Inside pocket oct 2016 by Inside Publications

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UPDATED POCKET HALFPLEX All fresh interior paint, all new carpet, new light ¿xtures, remodeled master bedroom and bath, laundry room and half bath. Move in ready 3 bedroom 2½ bath. Both the family room and the master open to the low maintenance backyard and built in spa. Just steps from the levee and in the Didion school district $329,900 PAULA SWAYNE 425-9715

TUCKED AWAY SLP Convenient Jennywood Development, a must see to appreciate. Spacious, bright 2 story 3 bedroom 3½ bath home in a planned unit development on a quiet cul-de-sac. Huge wrap around yard with gazebo, ready for your personal touch. Plenty of storage space! $419,000 CHRIS BRIGGS 834-6483

INCREDIBLE SLP PROPERTY You’ll have to look twice or three times at this fabulous property. The larger residence has 3 bedrooms, gourmet kitchen and 2 baths on the upper level. It has a lower level with kitchenette, living room, big bedroom and bath. PLUS a connected 2 Bed 2 bath, separate unit. $975,000 SHEILA VAN NOY 505-5395, CHRIS BRIGGS 834-6483

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SOUTH LAND PARK Beautifully updated South Land Park Hills 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. New paint, re¿nished hardwood Àoors, carpet, granite counters and much more. Enjoy the spacious and private yard, large family room, convenient location and fantastic curb appeal! $429,000 JAMIE RICH 612-4000

FANTASTIC REMODEL 3 bedrooms 2 baths, gorgeous kitchen, laminate Àoors, updated bathrooms, quality carpet, quartz counter top, beautiful white cabinets, updated appliances, blinds and dual pane windows. Crown molding, baseboards, paint inside and out and much more. You will love it! $398,000 MONA GERGEN 247-9555

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STONELAKE ELK GROVE Amazing spacious home with 5 bedrooms, 3 bath. Wonderful Àoor plan with natural light and high ceilings. Upgraded maple cabinets, granite counter tops, designer tile Àoors and more. Large 3-car garage. Fantastic covered patio. Excellent schools! Fabulous club house, community pool, gym. $439,000 MONA GERGEN 247-9555

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CHARMING FREEPORT PARK Remodeled 2 bedroom 2 bath home. Enjoy cooking in the updated kitchen and spend time reading the weekend paper with your morning coffee in the sun room - dining room area. Large yard with detached workshop and double side gate for RV or extra parking. Convenient location! $335,000 TIM COLLOM 247-8048

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SOUTH LAND PARK TERRACE 3 bedroom 2 bath with a separate family room. New paint, newly re¿nished hardwood Àoors, newer roof and a built in pool. Central heat and air, attached 2 car garage. 10 minute drive to downtown. Walk to Land Park, the Zoo, Fairytale Town and Funderland. You really can have it all. $425,000 LISA McCAULEY 601-5474

GREAT POCKET LOCATION Gorgeous single story home! 3 bedroom 2 bath, beautiful new carpet and interior two-tone paint. Great location near walking path and canal. 50 year high quality roof; upgrades include lighting, ceiling fans, laminate Àoors, wainscoting, blinds and gazebo. $339,000 MONA GERGEN 247-9555, KELLIE SWAYNE 206-14548

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2016 S A C R A M E N T O ' S P R E M I E R F R E E C I T Y M O N T H LY

THE GRID

By Keith Berger

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COVER ARTIST Matt Bult Matt Bult is a Sacramento artist who for many years addressed the landscape in works that examine the bare bones and building blocks of natural forms with a heightened sense of color that suggests a dark, romantic spirit at work.

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info@insidepublications.com EDITOR Marybeth Bizjak mbbizjak@aol.com PRODUCTION M.J. McFarland DESIGN Cindy Fuller PHOTOGRAPHY Linda Smolek, Aniko Kiezel AD COORDINATOR Michele Mazzera, Julie Foster DISTRIBUTION Lauren Hastings lauren@insidepublications.com ACCOUNTING Jim Hastings, Daniel Nardinelli, Adrienne Kerins

916-443-5087 EDITORIAL POLICY 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 75,000 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—©

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OCTOBER 16 VOL. 3 • ISSUE 9 7 8 10 12 16 18 22 26 32 38 42 44 48 50

Publishers Desk A Question Of Access Inside City Hall Pocket Life Changes At The Co-op Adventure Awaits Cruiser Craze Sacramento's Pride Eclectic By Design Value Added Spirit Matters To Do All Together Now Maintaining A Midtown Standout

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A Bright Future CELEBRATING ALL THAT SACRAMENTO HAS TO OFFER

y love of our city is a driving force behind much of what I have spent my life doing. But I have never been more excited about the future of our urban core than I am now. In August and September, a trio of great events came together. During the last week of August, the newly minted Sacramento Mural Festival left our central city with 10 gorgeous new murals painted on the sides of privately owned buildings. (See our photo spreads taken by Aniko Kiezel.) The effort was more than a year in the making. Much credit goes to the volunteer efforts of David Sobon and Cheryl Holben. The Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, under director Shelly Willis, lent its expertise to the process in selecting the artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; some local, others from across the nation and the world. This project was privately funded by the building owners and other sponsors.

Not a penny of public money was spent. Sacramento Mural Festival was expertly promoted by Patrick Harbison, who lent his time and PR expertise. An enormous number of people from around the region were lured downtown to see the work in progress over the course of a week. David Sobon told me that many who came had never once been downtown. Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates organized an impromptu bike ride that week to visit all 10 mural sites, and more than 250 folks showed up. Jan Sweeney from Fleet Feet told me she was organizing fun runs to visit the murals. The festival organizers plan to make this an annual event, so if you missed it, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always next year. Visit sacramentomuralfestival. com for a map of mural locations and plan your own voyage of discovery.

PUBLISHER page 9

CH By Cecily Hastings Publisher

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A Question of Access IT MAY TAKE A LAWSUIT TO SETTLE LEVEE FENCE ISSUE

hanks to the Sacramento County Grand Jury, city officials may reconsider a program that buys easements from homeowners along the Sacramento River levee parkway—easements the state already owns. Since 2012, the city has been contacting property owners whose homes back up along the levee in Greenhaven, Pocket and Little Pocket. City officials made offers to purchase so-called “recreational” easements that allow the public to walk, jog or bicycle along the levee top. When the city began making offers, there were 71 riverfront property owners. Only a handful—fewer than a dozen—have taken the discussion seriously. A few accepted the city’s money, which averages about $50,000 per residence, depending on property size. Soon, that handful may be the luckiest homeowners in Sacramento. They suckered the city out of some easy cash before the city realized it was buying state property. Inside Pocket has spent months investigating the easement situation along the levee parkway. This column turned up documents that proved state flood officials purchased unencumbered easement rights up and down the river in the first half of the 20th century. The state’s longstanding easements demolish

RG By R.E. Graswich

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Garcia Bend in the Pocket

claims by homeowners that levee access is privately owned. On the fourth floor of City Hall, the City Attorney’s office didn’t greet news of the state’s historic easements as valuable information. Instead, city lawyers have spent months vaguely clinging to the argument that the state’s easements don’t include recreational use. They won’t explain why—they use the classic “just because” response familiar to exasperated parents and precocious children. But with millions of taxpayer dollars at risk (the “recreational” easement program could run to more than $3 million), the grand jury decided to investigate. If the

city was determined to maintain its exasperated-parent routine, grand jurors refused to play the precocious child. In this summer’s report, the grand jury devoted four pages to the question of easements and levee access. The jury discovered no documents that favor levee homeowners or suggest the city has followed a reasonable path by purchasing redundant “recreational” easements. What the grand jury found was exactly the opposite—that Sacramento River Parkway master plans dating from 1975 establish policies to provide public access and recreational opportunities along the river.

And the grand jury found the state’s Central Valley Flood Protection Board and Sacramento and San Joaquin Drainage District own “perpetual right of ways and easement to build, construct, reconstruct, repair and forever maintain” the river levees. It’s one thing to have Inside Pocket hammering away about easements. It’s another to have the grand jury conclude “it may be a waste of public funds to negotiate with private landowners” because the state already owns levee easements. Since the grand jury report was released, the city has taken some important steps. First, city council POCKET page 11

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PUBLISHER FROM page 7 The end of August also brought the completion of the first installation of the Sacramento Walk of Stars. My friends Scot and Lucy Crocker spearheaded this great project and put in more than a year of volunteer work to make it happen. This year’s five stars included artist Gregory Kondos, film and television star LeVar Burton, Olympic Gold medalist swimmer Debbie Meyer, musician Timothy Schmit, formerly of the Eagles, and Dr. Ernie Bodai, who founded the breast cancer research stamp. The gala dinner celebration on Aug. 31 at Memorial Auditorium was a terrific event. All five stars spoke of their love of Sacramento and the impact it had on their lives and careers. Their stories were as different as the careers they found success in. And every one of these accomplished people was humble, gracious and appreciative of the honor.

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Their bright blue stars are now permanently embedded in sidewalks along L Street in the city’s Handle District. The Walk of Stars gives people another reason to visit The Handle (in addition to the neighborhood’s great shopping and dining).

Mayor-elect Steinberg suggested folks buy the new book and use it as a Sacramento “bucket list” challenge. In early September, we released our new photo-driven guidebook, “Inside Sacramento: The Most Interesting Neighborhood Places in America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital.” We celebrated our launch with a party at the Crocker Art Museum for

One stop for all of your Kitchen, Bath, or Whole House remodeling needs backed up by 34 years of experience in Sacramento's oldest neighborhoods. Our designer is on staff and available for whatever assistance you may need with material selections and functional design. the owners of the book’s 101 places and our sponsors. When Mayor-elect Darrell Steinberg introduced me, he had a creative idea. He suggested folks buy the new book and use it as a Sacramento “bucket list” challenge. Plan to visit every place in the book, he said. When you’re all done, pass the book on to someone who just moved to the area. The book was a labor of love for me. I grew frustrated with our city being underrated as a destination for visitors and people who live here. The way our city has grown over many decades, we never developed defined districts with concentrations of small businesses as is common in many cities. Instead, numerous city neighborhoods developed, with places to eat and shop spread over blocks and blocks. With this dispersion, it isn’t easy to see all we have to offer as a city. Our book’s photos and stories pull together a vibrant collection of locally owned business that compare to the best of even sophisticated cities like San Francisco or Portland.

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916-925-2577 With Golden 1 Center opening this month, an adjacent new hotel and retail development opening next spring, and the gorgeous new McKinley Village housing development in East Sacramento that opened in September (see our story on the public art component), we have much to celebrate and be proud of. Councilmember Jeff Harris told me recently that there are dozens of attractive and compelling development projects in the works for the city in the next few years. We also just finished year four of our city’s month-long Farm-to-Fork Celebration. Dozens of amazing events were offered showcasing the rich agricultural bounty of our area. I believe that Sacramento, and many of the people who live here, have been hampered by a self-inflicted inferiority complex. Now is the time we shed that concept and start celebrating all the wonderful things and places our city has to offer. Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com n

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Changes at the Top DEPARTURES OF CITY OFFICIALS WILL HIT HARD

enior management at City Hall is in the midst of an unprecedented shake-up. The city will lose its longtime and very highly regarded director of public works, Jerry Way, on Oct. 14. City manager John Shirey will leave City Hall when his contract ends on Nov. 18. And in September, police chief Sam Somers unexpectedly announced that he’ll retire on Dec. 9. In the past 12 months, we’ve also seen turnovers of the heads of the parks and recreation and economic development departments, as well as the city treasurer position. The loss of Way, Shirey and Somers will hit the city hard. All three are considered to be among the most effective and respected senior managers in city government. Way, in fact, is considered by many to be the city’s finest senior manager. (More about Way below.) It’s no easy task to replace such experience, knowledge and talent. Why the sudden rush for the exits at City Hall? The reasons vary.

AN INTERIM CITY MANAGER Shirey gave the city council plenty of notice that he was leaving, announcing his November departure back in January—sufficient time,

CP By Craig Powell Inside City Hall

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process. Shirey publicly offered to stick around as city manager to give the council more time to find his successor, but the council spurned his offer and moved in a very different direction. It chose to promote assistant city manager Howard Chan to city manager on an interim basis on a contract that runs through next June. Chan, 48, has had something of a meteoric rise in city government. Hired in 2002 to be the city’s parking manager, he was promoted to assistant city manager three years ago, leap-frogging over a slew of more senior department directors. City Hall sources report that longstanding differences of opinion among councilmembers regarding Shirey kept the council from taking him up on his offer to extend his term. There’s also strong council interest in giving Chan a “test run” as city manager to assess his suitability for the permanent job. Steinberg has indicated that he’s not interested in immediately restarting the candidate search once he takes office.

Shirey thought, for the city council to recruit and hire a replacement. But the selection process seemed to bog down after the June election, when Darrell Steinberg was elected mayor outright, avoiding a November runoff. His early election left him seven months to wait before assuming his new office, during which time he’d have no formal say in Shirey’s replacement, a notion that didn’t sit well with him and some of his future council colleagues. And he had a point: A healthy working relationship

between the mayor and city manager is pretty important to maintaining cohesion in city government. Without it, the climate at City Hall could start to resemble the plot of a Cold War movie with intrigue and suspicions of sabotage always in the air. A search drew a reported 80 resumes from candidates for the city manager job. Ten were interviewed, but the council never coalesced around a single candidate, particularly with Steinberg legally excluded from some parts of the

SACRIFICIAL LAMB? Some believe that Somers was pushed out of his job as a sacrificial lamb, taking the fall for a confluence of recent bad news. Notwithstanding Somers’ reputation as a strong, professional administrator, he’s had the misfortune of serving as police chief in the midst of not one but three storms involving influential segments of the Sacramento community. First came a city auditor’s report earlier this year that revealed the CITY page 13

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- Juris Doctor (JD) POCKET FROM page 8 members have begun to ask questions about the report. The city attorney is working with the state attorney general to determine whether the city is indeed buying redundant easements. At least two council members would like to see the matter resolved by a judge. One member told me, “We need to settle this issue once and for all.” But the city can’t simply submit the question for judicial review. A court can’t consider the matter until a lawsuit is filed. So this is one of those rare times when a lawsuit is a good thing. A suit would haul the access question into court and force a decision. Here’s one way a lawsuit might materialize. First, the state, acting with the city, can revoke permits for nine private fences that block public access across the levee. (The state has authority to revoke fence permits anytime.) Second, if a homeowner refuses to comply, the city and state can sue the homeowner for trespass.

- Master of Laws (LLM) A civil trespass lawsuit would not be the trial of the century. It would be an instructive event, presenting the state’s comprehensive easements and history of recreational use along the river: an examination of how Sacramento residents have hiked, fished and used the waterfront for boating, hunting and recreation since the levees were created more than a century ago. It’s worth noting that property owners’ claims of exclusive levee access are relatively new. The first fence permit was issued in 1968. Four of the nine levee fence permits were issued in the 1990s. The state’s levee easement rights date from 1905. Another way into court would be for a homeowner to sue when the state and city remove the fences. Either way, the access question would be quickly resolved, and the city would very likely save millions of dollars in unnecessary easement payments. R.E. Graswich can be reached at reg@graswich.com n

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Football Season Is On COUGARS TO PLAY AGAINST MCCLATCHY THIS MONTH

ohn F. Kennedy’s varsity football team will face off against C.K. McClatchy on Friday, Oct. 7. The home game starts at 7 p.m. Several key Cougars players graduated in June, including quarterback Sean Allison, defensive end Ramar Crump and running back Terrell Barron. The team still has some fine athletes, including running back Jermon Jordan, linebacker Zavionne Wilson, quarterback Earl Averette and wide receivers Avery Runner and De’von Thompson. Last season, the Cougars finished with an 8-3 record and reached the playoffs for the first time in 25 years. Head coach Matthew Costa downplays the team’s ambitions for this season. “We worry about things a week at time,” he says. “We don’t make predictions.” According to Costa, the Cougars had a good off-season. The school’s nonleague opponents included 2015 section champion Bradshaw Christian, Oakland High and Rosemont. For more information, go to jfkathletics.org.

BECOME AN ELK Conrad De Castro began his term as “Exalted Ruler” of Elks Lodge No. 6 on April 1 and will

SS By Shane Singh Pocket Life

John F. Kennedy High School football head coach Matthew Costa with his players

continue through March 2017. His primary initiative is to establish the lodge as an influential, viable and contributing element of the Pocket and Greenhaven communities.

“I want Pocket residents to accept our lodge as an important community asset as they might the firehouse, library or police station,” De Castro says.

“I desperately want Pocket residents to accept our lodge as an important community asset as they might the firehouse, library or police station,” De Castro says. “Our lodge is steeped in Americanism and all of the traditional values that Americans hold dear today. We are an old and established national institution and as American as a Norman Rockwell painting.” De Castro believes it’s important that the community maintains links to legacy organizations that provide community service. “My goals for the local lodge include a wide range of activities that address the needs

of the elderly, the abused, our youth, those exposed to substance abuse and the less fortunate,” he says. “Our greatness as a nation is not only judged by our power but how we treat the least of our people.” Elks Lodge No. 6 has almost 700 members and is looking to increase those numbers to at least 1,000. The median age of members is in the 60s, and the organization wants to attract younger Elks. The lodge holds events and social activities such as dinner/ dances, karaoke nights, exercise classes, barbecues, a New Year’s Eve party, crab feeds and more. Its LIFE page 14

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CITY FROM page 10 police department’s slow progress in increasing its number of black officers despite major new city spending to increase such numbers. The report’s findings raised the ire of some of the council’s four black members. Then, following a fatal police shooting of a mentally troubled black man wielding a knife in Del Paso Heights, came calls from local black religious and community leaders for greater oversight and transparency of the police. There also were very disturbing reports from Asian neighborhoods in South Sacramento of a major wave of robberies targeting AsianAmericans as they enter and leave their cars. Residents have become fearful of leaving their homes after dark, causing local restaurants to lose 20 to 30 percent of their revenues on average, according to a Bee report. A recent community meeting at George Sim Community Center drew more than 500 people who expressed their anger and fear to city and police officials. Citing an inadequate police response to the problem, residents have formed armed patrols. The police’s reaction to the citizen patrols was as unsatisfactory as it was predictable: A police spokesman strongly discouraged the armed patrols. Several black leaders are calling on the city to expand the authority of its new community police commission, which currently reviews only police department policies. Black leaders want to give the commission authority to review individual cases of alleged police misconduct or brutality, a fairly common feature of police commissions in the country’s largest cities. The police fear that giving the commission the power to review and render judgments on individual cases will open officers up to potential political retaliation and unfair determinations, damaging officer morale. They also note that the DA already conducts investigations of police-involved fatal shootings to ascertain whether criminal charges are warranted. The response of the black leaders is that the DA only

assesses criminal culpability and doesn’t pass judgment on the career consequences that such misconduct should entail. They further claim that the police have a conflict of interest in investigating and determining the appropriate career consequences of office misconduct.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT JERRY WAY One of the inherent, but somewhat unfortunate, aspects of my work as president of local government watchdog Eye on Sacramento is that EOS, by the nature of its mission, is much more often critical of local government and local officials than we are laudatory. We wouldn’t be very good watchdogs if we went around applauding everything city officials did and said. That would make us lap dogs, not watchdogs. But we occasionally come across a senior city manager who performs at a level that’s head and shoulders above the norm. Jerry Way, a 36year veteran of Sacramento city government, is such a standout. The general consensus is that Way is probably the most effective and respected senior manager in city government. That’s certainly been our experience with him. At EOS, we receive whistleblower calls from employees working in almost every city department. But we’ve never received a whistleblower call from an employee in Way’s public works department. His administration has been stellar and without a breath of scandal, waste or even inefficiency. Shirey has such confidence in him that he regularly transfers control to Way of troubled city operations, including the city garbage department and the financially struggling city marina. At the garbage department, Way has been eliminating wasteful practices and improving lagging employee morale. At the marina, he’s renegotiated a burdensome state loan and boosted slip rentals. Way doesn’t manage a small department. He oversees close to half of city government: solid waste, street maintenance, traffic control, CITY page 15

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LIFE FROM page 12 charitable work includes the Purple Pig fundraiser, which raises tens of thousands of dollars for disabled children and their families.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The most attractive facet of our lodge is the many creative opportunities we offer our members to serve their country and community,â&#x20AC;? De Castro says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The most attractive facet of our lodge is the many creative opportunities we offer our members to serve their country and Conrad De Castro began his term as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Exalted Rulerâ&#x20AC;? of Elks Lodge No. 6 earlier this year

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community,â&#x20AC;? De Castro says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Any 21-year-old American is welcome to apply for membership. Our members are a diverse representation of the American melting pot, and we enjoy all of the color and culture contributions of our national fabric. Simply walk into our lodge and ask to join and we will roll out the welcome wagon.â&#x20AC;? Elks Lodge No. 6 is at 6446 Riverside Blvd. For more information, call 422-6666 or go to elks6.com.

BOBA TEA SHOP OPENS T4, a shop serving authentic Taiwanese milk teas known as bobas, recently opened in Lake Crest Village Shopping Center. In addition to milk teas, T4 serves smoothies and milkshakes. The shop is at 1048 Florin Road. For more information, call 392-1201 or go to t4togo.com. Shane Singh can be reached at shane@shanesingh.com n

CITY FROM page 13 city parking, bridges, urban forestry, fleet services, engineering, facilities, Sacramento Valley Station, the marina and more. Shirey says that Way is “the most effective public works director I have worked with over the course of my 43-year career. He recognizes talented people and works to develop their skills so they can one day assume positions of leadership.” A very realworld example of that is Chan’s fasttracked career. Way recruited Chan for the job of city parking manager and mentored him, helping him make the leap from city parking to the city’s top management position in just three short years. We’ve also admired Way for his commitment to engaging the public on major city initiatives. The public outreach efforts he conducted for selecting sites for new bridges across the Sacramento River and the crafting of a comprehensive new city tree ordinance were as expansive and as inclusive as any we’ve seen in city government. People can (and do) disagree with some of the decisions reached in those initiatives, but they can’t fault Way’s conscientious efforts to bring the public fully into the process. I can assure you, not all city departments have such an abiding commitment to public engagement. Councilmember Steve Hansen calls Way a “powerhouse” and a “problem solver” who is “willing to tackle difficult issues while bringing people together. He’s a can-do guy with a positive attitude. Jerry is an innovative and entrepreneurial leader who continues to evolve, never getting stuck in old ways of doing things.” Way, a Sacramento native of humble roots, started working for the city at age 20 as a parking attendant. His manifest skills and dedication enabled him to move steadily up the ranks to his current position, which he’s held for more than 10 years. Still relatively young at 56 (hey, I’m 60— it’s all relative), Way says he’s never taken a full two-week vacation in his 36 years with the city. As far as his retirement plans, he says, “I’m going to see how long it takes me to get bored playing golf and fishing. Then I

expect to put a tie back on in January and get back to work on some new challenge.” Shirey adds that “Jerry has a great sense of humor and never loses perspective on what really matters in life.” Jerry Way has never been one to toot his own horn (in contrast to some city officials who seem to issue press releases because it’s Tuesday). One of the reasons he’s been so effective in collaborating with others is because he’s a quintessential workhorse, not a show horse. At the end of such an illustrious public service career, I think we’d be remiss if we didn’t give proper recognition to one of Sacramento’s public-service greats who has given us so much, quietly and effectively. If you’d like, you can drop Jerry a line at jway@ cityofsacramento.org.

‘A TSUNAMI OF RED INK’ EOS just issued a report entitled “Sacramento’s Hotel Tax & Convention Center Subsidy: A Tsunami of Red Ink.” On Oct. 18, the city council is expected to consider a staff proposal to spend a total of $200 million on a convention center expansion ($150 million) and a

community theater renovation ($50 million). The EOS report shows just what a financial loser the convention center has been for Sacramento and what little impact an expanded center is likely to have. Among the report’s key findings: • The convention booking business, nationwide, is a fierce, “arms race” competition between cities. Such bareknuckle competition can lead to continuous “rivers of red ink” because of inaccurate projections and faulty cost-benefit analyses of consultants’ recommendations. • Over the past 17 years, Sacramento’s convention center has lost $268 million, with more than $51 million lost in the past three years alone. • Sacramento spends 87 percent of its hotel tax on the Convention Center Complex, considerably higher than all of its 10 competing convention center cities do. On average, Sacramento spends twice as much, in percentage terms, of its hotel tax on its convention center than competing cities. • Even with the proposed 70,000-square-foot exhibit hall expansion, Sacramento will remain

in 10th position in size among its 10 competing cities, gaining no advantage over its key competitors. • The Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau’s economic impact calculations on the proposed expansion are flawed because the attendance numbers and expected hotel room nights generated by convention center events are inflated, based on extensive research conducted by University of Texas professor Heywood Sanders, author of the 2014 academic study “Convention Center Follies.” • Both the original 1974 convention center and its 1996 expansion were economic failures, requiring hotel tax hikes and loans from the city’s general fund to bail out the center’s poor financial results. The EOS report on the convention center can be viewed at eyeonsacramento.org. 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

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Changes at the Co-op LEGENDARY NATURAL FOODS STORE GETS A NEW HOME

hen Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op opens the doors at its new location on Sept. 28, it will offer a sleek, green design and energy-efficient features, along with expanded deli, produce and meat departments, enough graband-go options to keep you out of the kitchen, and lots of elbow room for dining and cooking classes. And let’s not forget the solar-ready car park and bike racks. If you like numbers: The old coop on Alhambra Boulevard, which opened in 1989, has 16,000 square feet and miniature aisles. You might snag a parking spot in the small lot next door if you’re lucky. The square footage of the new co-op on 28th and R streets, a short walk away, is 26,000 on the ground floor, and the snazzy mezzanine adds another 16,000. There is double the parking space, and that doesn’t include additional spaces available evenings and weekends in the parking garage. It’s an impressive move for the co-op, which was formed more than 40 years ago as a food-buying club. You don’t have to be an owner to shop at the co-op, but it’s an option. Shopper Vicki Contente purchased ownership in the co-op as a present to herself after she retired. She’s looking forward to the opening and says she’s “ecstatic about the new parking.”

AK By Angela Knight

POC OCT n 16

grocery business. “I’m coming dressed as a retired guy [for Halloween],” he says. The co-op recently announced his replacement: Dan Arnett, who’s worked for Seattle’s Central Co-op. But Cultrera will be a difficult act to follow. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the co-op, its suppliers, its history and the communities it serves.

What began as a parking lot has been transformed, under Cultrera’s leadership, into the co-op’s new digs.

Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op general manager Paul Cultrera

While I check out the “Local & Organic” signs in the old store’s produce department, Contente cleans up something on the floor. She takes her ownership seriously.

What the new store won’t have is general manager Paul Cultrera. He’ll hang up his name tag at 5 p.m. on Oct. 31, after 18 years working at the co-op and almost four decades in the

Cultrera reminds me of the rabbit in “Alice in Wonderland.” He has white hair and a moustache, and he wears a big watch. Time is on his mind. Plans for the new store were “started a long time ago on the back of an envelope,” he says. “A long time ago” translates to six years. While he admits the new store is his “baby,” he’s comfortable leaving it in someone else’s hands. “It will be done before I leave,” he says. What began as a parking lot has been transformed, under Cultrera’s leadership, into the co-op’s new digs. Revolution Wines, an urban winery, and Temple Coffee are neighbors. I’m here to tour the new building—before

products are placed on the shelves— with Cultrera as my guide. There’s lots of dust on the concrete floor right now. Contente would probably start sweeping if she were here. Although there are many changes in store at the co-op, it will continue to support farmers. Cultrera estimates the co-op buys directly from 30 to 40 farms. He rattles off a partial list: Say Hay Farms in Yolo County and Vega Farms in Davis provide bulk eggs. There’s organic meat from Prather Ranch. Riverdog Farm, an organic family farm in Capay Valley, and Green Restaurants Alliance Sacramento pick up food scraps for composting. Bring your own shopping bag and the co-op will donate to One Farm at a Time and other worthy organizations. With all the dining space and food options, you can eat a slice of pizza, a burrito, some made-to-order sushi or vegetables from the salad bar, then finish your meal with a scoop of Devine gelato while sitting at a table made from reclaimed wood by local company New Helvetia Hardwoods.

“I think the community is going to be blown away,” Cultrera says. I think he’s right. There is so much space in the new store, I lose track of where I am and rely on Cultrera to guide me. We admire the employee bike racks (there are 75, along with showers so employees can spritz before they start work), a commercial mixer (I estimate it weighs more than a baby elephant) in what Cultrera says may be the largest kitchen in Sacramento, and numerous skylights. Then there’s the decorative tile. Cultrera originally saw the distinctive tiles in a restaurant in Barcelona, and the building’s interior design firm found a supplier. Those tiles will be one of the first things shoppers see when they walk in the door. Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op will relocate to 2820 R St. in midOctober. For more information, go to sacfood.coop. Angela Knight can be reached at knight@mcn.org n

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Adventure Awaits KIDS CAN HAVE THEIR CREATIVE, COLLABORATIVE WAY WITH TOOLS AT NEW PLAYGROUND

eady to play? Fairytale Town’s long-awaited Sacramento Adventure Playground at the Maple Neighborhood Center finally opened on Aug. 23, so what are you waiting for? Dig in! The Adventure Playground is a free, after-school youth development program where adolescents ages 7 to 15 can use raw materials to create their own play spaces. The hardcore play park puts real tools such as hammers, nails, saws, paint, gardening supplies and more into the hands of young people to create and destroy their own spaces with facilitation (rather than direction) from adults. The concept of adventure playgrounds originated in Europe after World War II when landscape and playground architects noticed that children spent more time playing in the war rubble than in structured playgrounds. They observed that children were more engaged in play in spaces they created themselves and thought that these nontraditional environments inspired imaginative, collaborate and thoughtful play. “Play is essential to healthy development, yet research shows that play in general, and creative play in particular, is declining for youths,” says Kathy Fleming, Fairytale Town’s executive director. “The

jL By Jessica Laskey

POC OCT n 16

SAC CITY CENTENNIAL

Visit the Sacramento Adventure Playground at Maple Neighborhood Center

Adventure Playground is a fun and safe environment where youths can play and, more importantly, direct their own play.” Participation is free, but children must be registered by a parent to participate. (Download the form at sacadventureplay.org.) The playground is open from 2:15 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and

Thursdays, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. The playground will also hold regular community play days to allow youngsters of all ages to participate. For more information, call 2223831 or go to sacadventureplay.org. The Adventure Playground is at the Maple Neighborhood Center, 3301 37th Ave.

Sacramento City College just turned 100 years old and will be holding a special community open house, fair and football game on Saturday, Oct. 15. SCC is the oldest institution of higher education in Sacramento, founded by Belle Cooledge in 1916 with 46 recent high school graduates and 16 part-time faculty. After 10 years on the top floor of the old Sacramento High School grounds, SCC moved to its current location across from Land Park in 1926 and has been there ever since. Today, SCC services approximately 22,000 students in more than 100 programs for those who wish to earn associate degrees, transfer to fouryear universities or enter/re-enter the workforce. “We truly believe that opportunities abound at SCC and throughout the community college system,” writes Rick Brewer, the school’s communications and public information officer. “We are preparing Sacramento’s emerging workforce and helping to generate millions in the local and regional economy.” Celebrate the centennial and check out all that SCC has to offer by visiting scc.losrios.edu. Sacramento City College is at 3835 Freeport Blvd.

‘IN THE HOOD’ Ingrid Lundquist loves to look at Sacramento. See the city through her award-winning photographer’s eyes in her newly published photo story book, “In the Hood: Focus on the Details.”

After 15 years in Granite Bay, Lundquist moved back to Sacramento and quickly became intrigued by the ordinary and odd visuals she would see from her car while doing errands. She captured the intriguing images in photos and combined them with her unique writing style in a tome that celebrates Sacramento’s unique sights. “From day one, I was fascinated by what I saw driving around,” Lundquist says. “I arbitrarily drove different streets to learn the neighborhoods—Hollywood Park, Curtis Park, Land Park, South Land Park, Brentwood Village—and was never disappointed. There was always something quirky or mundane that was photo-worthy.” Lundquist is the author of two other award-winning books, “Dictionary of Publishing Terms: What Every Writer Needs to Know” and “Results-Driven Event Planning: Using Marketing Tools To Boost Your Bottom Line.” All books, including “In the Hood,” are available at amazon.com. And don’t forget to check out Lundquist’s first solo gallery show next month at the Viewpoint Center for Photographic Arts!

POETRY FROM THE HART Do you appreciate poetry? Then don’t miss the final two sessions of the International Poetry Appreciation Series at the Ethel MacLeod Hart Senior Center from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28, and Friday, Nov. 18. Each 90-minute session will focus on the poetry of different cultures from around the world. On Oct,. 28, the poetry of Portugal, Spain and South America, filled with Latin rhythms and the insights of Pablo Neruda, Octavio Paz, Federico García Lorca, Jorge Luis Borges and others, will be explored. Then, on Nov. 18, the poetry of our native peoples will take participants on a literary journey to tribes and villages to celebrate the events of everyday life—the planting, the harvest, life and death.

Boo at the Zoo is a great way to celebrate the season

Individual sessions are $6 each. To register, call 808-5462 or visit the Hart Senior Center in person at 915 27th St.

OFF THE GRID San Francisco’s wildly popular Off the Grid event experience is coming to the Sacramento Zoo! The delectable dinner market will serve zoo visitors and families with a selection of food truck fare from 5 to 9 p.m. every Thursday this fall. In addition to a selection of 10 unique food trucks, visitors will enjoy live music from local musicians as well as discounted admission into the zoo. Off the Grid markets are founded on the idea of bringing communities together through amazing shared food experiences. Started in 2010, Off the Grid operates more than 50 weekly public markets throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento. For more information, go to offthegrid.com, call 808-5888 or go to saczoo.org. The Sacramento Zoo is at 3930 W. Land Park Drive.

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LIFE IN THE CITY page 20

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LIFE IN THE CITY FROM page 19

realistic-looking monster skin and then adding face paint to make it even spookier. Scare your friends! Scare your neighbors! What else is Halloween for? For more information, go to saclibrary.org. Ella K. McClatchy Library is at 2112 22nd St.

SWANKY AND SPOOKY Can’t get enough of the Sacramento Zoo this month? Don’t miss the chance to be a party animal at Wild Affair from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, and have a scary good time at Boo at the Zoo from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 29 and 30. Unlike any other gala in town, Wild Affair offers the opportunity to experience exotic animals up close and personal with exclusive behind-the-scenes tours. Guests will also enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres and a gourmet dinner prepared by The Supper Club, as well as get the chance to bid on silent auction items and participate in a live auction hosted by KFBK’s Kitty O’Neal and KVIE’s Rob Stewart. Tickets sell out fast, so call now to reserve at 808-5888. Note: The zoo will close early this day (at 1:30 p.m.) for event preparations. Are you ready for an all-new twist on a favorite zoo event? The new daytime Boo at the Zoo will boast the same amazing trick-or-treat stations throughout the zoo, as well as face painting, ghoulish games, themed stage shows, keeper chats and spirited animal enrichments—but by the light of day! Early bird tickets are available for $10 per person through Oct. 23. Zoo members receive an extra $3 off per ticket and get in early at 10 a.m. with an event ticket and valid membership card. For more information on all zoo events, call 808-5888 or go to saczoo. org. The Sacramento Zoo is at 3930 W. Land Park Drive.

SAFE AND SUPER If your little tykes just can’t wait for the end of the month for Halloween fun, help them celebrate early in a familyfriendly environment at Fairytale Town’s 30th Annual Safe & Super Halloween: Superheroes from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21-23. Join your favorite superheroes for three nights of trick-or-treating and family fun complete with 15 treat

POC OCT n 16

EAT, DRINK AND BID MERRY

Read to a dog at the Belle Cooledge Library

stations, photos with superheroes, hero training and activities, a costume parade, a magic show and more. Advance tickets are $7-$10 per person if you buy now; beginning Oct. 21, tickets are $12 per person. For more information, call 8087462 or go to fairytaletown.org. Fairytale Town is at 3901 Land Park Drive.

BELLE OF THE BALL Does someone you know, or do you yourself, suffer from dyslexia? Are you craving more information? Don’t miss a presentation by the Dyslexia Alliance entitled “Myths. Reseach. Cause. Symptoms. Solutions” at Belle Cooledge Library from 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1. The Dyslexia Alliance is a nonprofit organization that provides resources, education and advocacy for dyslexia. This presentation will help attendees learn the definition of dyslexia; the myths, causes and symptoms of this all-too-common disorder; and solutions for coping with it on an everyday basis. Does your child want to practice reading skills but is a bit shy in front of people? Why not read into the sweet, supportive eyes of a puppy dog instead? Read to a Dog will be held at Belle Cooledge from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 15. Kids are invited to read aloud to a trained therapy dog and an adult volunteer

either with their own book or one they’ve borrowed from the library’s children’s collection. For more information, go to saclibrary.org. Belle Cooledge Library is at 5600 S. Land Park Drive.

GHOULISH GOOD TIMES Ella K. McClatchy Library is getting into the Halloween spirit all month long with two events that promise to be frighteningly fun. First, from 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, bring your sweet tooth to the Spooky Halloween Sweets session where you can make Rice Krispies Treat Frankensteins, Pretzel Stick Witches’ Brooms, Chocolate-Frosted Mummies and more. (Goodies will be generously sponsored by the Friends of the Ella K. McClatchy Library.) More in the mood to make some mad science? Check out the Halloween Monster-Making Science Laboratory from 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, when you can learn how to make your own freaky friends such as objecteating magnetic slime monsters, self-inflating balloon monsters and floating, glowing monster eyes. You’ll even have the chance to turn yourself into a monster by testing several homemade recipes to find the most

Get your paddle, and your appetite, ready for the 26th annual Curtis Park Wine Tasting, Silent Auction & Beer Garden from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Sierra 2 Center for the Arts and Community. As one of the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association’s largest (and arguably most delicious) fundraisers, the event brings local wineries, breweries and restaurants together for tastings and merry-making. In addition to the gastronomic pleasures, the evening will allow attendees to bid in the silent auction and enter exciting raffle drawings. Items available for bid include original art, spa packages, beach rentals, dance lessons and much more. For tickets and more information, go to sierra2.org. The Sierra 2 Center for the Arts and Community is at 2791 24th St.

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE Are you confused by the ballot propositions crowding the November ballot? The League of Women Voters aims to clarify by presenting the pros and cons of those pesky propositions from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Robbie Waters PocketGreenhaven Library. For more information, go to lwvsacramento.org. The Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library is at 7335 Gloria Drive. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com n

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Cruiser Craze THE ICONIC BEACH BIKE IS THE PERFECT RIDE FOR A GROWING CITY

iking on the grid is on the rise. Cyclists are buzzing around to work, restaurants, parks— everywhere. In 2015, Sacramento was named the fifth most bike-friendly town in America by BetterDoctor.com.

SC By Scot Crocker

POC OCT n 16

Two-wheelers come in all shapes and sizes, but the cruiser bicycle— also known as the beach cruiser—is especially popular these days. It has balloon tires, upright seating, straightforward construction and a nice, soft seat. The cruiser is built for comfort, not speed. Put a bell and basket on it and you’re instantly in vacation mode. Leading the cruiser craze is Midtown Cruiser Shop. Owner Jeff Yeargin has been into cruisers for about 10 years, building and working on bikes in his garage. Getting parts

was difficult; he often had to order them from Germany or Amsterdam. Three years ago, Yeargin, who has a full-time job with the city, opened his shop on I Street. He sells manufactured cruisers and builds custom cruisers for people who want a look all their own. He also details bikes and handles maintenance and repairs. “I don’t think I’ll ever make a million dollars at this, but it’s a lot of fun,” he says. “I just got the idea and ran with it. I guess it started as a hobby but it’s much more than that

now. I love to see just how happy people are when they get their new bike and start riding.” While cruisers have always been big in Europe, it’s taken a while to get going in Sacramento. For the cruiser crowd, Yeargin helps organize a monthly ride on Second Saturday from May through October. Cyclists meet at Suzy Burger on P and 29th streets and often ride to Old Sacramento. The number of riders continues to grow, with as many as 300 cyclists rolling down the road together. DOWNTOWN page 24

INSIDE

OUT

Sac Mural Fest Sacramento Mural Festival was a weeklong event featuring artists from Sacramento and around the world. From Aug. 20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;27, more than a dozen murals were painted in downtown and Midtown.

CONTRIBUTED BY ANIKO KIEZEL

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st Concert Season  –

Donald Kendrick, Music Director

Stained Glass Concert

SAT, OCTOBER 22 at 8:00 PM Fremont Presbyterian Church

Tickets: 916 536-9065 or SacramentoChoral.com

Midtown Cruiser Shop owner Jeff Yeargin

DOWNTOWN FROM page 22 “It’s all about having a good time,” Yeargin says. “We make sure it’s safe for everyone. We stay in one lane and even have traffic control. People like to be out with their bikes. While some people show their bikes in competitions, most want to ride around. That’s the whole point. ” One Second Saturday, Midtown resident Erin Stafford looked out her window and, she says, “saw a stream of people on their bikes filling the whole street as far as I could see. There were old and young, blinged-out bikes and trikes with huge speakers on the back blasting music, kids on bikes and families. I’m still amazed at how

POC OCT n 16

many people participate in this ride. It seems like it gets bigger every month.” Yeargin takes pride in the custom bikes he builds. Most of his custom cruisers are longer and lower than manufactured bikes. Customers can trick out their custom bikes with specialized handlebars, rims, seats, paint styles, colors and more. Yeargin participates in shows throughout the West, including the Outlaw Bicycle Club Bike Show in Las Vegas. While he’s built bikes that cost as much as $10,000, he won a major competition with a cruiser that cost less than $5,000 to build. Helping Yeargin at his shop is Chris Beirn, who refers to himself as

a mechanic. He credits the cruiser craze to the fact that they are easy to ride and comfortable. “It’s like sitting in an easy chair,” he says. “When you are on a mountain bike or road bike, you’re hunched over. Not everyone likes that.” Beirn has a couple of bikes and is building another one that he hopes will be different from any other bike around. “It’s cool to see where these bikes are going,” he said. Yeargin primarily sells manufactured bikes from Huntington Beach Bicycle Company, which offers a number of models and styles. New manufactured cruisers sell for $300 to $600. A custom-built cruiser starts at about $1,500 and averages around $3,000. Some really tricked-out bikes cost more than $5,000. In the United States, cruisers were ubiquitous from the 1930s to the 1950s. Their popularity waned in the late 1960s, when they almost disappeared from the scene. New, lighter bikes with narrow tires and multiple speeds dominated sales after the early 1970s.

However, cruisers were popular with a small but growing group of cyclists who were inventing what today is mountain biking. These extremists were riding on challenging off-road terrain that was steep, rocky, muddy and difficult. Road bikes couldn’t handle the harsh treatment, so they found a strong and affordable option with older cruisers. These bikes, which they called clunkers, were tough; used ones could be bought at a garage sale for $5 or $10. The cruiser craze has picked up steam. Some say it was helped along by Pee-wee Herman and his 1985 movie, “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” in which Pee-Wee crosses the country looking for his stolen bright-red cruiser. Others say it was people like Yeargin, who perpetuate the cruiser craze by proudly riding tall in the seat on big bikes with big tires sporting big smiles. Scot Crocker can be reached at scot@crockercrocker.com n

Open House Sunday, October 9 12:00PM - 3:00PM Complimentary BBQ lunch provided by SFHS Boosters & Dads’ Club

RSVP Online www.stfrancishs.org

It’s all here — the teachers, the traditions, the perfect class size, the all-girls setting.

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Sacramento’s Pride THE GARDENS SURROUNDING THE STATE CAPITOL ARE SIMPLY CAPITAL

reams of making Sacramento the envy of the world aren’t unique to the 21st century. In 1863, Gov. Leland Stanford envisioned surrounding the new State Capitol with “grounds … with a beauty and luxuriousness that no other capitol can boast.” Stanford’s vision of a Victorian garden park that would bring glory and pleasure to residents of the city and state became reality. Capitol Park’s lush lawns were studded with trees from around the world, masses of colorful flowers and a carriageway lined with palm and elm trees. It’s still a glorious spot, even after years of drought and water conservation measures. Last year, the grass turned brown and many worried that the park’s historic trees and other beautiful plants would be lost. Fortunately, the state’s Department of General Services is committed to preserving them while demonstrating that it’s also possible to save water. DGS calls Capitol Park “one of our state’s most iconic public green spaces” and “the oldest arboretum west of the Mississippi.” Originally, the Capitol was built on a mound on 4 acres of land donated by the city. It soon overlooked the Great Flood of 1861-1862, which was so disastrous that Sacramento leaders canceled Christmas, the legislature fled to San Francisco and Gov. Stanford was rowed in a boat to his inauguration at the Capitol. Sacramentans got to

AC By Anita Clevenger

POC OCT n 16

Capitol Park offers a break from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Terry Cook of the California State Capitol Museum.

work and raised the city streets, and the Capitol followed suit. Piles of rich river soil were brought to fill the grounds to their present level, 126 wagonloads a day. Victorians were interested in collecting and learning about plants from around the world, and the Capitol groundskeepers were not to be outdone. The park now boasts 235 different species of trees, more than 1,000 trees in all, many a century or more old. Modern visitors walk in awe under their canopy, admiring their size, enjoying their beauty and relaxing in their shade. Some of the California fan palms still mark the

route where horses pulled carriages through the grounds. Fourteen trees have grown to be “champion trees,” the biggest of their species in the state, nation or even the world. All good arboretums label their plants

so that we can learn about them, and the trees sport new labels funded by the California Federation of Women’s Clubs. Terry Cook of the California GARDEN page 29

Choose your doctor as carefully as what’s for dinner. Every day, we put a lot of thought into a number of decisions—what’s for dinner, what to wear, what time to tee off on Sunday. But when it comes time to decide something as important as our health care, we tend to put it off. Open Enrollment is about more than checking a box. It’s about choice. And behind that choice is the team of people who will take care of you and your family when it matters most. This Open Enrollment, spend more time choosing a health plan that gives you access to our team of doctors, including: • • •

Hill Physicians Medical Group Mercy Medical Group Woodland Clinic Medical Group

To ﬁnd a doctor for you, visit DignityHealth.org/OpenEnrollment.

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BROADWAY SACRAMENTO 2016-17 SEASON GET THE BEST SEATS AT THE BEST PRICE: SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW! THE FOLLOWING FIVE SHOWS ARE ON SALE NOW!

OCT 26-NOV 6, 2016

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WE HAVE A NEW HOME! “CLARA” 2420 N Street is the new home of The School of the Sacramento Ballet! Six state of the art ballet studios for our students. 2016-2017 registration now open Ages 18 months to the Pre-Professional For more information: email: SchoolAdmin@sacballet.org call: (916) 732-3660 www.sacballet.org/the-school GARDEN FROM page 26 State Capitol Museum says that it took two years to get everybody’s approval for the signs, but the effort was worth it.

When you visit the park, you never know what you will discover around the corner. Plants throughout the park serve as living memorial, including the Civil War Memorial Grove, established in 1897 with trees from Civil War historic sites. A turkey oak, an American elm and a tulip tree survive. There is the Pioneer Camellia Grove and the World Peace Rose Garden, created as a sanctuary of peace, love and inspiration. Cook’s love of this urban oasis is apparent when you walk through the grounds with her. “Here in the middle of the city, we have 12 city blocks, 40 acres of beauty, with trees cleaning up the air for us,” she enthuses. The museum staff has recently developed two guides, one for the Capitol Park monuments and memorials and another devoted to the trees, which they will post on their website and update as things change. The grass in Capitol Park is green once again, but water is still being saved. The 13 DGS parks maintenance staffers are implementing many water conservation practices while ensuring

that areas that overlay tree roots are irrigated. Some of the thirsty turf is being replaced, either by pervious pavers, water-saving grass varietals or a drought-tolerant demonstration garden. When you visit the park, you never know what you will discover around the corner. It might be the cactus garden with alien shapes and brilliant flowers. You may feel that you are in the British Isles when you walk between two rows of Irish yews wired into formal pillars. You will definitely know you are in California by the rows of palm and Seville orange trees that enclose the park. Many of the trees burst into brilliant fall color. Cook especially recommends seeing the champion Chinese pistache tree, with its burgundy leaves splashed with crimson and orange. Above and in the center of it all is the stunning white Capitol itself. Capitol Park holds fond memories for me because it was one of the first places I went on a date with my future husband, many years ago. After strolling for a while, we sat on the grass and kissed. We were falling in love with one another and with Sacramento. Thank you, Gov. Stanford. Terry Cook and her staff give tours of Capitol Park at 10:30 a.m. when staff is available. Call the museum office’s main line at 324-0333 for information or to request a tour. Anita Clevenger is a Lifetime Sacramento County Master Gardener. For answers to gardening questions, call 876-5448 or go to sacmg.ucanr. edu n

Tickets

On Sale Now!

Ludovico Einaudi THU, OCT 6 • 8PM

Italian composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi has consistently displayed a gift for minimalist melody in evocative musical settings. Einaudi’s unique musical language draws on elements of classical, rock, electronica and world music, and each of his chart-topping albums has explored these influences to dramatic effect.

An Evening with George Takei Where No Story Has Gone Before SAT, OCT 15 • 8PM The eloquent and witty George Takei shares his story, from his family’s WWII internment, to his role as Sulu on Star Trek, to his passionate fight for LGBTQ rights.

The Passing Zone The Passing Zone Saves the World SUN, OCT 16 • 3PM Jon Wee and Owen Morse light torches and throw stuff into the air. These juggling masters have opened for comedy legends, performed for presidents and were on America’s Got Talent.

Maceo Parker with The Jones Family Singers FRI, OCT 28 • 8PM

Maceo digs into the roots of funk with this gospel family powerhouse that infuses joyful songs with vintage soul, funk and R&B.

90+ events of the best in live performance!

mondaviarts.org

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INSIDE

OUT

Sac Mural Fest

CONTRIBUTED BY ANIKO KIEZEL

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Vote NO on Measure B

Ambitious politicians, greedy developers, and unaccountable bureaucrats are trying to pick our pockets again! They don’t care that increasing sales taxes unfairly hurts poor people, seniors, hard-working families trying to make ends meet and small business people struggling to keep their doors opens. The existing 1/2 percent transportation tax - Measure A - already provides a gusher of more than $110 million each year to fund Regional Transit, maintain our local streets and build new transit and road projects. Enough is enough! Please take a few minutes to read why thousands of our neighbors are joining together to defeat Measure B and its plan to double our transportation sales tax rate. Thank you,

Your Neighbors at DontDoubletheTax.Org Paid for by the “Don’t Double the Tax - No on Measure B” Campaign Committee FPPC #1387847

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Eclectic by Design

he exterior of Nance Singletonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s South Land Park home offers tantalizing clues to its imaginative interior. Built in 1965, the 1,600-squarefoot home was originally a California Rambler, like the surrounding houses. Thanks to Singletonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s alterations, it no longer resembles its neighbors. The exterior is stucco with copper gutters and a metal roof. Jaunty orange metal plant sculptures sit tucked between living plants. An 8-foot wall with custom iron inserts surrounds the entry to the home. The garage boasts a second-story work space with azure-tinted windows and a balcony.

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jF By Julie Foster

“I don’t like to keep it all one style,” Singleton says. “I try to keep it modern and eclectic but pull in special pieces. My home is a collaboration with artists and ironworkers I have worked with over the years.” Singleton, an architect and former model, purchased the four-bedroom, two-bath house in 1977. Initially, the house had a wildly different decorating scheme. “It looked like a bordello with carpeting, linoleum, bright flowered wallpaper and a bright blue ceiling,” she says. “But I knew I could make it work.” Outdoors, Singleton replaced two koi ponds with a sumptuous custom lap pool with a rock waterfall and huge granite spill bowls. The tile surround and insets are laced with copper and were imported from Japan. Two bronze sculptures poised at one end of the pool represent her granddaughters perfecting their diving skills. A remotely controlled solar-powered patio cover provides shade for the outdoor kitchen and lounge area. A fire pit extends the outdoor season. Crossing the floating steps lands you at the front door.

After her four children were grown, Singleton set about reconfiguring her home. She began in the master bedroom. Taking out a wall provided space for a large master suite. She enlarged the bathroom, making space for both an open-concept shower and separate soaking tub. She used stone and other natural materials to bring the outside in. The walls are painted a vivid green representing energy, life and family in the Japanese tradition. When Singleton decided the kitchen needed remodeling, her thought process was a long one. The original kitchen had little storage space. She doesn’t like overhead cabinets, feeling they create a feeling of confinement. She prefers counters clear of clutter and appliances. And she wanted space for maximum entertaining. “I really thought this kitchen out,” she says. “This was the first kitchen I did, and

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“

MY HOUSE IS ALL ABOUT BEING

PEACEFUL AND BEING ABLE TO WALK

AWAY BEING RESTED. IT’S SOMETHING I’VE ALWAYS STRIVED TO DO.

”

it gave me nightmares. I kept drawing and drawing, trying to get enough cabinet and drawer space so I could keep everything organized.” Forgoing a kitchen table, Singleton installed a free-form island composed of Cambria stone and two salvaged pieces of granite. It seats eight easily. Her cabinets were imported from Italy. A pullout pantry reduces clutter. A six-burner gas induction cook top, double convection ovens and Liebherr stainless steel wine fridge set the stage for entertaining. A 6-foot-long Japanese kitchen sink contains prep areas and plenty of space left over for all the pots and pans used for a large meal. Singleton stayed put through each project. When she gutted the kitchen, she set up camp in her bedroom. “I lived through the dust and everything and moved my coffeemaker and toaster in and I was set,” she explains. A custom-made industrial steel staircase leads to the artist loft space she built above the garage. Sliding double doors open onto a balcony overlooking the pool area.

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“Combining my love of art, architecture and design, I created a special loft space to not only work but display my works and special pieces I have collected through the years,” she explains. “My house is all about being peaceful and being able to walk away being rested. It’s something I’ve always strived to do.” If you know of a home that you think should be featured in Inside Publications, contact Julie Foster at foster.julie91@yahoo. com n

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Art Preview GALLERY ART SHOWS IN OCTOBER

Sparrow Gallery presents the work by Davis artist Leslie DuPratt through October 28. Her work provides a glimpse into the “ﬁlm” that is a woman’s life. Shown above: A painting by DuPratt. 2418 K St., sparrowgllerysacramento.com

The exhibition “Reboot” denotes the reset of JAYJAY on their 15th anniversary. This show celebrates their expanding stable of modern and contemporary artists and runs through Oct. 29. Shown above: Untitled watercolor on paper by Stacey Vetter. 5520 Elvas Avenue; jayjayart.com Patris Studio and Art Gallery will feature a group show through end of October. Shown below: “Sunﬂowers” by Patris. 3460 2nd Ave. patris-studio.com

Artspace 1616 will exhibiting work by John Fortes, Julian Faulkner and Anne Veraldi in 3 solo shows through Oct. 29. Shown above: “Hell 2 Pay” by John Fortes. 1616 Del Paso Blvd.

Tim Collom Gallery will exhibit new works by landscape painter John Tessler through end of October. Shown above: “American River Sunset”, acrylic on canvas, 72” x 32” by Tessler. 915 20th St.; timcollomgallery.com

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REAL PEOPLE. REAL FUN. There is a reason we use our residents as our photo models. We want you to see real people at real communities enjoying the life they choose. Whether it’s joining friends in a card game, taking a stroll around the grounds, stepping on the bus for an excursion or getting together to share a meal, our residents ﬁnd everything they need right here. Experience the Eskaton difference. Call or go online now.

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Value Added AT MCKINLEY VILLAGE, ART IS SEEN AS A PUBLIC GOOD

he relationship between the private and public sectors has never been characterized by efficient communication, but the McKinley Village housing development proves that, under the right circumstances, these two sectors can work together to put on quite a show. Public art for the development spurred a partnership between the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, a public agency, and the private developers Riverview Capital Investments and the New Home Company. McKinley Village officially opened its doors—or underpass, anyway—on Sept. 10. But from the project’s inception, art has always been its driving force. “We wanted a real addition to the city,” explains Phil Angelides, president of Riverview Capital Investments, “by emphasizing the richness of the local art community and those who helped define and shape the Sacramento art scene.” At little cost, developers could have named a few streets and parks after local artists and called it a day. But according to Angelides, “we wanted to create an art walk that would

JV By Jordan Venema

POC OCT n 16

draw people from the surrounding neighborhoods and the rest of the city.” Developers invested about $500,000 to commission nine original pieces by local artists, as well as to acquire sculptures by now-deceased artist Helen Post. To help oversee the project, Angelides hired the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission. “Phil contacted me and asked if we would help administer this project,” says Shelly Willis, executive director of SMAC, “and to help with artist selection, design review, fabrication and the installation of the art.” Founded in 1977 by a joint city and county ordinance, SMAC oversees public art and art programs throughout the county. Specifically, it manages Sacramento’s Public Art Program, which is funded by 2 percent of the total budget of eligible city and county capital improvement projects. While public projects are required by the city and county to set aside a percentage of their overall budget for the installation of public art, there is no ordinance that requires the same from private developers. “It’s pretty rare that a private developer voluntarily puts a sculpture in front of a building, and it’s super rare to have public art in a housing development,” says Willis. “To have somebody say I’m going to invest in art in a housing community that’s paid for by the private sector—that’s nearly unheard of in this country.” The developers could have hired private curators to help manage

Mark Foster’s “La Feuille” sculpture greets visitors, and soon residents, as they enter McKinley Village

Alan and Helen Post Park features five of Helen's sculptures

McKinley Village’s art projects. By hiring SMAC, the money it pays will go back into the public program to fund future art projects and programs in the city and county. The McKinley Village art project was managed by Willis and a committee that includes three members from the development team (Phil Angelides and Megan Norris of Riverview Capital Investments and Aaron Sussman of The New Home Company) and three members of the community (SMAC commissioner Cecily Hastings, former Sacramento mayor and arts philanthropist Burnett Miller and renowned artist Wayne Thiebaud). McKinley Village’s public art will include a sculpture garden and an art

Post Park will also feature five of Helen’s sculptures made between 1972 and 1977. The second park, named after former Sacramento Mayor R. Burnett Miller, and other installations should be completed by

walk with nine installations by artists Suzanne Adan, Julia Couzens, Brenda Louie, Jeff Myers, Hearne Pardee, One of the Helen Post sculptures on display James Piskoti, Gina Werfel and Marc Foster. spring. The first completed installation, Willis admits that some people located at the entrance to McKinley might be surprised to find quality Village in Alan and Helen Post Park, art in a housing development. She is Foster’s “La Feuille.” The 18-footsays the artists contributing to tall, leaf-shaped structure made of McKinley Village’s art walk will bring honed stainless steel pays homage something unique and beautiful to the to Sacramento’s trees and will be project. complemented by the 1,800 trees that “It’s an incredible project,” says will be planted in the neighborhood. Willis. “The work will be imaginative, Named after deceased Sacramento and the artists are all experienced. residents and artists, Alan and Helen

And that you can go for free to see this whenever you want is really incredible.” Angelides also believes the art adds value to the development—and the wider Sacramento region—that isn’t usually quantified by developers because it doesn’t necessarily translate to the bottom line: profit. “When budgets get tight, often the things that get cut are things that bring human enjoyment, like public places and artwork,” he says. Angelides says of the artworks, “They’re beautiful, they’re practical, and they lend themselves to human interaction.” He hopes McKinley Village challenges other developers to see the value of public art in private spaces. “I hope that this project inspires the private development community to invest in art, and I believe that it will,” he says. Jordan Venema can be reached at jordan.venema@gmail.com n

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This Month @ the Market

A LOOK AT WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IN SEASON AT LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS IN OCTOBER

BUTTERNUT SQUASH

QUINCE

This long squash is one of the tastiest winter squashes, with a subtle flavor similar to pumpkin. Eat it: Roast the flesh and use in a simple risotto.

This knobby golden fruit looks like a pear and is generally too hard and sour to eat raw. Eat it: Stew in water or wine, then bake in a tart.

SUNCHOKE

HEIRLOOM TOMATO

BLOOMSDALE SPINACH

Also known as a Jerusalem artichoke, this tuber has a fresh, nutty taste. Eat it: Roast in the oven with other vegetables, or puree for a soup.

Summer may be over, but you can still find heirloom tomatoes at the farmers market. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Eat it: Slice and drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper.

This old spinach variety (from the 19th century) has a crinkled leaf and a deep, interesting flavor. Eat it: Sautee in olive oil with garlic and hot red pepper flakes.

ARUGULA

This leafy green can be used as an herb, a salad or a vegetable. It has a peppery, spicy flavor. Eat it: Dress lightly with fresh lemon juice and serve on top of grilled steak or chicken Milanese.

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• SACRAMENTO CITY COLLEGE CENTENNIAL • FREE PUBLIC EVENT

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Positive Speaking IT’S BETTER TO ASSUME SUCCESS THAN FAILURE

he Bible describes rebellious people as “stiff-necked.” I don’t know how rebellious I am, but doctors occasionally put me in the stiff-necked category. My first experience with stiff-neck pain was in my college sophomore year, shortly after I’d spent three hours debating theology with a new friend. The problem wasn’t my theological position; the problem was my physical position: stretched out on my side, with my head propped up by my palm. The pain came on subtly, finally incapacitating me during a visit with my West Texas cousins. When I asked for a doctor, my equestrian cousins recommended their chiropractor. I grimaced. “How much will he cost?” “He works for donations.” “Donations?” “Yup. I reckon you should also know that when he lost his eyesight a few years back, Texas revoked his license.” I gave a reluctant nod, and my cousins loaded me, ambulance-style, into a station wagon. Thirty minutes

NB By Norris Burke Spirit Matters

POC OCT n 16

later, I lay face down and shirtless on the doctor’s living room adjustment table. The man placed his fingertips on each quadrant of my back, pondering my pain with a touch much like a wandering kitten. Finally, he started

my issues to other chiropractors— with one exception. Eight years ago, I was referred to a local chiropractor for preventive management. I was greeted by his attractive staff and spent my hourlong wait staring at his fish aquarium.

his procedure, pushing, pulling, stretching and thumping on the areas that needed healing. Afterward, I limped toward the “donation” box and placed a twenty inside. I knew something was better because I was upright and ambulatory again. “You will be much better by tomorrow,” he promised. Twenty-four hours later, I sat in class as if my injury had never happened. Nowadays, I still have sporadic problems, but thanks to the blind chiropractor, I’ve been able to trust

After he took X-rays, he announced his prognosis with the tone of someone talking to a terminal patient. He told me I was falling apart, but if I’d consent to immediate treatment, he could reverse my early demise. The entire process would take the better part of a year, and much like the arrangement with my daughter’s orthodontist, I could pay in monthly installments with a small financing fee. The difference between this chiropractor and the blind chiropractor is a case study in the different ways we often express concern for those we love.

My first doctor did something my charismatic friends describe as “speaking healing into my life.” He told me I would get better and I did. On the other hand, the second doctor spoke pessimism, gloom and hopelessness into my life. Unfortunately, it’s too easy to act in the same manner as the 90-dayssame-as-cash doctor. It’s tempting to speak to people in at know-it-all tone that will discourage friends and family trying to accomplish their dreams. It’s much harder to speak success into the lives of people. It’s much harder to speak healing into a life by saying, “You can do this. You can succeed and flourish.” I consider myself fortunate to have friends who told me I could and I did. Not long after the discouraging rant from that second doctor, I ran several half marathons and two full marathons. Fortunately, I also found a new doctor. He’s much like the first one. He’s a man of faith who, in turn, expresses that faith toward his patients. And that, my friend, will always be the best healing prescription for this stubborn and sometimes stiff-necked chaplain. Norris Burkes is a chaplain, syndicated columnist, national speaker and author. He can be reached at norris@thechaplain.net n

INSIDE

OUT McKinley Village art

Local artist Marc Foster created a sculpture entitled “La Feuille” (the leaf) to greet residents and visitiors as they enter McKinley Village in East Sacramento. The sculpture is two leaf-shaped structures made of honed stainless steel standing approximately 18 and 15 feet tall, with corten steel branches extending above and beneath the ground in either direction. According to Foster, the artwork pays “homage to trees and, more specifically, leaves.” McKinley Village is shaped like a giant leaf and current plans call for the planting of more than 1,800 trees in the neighborhood.

CONTRIBUTED BY ANIKO KIEZEL

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TO DO THIS MONTH'S CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS

I Am Woman, Watch Me Soar “Women Speak,” season opener of the Sacramento Ballet Oct. 7-9 Main Stage Theatre, Sacramento City College, 3835 Freeport Blvd. 552-5810, sacballet.org

See the balletic beauty wrought by four extraordinary female choreographers at the Sacramento Ballet’s ﬁrst performance of the 2016-17 season. These nationally renowned artists will speak their minds through dance and expand the boundaries of the art form with movement of verve and vitality. Women speak; audiences listen!

Art from the Heart “Celebration of Arts” show and sale Saturday, Oct. 1, from 2-5 p.m. Sac Ballet will perform "Women Speak" at Sacramento City College

Sierra 2 Center for the Arts and Community, 2791 24th St.

Interested in picking up some locally made artistic gems in media such as watercolor, oil, acrylic, photography, ceramics and jewelry? Then get thee to this show and sale organized by a dedicated team of local artists to beneﬁt the art program of Sacramento County’s Palmiter School. Admission is free and everyone is invited to join in the Celebration of Arts!

jL By Jessica Laskey

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Hearts of Glass “An Evening of Inspired Music for Chorus, Organ and Strings” Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra Stained Glass Concert Saturday, October 22 at 8 p.m. 536-9065, sacramentochoral.com Fremont Presbyterian Church, 5770 Carlson Drive

Hear the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra make the rafters ring at Fremont Presbyterian Church with a program including pieces by Tomaso Albinoni, James Whitbourn, Jake Runestad and others as well as the song stylings of soprano Anne-Marie Endres, mezzo Maria Bueb, tenor Christopher Bengochea and baritone Shawn Spiess, all under the able baton of conductor Donald Kendrick. Stick around for a post-concert reception to meet the artists and enjoy free parking at the Scottish Rite Temple at 6151 H Street.

Winds Of Fortune “ForTune,” ink drawings by Camille VandenBerge Through Oct. 10 Shimo Center for the Arts, 2117 28th St. shimogallery.com

Through Jan. 15, 2017 Robert T. Matsui Gallery, 915 I St. (Sacramento City Hall) sacmetroarts.org

You’re probably familiar with Camille VandenBerge’s work as a sculptor—her whimsical ceramic and bronze figures grace the Sacramento Airport, as well as feature in numerous museum and private collections worldwide—but did you know the prolific local artist has also created an impressive collection of ink drawings over the past two decades that she’s kept private until now? Check out this stunning surprise collection of pen-on-paper drawings at both the Shimo Center for the Arts and the Robert T. Matsui Gallery this fall. “When I’m drawing with ink, there’s a feeling of both spontaneity and specificity, even fortuitousness,” VandenBerge says, who goes by the name ForTune when working with ink. “(The medium) doesn’t just speak to me, it sings to me.” Camille VandenBerge's collection of ink drawings will be exhibited at Shimo Center for the Arts and the Robert T. Matsui Gallery this fall

Reading Rainbow “Paint-A-Rock Day!” official children’s book release and ﬁne art exhibit Saturday, Oct. 1 (art exhibit through Oct. 3) Story time and book discussion with Ayanna Simone Fabio: 2-4 p.m. Art discussion with Daphne Burgess: 5-7 p.m. Underground Books, 2814 35th St.

For the first time in Sacramento history, two African American women, one a writer and the other an artist, have teamed up to create a children’s picture book that promotes social activism. Author Ayanna Simone Fabio is a mother of five children who works as a Family Advocate for children’s mental health and school readiness. “Paint-A-Rock Day!” was a story created to give readers ideas for social activism for young children. Illustrator Daphne Burgess is a professional artist, art teacher and community organizer. She works primarily with nonprofit organizations, volunteering and art making with youths and adults. The “PaintA-Rock Day!” illustrations were inspired by people and places that Burgess and Fabio encounter every day—community members and friends from their past and present are all colorful characters introduced along this beautiful journey.

Dance of Death Calidanza Dance Company presents “Noche de Muertos” Thursday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. Crocker Art Museum, 216 O St. 808-1182, crockerartmuseum.org

Stop by the official release of the children's book "Paint-A-Rock Day!" at Underground Books

Bring the whole crew to Calidanza Dance Company’s family-friendly tribute to Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos. Calidanza will showcase rituals, ceremonies and high-energy dances to commemorate this sacred Day of the Dead under the stars in the Crocker’s courtyard. The evening will include 2013’s “Noche de Muertos,” which is a modernistic piece commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony, as well new choreography for the traditional dance entitled “La Viejad” and more. Live musical accompaniment will be provided by Orgullo Regional.

POC n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Claire Falkenstein will be on exhibit at Crocker Art Museum

Renaissance Woman

Key Players

“Claire Falkenstein: Beyond Sculpture” Oct. 2 through Dec. 31

Choral Evensong and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral pipe organ consecration Sunday, Oct. 2, at 4 p.m. Gala Organ Recital by Bruce Neswick Friday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m.

Crocker Art Museum, 216 O St. 808-1182, crockerartmuseum.org

As one of America’s most experimental and productive 20th century artists, Claire Falkenstein is known for her relentless exploration of media, techniques and processes with uncommon daring and intellectual rigor. Renowned primarily for her exquisite sculpture, she was also an inventive painter and maker of prints, jewelry, glass, ﬁlms, stage sets for dance, public murals, fountains and monumental architectural commissions. This retrospective exhibition traces the development of Falkenstein’s work both chronologically and geographically through key works from the early 1930s through the 1990s.

POC OCT n 16

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 2620 Capitol Ave. 446-2513, trinitycathedral.org

Come celebrate the completed restoration of the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral’s historic pipe organ, more than three decades in the making, with a service of Choral Evensong sung by the Trinity Cathedral Choir and the consecration of the iconic instrument by Bishop Barry L. Beisner. Originally built by the Reuter Organ Company of Lawrence, Kansas in 1983, the organ has long been admired for its superb, reﬁned tone and has been played by many of the world’s great organists. Over the years, issues of wear and tear and design problems arose and in 2014, the cathedral launched a campaign to repair and complete the instrument as originally intended. With work on the Reverend Dr. Grant S. Carey antiphonal organ completed this spring, the community is ready to celebrate!

Cars For Kids “2016 Viva L’Auto Gala” beneﬁtting the Sacramento Children’s Home’s Crisis Nurseries Saturday, Oct. 1, 6-10 p.m. North Ridge Country Club, 7600 Madison Ave. 944-1462, kidshome.org/events

Get an eyeful of elegant Niello automobiles and party to live music, nosh on fabulous food and enjoy a specialty cocktail bar to help raise funds for the Crisis Nurseries, a program of the Sacramento Children’s Home, now in its 20th year. Since 1996, the Crisis Nursery Program has been serving children from birth through age 5 whose families are experiencing a crisis situation that may put the children at increased risk of abuse or neglect. At the event, you’ll get to bid on a variety of auction items including an exciting Sacramento King’s “Back Stage” experience, a hot air balloon ride, a vacation home in France, Disney Theme Park tickets, a Spare Time oneyear membership, golf packages, private winery parties, a Discovery Bay Yacht Experience and an art-framed Disney cel. The Sacramento Kings’ dancers will be on hand to meet, greet and pose for pictures.

Tanya Tickling the Ivories

Enjoy the sounds of pianist Tanya Vegvary at American River College Performing Arts Theater.

Tanya Vegvary in Concert Friday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m. American River College Performing Arts Theater, 4700 College Oak Drive 484-8433, tanyavegvary.com

What do you get when you start playing piano at the age of 4? Just ask Tanya Vegvary, the globe-trotting pianist renowned for her renditions of composers such as Sergei Prokoﬁev and Frederic Chopin who has performed in Greece (and soon to be in London) and has taught master classes in San Marino, Italy. Hear the founder of the Sacramento Piano Conservatory School of Music’s amazing artistry for yourself when she performs Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor under the able baton of conductor Steven Thompson of the American River College Orchestra.

Native Intelligence “A Show of Force: Sculpture by Allan Houser (Haozous) Featuring Recent Gifts from Loren G. Lipson” Oct. 30 through Feb. 26, 2017 Crocker Art Museum, 216 O St. 808-1182, crockerartmuseum.org

Internationally recognized for his iconic ﬁgurative and modernist sculptures featuring American Indian people and themes, Allan Capron Haozous became known to the world as Allan Houser. He is widely considered the most inﬂuential American Indian artist of modern times, with three decades of experience as a teacher and artist articulating tradition through innovation. “A Show of Force” showcases 15 sculptures in bronze and stone created during the last two decades of the artist’s life. Highlights include rare examples of Houser’s work like a reclining nude titled “By the Water’s Edge” and the focal point of the exhibition, “Force.”

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 Organist Bruce Neswick will perform at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral

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All Together Now HE BRINGS TOGETHER VOICES FOR AN ALL-FEMALE CHORAL GROUP

he motto for Vox Musica, the

Paulson was a regular on the

innovative women’s vocal

national honor choir circuit in high

ensemble, is Music Worth

school. Yet he knew he was destined

Sharing. That motto perfectly fits

to one day wield the baton.

both the group and its founder and

“Even in high school, I knew

music director, Daniel Paulson.

music education and being a choral

“To quote the father of American

director was my path,” Paulson says.

choral, Robert Shaw, I know of no

“I found that I could see the paths of

other art form in which an individual

least resistance—to help people learn

with limited skills is enhanced by the

music faster and help them meet their

group,” Paulson says.

creative goals.”

Vox Musica serves as the perfect outlet for Paulson’s expansive imagination.

“I’ll see something really interesting, and it’s my job to find a pathway.”

He founded the all-female group

But after his first summer of

10 years ago after earning his

graduate school, Paulson was

master’s degree in choral conducting

feeling stymied. One of his mentors

at California State University, Los

suggested he go home and start his

Angeles. (He also has a bachelor

own group. Paulson did just that in

degree in voice performance from

2006.

Sacramento State.) “Working in a

“I wanted to create something in

group is really powerful,” he says.

town that I felt there was a need for,”

“Everyone’s voice is unique. It’s

he explains. “At that time, I couldn’t

of our spirit, our thumbprint. To

find a women’s choir working at the

share it, you have to be completely

skill level I knew was possible. So I

vulnerable. In choral singing, you

brought some friends together and

have to be vulnerable with others.

started Vox to forge new ground in

I fully believe you can transform

choral work.”

Vox Musica serves as the perfect Daniel Paulson of the founder of Vox Musica

situations through singing. It’s

an organist, and his father is a choir

empowering.”

director. In his family, he says,

Paulson comes from a musical family: His mother is a singer and

By Jessica Laskey

POC OCT n 16

“you played a sport, you played an instrument and you went to church. That was our life.”

outlet for Paulson’s expansive imagination. Over the past 10 years, the group has produced 40 concert projects and has given more than 100 concert performances. Its repertoire

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THEATRE GUIDE TREVOR

Thru Oct 29 Big Idea Theatre 1616 Del Paso Blvd, Sac BigIdeaTheatre.org Trevor was once a minor celebrity, performing on television opposite the likes of Morgan Fairchild, but lately, the spotlight has eluded him. At home, he has trouble connecting with his doting adoptive mother, and his recent erratic behavior is beginning to concern his neighbors and local law enforcement – all pretty typical for a self-involved, has-been actor, but with one crucial distinction: Trevor is an 11-year-old chimpanzee. Inspired by true events, this riotous absurdist satire of fame and family explores the frustrations of miscommunication, self-delusion, and the limitations of unconditional love with complex wit and heartbreaking tenderness.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD includes 417 diverse musical works

for Adventurous Programming, a

from more than 30 countries and sung

stamp of national recognition that

in more than 25 languages, including

has inspired Paulson—who is a

Swedish, Japanese, Hungarian,

tenure-track professor of voice and

Georgian, Ukrainian, Yiddish, Farsi,

choral at Sacramento City College

Arabic, Nahuatl (ancient Aztec) and

and a resident artist at the Tahoe

Nisenan (an archaic Native American

Symphony—to go even bigger and

language).

better.

“I’ll see something really

“We have something pretty exciting

interesting, and it’s my job to find

in the works that I can’t talk about

a pathway,” Paulson says. “For

yet,” Paulson says. “We’re also

example, I saw a local taiko dan

in conversations with an Italian

drumming group and I was just

percussionist from the Bay Area, as

mesmerized. I said, ‘I really want to

well as a local poet who has a major

work with these people,’ so I made it

collection of poetry we want to use as

my job to find a way to incorporate it

the center of a project. And of course

into a project. Collaborations are at

we’re going to incorporate even more

the heart of our organization. If can’t

educational outreach—there’s always

find published music, I’ll go out and

an educational component.”

get music made by friends. I get all these crazy ideas and think, ‘This is cool. Now, how can I bridge the gap?’” Paulson is clearly very good at

For more information on upcoming Vox Musica concerts, visit voxmusica. net.

bridging the gap, and the American Society of Composers and Publishers took note. This year, Vox Musica was awarded the 2015-16 National Award

Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com n

Thru Oct 23 Sacramento Theatre Company 1419 H St, Sac SacTheatre.org Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, this unforgettable American classic explores themes of innocence, love, prejudice, and injustice, all set in a Great Depression southern town that is rocked by a local court trial. Sacramento Theatre Company’s production will contain an additional musical component, helping take audiences on a deeply moving journey through the triumphs and shortcomings of the human spirit.

STONES IN HIS POCKETS

Oct 14 – Oct 22 The Alternative Arts Collective at Geery Theatre 2130 L St, Sac TAACproductions.com What impact could a Hollywood film being shot in a small Irish town have on its residents? You’ll find a celebrity filmstar, an eccentric Assistant Director, and the townsfolk lining up to be extras in the film for the small pay and even more important, food. A two-actor cast of 14 characters, Don Hayden and David Blue Garrison play Charlie and Jake (as well as 12 other characters) in this hilarious yet sobering tragic-comedy about the fragility and possibility behind people’s hopes, dreams, and ambitions.

SISTER CITIES

Thru Oct 8 Resurrection Theatre at Wilkerson Theatre 1723 25th St, Sac BoxOffice@ResurrectionTheatre.com Resurrection Theatre presents Sister Cities by Colette Freedman. Five amazing actresses return to Resurrection Theatre to star in this hilarious and poignant story about the power of love, family, and friendship. Four half-sisters named for the cities they were born in, the daughters of a free-spirited, independent-minded woman named Mary, who have gathered at her house, on the occasion of her death.

BROADWAY SACRAMENTO PRESENTS:THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Oct 26 – Nov 6 Calif Musical Theatre & Broadway Sacramento at Community Center Theater 1301 L St, Sac CaliforniaMusicalTheatre.com The hills are alive! A brand new production of The Sound of Music, directed by three-time Tony Award® winner Jack O’Brien, is coming to Sacramento. The spirited, romantic and beloved musical story of Maria and the von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with its Tony®, Grammy® and Academy Award® winning Best Score, including “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss” and the title song. 2015 marked the 50th anniversary of the film version, which continues to be the most successful movie musical in history. Note: Children under Age 4 are not permitted.

SUNSET BABY

Oct 14 – Nov 6 Celebration Arts Theater 4469 D St, Sac 455-2787 A former Black revolutionary and political prisoner is desperate to reconnect with his estranged, rebel daughter. The play is an energized, vibrant look at the point where the personal and political collide, exposing the toll of criminal acts in the name of revolutionary change and plain street crime on paternalism, trust and the possibility of love in a culture of survival.

SUBMIT EVENTS TO ANIKO@INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM POC n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM

Maintaining a Midtown Standout THE WATERBOY CONTINUES TO IMPRESS 20 YEARS LATER

n 1996, a young restaurateur opened a new eatery on a sleepy corner in Midtown. The neighborhood was yet to be the pulsing engine of culinary culture it is today, and the young chef turned restaurant owner was yet to be a fixture of the local food scene. The young chef had taken a turn in San Francisco kitchens before coming to Sacramento and working with the Paragary

GS By Greg Sabin

POC OCT n 16

restaurant group. Wishing to strike out on his own, Rick Mahan opened a French-inspired restaurant called The Waterboy. Twenty years later, the restaurant still puts out some of the highest-quality food in the region. The Waterboy is an easy restaurant to overlook. With attention focused on the reinvigorated downtown core, and with high-profile Midtown restaurant openings of places like OBO’ and Hawks Public House taking folks’ time and attention, a 20-yearold establishment that quietly and competently goes about its business isn’t always the first to leap to mind when you’re choosing a dining location. From the street, it’s all windows and a bit of trim. The predominant color of the nonglass exterior is beige. The entrance is set back from street and in the permanent shade of a large elm. Like I said, it’s easy to overlook. The interior, lovely and comfortable though it is, also doesn’t exactly pop. Beige again dominates. Some large industrial ducts and solid building

infrastructure is on display in the highceilinged room. Curtains are used to good effect to separate the large open spot into discrete spaces. The service, much like the space, is also subtle—professional but casual. “Easygoing” might be the word you’d use. All of these elements—the plain exterior, the unembellished interior and the relaxed service—do their part to lull the diner into a sense of indifference. Just another night out at some faceless restaurant. It’s not until the first dish comes out that you realize something else entirely is going on. Like the duck that seems cool and calm, even bored, on the surface but underneath the waterline paddles furiously, this calm space is a front for a kitchen putting out exceptional fare. When you take that first bite of something as simple as bruschetta, you start to wake to the fact that this food is on a level of excellence difficult to achieve night in and night out. You taste the perfectly toasted, housemade bread; you devour the artfully placed sliced fig; you savor the delicate balance between the salty prosciutto and the sweet-tangy whipped goat cheese. Maybe it’s just a brief moment after your table finishes the gorgeous opening dish, but it’s a well-savored moment. And then, just before you ask yourself what might be next, your casual server drops by to run through a few specials with you. While he commands your attention, the plates and soiled silverware disappear from your table. A well-rehearsed magic trick has just been performed for you and you’re not even aware of it. The service is an elaborate ruse. The laid-back nature of the servers belies a practiced professionalism. The conversational server distracts you from the team of service staff that invisibly patrols the dining room, filling water glasses, replacing utensils and shuttling plates hither and yon without your being the wiser. It’s an elegant, subtle dance. As each plate comes to the table, it strikes a familiar note. Maybe it’s the veal sweetbreads? You could swear you’ve heard someone talk about them

before. Odds are you probably have, and the meaty glands soaked in demiglace are every bit as good as you’ve been told. The dish is so good, in fact, that Mahan can’t take it off the menu for fear of customer revolt. Could it be someone mentioned the corn soup recently? Probably. It’s a gorgeous bowl of pureed sweet corn with crumbled chorizo and gulf shrimp, the flavors melding with unusual beauty. You may have heard that the burger has won awards, or that the bartender finished first in a national competition, or that the desserts are out of this world. In the words of Han Solo, “It’s all true.” Twenty years after a characteristically quiet opening on a characteristically quiet corner, The Waterboy continues to deliver excellent food that stands up to the test of time. It’s simplicity on the outside, well-oiled machinery on the inside. The Waterboy is at 2000 Capitol Ave.; 498-9891; waterboyrestaurant. com. Greg Sabin can be reached at gregsabin@hotmail.com n

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