it in order to be stung. Bees are going after flowers,

not people or their food, and will sting only if stepped on or trapped. Most of the best bee-friendly plants thrive with infrequent, deep irrigation. If you are planning to reduce or eliminate your lawn and replace it with a water-efficient landscape, why not create a bee haven of your own? Anita Clevenger is a Sacramento County UC Master Gardener. Master Gardeners advocate integrated pest management practices and advise gardeners to use pesticides with great care because of potential impact on bees and other good bugs. For answers to gardening questions, call the Master Gardeners at 875-6913 or go to ucanr.edu/sites/sacmg. UC Davis’ Haagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven is a half-acre bee-friendly garden on the college campus, next to the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility on Bee Biology Road. For more information, go to beebiology. ucdavis.edu. For plant lists and other tips on bee-friendly gardening, go to helpabee.org. n

Sacramento’s

C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S C L A S S O F 2 0 1 4

Premier Antique Destination Over 120 Dealers 45,000 sq ft

IN BUSINESS SINCE 1977

4 Star Dining

Free Parking

The Lighting Palace - Sales and Repair 817-9625

Picket Fence Antiques 455-6524

Evan’s Kitchen 452-3896

Sekula’s 712-8303

Fifty-Seventh Street Antique Mall 451-3110

Mike & Greg The Pottery Guys 731-4556

Alchemy 999-1409

Eclectic Antiques 453-9085

Sassi Salon 739-0878

Amorini Antiques 455-1509 Cross Fit East Sacramento 207-7500

Dance “10” 769-4857

The Ruralist 956-0776

855 57th Street (Between J & H Streets)

A SACRAMENTO COUNTRY DAY TRADITION On May 1, seniors advertise their college destinations by wearing shirts from the schools they will attend in the fall. The members of the Class of 2014 were accepted to many fine institutions of higher learning, including the following: Carnegie Mellon University Columbia University Cornell University Elon University Franklin & Marshall College Goldsmiths-University of London Harvey Mudd College Loyola University Chicago Morehouse College New York University Northwestern University

Occidental College Reed College Rollins University Santa Clara University Stanford University Swarthmore College University of California University of Puget Sound University of San Francisco University of Virginia Vassar College

SACRAMENTO COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | EDUCATION FOR A LIFETIME A coeducational, fully accredited grades PK-12 independent school 2636 Latham Drive, Sacramento, CA 95864 | 916.481.8811 | saccds.org

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

A Big Idea: Little Parks SACRAMENTO LOOKS TO JOIN THE NATIONAL PARKLET MOVEMENT

BY SENA CHRISTIAN BUILDING OUR FUTURE

arking spots are only for cars, right? Wrong. These spots can actually become open-air mini-parks where people sit, eat, drink, converse and enjoy the scenery. You can already see these parklets, as they’re called, in San Francisco, Portland, Los Angeles, Seattle, Philadelphia and Nevada City. Now, Sacramento is poised to make room for some of our own. A makeshift parklet that sprung up outside the MARRS building in Midtown on national PARK(ing) Day last September revived interest in creating more green space in urban settings for the public to enjoy. The first PARK(ing) Day occurred in 2005 when employees from the art and design company Rebar fed some parking meters in San Francisco, laid sod and hung out until the meters’ time was up. Back then, people thought, you don’t hang out in parking spots. Those are reserved for cars. “It's kind of like how you can’t walk through a drive-through,” says Matt Winkler, operations general supervisor for the city of Sacramento’s parking division. “You’re not supposed to do that.” But maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea after all. City staff began examining how parklets could exist here in response to calls from merchants and pedestrian and bicycle advocates. “Word of mouth spread and next thing you know, people are asking how can we get that program here?” Winkler says. In October, the city council first heard a presentation from staffers

ILP JUN n 14

Parklets are open-air mini-parks where people sit, eat, drink, converse and enjoy the scenery

about the benefits of parklets, which are basically low decks installed in adjacent parking spots as an expansion of the sidewalk. The council approved a two-year pilot parklet program in March. If it proves successful, the city will move toward making these features a permanent part of the local landscape. Parklets are part of a bigger vision by the council to beautify utilitarian spaces and promote a bike- and pedestrianfriendly culture.

Winkler says the program emulates San Francisco’s successful parklet endeavor. The City by the Bay officially installed its first parklet in 2010. Now, there are more than three dozen. Sacramento is accepting applications from businesses interested in becoming one of six to 10 to be granted a revocable encroachment permit to cordon off pavement for a parklet. A review committee composed of, among others, representatives from

Downtown Sacramento Partnership, Midtown Business Association and Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District will determine who gets the permits. The air quality district is offering $1,000 grants for projects that include two spaces for bike parking. “The Midtown Business Association is in support of parklets because they encourage our community to be less dependent on cars in a dense urban area, create a unique public space and challenge our city to continue

Is Montessori Right For Your Child? Choosing a Montessori program is one of the most important parenting decisions you will make and it’s normal to have a lot of questions. Is my child ready for Montessori? What will she learn? And, just what exactly is Montessori anyway? My name is Pamela Lynn and I am proud to lead the oldest accredited Montessori school in Northern California. Since 1975, our school has provided an authentic Montessori program for thousands of young children, just like yours. I wrote an e-book that summarizes advice I give to friends and family when they start the search for a Montessori school. It includes specific things to look for, questions to ask and other valuable tidbits that I have learned over the past 39 years. It will be a big help in your search!

Download your FREE Ebook

Ebook.BergamoSchools/Inside

B E RG A M O M O N T E S S O R I S C H O O L S

to invest in unique urban design,” says Emily Baime Michaels, the association’s executive director. Permit recipients will be selected in July. Construction on the parklets should be complete by September. Applicants must meet a laundry list of criteria. The business must be front-facing the street and in a 25-mile-per-hour-or-less zone, and the plan must include appropriate lighting for safety, nearby garbage and proper drainage. Manholes can’t be covered and the decks must be enclosed with rails and meet all requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act. The review committee will also consider remediation plans for loss of parking in high-density areas. The committee wants to see that the applicant has solicited input from the public and adjacent businesses. “I want to make sure everybody wants this,” Winkler says. Parklets aren’t necessarily cheap. According to Winkler, they cost a business anywhere from $15,000

to $100,000 to construct. They’re also not permanent. If, for example, roadwork needs to be done or the hosting business closes, the city will remove the feature. According to Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates, parklets make neighborhoods more inviting, reduce sidewalk and traffic congestion, improve air quality and increase the visibility of businesses. At a city council meeting in March, SABA executive director Jim Brown said the parklets signal that streets are not only for cars. “What is so important to us about this is it’s a step toward acknowledging that our streets are public places,” Brown said. “They are not the exclusive domain of cars. This is one of the first steps in making our streets a safer, calmer, friendlier place to visit and to do business.” Sena Christian can be reached at sena.c.christian@gmail.com. n

Sac / Elk Grove (916) 399-1900 Davis / Woodland (530) 662-1900

Coldwell Banker

BergamoSchools.com

#1 IN CALIFORNIA

Fine Old Neighborhoods...Fine Old Homes

2756 14th Street 2746 Marshall Way 5617 Bradd Way Adorable 2 bed/1ba with vintage 3 bed/3 ba home in a fantastic Totally remodeled 4 bed/ 2ba Land Park location...$599,000 Curtis Park Bungalow...$539,900 charm in Mangan Park...$185,000

SOLD

PENDING

1220 Swanston Drive 2524 53rd Street 559 Swanston Drive Roomy 2 bed/1ba ﬁxer on a Elmhurst 2 bed/1ba with guest 3 bed/2 ba Land Park home great Land Park street...$350,000 cottage by UCDMC...$299,000 under Heritage oaks...$279,900

PALOMA BEGIN

BOB LYSTRUP

628-8561 PalomaBegin@gmail.com PalomaBegin.com

628-5357 blystrup@gmail.com BobLystrup.com

DRE#01254423

DRE#00991041

©2014 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office Is Owned And Operated by NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Sales Closed January 1 - February 15, 2014

95608 CARMICHAEL

5416 LOCUST AVE 4607 HIXON CIR 4734 ESPANA CT 3842 WINGATE DR 5007 SUGAR LN 3445 GARFIELD AVE 5235 GIBBONS DR 4931 HEATHERDALE LN 3841 DELL RD 1371 MEREDITH WAY 6800 WESTMORE WAY 4436 WOODVIEW ST 6009 MULDROW RD 4765 HIXON CIR 5111 WALNUT POINTE LN 3943 HENDERSON WAY 4028 EASTWOOD VILLAGE LN 6104 FOUNTAINDALE WAY 6355 MADISON AVE 3032 PARAGON WAY 4959 SILVER RANCH WAY 2244 HOMEWOOD WAY 4506 RUSTIC RD 4933 ROBERTSON AVE 5140 LOVE WAY 2600 GREENFIELD WAY 7138 LINCOLN AVE 4909 DONOVAN DR 5650 VEGA CT 6121 KENNETH AVE 4714 HACKBERRY LN 1160 JACOB LN 2348 MISSION AVE

$340,000 $320,000 $359,500 $265,000 $449,000 $318,000 $125,000 $224,000 $375,000 $511,000 $345,000 $310,000 $385,000 $292,000 $210,000 $280,000 $191,250 $450,000 $200,000 $280,000 $350,000 $246,000 $345,000 $270,000 $295,000 $203,000 $465,000 $185,000 $299,000 $342,000 $410,000 $515,000 $239,500

5961 MARLIN CIR $236,500 3904 OAK VILLA CIR $120,000 5234 LOCUST AVE $265,000 6228 WILDOMAR WAY $209,000 1115 SAND BAR CIR $340,000 6185 ORSI CIR $150,000 5830 WOODLEIGH DR $219,500 3910 DELAWARE AVE $290,000 3910 PARK CIRCLE LN UNIT 3910-1 $120,000 3605 COMSTOCK WAY $209,500 4231 JOSH CT $435,950 4313 RUSTIC RD $380,000 4432 ROLLINGROCK WAY $295,000 5901 TELESCO $272,000 3517 SUE PAM DR $220,000 3237 PETTY LN $191,000 3637 WALNUT AVE $176,000 5248 NORTH AVE $535,000 2610 KNABE CT $275,000 6349 MADISON AVE $270,000 1605 GARY WAY $636,200 6107 BOURBON DR $246,000 5001 CRESTVIEW $285,000 5319 WHITNEY AVE $367,000 5824 SHADOW CREEK DR #2$78,000 3828 HENDERSON WAY $165,000 4171 SCRANTON CIR $335,000 2325 SHOREWOOD DR $572,000 3237 SMATHERS WAY $146,500 4214 GALEWOOD WAY $395,000 6207 HILLTOP DR $265,000 5246 MISSION VIEW CT $340,000 4211 FRIDA MARIA CT $232,000 4238 GOLD FLOWER CT $375,000 2817 GUNN RD $298,000

2809 LA COLINA WAY 5029 ROBERTSON AVE 3939 PARK CIRCLE LN UNIT B

$370,000 $304,000 $141,000

95816 EAST SACRAMENTO, MCKINLEY PARK 3287 B ST 271 39TH ST 2325 E ST 3418 N ST 1321 E SUTTER WALK 1037 35TH ST 1917 40TH ST 2631 S ST 3846 T ST 3272 D ST

$430,000 $935,000 $390,000 $425,000 $435,000 $495,000 $423,000 $382,000 $725,000 $349,900

95817 TAHOE PARK, ELMHURST 3220 SAN JOSE WAY 3040 10TH 4838 U ST 3109 SAN RAFAEL CT 2815 SANTA CRUZ WAY 3071 9TH AVE 2746 57TH ST 3525 6TH AVE 3616 35TH ST 3108 SAN JOSE WAY 6140 1ST AVE 3221 3RD AVE 3801 6TH AVE 3429 TRIO LN 3225 MARTIN LUTHER

$68,500 $210,000 $340,000 $156,000 $132,000 $320,000 $290,000 $128,500 $68,500 $84,500 $289,000 $230,000 $163,000 $222,900

KING JR BLVD 3846 T ST 3840 T ST

$106,000 $725,000 $725,000

95818 LAND PARK, CURTIS PARK

1948 9TH AVE $454,900 1309 1ST AVE $255,000 2712 T ST $210,500 2214 24TH ST $300,000 2809 LAND PARK DR $385,000 2417 18TH ST $250,000 2024 21ST ST $612,500 2022 21 ST $610,450 2620 16TH ST $310,000 2426 7TH AVE $549,500 2574 20TH ST $290,000 581 6TH AVE $359,990 2520 SAN FERNANDO WAY $200,000 2401 MONTGOMERY WAY $557,000 3008 FRANKLIN BLVD $399,000 512 U ST $300,000 2120 10TH ST $385,000 1120 ROBERTSON WAY $525,000 2504 X ST $157,500

95819 EAST SACRAMENTO, RIVER PARK 450 WANDA WAY 5343 K ST 271 39TH ST 4501 MODDISON AVE 4622 FOLSOM BLVD 1040 45TH ST 668 52ND ST

$489,900 $460,000 $935,000 $452,500 $370,500 $1,900,000 $325,000

1058 56TH ST $340,000 5885 CALLISTER AVE $183,500 5050 TEICHERT AVE $359,000 1356 43RD ST $1,075,000 93 45TH ST $442,500 4441 I ST $1,082,000 1132 58TH ST $260,000 1917 40TH ST $423,000 1519 CHRISTOPHER WAY $375,000 1365 54TH ST $385,000 520 SANDBURG DR $420,000 1153 58TH ST $599,500 600 44TH ST $735,000 657 55TH ST $330,000 5611 SHEPARD AVE $390,000 311 SAN ANTONIO WAY $600,000 4201 D ST $330,000 4141 D ST $330,000 615 55TH ST $291,000 60 36TH WAY $400,000 240 SAN ANTONIO WAY $435,000 1352 61ST ST $260,000 5401 H ST $400,000

95821 ARDEN-ARCADE 3813 ROBIE LEE WAY 2705 IONE ST 2747 TIOGA WAY 2221 DUNLAP DR 2541 DANUBE DR 2928 GREENWOOD AVE 2841 CARSON WAY 4261 ALVA CT 3311 SIERRA VIEW LN

$309,900 $179,000 $310,000 $122,000 $161,000 $193,000 $213,000 $145,000 $150,000

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Midtown Fourplex close to the grid Four One bedroom units Off-street parking for each unit. $425,000 Ann Nash 916-212-2380

Squeaky Williams Single story 3 bd 2ba, family room! Quiet tree Lined St. 1 block from Land Park! $539,900 Jim Jeffers 916-730-0494

One-of-a-kind contemporary in Land Park! 2bd 1.5 bath, fireplace Bonus office! Hurry! Don’t miss! $334,900 Dan Martinez 916-247-8266

All new stunning home in Land Park 4bd 2ba 3100+ ft, Chef’s kitchen Master suite AND open family room $1,185,000 Lorene Warren 916-799-2121

Fabulous Land Park location. Art Deco 3bd 2ba w/family room Lovely lot. 2 car garage Lorene Warren 916-799-2121

Land Park College tract! Walk to all From this charming Cottage. Sunroom and 2 car garage $449,500 Lorene Warren 916-799-2121

Custom Urban Living. 3 Story loft. Don’t want stairs? Use the lift! Balcony, 2 car garage, solar & more. $450,000 Idelle Claypool (916) 730-8895

Sweet Tahoe Pk 2br. Deep lot. Lot’s Of charm. Dual panes, newer roof, Fresh paint. Det. gar. Bonus area. $235,000 Idelle Claypool (916) 730-8895

ILP JUN n 14

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Parks for Pups WITH JUST A LITTLE PUBLIC SPACE, EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY

BY R.E.GRASWICH

f anyone is responsible for the upheavals that will soon take place at University Park in Campus Commons, blame Sophia. Sophia is an elegant combination of Italian greyhound and Chihuahua with very long, brown legs and a slender figure and highly sociable disposition. The neighborly disposition is what gave her human companion, Ann Harriman, a big idea about University Park. “There is really no place close by within walking distance where she can go and meet other dogs,” says Harriman. “Then some of us who love dogs and live nearby, we got to thinking about this little portion of University Park, and we realized it was the perfect place for a dog park.” Monumental transformations of urban planning don’t always require eminent domain lawsuits and the destruction of faded shopping malls. Sometimes, a brilliantly innovative idea for improving a community can be reflected in the bright eyes of an Italian greyhound. The proposed dog park at University Park is one example of the small ways in which Sacramento residents find creative ways to keep themselves and their canines happy and well socialized. Another example is the monthly pop-up dog park in Midtown, a temporary affair that corresponds with the Second Saturday farmers market in the vicinity of 20th and J streets. The two dog parks have been driven by neighborhood desire, not bureaucratic decree or governmental whimsy.

ILP JUN n 14

Ann Harriman and Sophia, center, among two-legged and four-legged friends

The pop-up park, which serves petite breeds (there’s a 30-pound weight limit; Sophia would qualify twice), was triumphantly funded by crowdsourcing and has become a monthly Midtown mainstay. “Our pop-up park is only about 300 square feet, so we have to limit the size of the dogs,” says Midtown Business Association executive director Emily Baime Michaels. “I’m not familiar with anyone else doing the same sort of thing, but we’d love to be an inspiration to other places.”

While it remains a gleam in Sophia’s eye, the University Park dog corral may ultimately serve as the classic dissertation on what happens when small-scale civic involvement seeks to solve the dilemma of fourlegged urban leash laws. In Sacramento and most other cities, it’s illegal to allow a dog off leash in a public place. The owner of an off-leash dog can be ticketed and fined. If an off-leash dog attacks a person or animal, the consequences can be severe, even fatal.

But as anyone who has visited a neighborhood park can attest, some dog owners can’t resist the temptation to ignore the rules and unclasp their dog’s leash, if only to let Scraps chase a tennis ball for a few uninhibited minutes. It’s a dumb move. This is where dog parks come in. Behind the sturdy fences and waived liabilities of a dog park, leashes are freed—along with the territorial aggression that leashes can encourage, some dog experts claim. It’s every dog for herself.

Neighborhood Real Estate Sales CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

2241 TAMARACK WAY $94,000 3216 STREVEL WAY $185,000 4522 BARON AVE $155,000 2428 WULFF LN $164,000 3545 MIAMI ST $301,000 3629 FRENCH AVENUE AVE $190,000 3972 ROSEMARY CIR $283,000 2827 BARBARELL WAY $270,000 2073 SILVER CT $87,500 3709 HAVEN GLEN PL $280,000 3524 SAINT GEORGE DR $212,500 2824 LA PAZ WAY $199,000 2248 PYRAMID WAY $319,000 2841 SANTA PAULA CT $86,000 2570 BELL ST $175,000 3437 TOLEDO WAY $164,570 2584 BUTANO DR $217,000 4217 ANNETTE ST $200,000 3012 FAIRWAYS CT $227,000 4149 ZEPHYR WAY $275,000 4231 SILVER CREST AVE $245,000 2520 CATALINA DR $219,000 2217 EL CAMINO AVE $182,500 3115 GREENWOOD AVE $290,000 3108 LEATHA WAY $255,000 3716 WILLIAM WAY $295,000 2308 MARCONI AVE $114,500 2811 EDISON AVE $105,209 2840 CARRISA WAY $170,000 2800 RUBICON WAY $230,000 2121 JULIESSE AVE $155,000 2918 TIOGA WAY $357,500 4408 PARK GREEN CT $307,500

95822 SOUTH LAND PARK 7490 CARELLA DR

$165,000

2308 KNIGHT WAY 5979 WYMORE WAY 1512 FRUITRIDGE RD 1416 34TH AVE 7329 BENBOW ST 2433 50TH AVE 7321 BENBOW ST 2353 IRVIN WAY 2029 OREGON DR 2209 22ND AVE 7361 22ND ST 2871 LOCK AVE 1141 WEBER WAY 6860 23RD ST 6113 MCLAREN AVE 2230 50TH AVE 805 BELL AIR DR 1748 67TH AVE 4655 MARION CT 7607 ADDISON WAY 5813 13TH ST 2041 65TH AVE 7532 COSGROVE 4831 KARBET WAY 4332 CONSTANCE LN 2241 15TH AVE 5661 NORMAN WAY 7475 19TH ST 1145 35TH AVE 1601 ARVILLA DR 7031 DEMARET DR 7326 TILDEN WAY 1631 OREGON DR 7448 WINKLEY WAY

95825 ARDEN

2142 KINCAID WAY 734 HARTNELL PL

In Sophia’s case, the problem wasn’t the lack of a dog park—the city of Sacramento has nine of them— but rather the lack of one within reasonable walking distance. The Granite Park dog park is about one mile from Sophia’s home in Campus Commons. But what a mile: Harriman and Sophia would

$199,000 $330,000 $210,000 $259,560 $165,000 $105,000 $155,000 $215,000 $250,000 $258,000 $153,500 $230,000 $320,000 $187,000 $85,000 $165,000 $411,900 $185,000 $540,000 $210,000 $305,000 $176,000 $150,000 $186,000 $352,800 $160,000 $152,000 $105,000 $315,000 $21,000 $210,500 $188,000 $220,000 $110,000 $275,000 $380,000

12 COLBY CT 2904 EMERALD CT 1637 WAYLAND AVE 1310 GANNON DR 2454 LARKSPUR LN #330 2116 CORTEZ LN 903 DUNBARTON CIR 2208 WOODSIDE LN #6 957 FULTON AVE #552 2448 LARKSPUR LN #318 2452 LARKSPUR LN #324 2422 LARKSPUR LN #219 810 ELMHURST CIR 1019 DORNAJO WAY #129 2407 PENNLAND DR 2860 ARMSTRONG DR 3278 VIA GRANDE 407 DUNBARTON CIR 2028 ERNEST WAY 2236 WOODSIDE LN #16 657 WOODSIDE SIERRA #3 2000 BELCOT RD 257 MUNROE ST 1917 FLOWERS ST 2349 FIELLEN CT 1920 RICHMOND ST 2466 LARKSPUR LN #351 2217 WOODSIDE LN #3 1005 VANDERBILT WAY 124 HARTNELL PL

95831 GREENHAVEN, S LAND PARK 6 KINGBIRD CT 1050 FOXHALL WAY 7327 POCKET RD 958 BRIARCREST WAY

have to brave Howe Avenue, cross the American River, breech Highway 50 and dart between semi trucks at Power Inn Road and Folsom Boulevard. “As the crow flies, it is only a mile,” Harriman says. “But you take your life in your hands getting there.”

OFF-LEASH DOG PARKS Bannon Creek Dog Park 2780 Azevedo Drive Glenbrook Dog Park 8500 La Riviera Drive Granite Dog Park 8200 Ramona Ave. Jacinto Creek Dog Park 8600 West Stockton Blvd. North Natomas Regional Dog Park 2501 New Market Drive Partner Park 5699 South Land Park Drive

Regency Community Dog Park 5500 Honor Pkwy, North Natomas Sutter’s Landing Dog Park 20 28th St. Tanzanite Dog Park 2220 Tanzanite Way Carmichael Dog Park 5750 Grant Ave. Howe Dog Park 2201 Cottage Way Bark Park 3839 Bradshaw Road

$249,000 $227,000 $115,000 $193,500 $110,000 $149,900 $300,000 $124,900 $40,500 $62,500 $77,500 $77,000 $281,000 $64,990 $253,000 $249,000 $164,900 $335,000 $135,000 $70,000 $169,000 $177,500 $281,000 $250,000 $148,000 $275,000 $95,000 $123,000 $415,000 $290,000

$352,000 $391,888 $299,500 $348,000

7831 RIVER ESTATES DR 6450 SURFSIDE WAY 456 FLORIN RD 6140 COLGATE CT 6270 LAKE PARK DR 7450 GRIGGS WAY 7071 HAVENSIDE DR 7607 RIVER RANCH WAY 6268 FENNWOOD CT 299 OUTRIGGER WAY 780 SAO JORGE WAY 8004 LINDA ISLE LN 215 ROUNDTREE CT 7273 POCKET RD 6389 FAUSTINO WAY 6715 STEAMBOAT WAY 421 MARINER POINT WAY 7643 BRIDGEVIEW DR 6298 FORDHAM WAY 23 BASIL CT 43 SAGE RIVER CIR 1060 EILEEN WAY 7500 DELTAWIND DR 80 SUNLIT CIR 7130 FLINTWOOD WAY 855 COBBLE COVE LN 7476 GREENHAVEN DR 7721 SLEEPY RIVER WAY 6260 HOLSTEIN WAY 6610 14TH ST 300 RIVER ISLE WAY 779 WESTLITE CIR

95864 ARDEN

1501 LOS MOLINOS WAY 1512 EL NIDO WAY 200 CALLNON CT 3401 AMERICAN RIVER DR

$359,000 $432,500 $138,000 $625,000 $235,000 $569,000 $173,000 $320,000 $260,000 $395,000 $189,000 $439,000 $117,000 $265,000 $449,000 $330,000 $285,000 $310,000 $338,000 $260,000 $369,000 $464,500 $260,000 $310,000 $384,000 $660,000 $317,000 $460,000 $575,000 $340,000 $269,000 $394,950 $705,000 $385,000 $830,000 $830,000

The solution was a short walk from their front door. University Park backs up along American River at the Howe Avenue bridge. One section of the park sits by itself, near the levee. It’s perfect for a dog park. “It’s just an idea that made sense,” says Marty Henderson, a Campus Commons neighbor. “A lot of us walk their dogs there and thought, why not?” Harriman and Henderson linked up with other dog people, including Lauren Archer, John Lenk and Cheryl Summers, and contacted their city councilmember, Kevin McCarty, who promised to help create a University Avenue dog park if the residents raised half the money. It will cost $118,000 to build a twosided dog park, one for bigger breeds and one for little Sophia and friends. The Campus Commons neighbors are seeking donated materials and raising money through social media. They are confident the dogs will be barking by winter. “It makes real sense to put a dog park here,” Harriman says. “The

4337 MORPHEUS LN $235,100 1433 SEBASTIAN WAY $215,000 1020 MORSE AVE $160,000 1708 PLUTO WAY $273,250 3125 CHELSEA RD $165,000 2938 MORSE GLEN LN $325,000 4231 DEVON LN $330,000 1200 WATT AVE $184,000 1418 LOS MOLINOS WAY $465,000 1428 LA SIERRA DR $925,000 1405 WYANT WAY $170,000 4225 CORONA WAY $515,000 2824 MAISON WAY $226,500 3116 WINDSOR DR $205,000 2033 NEPTUNE WAY $238,250 495 BRET HARTE RD $800,000 2128 LORENZO LN $218,000 2750 LATHAM DR $482,500 1017 HAMPTON RD $210,000 1136 HAMPTON $181,635 1910 ROCKWOOD DR $2,400,000 1810 CATHAY WAY $869,000 1359 FITCH WAY $475,000 2009 IONE ST $375,000 3209 SOMERSET RD $146,000 301 WYNDGATE RD $475,000 2209 IONE ST $390,000 916 AMBERWOOD RD $150,000 2920 SIERRA MILLS LN $330,000 3128 SOMERSET RD $170,000 754 SANTA RITA WAY $735,000 400 HOPKINS RD $1,450,000 4020 AMERICAN RIVER DR $700,000 4345 RAND LN $699,000

Sophie, the little dog who started it all

city has been very helpful and the neighbors are working together.” Dogs, it seems, have a talent for making things happen. R.E. Graswich can be reached at reg@graswich.com. n

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Teachable Moments WE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF ONE FLOCK

BY NORRIS BURKES SPIRIT MATTERS

ast Thanksgiving, my wife, Becky, challenged her secondgrade class to write thank-you notes to those people for whom they were grateful. “How about God?” suggested a towheaded boy. “Well,” said my wife, pausing for clarity in a public school environment, “maybe you can save those thankyous for your bedtime prayers. Suddenly, a pigtailed pontificator stood and pointed her accusing finger toward a little boy who had recently shared that he was Buddhist.

“He can’t!” she proclaimed. “He doesn’t believe in God.” “That was rude!” Becky said. Then, not one to miss a teachable moment, Becky turned to her whiteboard and added the girl’s name to a discipline list. Years earlier, I introduced a similarly teachable moment to an Air National Guard commander when she dropped by for an impromptu visit. “How are you, chaplain?” she asked from outside my open office door. Keeping protocol, I stood to answer; but perhaps since I measured at least a foot taller than she, she insisted I keep my seat. “What are you working on today?” she asked, seeming genuinely interested in a friendly chat. “I’m trying to write a retirement prayer for a squadron commander, but I’m having trouble finding the right fit.” “Fit?” “Yes,” I said. “The retiree is a Buddhist, but since our audience will likely be Christian, I’ll need something acceptable to both. Silence.

Your Gift of Love Leave everything you’ve worked for to the people you love.

Protect your loved ones with a living trust 18 Years Experience Free Initial Trust Consultation Mark J. Lamb, Attorney at Law Wills • Trusts • Probate & Special Needs Trusts 485-2593 2725 Riverside Blvd., Ste. 800

Lambtrust.com

ILP JUN n 14

I kept talking. “I’m thinking about using this Buddhist poem our retiree has selected for the ceremony handout.” I passed it to her and watched her lips silently move, her facial contortions building on every word. “You should use a Christian prayer,” she suggested. “After all, this is a Christian Air Force.” Now it was my turn to wear a disappointed expression. “You don’t see it that way?” she asked. Like Becky, I paused to reflect. Then, recognizing the careershortening possibilities of my answer, I respectfully stood to share my thoughts. “No, ma’am. I’m sorry, but I don’t.” While I can’t recall my exact words, it was something like this: “Ma’am, we serve in an Air Force that is made up primarily of Christians, but I don’t think that our majority status makes us a Christian Air Force.” Sensing I needed to serve the whole enchilada, I forged ahead. “We are sworn to protect the Christian majority just as much as we pledged to protect and serve the minorities of all faiths.” Then, I took my seat, sure that my position expressed the principles in the 10th chapter of John’s Gospel. Most Christians recognize this chapter as the one where Jesus so famously introduces himself as the “good shepherd.” However, Jesus also includes a cryptic saying that seems to oppose those who sequester themselves in theologically gated communities. “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them,

also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

“We are sworn to protect the Christian majority just as much as we pledged to protect and serve the minorities of all faiths.” Unfortunately, neither of the two ladies mentioned in this column seemed to get that part of the scripture. At the end of that school day, my wife phoned the girl’s mother to share her thoughts on pluralism in a public school. Not surprisingly, the mother gave an answer not unlike her daughter’s. As for my commander, she expressed no further objections to the poem/prayer. Unfortunately, five years after my conversation with the commander, a malignant brain tumor put a tragic end to her promising career. However, my guess is that her best teachable moment came when she was welcomed into heaven with salutes and open arms from all of Jesus’ flocks. Norris Burkes is a chaplain, syndicated columnist, national speaker and author of the book “No Small Miracles.” He can be reached at ask@thechaplain.net. You can read more of his columns on his website, thechaplain.net. n

Art Preview GALLERY ART SHOWS IN JUNE

Blue Moon Gallery will present a one-man show of the works of Gary Miller from June 14 to July 5. Shown: “Koi Pond.” 2353 Albatross Way; bluemoongallerysacto.com

ARTHOUSE on R will exhibit opaque watercolor paintings by Stephany Nickel from June 13 to July 8. Shown: “Carried in the Dance.”1021 R St; stephanynickel.com

Lindsay Filby’s stained-glass art will be featured in a show called “Big Hard Color” at Alex Bult Gallery from June 10 to July 5. Shown: “Big Dipper.” 1114 21st St.; alexbultgallery.com

Archival Gallery will feature a show called “Greetings From Dunsmuir,” with works by Fred Gordon, Laura Henke and Wagner. Shown: “Dunsmuir Station” by Henke. 3223 Folsom Blvd.; archivalframe.com JAYJAY will exhibit paintings by Stuart Allen and Richard Martinez from June 14 to July 26. Shown: “Bealdarc” by Martinez. 5520 Elvas Ave.; jayjayart.com

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Food for Thought WHERE NOBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME

BY KEVIN MIMS WRITING LIFE

ay back in the palmy days of the real estate bubble, when money flowed like wine and home prices were appreciating 20 percent annually, my wife and I ate at restaurants two or three times every week. She was working as an escrow officer, and because the local real estate market was so hot, her salary was high and her monthly bonuses were generous. I was working as a notary public, helping people sign loan documents, and I could earn about as much money as I wanted. Of course, I preferred to be home working on some writing project, but if we needed a bit of extra money for some reason, I simply had to let it be known that I was available for work, and escrow officers far and wide would send notary jobs my way. Julie and I both often worked late, so it is understandable that we frequently preferred to dine out rather than come home and prepare a meal from scratch. For about four years, from 2004 through the end of 2007, we ate out nearly as often as we ate in. We sampled all sorts of different

ILP JUN n 14

local eateries, but most of our fine dining was done at two particular restaurants. We dined at these places so often that we were well known to nearly all the waiters and waitresses there. For a while, Julie and I felt like Norm Peterson and Cliff Clavin, the characters on the TV show “Cheers” who frequented the eponymous bar because it was a place “where everybody knows your name.” We couldn’t walk into one of our two favorite restaurants without being greeted by name and asked about our personal lives (jobs, grandchildren, my writing, our summer vacation plans, etc.). If we happened to mention that we were celebrating our wedding anniversary or a birthday, we would usually be given a free dessert or discover that our entire bill had been waived. Because we knew all the wait staff, we tipped generously, and at Christmas we gave everybody gift cards to Starbucks. We could talk knowingly with the hostesses and the managers and the busboys about their political preferences, favorite authors, favorite musicians, their schooling, their children and their plans for the future. If anyone had a document that needed notarizing, I handled it for them free of charge. If they had a general question about real estate or escrow, Julie did her best to answer it. We were part of a community, and we visited our two favorite restaurants as much for the camaraderie as for the food. During this period, Julie and I were especially close to two other couples. Whenever we ate at Restaurant A, we were almost always joined by

Misty and Jay. (I’m fictionalizing the names of all my friends in this piece.) Whenever we ate at Restaurant B, we were frequently joined by John and Bree. Misty and Jay were complete strangers to Bree and John, so the six of us never dined together. Misty worked in Julie’s office. She and Jay and Julie and I dined at Restaurant A almost every Friday evening. On our birthdays, Julie and I would always receive a gift certificate from Misty and Jay good for $100 worth of food and drinks at Restaurant A. On their birthdays, Misty and Jay would receive the same thing from us. Naturally, whenever one of us received one of these gift certificates, we would use it to treat the entire foursome to dinner. Those were great times. Our restaurant expenses were paltry as a percentage of our household incomes. Nobody expected the good times to last forever. We knew that the housing market that supported us all would eventually cool off, at which point we would probably have to curtail our restaurant spending. But we had all seen economic downturns before. They usually lasted anywhere from six to 18 months. We believed that when the economy started to slow, we would see it coming. We believed that with a few minor adjustments to our spending habits, we’d be able to weather whatever mild economic storm might lie ahead. But we were wrong. The economic downturn of 2008 came upon us all so swiftly and so hard that we had little chance to prepare for it. We weren’t alone. Some of the nation’s biggest financial entities were hit so hard by the downturn that only a

government bailout kept them afloat. Almost overnight, Julie and I went from dining out two or three times a week to dining in every single night of the year. To one degree or another, the downturn hit all of our friends. Eventually, Julie would be laid off by her employer and, for the first time in 30 years, find herself without a job in the escrow industry. My notary work dried up almost overnight. We tightened our belts and prepared for a rough 18 months. That was seven years ago, and our belts are still pretty tight. For several years, I don’t think we ate out at all. Nowadays, we dine out about twice a month. The experience is usually pleasant, but it is in no way comparable to what it once was. Now, when we enter a restaurant, we usually don’t know any of the servers by name. And they, of course, don’t know us. They make polite small talk with us, but simply as a matter of form. We aren’t regulars anymore. We don’t have the money to be regulars. We are no longer treated like Norm and Cliff at Cheers. The upside of all this, of course, is that we have learned over the past seven years to be much better cooks. During that period, we have made 99 percent of our meals at home. We have baked our own breads and croissants and cakes and cookies and pies and pizzas. Julie has learned how to make masterful Chinese stir-fry meals in her own wok. Likewise, she has mastered recipes from a dozen other culinary cultures: Italian, Spanish, Mexican, French, British, WRITING LIFE page 48

TICKETS - ON SALE NOW -

STARTING AT $35! at the WELLS FARGO PAVILION

JUNE 24 - 29 A multiple Tony-winning singular sensation. Featuring music by the brilliant Marvin Hamlisch, including “What I Did For Love,” “I Hope I Get It,” and the show-stopping “One.”

JULY J JU U LY LY 8 - 1 13 3 JULY 8 - 13 With a spoonful of sugar and a whole lot of magic, the quintessential nanny in this Disney classic will delight all ages. Featuring “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “Chim Chim Cher-ee.”

JULY 22 - 27

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s sweeping tale of love transcending war won a Pulitzer Prize and 10 Tonys, and features “Some Enchanted Evening” “Bali Ha’i” and “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair.”

AUGUST 5 - 10 Travel to the mystical Scottish Highlands village of Brigadoon where, with true love, anything is possible, even miracles. Featuring a soaring score by Lerner and Loewe.

AUGUST AUGU A UGUS ST T 19 - 24 Teeming eming with song, dance and hilarity, his bawdy musical comedy by Jerry this erman and Harvey Fierstein won six Herman ny Awards in 1984, and inspired the Tony 1996 ﬁlm “The Birdcage.”

W ELLS F ARGO P AVILION B OX O FFICE 1419 H S TREET , S ACRAMENTO

(916) 557-1999 G ROUP D ISCOUNTS : (916) 557-1198 WWW .S ACRAMENTO M USIC C IRCUS . COM

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Genuine Progress IT’S IMPORTANT TO COUNT THE RIGHT THINGS

BY WALT SEIFERT GETTING THERE

f you don’t count something, it doesn’t count. What and how we measure not only reflects what is important to us; it influences how important it is. The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution says the Constitution’s goals are a more perfect union, justice, domestic tranquility, security, the general welfare and liberty. Yet we don’t devote serious resources to tracking justice, tranquility or the general welfare. Nor do we formally measure the happiness we’re diligently pursuing per the Declaration of Independence. Instead, our focus has been keeping tabs on economics—and economics measured in a rather crude, bruteforce way. Since before World War II, a key measurement of economic well-being in the United States has been gross domestic product. GDP is the sum of all the goods and services sold in the country. Many consider GDP per capita a measure of how well off we are, but not everyone agrees. While developing the idea of GDP and knowing GDP’s dollar value have been great achievements, GDP is not the be-all and end-all of

ILP JUN n 14

measurement. In fact, the economist who was instrumental in formulating the notion of gross national product (GDP’s forerunner), Nobel winner Simon Kuznets, said, “The welfare of a nation can scarcely be inferred from a measurement of national income as defined by the GDP.” Thirty years after GDP was introduced, Robert Kennedy, while running for president, observed, “It counts napalm and it counts nuclear warheads, yet the gross national product doesn’t allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education or the joy of their play. It measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.” GDP treats the costs of pollution and the costs of cleaning up pollutions as “goods.” It treats money spent on drug abuse, pharmaceutical overuse, natural disasters, prisons and wars as positives, but that does not mean such outlays represent progress. Economic activity is not really a surrogate for well-being. By itself, it doesn’t distinguish between what is good or bad for society. Economists and others have proposed more holistic alternatives to GDP. Increasingly, governments are putting these new yardsticks into use. Some years ago, I wrote about the Kingdom of Bhutan’s intriguing gross national happiness metric. There’s also something called the Genuine Progress Indicator, a collection of statistics that not only measure the benefits of economic activity, but the costs as well. GPI measures social and environmental factors that relate to economic activity. For example, it adds values

for household work and parenting, education and volunteer work. It subtracts the costs of pollution, loss of wetlands, farms and forests. If GDP is viewed as “gross profit,” then GPI is more like “net profit.”

GDP treats the costs of pollution and the costs of cleaning up pollutions as “goods.” It treats money spent on drug abuse, pharmaceutical overuse, natural disasters, prisons and wars as positives, but that does not mean such outlays represent progress. Economists have calculated GPI over a period of decades for a number of countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Austria, Canada, Chile, France, Finland, Italy and the Netherlands. Maximizing industrial production hasn’t always turned out well. In most countries, GDP has continued to rise while GPI has stagnated since 1980. Perhaps that’s the reason many people feel no better off than they were decades ago.

A striking feature of the Genuine Progress Indicator is the number of factors that relate to transportation. Of the 26 GPI elements, nine are linked to transportation. One is a positive: the value of highways and streets. The others are negatives: cost of commuting, loss of leisure time, cost of vehicle crashes, cost of air, water and noise pollution, carbon dioxide emissions damage and depletion of nonrenewable energy resources. In order to make more informed policy decisions, Maryland and Vermont are now tracking GPI. Oregon and Washington are adopting forms of GPI. Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, Governing magazine’s public official of the year, has pushed for a 10-year state budget plan integrated with GPI. David Johnston, Canada’s governor general, said about the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (another GDP alternative), “Collectively, this index helps us to determine trends in our overall quality of life, giving us a powerful tool for action.” It would be nice to see California and the United States added to the list of states and nations using GPI or something similar. A more comprehensive measure of what’s important for the general welfare could result in our having more leisure time, less commuting cost and less pollution—all pretty good outcomes from counting things that matter. Walt Seifert is a bicyclist, driver and transportation writer. He can be reached at bikeguy@surewest.net. n

ild u B / ign s e D es c i v Ser For All of Your Kitchen, Bath and Whole-House Remodeling Needs .com

Proceeds to Benefit Youth Programs of

s chen djkit

Society for the Blind & Other Sacramento Children’s Charities ork sign W All De ouse. d In-H te le p Com terior ed In ﬁ ti r e C Staff er on n ig s De

nto’s rame ds c a S o ng Ser vi eighborho n t oldes 81 19 e sinc e in-hom e e r f or a D&J Call f t i o n w i t h lta consu

rs acto

EVENT PRICING Early Bird ADULTS $40 UNDER 17 $20 After July 31st ADULTS $50 UNDER 17 $30

WHEN WHAT WHERE EXPECT WHO

August 9th: 8 pm, first riders out at 10 pm 5 mi or 17 mi loop; FUN ride Combo of City Streets & Bike Trails West Capitol Steps Great fun, great food and a wonderful time Food Trucks and Music & Activities before the ride! All ages welcome

licen

4 contr 5 9 4 8 2

SPONSOR A SFTB CLIENT! For more info and to register www.lunarlunacyride.com

.257

925 916.

916-542-8844 WRITING LIFE FROM page 46

Outdated Kitchen? “It’s nice to know a general contractor we can trust and call on for future improvements” - The Belk Family

Innovative Designs and Remodels Before

Creating spaces for

gatherings & entertaining with beauty and comfort Call Impact Builders for your FREE estimate today ImpactBuilders.org

826-1849

German, etc. No matter what dish we might be jonesing for, Julie and I can usually find a way to make it at home for a small fraction of what it would cost in a restaurant. Culinary self-reliance is a great thing to possess. Nonetheless, I can’t help feeling that the Great Recession has caused Julie and me to become somewhat reclusive. I don’t feel like I’m as much a part of the community as I once was. I know fewer local working people by name than I once did. Whereas we used to buy Christmas gift cards for about a dozen local waiters and waitresses, we now buy none. We simply don’t know any waiters, waitresses, hostesses or shift managers that well anymore. Perhaps this will change in time. Our financial straits are no longer anywhere near as dire as they were in 2008-2009. We’re starting to dig our way out of the rubble. But we still have a long ways to go.

Though our lives have been drastically altered by the Long Recession, I nonetheless count Julie and myself among the lucky ones. The marriages of our old friends Misty and Jay and Bree and John didn’t survive the economic downturn. For several years in the middle of the previous decade, not a week passed when Julie and I didn’t dine out with at least one of those two couples. Now, it has been years since I’ve seen any of those old friends. Their marriages dissolved, they changed careers and we all completely lost track of each other. Such is the human toll of great economic upheaval. Although Julie and I have begun dining out again, we tend to avoid Restaurant A and Restaurant B these days. The food there is still good, but it’s hard to find a table that doesn’t have a few ghosts lingering at it. Kevin Mims can be reached at kevinmims@sbcglobal.net. n

License No. 938975

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Hot Pot SOLAR COOKING IS FUN AND EFFICIENT

“Poor women may spend three to five hours per day gathering firewood to cook. On sunny days when they can use a solar cooker, it frees up a huge amount of time. Kids can go to school instead of gathering wood.” Solar cookers come in three basic designs. Parabolic cookers look like shiny satellite dishes with a pot suspended in the middle. These

BY DR. AMY ROGERS

cookers have the advantage of getting very, very hot (up to 1,000 degrees

SCIENCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Fahrenheit), but they’re expensive

and must be adjusted frequently to

ome days in Sacramento,

follow the sun and keep its rays in

it feels hot enough to fry

focus. Box solar cookers are lined with

an egg on the sidewalk.

a shiny, reflective material and have

But it doesn’t take triple-digit

a transparent cover to keep warm

air temperatures to cook just

air inside. They can be as simple as

about anything using California’s

a pizza box lined with foil, or a more

abundant sunshine. Solar cookers,

sophisticated version that can reach

or sun-powered ovens, concentrate

400 degrees.

the energy of the sun and provide a

Panel cookers are the easiest to

free, zero-emissions way to prepare

make and the cheapest to buy. They

meals even when you’re wearing

can be portable and collapsible for

long sleeves. of summer, the Earth’s tilted axis

bread and brownies. When you’re

generally runs from April through

points the northern hemisphere most

running the air conditioner and you

October. Surprisingly, higher summer

directly toward the sun, giving us the

dread turning on your kitchen stove

air temperatures are not the reason.

longest day and the most intense solar

or oven, solar cooking can save you

The sun’s “heat” doesn’t power a

fuel for cooking.

money and help to keep you cool.

In our area, solar cooking season

solar cooker. A solar cooker collects

What can you cook using the sun?

While solar cooking is a fun hobby

electromagnetic radiation, including

A simple cardboard-and-aluminum-

in Sacramento, in poorer parts of the

visible light, from the sun and focuses

foil panel cooker can cook anything

world it can change lives. Sacramento-

it on a black-colored cooking pot. The

your Crock-Pot can. Stews, either

based Solar Cookers International

radiant energy absorbed by the pot is

vegetarian or with meat, are foolproof

is a local nonprofit that works with

turned into heat, which the cooker is

in a solar cooker because they’re

organizations all over the world to

designed to trap.

impossible to overcook. Foods that

bring solar cooking to those who can

take a lot of heat on the stove, such as

benefit from it most, especially poor

and easiest not on the hottest days,

hard-cooked eggs, whole fresh beets,

women and people in refugee camps.

but on days when the sun’s energy is

rice, potatoes and lentils can all be

After recently attending a United

at its peak—that is, any cloudless day

prepared outdoors in a solar cooker.

Nations meeting of the Commission

around the summer solstice, which

In June and July, you can even solar

on the Status of Women, SCI

is June 21 this year. On this first day

cook baked goods such as banana

executive director Julie Greene said,

Therefore, solar cooking is fastest

ILP JUN n 14

easy storage or carrying to a campsite. Panel cookers act like a funnel for sunshine with a set of shiny cardboard panels slanted around a pot. Food is placed in a thin-walled black metal pot with a lid. (GraniteWare is ideal.) A clear, heat-resistant bag (such as a turkey roasting bag) or an inverted glass bowl goes over the pot to trap heat and moisture. At our latitude, a CooKit, a panel cooker designed here in the Central Valley, can reach 220 degrees. The intensity of the heat generated surprises people. Greene, who is an experienced solar cook, says, “I tell people, ‘Don’t touch the pot—it’s hot!’

They look straight at me and touch the pot.” Want to see for yourself how hot the pot can get? On July 19, solar chefs from around the world will gather for SCI’s Solar Cooking Festival. A wide variety of solar cooker designs will bake, simmer, and slow cook from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the southeast corner of William Land Park. SCI sells complete solar-cooking starter kits, including pot, for as little as $40. Such kits can be an important part of household emergency

Loving, quality pet care in your home. Our pet services include: • Doggie Day Care • Pet Taxi • Watering house plants • Picking up mail & newspapers • Changing drapes & lights

preparedness, making it possible to cook food and pasteurize water if utilities fail. But you don’t need a crisis to enjoy this special use of solar power. As Greene says, “Solar cooking is fun,

Owner Beni Feil, trusted member of the Sacramento community for over 50 years!

it’s easy and it works for anyone who lives where there’s sunshine.” Amy Rogers is a writer, scientist and educator. Learn more at her website, ScienceThrillers.com. n

Call 451-PETS for a rate sheet or complimentary consultation. Licensed • Bonded • Additional pets and services negotiable

THEATRE GUIDE Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz Thru June 15 Community Center Theater 1301 L St, Sac 557-1999 Two girls meet in the land of Oz. See how the two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good!!

Steady Rain Thru June 15 B Street Theatre 2711 B St, Sac 443-5300 Bstreettheatre.org Two best friends since kindergarten, work together for several years as policemen in Chicago, when a domestic disturbance call takes a turn ad puts their friendship on the line.

26th Annual One-Act Festival Thru June 16 Threepenny Playhouse 1721 25th St, Sac 501-6104 Join the Actor’s Workshop for a night of laughs and short one-act plays.

The Bluest Eye Thru June 14 Celebration Arts Theatre 4469 D St Sac, 455-2787 Rich language and bold vision, Lydia Diamond’s theatrical adaption of Beloved , explores the crippling toll that centuries of racism and false standards of beauty, have taken on a small Ohio community.

Groucho: A Life in Revue Details Thru June 15 Chautauqua Playhouse 5325 Engle Rd, Carmichael 489-7529 Cplayhouse.org The inspired bio musical begins with Groucho telling the story of the Marx Brothers and their struggles.

Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike Thru June 15 B Street Theatre, Main Stage 2711 B St, Sac 443-5300 Bstreettheatre.org Middle-aged siblings share a home in Bucks County, Pa., where they bicker and complain about their lives, until their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike.

The Producers Thru June 22 Runaway Stage Productions @ 24th Street Theatre 2791 24th St, Sac 207-1226 Based on Mel Brooks 1968 feature film, this musical is set in New York. After finding an accounting error, Leo Bloom and Max hatch a plan to get rich by producing the worst Broadway show ever.

The Last Sunday in June Thru June 21 Geery Theatre 2130 L St, Sac 448-9019 Wjgeerytheater.com It is the last Sunday in June, the day of the annual Gay Pride Parade through Greenwich Village. Partners of seven years, intend to spend the day planning their when a friend drops in to view the parade from their apartment.

A Chorus Line June 24 – June 29 Wells Fargo Pavilion 1419 H St, Sac 557-1999 This emotional behind-the-scenes look at the Broadway world. It is a celebration of what it means to be a professional dancer, fervently pursuing the passion to perform onstage.

The Submission June 6 – July 5 Big Idea Theatre 1616 Del Paso Blvd, Sac 960-3036 BigIdeaTheatre.com Complex, new drama about an AfricanAmerican family struggling to leave the projects, has just been selected for the nationals preeminent play festival. A young, white, gay playwright, submitted his work under a pseudonym in the hope of increasing its chances for production by hiring a black actress to stand in for him as author.

Maple and Vine June 18 – July 20 Capital Stage Company 2215 J St 476-3116 Capstage.org Katha and Ryu have become allergic to their 21st century lives. After they meet a charismatic man from the a community of 1950s re-enactors, they forsake cell phones and sushi for cigarettes and Tupperware parties. Exploring feminism, racism, homophobia, and marital strife.

SUBMIT EVENTS TO ANIKO@INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Like a Photo THIS ARTIST FOUND SALVATION IN CREATING HYPERREALISTIC CHARCOAL DRAWINGS

BY LESLEY STEIN ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

nnie Murphy-Robinson, an award-winning artist and teacher, is just as passionate about the art she creates in her Carmichael studio (in a garage converted by her husband) as she is about teaching art at Roseville’s alternative Adelante High School for troubled youth. But her road to success hasn’t been easy. Murphy-Robinson’s formative years were turbulent, to say the least. She ran away from home, used drugs and alcohol and ended up in juvenile hall before doing a stint in the army. Fortunately, this Sacramento native was able to turn her life around by embracing art and education. After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art, she picked up teaching credentials. For five years, she taught ceramics at Sac High before moving to Adelante, where she teaches both drawing and art history. Now in her 17th year of sobriety, MurphyRobinson says, “I have been in recovery basically since I started getting serious about art.” Known for very realistic, deeply personal, often haunting charcoal drawings of her two daughters, Murphy-Robinson has shown her work locally at John Natsoulas Gallery, b. sakata garo and Crocker Art Museum, as well as in Miami, New York and Los Angeles. Her portrait of Mayor Kevin Johnson hangs at city hall. At Carmichael’s Boulevard Coffee Roasting Company, Murphy-Robinson recently discussed art, education and drawings as realistic as photos.

ILP JUN n 14

Artist Annie Murphy-Robinson

Why did you choose to become a teacher? For practical reasons. Before I went to graduate school, I was a substitute teacher and I really liked it. I thought it was a great job. Teaching has saved me. It’s given me purpose. What are your goals as an educator? In the realm that I’m working in, my No. 1 goal is to give the kids the help they need. My job, more so than teaching two-point perspective drawing, is getting to know the students, earning their trust and finding them help. At the same time, through art I can help the students find their voice. By teaching them art

techniques, they learn to convey their feelings visually. It gets them noticed and gives them a sense of power. What motivates you in the classroom? The thing is, these kids know I’ve been there. They trust me. I know their struggles and what they’re going through. And that goes a long way with them. I love my job because I think I’m making a difference. What are some challenges you find in teaching art? Mainly the kids who don’t want to learn. So I tell them to put the pencil on the paper and move it around. As long as it’s not lewd or crude, drug or gang related, they can draw whatever

they want. The other challenge I face is that I’m always worried what’s going to be the next required course to go. Right now, fine arts is still a requirement to graduate, thank God. How do you describe your own artwork? I call it hyperrealism. I like to draw things that resonate with me. Mostly, I draw my kids because they’re little me’s, and they’re beautiful, but not all sweetness. The portraits I do of my children move beyond portraits. There is always something to do with the past, but also something to do with transformation. Some people might look at that and be fearful.

“We can’t imagine spending our

best years anywhere but home.”

CALL TODAY!

Our Life. Our Memories. Our Home. Live Well at Home with Home Care Assistance! • NEW! Home Care Assistance is the only home care agency to train care partners in mental stimulation. We help clients delay symptoms of cognitive decline by engaging them in research-based, enjoyable cognitive activities. • Home Care Assistance’s unique Balanced Care Method™ promotes healthy mind, body and spirit. • Home Care Assistance is the only senior care company with a Home Care University to train and develop care partner employees.

Does your work have a message? What I want people to get from my work is for them to feel connected. I try to convey a sense of being in the moment and that there is beauty in everything. My job as an artist is to create the vision and to fascinate the viewer. I want the viewer to say, ‘I’ve got to look at that more and I’ve got to know what’s behind this.’

“Through art I can help the students find their voice. By teaching them art techniques, they learn to convey their feelings visually. It gets them noticed and gives them a sense of power.” Can you describe your technique? I work with 42-by-60-inch-wide, 100 percent cotton rag paper, and I draw with fine compressed charcoal.

After putting on a mask, I open the studio door and use an electric sander to remove sizing from the paper. It opens up the weave and softens the paper. Then, I select an image I’ve photographed and begin drawing, starting with the eye. You strike me as a perfectionist. Is that accurate? Absolutely, and my art dictates that. I’m known for it. People always say, ‘It looks just like a photo.’ But it’s not. I would have blown up a photo instead of taking 140 hours to draw it. Do you have a mentor? Although I’ve never taken a class from him, it would be local artist and Sac City College professor Chris Daubert. He gave me my first show at Sac City’s Kondos Gallery. What does the future hold for you, especially after your children are grown and out of the house? I’d love to do commissions but I don’t project too much into the future. I try to stay in the now. I’ve learned in recovery: one day at a time. Some of Annie Murphy-Robinson’s portraits will be on exhibit at city hall’s Robert T. Matsui Art

Gallery until September. For more information about the artist, go to anniemurphyrobinson.com. n

916-706-0169

5363 H Street, Suite A Sacramento, CA 95819 HomeCareAssistanceSacramento.com

A FULL-BODY INDOOR CYCLING STUDIO www.team-ride.com

916.455.7000 55th & H

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

The Hills Are Alive MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS BRINGS DIVERSE ACTS TO GRASS VALLEY IN JUNE

By Jessica Laskey RIVER CITY PREVIEWS

usic in the Mountains’ 33rd SummerFest season starts June 11 in Grass Valley. Lend an appreciative ear to the festival’s impressive array of musical acts, from classic Beatles to Celtic fiddle and more, in three concert series at multiple beautiful venues. The Concerts Under the Stars series takes place on the Great Lawn at the Nevada County Fairgrounds and features assorted musical acts that are sure to delight and entertain: “Grand Fiddler’s Rally” at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 21 (Alasdair Fraser’s Sierra Fiddle Camp celebrates the fiddle music of Scotland with more than 150 musicians); “The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute” at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 27 (“The best Beatles show in the world,” according to the Los Angeles Times); and “A John Williams Spectacular” at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 28 (the MIM Festival Orchestra and Chorus presents music from Williams’ movie soundtracks). The Orchestra Series takes place at the Amaral Center at the Nevada County Fairgrounds (11228 McCourtney Road) and includes family-friendly fare: “Family Music

ILP JUN n 14

The Beatles tribute band, the Fab Four –The Ultimate Tribute, will be a featured act at the Concerts Under the Stars series at SummerFest 2014. The event starts on June 11 in Grass Valley

Faire” at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 21 (Nathaniel Stookey’s “Lemony Snicket: The Composer is Dead” Family Concert and Interactive Music Faire, conducted by Pete Lowlen); “Young Geniuses” at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 22 (the world premiere of groundbreaking young composer pieces that explore the mind of a teenage music master); “Tales from the Exotic East” at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25 (featuring Alexander Borodin’s “Polevetsian Dances,” Henry Cowell’s “Persian Set” and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade”); and “Nordic Fantasy” at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 29 (Scandinavian folklore set to music by Edvard Grieg, Felix Mendelssohn and Niels Gade).

The Chamber Works series will play at selected venues in Grass Valley and features a slew of masterful musical works: “Young Composers Project” at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11 and Friday, June 13 at Peace Lutheran Church (828 W. Main St.) features 27 world premieres by talented regional youth musicians; “Feste del Caribe” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 19 at the Center for the Arts (314 W. Main St.) celebrates Cuban jazz trio Gardenia Azul alongside the MIM Festival String Quartet and Woodwind Quintet; and “The French Connection” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 26 at the Amaral Center (11228 McCourtney Road) features pianist-in-residence Konstantin Soukhovetski playing the “Faure Piano Quartet in C minor.”

Ready to take a jaunt to Grass Valley to hear everything that MIM has to offer? For tickets and more information, call (530) 265-6124 or go to musicinthemountains.org.

SINGULAR SENSATION As the days get more and more sweltering, Sacramento denizens know there’s one place to go to get their fill of entertainment and air conditioning—the Sacramento Music Circus season is back up and running with “A Chorus Line” playing June 24-29 in the Wells Fargo Pavilion. California Musical Theatre has come a long way from the suffocating circus tent theater of yore, but the shows are the same classic musicals you remember attending as a kid.

Beautiful Courtland!

Welcome to Pear Orchard Paradise! 0DJQLÂżFHQW VSUDZOLQJ UDQFK KRPH DSSUR[ VI RQ DFUH SHDU RUFKDUG EHG EDWK JOLVWHQLQJ SRRO LQFRPH SURSHUW\ VI JXHVW KRXVH FRXQWU\ OLYLQJ RQO\ PLQV IURP GRZQWRZQ 6DFUDPHQWR

Call Terry Mulligan 768-3796 â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Chorus Lineâ&#x20AC;? promises to bring the nostalgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the music by Marvin Hamlisch (including songs â&#x20AC;&#x153;What I Did for Love,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Hope I Get Itâ&#x20AC;? and the iconic â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oneâ&#x20AC;?) is recognizable from the first three chordsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and the dynamic dancing that has made starry-eyed chorus kids of us all. Since most of us arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly kids anymore, California Musical Theatre and its president and CEO, Richard Lewis, have implemented a new schedule this year to accommodate the often three-hour run time of many Music Circus shows: Due to an overwhelming demand from patrons, all evening performances will start at 7:30 p.m. (instead of the usual 8 p.m.) and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. has been added for all shows. Now you can catch all the shuffling before you shuffle off to Buffalo! For tickets and more information, call 557-1999 or go to californiamusicaltheatre.com. The Wells Fargo Pavilion is at 1419 H St.

&ODUNVEXUJ 7XUQ RI WKH FHQWXU\ 9LFWRULDQ RQ DFUHV ULYHU RXW IURQW %RJHO 9LQH\DUG RXW EDFN EHGV EDWKV OXVK JDUGHQV EULQJ KRUVHV PLQV IURP GRZQWRZQ 6DFUDPHQWR

as you revel in the lovely Delta breezes. Is all that art and fresh air making you hungry? You can bring a picnic lunch or purchase food from vendors on site to enjoy with your glasses of grape juice. For more information, call 744-1615, ext. 8011, or email artdeltadays@gmail.com. Old Sugar Mill Wineries is at 35265 Willow Ave. in Clarksburg.

RAINBOW CONNECTION

Don't miss Crocker Art Museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Mix/Pride party from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 12

SUGAR, SUGAR Sure, Second Saturday is all abuzz in midtown, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also hoppinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; over at the Delta Days Second Saturday Artwalk from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 14 at Old Sugar

Mill Wineries in Clarksburg, just 15 minutes south of Sacramento. Meet the monthly artists (June features the work of Sharon Gerber Scherer), observe plein air painting and taste wine from 10 local wineries

June is Pride Month, celebrating Sacramentoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community, and no one does it bigger and better than the Crocker Art Museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Mix/Pride party from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 12. Let the high-flying feats of Body Waves from the Topsy Turvey Queer Circus take your breath away, groove to live music, meet local drag divas, watch short films produced by the Sacramento International Gay & PREVIEWS page 56

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

PREVIEWS FROM page 55 Lesbian Film Festival, take in some stunning art by local artists who are part of the Sacramento Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Center and lend a hand to help build the Sacramento LGBT Center Pride Parade float. The event is free for museum members, only $10 for nonmembers, $8 for college kids and drinks are under $5 all night. Talk about partying hearty! Wondering what the youths are up to these days? Check out “Mu Phi Epsilon Presents” at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 8. The concert will feature the winners of the Sacramento Alumni Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon International Music Fraternity’s 2013 scholarship competition, which includes University of the Pacific clarinetist Michael Salas and CSUS bassoonist Taylor Haugland. Space is limited, so buy your tickets early by calling 808-1182. To accompany the Crocker’s new exhibition “African American Artists: The Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era and Beyond” (more on that in a moment), the Jazz in the Courtyard performance at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 19 will feature jazz vocalist and recording artist Vivian Lee singing standards from the likes of Ellington, Brubeck, Monk and Gillespie. And now about that new exhibition: “African American Art: Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era, and Beyond” opens June 29 and will be on display until Sept. 1. The exhibition includes 100 paintings, sculptures and photographs by African American artists drawn from the collection at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. As the only West Coast

“Come Together” is a multimedia Beatles tribute performance of the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus on June 6 and 7 at the Crest Theatre

venue for this exhibition, the Crocker got quite a coup! The 48 featured artists include William H. Johnson, Alma Thomas, Jacob Lawrence, Sam Gilliam, Renee Stout and other renowned artists active before, during and after the Harlem Renaissance. For tickets and more information for all Crocker events, call 808-1182 or go to crockerartmuseum.org. The Crocker Art Museum is at 216 O St.

TO THE BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUM Ready for an aural and visual feast for the ages? Don’t miss the 35th annual Moonlight Classic, the longest-running drum and bugle corps competition in the Western United States, at 6 p.m. on June 22 at Hughes Stadium at Sacramento City College. Hundreds of young competing corps members will descend on the field to

Just Listed in East Sacramento www.WalkerRealty.net

$395,000

HEY, JUDE!

Steve Walker, Broker

(916) 448-2848 • steve@walkerrealty.net

ILP JUN n 14

present their best performances of marching percussion and brass, front ensemble (vibraphones, marimbas and other percussion instruments) and color guard. Each creative corps, which can contain up to 150 members, ages 8-21, will execute an 11-minute performance and will be judged on musical performance, general effect on the audience and color guard. (Past performances have included a field of mirrors, an entire corps decked out in gladiator gear, a James Bond-themed performance complete with tux-clad corps members, an actual horse race, and plenty of other mind-boggling, eye-popping presentations.) Participating drum corps include the Blue Devils from Concord (15time national champions); the Blue Devils B, also from Concord (two-time national champs); the Mandarins from Sacramento (eight-time national champs); the Santa Clara Vanguard from Santa Clara (six-time national champs); the Vanguard Cadets, also from Santa Clara (three-time national champs); and many more. For tickets and more information, visit Sponsors of Musical Enrichment (SOME)’s website at someinc.com or purchase tickets at the gate. General admission is $20, reserved VIP seating is $30. Hughes Stadium at Sacramento City College is at 3825 Freeport Blvd.

DRE #00880608

Where can you hear singing seniors, a crooning chorus and a

veritable bouquet of Beatles tunes? At “Come Together,” the multimedia Beatles tribute performance of the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus on June 6 and 7 at the Crest Theatre. In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ historic appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” this show will feature choral interpretations of Beatles classics along with vintage still photos and video footage featuring Beatle mania in America, the U.S. civil rights and gay rights movements of the 1960s, and images from rallies and rock festivals throughout pop culture history in the United States. “Come Together” will feature a vocal quartet and dancers, with choreography and “choralography” by Darryll Strohl, as well as dancing seniors, LGBT parents and kids and the melodious music of the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus. For tickets and more information, go to sacgaymenschorus.org. The Crest Theatre is at 1013 K St.

WINDS IN THE WILLOWS Looking for something to do to ring in the merry month of June? Don’t miss the Sacramento Valley Symphonic Band Association’s annual Carmichael Park Community Band Festival on May 30 and June 1 at the Carmichael Park Amphitheater. Bring a picnic and some lawn chairs and sprawl on the grass in the sun as you listen to the song stylings of community bands (including the Sacramento Symphonic Winds) from across California. This festival has been one of the largest community band festivals in the state for more than 20 years. Music will be played from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 30 and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 1. And don’t worry about your pocketbook: admission and parking are free. For more information, call 4892576 or go to svsba.net or sacwinds. org. Carmichael Park is at 5750 Grant Ave. in Carmichael.

BODY OF WORK Talk about a mind-body connection. On Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. from June 4 through July 2,

QUILTS

Piecing Together America’s Story

O N V I E W M AY 25 – S EP T E M B ER 1 Experience and celebrate the beauty and history of quilting. Workt by Hand: Hidden Labor and Historical Quilts showcases 35 quilt masterpieces that are superlative examples of the most iconic quilt designs spanning two centuries. “Workt by Hand”: Hidden Labor and Historical Quilts is organized by the Brooklyn Museum. Elizabeth Welsh, Medallion Quilt (detail), circa 1830. Cotton, 110 1/2 x 109 in. Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 78.36. Brooklyn Museum photograph (Gavin Ashworth, photographer), 2012.

216 O Street • Downtown Sacramento 916.808.7000 • crockerartmuseum.org

bring your brain and a healthy dose of curiosity to a five-session poetry workshop for women, “At Home in Our Bodies.” During five class meetings, workshop coordinator Alexa Mergen (a poet in her own right) will have you exploring guided breathing and mediation, reading poems by American female poets, and writing poetry with and about bodily awareness. No experience is necessary—just an open mind. As the class is limited to six women, register soon by emailing Mergen at alexamergen@gmail.com or calling 606-9952. The class will be held in a private office meeting space at 2131 Capitol Ave.

HEART OF GLASS Lindsay Filby’s first gallery show, “Big Hard Color,” premieres at the Alex Bult Gallery on June 12 and will be on display through July 5. A fourth-generation Sacramentan, Filby studied fine art at Sacramento

City College, Cuesta College and California State University, Sacramento, until she decided that she wanted to focus on glass because she loves “the color and the freedom” it gives her. This show will mark her first foray into a gallery setting, and it was at the behest of Matt Bult—a collector, fellow artist and the father of gallery owner Alex—that Filby will finally show the world just what she (and her art) is made of. The preview reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on June 12 and the opening night reception will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Second Saturday (June 14). For more information, call 476-5430 or go to alexbultgallery.com. The Alex Bult Gallery is at 1114 21st St., Suite B. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Please email items for consideration by the first of the month, at least one month in advance of the event. n

WE ARE NOW OPEN IN DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO!

New Client Special: Unlimited Month For $100 barre studio

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Cafe Bernardo 5.0 WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T CALL IT A CHAIN

BY GREG SABIN RESTAURANT INSIDER

aragary Restaurant Group has been a fixture of the Sacramento restaurant scene for decades. Along with the Haines brothers (33rd Street Bistro, Riverside Clubhouse, etc.) and the Selland family (Ella, Selland’s Market-Cafe, The Kitchen), the Paragary group blankets the region with its different personas. There’s the flagship Paragary’s Bar & Oven, temporarily closed for a large-scale renovation and set to reopen in late summer; Centro Cocina Mexicana, the Mexican-American standby on the party block of J Street; Esquire Grill, the reliable if predictable steak-and-potatoes retreat of theatergoers and lobbyists on K Street; Hock Farm Craft & Provisions, the recent downtown entry in the farm-to-fork field; and Cafe Bernardo, Paragary’s fast-casual/ order-at-the-counter/midprice go-to, with five locations in two counties. Before we continue, let’s define our terms. There’s a distinct difference between Paragary Restaurant Group and a restaurant chain. Like the Haines and Selland groups, Paragary Restaurant Group is a regional restaurant group that owns and operates several eating establishments in the region. Some of these establishments might share a name, but they are not cookie-cutter replicas of a single restaurant. A chain is an attempt to make each location as identical as possible. In order to maintain standards and meet customer expectations, products are sourced from central locations

ILP JUN n 14

The newest addition to the Bernardo family is Cafe Bernardo at Pavilions

sometimes thousands of miles away, recipes are followed without deviation and economies of scale are exploited to their fullest. In most chains, there’s no room for fresh, local ingredients or for experimentation by talented cooks. There’s no possibility for a unique experience. A regional restaurant group, however, uses each location to its

fullest, customizing the menu, decor and service to the place and people it does business in and with, respectively. Paragary’s most popular and repeatable enterprise is Cafe Bernardo. Each restaurant feels unique. The 15th Street location is a wee bit industrial, the Davis location a bit town square-ish, the

Midtown location continental and neighborhoody. No single Cafe Bernardo defines the brand. Each location also has its own bar with its own separate identity and attitude. On 15th Street, it’s R15. In Midtown, it’s Monkey Bar. On K Street, it’s KBAR. The names aren’t particularly creative, but each bar feels authentic—not an easy thing to do. The newest addition to the Bernardo family is Cafe Bernardo at Pavilions, the upscale shopping center on Fair Oaks Boulevard near Howe Avenue. Opening an eatery in Pavilions is quite a brave undertaking. First, many of Sacramento’s best restaurants have had homes at Pavilions (think Mace’s and Mitchell’s Terrace), and many other good restaurants have come and gone there. Add the fact that Bernardo opened in one of the great food spots in our town’s history, the former home of David Berkley Fine Wines & Specialty Foods, and you’ve got one risky proposition. David Berkley was a food lover’s paradise. Part market, part deli, part bakery, part wine merchant, it was Arden-Arcade’s answer to Taylor’s Market and Corti Brothers. Its prepared foods were unbeatable, the skills of its wine buyers undeniable. Moving into that hallowed ground is a brave move for any restaurateur. While Cafe Bernardo doesn’t quite replace David Berkley, it does a fine job of treating the local bounty with respect. It also pays homage to the dearly departed grocery store by naming its bar Berkley Bar and focusing its efforts on California wine

Arugula and strawberry salad is a light and cool lunch on a hot summer day

and craft cocktails. Several wines are available on tap, by the glass or the bottle at reasonable prices. The well-appointed bar even has a bit of a winery feel, with reclaimed barrels and cork accents. The menu is similar to that at most other Cafe Bernardo outposts, so I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spend much time on it other than to say the execution is spot on and the service first rate. Dinner specials rotate nightly and deserve a try, especially the pan-fried petrale sole on Fridays. Breakfast is served seven days a week. While each Cafe Bernardo feels unique and fresh, the menus are the thing they most closely share. Thankfully, the food is reliable and well priced and always presented with impeccable service. The cookie cutters

are tucked away but consistency never fails. A chain this is not. Cafe Bernardo is at 515 Pavilions Lane; 922-2870; paragarys.com. Greg Sabin can be reached at gregsabin@hotmail.com. n

Please Join Us in Our Efforts By Donating Useable Clothing, Furniture and Miscellaneous Household Items. If you need a special pick-up CALL (916)480-0688

www.windyouth.org Hope is in the Wind

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

INSIDE’S

The Coconut Midtown

Italian Stallion

2502 J Street 440-1088 Lunch Delivery M-F and Happy Hour 4-6

3260B J St. 449-8810

L D $-$$ Beer/Wine Food with Thai Food Flair

L D $-$$ Thin-Crust Pizza, Deserts and Beer in an intimate setting and popular location

The Waterboy

La Trattoria Bohemia

2000 Capitol Ave. 498-9891

Midtown

MIDTOWN

Jack’s Urban Eats

1800 L St. 447-9440

L D $ Full Bar Made-to-order comfort food in a casual setting • Jacksurbaneats.com

Aioli Bodega Espanola L D $$ Full Bar Patio Andalusian cuisine served in a casual European atmosphere

Biba Ristorante 2801 Capitol Ave. 455-2422 L D $$$ Full Bar Upscale Northern Italian cuisine served a la carte • Biba-restaurant.com

Buckhorn Grill 1801 L St. 446-3757 L D $$ Wine/Beer A counter service restaurant with high-quality chicken, char-roasted beef, salmon, and entrée salads

Café Bernardo 2726 Capitol Ave. 443-1180 1431 R St. 930-9191

1230 20th St. 444-0307

B L $ Wine/Beer Southwestern fare in a casual diner setting

Moxie

5340 H St. 473-3333

2028 H St. 443-7585 D $$-$$$ Eclectic menu in a boutique neighborhood setting

1215 19th St. 441-6022

Chicago Fire

1716 L St. 443-7685

Paesano’s Pizzeria 1806 Capitol Ave. 447-8646 L D $$ Gourmet pizza, pasta, salads in casual setting • Paesanos.biz

Paragary’s Bar & Oven 1401 28th St. 457-5737 D $$ Full Bar Outdoor Patio California cuisine with an Italian touch • Paragarys.com

Suzie Burger 29th and P Sts. 455-3300 L D $ Classic burgers, cheesesteaks, shakes, chili dogs, and other tasty treats • suzieburger.com

58 Degrees & Holding Co.

The Streets of London Pub

1217 18th St. 442-5858

1804 J St. 498-1388

L D $$$ Wine/Beer California cuisine served in a chic, upscale setting • 58degrees.com

L D $ Wine/Beer English Pub fare in an authentic casual atmosphere, 17 beers on tap

Fox & Goose Public House

Tapa The World

1001 R St. 443-8825 B L D $-$$ Wine/Beer English Pub favorites in an historic setting • Foxandgoose.com

Harlow’s Restaurant 2708 J Street 441-4693 L D $$ Full Bar Modern Italian/California cuisine with Asian inspirations • Harlows.com

Italian Importing Company 1827 J Street 442-6678 B L $ Italian food in a casual grocery setting

ILP JUN n 14

5530 H St. 452-8226

L D Full Bar $$-$$$ Patio Mediterranean cuisine in a casual, chic atmosphere • Luccarestaurant.com

B L D $ No table service at this coffee roaster and bakery, also serving creative artisanal sandwiches

B L D $-$$ Full Bar Outdoor Dining Fresh Mexican food served in an upscale, yet familyfriendly setting • Ernestosmexicanfood.com

Opa! Opa! 5644 J St. 451-4000

1615 J St. 669-5300

Old Soul Co.

1901 16th St. 441-5850

BLD $ Wine/Beer Unique boulangerie, café & bistro serving affordable delicious food/drinks all day long • lesbauxbakery.com

Nopalitos

L D $$ Full Bar Patio Regional Mexican cooking served in a casual atmosphere • Paragarys.com

Ernesto’s Mexican Food

L D $$-$$$ Full Bar Patio Regional Mexican cuisine served in an authentic artistic setting • zocolosacramento.com

Lucca Restaurant & Bar

2730 J St. 442-2552

B L D $-$$ Wine/Beer Outdoor Dining Crepes, omelets, salads, soups and sandwiches served in a casual setting

1801 Capitol Ave. 441-0303

L D Wine/Beer $ Fresh Greek cuisine in a chic, casual setting, counter service

L D Full Bar $$$ Modern American cuisine in an upscale historic setting

1730 L St. 444-1100

5090 Folsom Blvd. 739-1348

Les Baux

D Full Bar $$ Middle Eastern cuisine in a Moroccan setting

Centro Cocina Mexicana

Crepeville

Zocolo

2115 J St. 442-4388

Mulvaney’s Building & Loan

D $$ Full Bar Chicago-style pizza, salads wings served in a family-friendly atmosphere • Chicagofirerestaurant.com

L D Wine/Beer $-$$ Italian and Czech specialties in a neighborhood bistro setting

Kasbah Lounge

B L D $-$$ Wine/Beer Patio Casual California cuisine with counter service

2416 J St. 443-0440

3649 J St. 455-7803

L D $$-$$$ Full Bar Patio Fine South of France and northern Italian cuisine in a chic neighborhood setting • waterboyrestaurant.com

2115 J St. 442-4353 L D $-$$ Wine/Beer/Sangria Spanish/world cuisine in a casual authentic atmosphere, live flamenco music - tapathewworld.com

Thai Basil Café 2431 J St. 442-7690 L D $-$$ Wine/Beer Patio Housemade curries among their authentic Thai specialties Thaibasilrestaurant.com

Selland's Market Cafe

EAST SAC 33rd Street Bistro 3301 Folsom Blvd. 455-2233 B L D $$ Full Bar Patio Pacific Northwest cuisine in a casual bistro setting

Burr's Fountain 4920 Folsom Blvd. 452-5516

B L D $$-$$$ Wine/Beer High quality handcrafted food to eat in or take out, wine bar

Star Ginger 3101 Folsom Blvd. 231-8888 Asian Grill and Noodle Bar • starginger.com

Thai Palace Restaurant 3262 J St. 446-5353 L D $-$$ Wine/Beer Authentic Thai cuisine in a casual setting

B L D $ Fountain-style diner serving burgers, sandwiches, soup and ice cream specialties

Clark's Corner Restaurant 5641 J St. L D Full Bar $$ American cuisine in a casual historic setting

Clubhouse 56 723 56th. Street 454-5656

BLD Full Bar $$ American cuisine. HD sports, kid's menu, beakfast weekends

Evan’s Kitchen

DOWNTOWN Foundation

400 L St. 321-9522 L D $$ Full Bar American cooking in an historic atmosphere • foundationsacramento.com

Chops Steak Seafood & Bar 1117 11th St. 447-8900 L D $$$ Full Bar Steakhouse serving dry-aged prime beef and fresh seafood in an upscale club atmosphere • Chopssacramento.com

855 57th St. 452-3896

Downtown & Vine

B L D Wine/Beer $$ Eclectic California cuisine served in a family-friendly atmosphere, Kid’s

1200 K Street #8 228-4518

menu, winemaker dinners • Chefevan.com

Educational tasting experience of wines by the taste, flight or glass • downtownandvine.com

East Sac-Midtown Taqueria

Ella Dining Room & Bar

3754 J St. 452-7551 B L D $ Authentic Mexican specialties in a Southwestern setting

Español 5723 Folsom Blvd. 457-3679 L D Full Bar $-$$ Classic Italian cuisine served in a traditional family-style atmosphere

Formoli's Bistro 3839 J St. 448-5699 B L D Wine/Beer Patio $$ Mediterranean influenced cuisine in a neighborhood setting

1131 K St. 443-3772

L D $$$ Full Bar Modern American cuisine served family-style in a chic, upscale space • Elladiningroomandbar.com

Esquire Grill 1213 K St. 448-8900 L D $$-$$$ Full Bar Outdoor Dining Upscale American fare served in an elegant setting • Paragarys.com

Estelle's Patisserie

901 K St. 916-551-1500 L D $$-$$$ French-inspired Bakery serving fresh pastry & desserts, artisan breads and handcrafted sandwiches. EstellesPatisserie.com

L SE

Y IL

AU ST

French-inspired pastries, cakes and breads handcrafted on-site every morning by artisan bakers and chefs!

FRIDAYS Doughnut Day &

SUNDAY Croixnut Day (ďŹ&#x201A;avor changes every week)

FRENCH TEA SERVICE $25/PERSON Set menu includes: tea sandwiches, assorted pastries, macaroon, tarts and choice of organic tea (reservation required)

LUNCH, DINNER & HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS WWW. ELLA DINING ROOM AND BAR.COM 1131 K STREET DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO 916.443.3772

Located on the corner of 9th & K in downtown Sacramento M-F 7-6, Sat 8-6, Sun 8-4 | 551-1500 | info@estellspatisserie.com

Our Staff Congratulates

Marlene Goetzeler On her Presidency of the

ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Fat's City Bar & Cafe 1001 Front St. 446-6768 D $$-$$$ Full Bar Steaks and Asian specialties served in a casual historic Old Sac location • Fatsrestaurants.com

The Firehouse Restaurant 1112 Second St. 442-4772 L D $$$ Full Bar Global and California cuisine in an upscale historic Old Sac setting • Firehouseoldsac.com

Mikuni Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar 1530 J St. 447-2112 L D Full Bar $$-$$$ Japanese cuisine served in an upscale setting • Mikunisushi.com

Morton’s Steakhouse 621 Capitol Mall #100 442-50 D $$$ Full Bar Upscale American steakhouse • Mortons.com

Parlaré Eurolounge

Frank Fat’s

10th & J Sts. 448-8960

806 L St. 442-7092

L D Full Bar $$-$$$ Chinese favorites in an elegant setting • Fatsrestaurants.com

Il Fornaio

Ten 22 1022 Second St. 441-2211 L D Wine/Beer $$ American bistro favorites with a modern twist in a casual, Old Sac setting ten22oldsac.com

Hock Farm Craft & Provision 1415 L St. 440-8888 L D $$-$$ Full Bar Celebration of the region's rich history and bountiful terrain • Paragarys.com

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant

LAND PARK Casa Garden Restaurant 2760 Sutterville Road 452-2809

1111 J St. 442-8200 L D $$ Full Bar Upscale seafood, burgers in a clubby atmosphere • Mccormickandschmicks.com

Iron Grill

The Kitchen

13th Street and Broadway 737-5115

2225 Hurley Way 568-7171

L D $$-$$$ Full Bar Upscale neighborhood

D $$$ Wine/Beer Five-course gourmet demonstration dinner by reservation only • Thekitchenrestaurant.com

Jamie's Bar and Grill

La Rosa Blanca Taqueria

steakhouse • Ironsteaks.com

427 Broadway 442-4044

Riverside Clubhouse

Grange B L D Full Bar $$$ Simple, seasonal, soulful • grangerestaurant.com

2535 Fair Oaks Blvd. 481-5225 L D $ Full Bar Made-to-order comfort food in a casual setting • Jacksurbaneats.com

Rio City Café

L D $$-$$$ Full Bar Seasonal menu of favorites in a setting overlooking river • Riocitycafe.com

L D $$ • D with minimum diners call to inquire $$ Wine/Beer. Elegantly presented American cuisine. Operated by volunteers to benefit Sacramento Children's Home. Small and large groups. Reservations recommended • casagardenrestaurant.org

4th Annual Fundraiser

Benefiting - Triumph Cancer Foundation

2633 Riverside Drive 448-9988 L D $$ Full Bar Upscale American cuisine served in a contemporary setting • Riversideclubhouse.com

Taylor's Kitchen 2924 Freeport Boulevard 443-5154 D $$S Wine/Beer Dinner served Wed. through Saturday. Reservations suggested.

Tower Café 1518 Broadway 441-0222 B L D $$ Wine/Beer International cuisine with dessert specialties in a casual setting

Willie's Burgers 2415 16th St.444-2006 L D $ Great burgers and more. Open until 3 am weekends

ARDENCARMICHAEL Andaloussia 1537 Howe Ave. 927-1014 L D $-$$ Authentic Moroccan cuisine, lunch & dinner specials, belly dancing weekends • bestmoroccanfood.com

Bella Bru Café 5038 Fair Oaks Blvd. 485-2883 B L D $-$$ Full Bar Espresso, omelettes, salads, table service from 5 -9 p.m. • bellabrucafe.com

Join us at Helwig Winery for a special evening. Enjoy great food, wine & music while supporting a local nonprofit dedicated to helping cancer survivors! Gourmet Picnic Dinner

Concert in Amphitheater

by TASTE Restaurant

Chicago Tribute Authority

Premiere Sponsors

Wells Fargo . Blue Shield of California . Ten2Eleven Carrington College . Sage Architecture, Inc. Clark Pacific . Helwig Winery . Lumens Light + Living Hanson McClain . Puente Construction

Café Vinoteca 3535 Fair Oaks Blvd. 487-1331 L D $$ Full Bar Italian bistro in a casual setting • Cafevinoteca.com

Chinois City Café 3535 Fair Oaks Blvd. 485-8690 L D $$ Full Bar Asian-influenced cuisine in a casual setting • Chinoiscitycafe.com

Ettore’s

ILP JUN n 14

triumphfound.org

L D Full Bar $$-$$ Fresh Mexican food served in a colorful family-friendly setting

Leatherby’s Family Creamery 2333 Arden Way 920-8382 L D $ House-made ice cream and specialties, soups and sandwiches

Lemon Grass Restaurant 601 Munroe St. 486-4891 L D $$ Full Bar Patio Vietnamese and Thai cuisine in a casual yet elegant setting

Matteo's Pizza 5132 Fair Oaks. Blvd. 779-0727 L D Beer/Wine $$ Neighborhood gathering place for pizza, pasta and grill dishes

The Mandarin Restaurant 4321 Arden Way 488-47794 D $$-$$$ Full Bar Gourmet Chineses food for 32 years • Dine in and take out

Roma's Pizzeria & Pasta 6530 Fair Oaks Blvd. 488-9800 L D $$ Traditional Italian pizza & pasta Family Friendly Catering + Team Parties • romas-pizzaand-pasta.com

Roxy 2381 Fair Oaks Blvd. 489-2000 B L D $$-$$$ Full Bar American cuisine with a Western touch in a creative upscale atmosphere

Ristorante Piatti 571 Pavilions Lane 649-8885 L D $$ Full Bar Contemporary Italian cuisine in a casually elegant setting

Sam's Hof Brau 2500 Watt 482-2175 L D $$ Wine/Beer Fresh quality meats roasted daily • thehofbrau.com

Thai House 427 Munroe in Loehmann's 485-3888 L D $$ Wine/Beer Featuring the great taste of Thai traditional specialties • sacthaihouse.com

Willie's Burgers

B L D $-$$ Wine/Beer Patio European-style gourmet café with salads, soup, spit-roasted chicken, desserts in a bistro setting • Ettores.com

5050 Fair Oaks Blvd. 488-5050

4235 Arden Way 487-4979

JUNE 20TH

3032 Auburn Blvd. 484-0139 2813 Fulton Ave. 484-6104

2376 Fair Oaks Blvd. 482-0708

Kilt Pub

Buy Tickets Online at

Jack’s Urban Eats

B L $ Award-winning baked goods and cakes for eat in or take out • Freeportbakery.com

D $$ Full Bar Relax with drinks and dinner in this stylish downtown space

L D Full Bar $$$ Fine Northern Italian cuisine in a chic, upscale atmosphere • Ilfornaio.com

926 J Street • 492-4450

2966 Freeport Blvd. 442-4256

L D $ Full Bar Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Dine in or take out since 1986

1110 Front St. Old Sac 442-8226

400 Capitol Mall 446-4100

Freeport Bakery

L D $ Beer/Wine British Pub Grub, Nightly Dinner Specials, Open 7 Days

L D $ Great burgers and more n

Graduation Cakes Father's Day Cakes Cookies Cupcakes Pies Cakepops

Brunch J O I N U S F O R O U R F AT H E R ’ S D A Y

C H A M P A G N E

CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH

2966 Freeport Boulevard Freeportbakery.com

442-4256

Served 10am - 3pm Sunday, June 15, 2014 Call for reservations and details.

F A T ’S ASIA BISTRO

2585 Iron Point Road Folsom 916-983-1133 1500 Eureka Road Roseville 916-787-3287 www.fatsbistro.com

What to Plant? Where to Plant? When to Plant? We solve problems, renew old gardens or create a garden oasis just for you. We are a father daughter team with 40 years experience in the nursery business and garden design. Our experience makes us uniquely qualified to help your garden thrive.

$200 for 2 Hour Consultation (drawing and notes included)

Visit TheGardenTutors.com or Call 606-6029 ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Coldwell Banker

#1 IN CALIFORNIA

CURTIS PARK CUTIE! 3 bds, 2 baths with a sitting rm of the master bdrm. Rmdld kitchen & pretty backyard. $565,000 SUE OLSON 601-8834 CaBRE#: 00784986 SWEET CURTIS PARK HIGH WATER BUNGALOW! Updated 2 bdrm/1bath+ofﬁce with Corian kitchen, new roof and tons of storage. Close to Coffee Garden & Gunthers! $329,900 STEFFAN BROWN 717-7217 CaBRE#: 01882787

CURTIS PARK COLONIAL! Coming Soon-3bd 2 ½ bth home. Charm t/o, master w/ﬁreplace and extra rm behind garage for ofﬁce, etc. JEANINE ROZA & SINDY KIRSCH 548-5799 or 730-7705 BRE#: 01365413 & 01483907

CURTIS PARK BRICK TUDOR 3bds w/recent replacements: sewer & water lines 07, hot water tank 09, HVAC 02 & roof on hm/garage 05 & concrete walkway & driveway 2010. Newer interior paint, reﬁnished hrdwd ﬂrs, new kitch linoleum. 1/4 basement and fenced yard, detached garage and long driveway. $450,000 JERRY SCHAROSCH 719-5122 CaBRE#: 00330532

AFFORDABLE LAND PARK CUTIE! Live in this stress-free 2-3bd/2ba starter hm w/a new roof, new A-C unit, Bonus rm easily converted into 3rd bdrm. Dead-end street. $359,000 WHITNEY FONG 616-8557 CaBRE#: 01918373

ADORABLE LAND PARK COTTAGE 2BD hrdwd ﬂrs, CH&A, dual pane windows, updtd bath w/ jetted tub, vintage tiled kitchen, liv rm frplc, french doors in din rm to great deck, & a stunningly beautiful park-like yard with winding paths, fruit trees, creeping ﬁg & new fence. $289,000 PALOMA BEGIN 628-8561 CaBRE#: 01254423

FANTASTIC LAND PARK LOCATION! Wonderful 3bd/3ba hm. Open concept liv rm & din rm, a huge kitch, patio area for entertaining, 2-car garage, & a great bckyrd. $599,000 BOB LYSTRUP 628-5357 CaBRE#: 00991041

A LOT OF SPACE! This 3bd/2ba hm is located in the lovely Sunriver subdivision of Rancho Corodva. Frml liv & din rms, fam rm, lndry rm, patio, newer CH&A. Your cosmetic touches will make this the perfect hm. $234,500 BOB LYSTRUP 628-5357 CaBRE#: 00991041 GREAT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY! Single family 2/3 BD/1BA home featuring hrdwd ﬂrs, frplce & CH&A which could be owner occupied. Plus a 2 stry duplex behind w/1bdrm ﬂats. $299,950 CHIP O’NEILL 341-7834 BRE#: 01265774

FABULOUS 1890 DOWNTOWN INTALIANTE! Gorgeous original features, 4 balconies, 3 bds/2 full baths, high ceilings, gated entry to off street prking, great dwntwn location. $529,000 MAGGIE SEKUL 341-7812 CaBRE#: 01296369

SUPER DOWNTOWN LOCATION! 3bd/1.1/4 bath. Spacious liv rm & din combo w/rich wood trim & pub-style ceiling in dining. Recently painted kitch w/tiled countertops & lots of cabinetry. 1/4 bath off lndry area. $345,000 MARGIE WONG 341-7888 CaBRE#: 00879949

SPACIOUS IN LAND PARK! 3bd/2ba main house w/mstr ste, grnite countertops, lrg lndry rm, DP windows. Guest Qrtrs over garage w/full bath & kitchenette. $479,000 STEFFAN BROWN 717-7217 CaBRE#: 01882787

PENDING

LIVE IN THE COUNTRY ALONG THE SAC RIVER Majestic river and, only minutes to Dwntwn! Main hse is 3600+/sf features a lrg great rm w/vaulted ceiling & rock walled frplc, hrdwd flrs, spacious kitch w/blt-in gas BBQ, wrap around deck, blt-in pool. Space for RV, boats & toys. Mobile hm rents for $650/mon. Close to Verona Marina. $499,000 MAGGIE SEKUL 341-7812 CaBRE#: 01296369 HOLLYWOOD (PARK) BEAUTY! 3bds/2baths w/a park-like, lush backyard. Wood flrs, fresh paint & a high level of refinement that outshines the brightest stars. Single car garage. $289,000 STEPH BAKER 775-3447 CaBRE#: 01402254

UNIQUE HOME IN THE CITY! East Sac close! 4bd/3ba, 2 stry in Tahoe Park on .19 ac w/over 2000sf. Gourmet Kitch, D/P windows, mstr bdrm, bckyrd w/48X13 patio! $339,000 PAT VOGELI 207-5415 CaBRE#: 01229115

MIDTOWN – TAPESTRI SQUARE! New Semi-Custom hms. 1250 to 2800SqFt. $405,000 to $795,000. Models Open Th-Su 11a-4p at 20th & T St.TapestriSquare.com MICHAEL ONSTEAD 601-5699 CaBRE#: 01222608

CHARMING COTTAGE W/SQUEAKY WILLIAMS FEATURES 3bds/2ba, tiny ofﬁce+a fam rm w/2nd frplce off of rmdld kitch & frml din rm. Brick patio that wraps the East side of hm. $760,000 SUE OLSON 601-8834 CaBRE#: 00784986

METRO OFFICE 730 Alhambra Boulevard, Sacramento 916.447.5900

IT’S BASIC HOUSING MATH! Downtown location + original aesthetic + updated amenities + 0 in HOAs= your new convenient & comfortable hm! 2bd/1ba on corner lot features off-street, covered parking, space for evening BBQs & steps to everybody's favorite bars & restaurants. And soon - the arena! $285,000 STEPH BAKER 775-3447 CaBRE#: 01402254

DREAM LOCATION! Sierra Oaks 4bd/2.5ba home w/ pool, large covered patio, open kitch/fam, separate liv/ din, inside laundry rm, 2-car garage. SABRA SANCHEZ 508-5313 CaBRE#: 01820635

CaliforniaMoves.com

facebook.com/cbnorcal

©2013 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office Is Owned And Operated by NRT LLC. DRE License #01908304.