AUGUST 18
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LIN FEI FEI: WIDE OPEN WALLS
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AUGUST 18
VOL. 3 • ISSUE 3
3104 O St. #120, Sac. CA 95816 (Mail Only)
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EDITOR Cathryn Rakich editor@insidepublications.com PRODUCTION M.J. McFarland DESIGN Cindy Fuller PHOTOGRAPHY Linda Smolek, Aniko Kiezel AD COORDINATION Michele Mazzera, Julie Foster DISTRIBUTION Sue Pane Sue@insidepublications.com ACCOUNTING Daniel Nardinelli, Lauren Hastings, Jim Hastings
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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SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions at $25 per year guarantees 3rd class mailing. Pay online at insidepublications.com
or send check with name & address of recipient and specify publication edition. PUBLISHER Cecily Hastings
COVER ARTIST Lin Fei Fei
Lin Fei Fei is a Sacramento artist originally from China. She will be a featured muralist for Wide Open Walls from Aug. 9 to 19. Her profile appears on page 26 of this issue. Visit linfeifeiart.com.
VISIT INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM Ad deadline is the 10th of the month previous. CONTACT OUR ADVERTISING REPS:
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AUGUST 18 EVERY DAY IS YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE THIS CITY A LITTLE BETTER
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PUBLISHER'S DESK
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LIFE ON THE GRID
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RESTAURANT INSIDER
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
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GIVING BACK
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BUILDING OUR FUTURE
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GETTING THERE
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MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR
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HOME INSIGHT
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SPORTS AUTHORITY
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CITY POLITICS
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CITY BEAT
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FARM TO FORK
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TO DO
THIS MONTH'S CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Behind the Barre
Behind the Barre: Made in Sacramento Capital Dance Project Friday, Aug. 10, and Saturday, Aug. 11, 7:30 p.m.
jL By Jessica Laskey
Crest Theatre, 1013 K St. • capitaldanceproject.org This independent collective of Sacramento’s professional ballet dancers is back for a fourth year with its innovative dance, art, tech and live music performance featuring nine local artists and musicians in collaboration with CDP’s resident choreographers. A special Sensory-Friendly Dance Performance—designed specifically for individuals with autism or special needs—will take place Saturday, Aug. 18, at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Crocker Art Museum at 216 O St.
The Elaine and Sidney Cohen Collection of Contemporary Ceramics Crocker Art Museum Aug. 5–Nov. 18 216 O St. • crockerart.org This collection includes 60 pieces by many of the country’s best-known artists working in clay, including Jun Kaneko, Claude Conover, Rudy Autio, Edwin and Mary Scheier, Don Reitz, Tim Rowan, Tom Rippon, Nobuhito Nishigawara and more.
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Jazz Night at the Crocker: Marcus Shelby Crocker Art Museum Thursday, Aug. 16, 6:30 p.m. 216 O St. • crockerart.org Celebrated bassist, bandleader, composer, activist and Sacramento native Marcus Shelby returns to close out the season with vocalist Tiffany Austin. Praised for his original score for Anna Deveare Smith’s Off-Broadway play “Notes from the Field,” Shelby delights audiences with a repertoire that includes works by Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Charles Mingus, as well as original compositions driven by African-American historical narratives.
Free Outdoor Movie Night Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park Saturday, Aug. 11, 8 p.m. 2701 L St. • exploremidtown.org/movie-nights In partnership with California State Parks and Friends of Sutter’s Fort, the Midtown Association invites the community to bring blankets and lawn chairs to view “Clueless,” a classic romantic comedy projected on the wall of the historic fort. Food will be available for purchase, including Costa’s Finest Kettle Corn and Mr. Pops Popcorn.
Harvest Day 2018: A Gardener’s Dream Day UC Cooperative Extension Saturday, Aug. 4, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Fair Oaks Horticulture Center, 11549 Fair Oaks Bld. • sacmg.ucanr.edu Join the UCCE Master Gardeners of Sacramento County at this ultimate gardening event featuring mini-talks on Mason bees, succulents, vineyard pests and worm composting; keynote speeches by horticulturalists Fred Hoffman, Karey Windbiel-Rojas and Quentyn Young; booths from 30-plus community organizations; demonstration gardens; grape tastings; and more.
UC Davis MFA students will show their work at Verge.
41st Annual Sacramento Jewish Food Faire Congregation Beth Shalom Sunday, Aug. 26, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 4746 El Camino Ave. • jewishfoodfaire.com This annual faire features traditional and modern Jewish cuisine, live entertainment, arts and crafts, and activities for all ages. Breakfast and lunch served all day. Take home homemade and imported pastries and breads.
Broadway at Music Circus California Musical Theatre “Mamma Mia!” Aug. 7–12 “Little Shop of Horrors” Aug. 21–26 Wells Fargo Pavilion, 1419 H St. • broadwaysacramento.com Catch the latest offerings from this summer Sacramento tradition of Broadway-caliber theater-in-the-round featuring new musicals alongside cult classics. Both shows this month are Broadway at Music Circus premieres!
Tales & Ales Brewfest Fundraiser Fairytale Town Saturday, Aug, 25, 5–9 p.m.
Delight your taste buds at the Jewish Food Faire.
3901 Land Park Drive • fairytaletown.org Celebrate Fairytale Town’s 59th anniversary at an all-ages fundraiser featuring unlimited beer tastings, food trucks and live music by AKAlive. Proceeds will support Fairytale Town’s education programs and park improvements.
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Enjoy adult beverages and support Fairytale Town at the Tales & Ales event. Photo courtesy of Greg Flagg.
Sacramento Historic City Cemetery Tour Genealogical Association of Sacramento Wednesday, Aug. 15, 10 a.m. A Crocker Art Museum exhibit focusing on artists working in clay will open Aug. 5.
Notebooks of a Body: Visual Arts from UC Davis MFA Students Verge Center for the Arts Through Aug. 12 625 S St. • vergeart.com This exhibition showcases the multimedia work of first-year graduate students from the studio program of the Department of Art and Art History at UC Davis. Featured artists include Bailey Anderson, Julian Childs-Walker, Adam Cochran, Rachel Deane, Sarah Frieberg and Brooklynn Johnson.
1000 Broadway • gensac.org In lieu of its regular meeting, GAS will host a tour of the Historic City Cemetery. The tour is open to the public. Non-GAS members will be asked for a $5 donation to the Old City Cemetery Committee restoration fund.
Milk & Cookies: Author Reading Queer Sacramento Authors Collective Friday, Aug. 24, 7–9 p.m. Lavender Library, 1414 21st St. • qsac.rocks Join this newly formed group—founded by author J. Scott Coatsworth—of Sacramento-area queer and/or queer fiction authors for four readings a year. This month’s reading includes milk and cookies!
Kachina Collection of the Late Thomas Empey Witherell’s Auction House Aug. 2–16 Preview on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 10 a.m–1 p.m. 1925 C St. • witherells.com Bid online at this premiere auction featuring more than 100 Kachina dolls from the collection of the late Thomas Empey (1946-2016). Empey’s curation emphasizes the family lineage of artists. The sacred art of Kachina carving is passed down from one generation to the next.
Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. n
The Kachina collection of the late Thomas Empey will be up for auction at Witherell's.
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Print Powerhouse EAST SACRAMENTO McKINLEY PARK RIVER PARK ELMHURST TAHOE PARK CAMPUS COMMONS
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2018 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
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CHALLENGING INDUSTRY ENVIRONMENT REQUIRES FINE TUNING OF OPERATIONS
F
or more than a decade, the death of printed news has been heralded among the smart set. Readers over 50 might recall predictions about a society absent of all paper when the digital age began more than 25 years ago. A look around our homes and offices today will tell you otherwise! While almost everything arrives electronically, companies have discovered humans can easily overlook or lose track of electronic communications. Therefore, physical paper backups are required to get and hold readers’ attentions and move them to action. We founded Inside Publications in 1996 amid this climate and anticipated it might be an uphill battle. But looking back on more than 20 years, our experience would be better described as an opportunity. We took a radically different approach and delivered local news unavailable elsewhere, directly to neighborhood
CH By Cecily Hastings Publisher’s Desk
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homes at no cost to our readers. Our model was based on being fully financed by small-business advertisers. Those advertisers have remained loyal because they see value in reaching audiences that surround their businesses. And some things changed. When we started, readers typically maintained a paid subscription to a regional daily newspaper for local news. As we approach our 25th anniversary in 2021, we are refining and refocusing what we do. Recent paper price increases amounting to more than $3,000 a month have been tough to swallow. The margins in our business can’t absorb significant cost increases without greater revenue from advertising. So we are working on multiple fronts to grow our business and become even more efficient with technology. Our five monthly editions grew over a 20-year period, one edition at a time. Each market has its own identity and stands alone in providing local news. But combined, our monthly circulation of all editions now tops 85,000. And that makes Inside Publications the largest print monthly in the region by a substantial margin. Our circulation is more than twice that of Sactown and more than triple Sacramento Magazine. We print and deliver more copies each month
than both of them combined. Only the free weekly newsstand alternative Sacramento News & Review comes close to us, and it appeals to a much different audience and younger demographic. We have no plans to abandon the neighborhood market-based editions. But we do have plans to leverage our combined circulation for what it is—an audience of more than 60 neighborhoods in five unique editions. Our demographic mix is unique and extremely attractive to local advertisers because our readers have substantially higher-than-average incomes, property values and home ownership rates than the region. Until now, we have devoted our resources almost exclusively to print. And folks often tell me how much they appreciate taking time to sit down with a cup of coffee and enjoy our paper. But we realize we have far more local content available for readers than what we have space to publish. So we are redesigning our website to be more reader and content friendly. While we have been growing for nearly a quarter-century, the naysayers who predicted doom for print were right about one local product: The Sacramento Bee. The paper’s circulation has dropped dramatically in the last decade. A
recent newsroom layoff took out many popular writers, and print subscribers are quitting in droves. My husband and I were loyal print subscribers to The Bee, beginning in 1990. But a year ago, The Bee mailed a letter congratulating us that we now could enjoy a special rate of $8.50 a week. That sounded high, so I checked my most recent annual payment. The “special” rate was actually a huge price increase. A friend told me to cancel, predicting I would be asked what price I would pay to stay. Here’s the part that made me crazy: Nowhere did the letter include a phone number or email to contact The Bee. So I went page by page through the website and finally found a number for customer service. During 20 minutes on hold waiting for a rep to answer, a screen popped up on The Bee’s site offering print and digital for $1 a week. When the rep finally answered and looked up my account, he noted the date when my home delivery would cease under my old payment plan. I asked about the $1 special, and he said I didn’t qualify! That was the end for me. On a side note, I also manage a Bee print subscription for an elderly friend. Since I pay the bill for her, I tried to use her digital access. After four calls to customer service, The Bee could not make it work. Instead,
I was given the e-edition address that allows open access for readers. My husband still misses his daily crossword puzzles. My friend saves them for him. There are industry rumors that The Bee’s print operations will wind down in the next year or two. The paper has not made any announcements about cutting print, but signs suggest it’s coming. The McClatchy Co. sold the paper’s Q Street headquarters and leased back the building. It actively encourages print customers via email to read online. The Bee has abandoned the circulation audits that were the print industry’s gold standard just a few years ago. And last month, the regional corporate editor (the Sacramento executive editor position was eliminated) penned a front-page appeal asking readers to pony up $119 a year for digital subscriptions to allow The Bee to stay afloat and report local news. With 60,000 digital subscriptions, the editor said the revenue could finance a news organization that has been decimated over the last 10 years. The editor’s begging amounted to more than $7 million annually. We could only dream of those kinds of budgets! Some people assume I’d be happy if The Bee ceased printing. But that’s not the case. I believe the more local news, the better—our democracy depends on educated citizens, and newspapers play a big role in civic education. The only people who benefit from less news reporting are local politicians who become free to operate as if no one is watching their behavior. Even more at risk is access to diverse opinions on issues, especially controversies that involve
local government spending, land use and social policies that impact our neighborhoods. Despite the dire predictions and gloomy situation at The Bee, newspaper subscriptions nationwide have been on the rise since 2017. A recent study found 169 million U.S. adults, who comprise 70 percent of the population, read newspapers every month. Studies also show print advertising has greater credibility with readers. Newspapers still retain audience trust. According to the News Media Alliance, fewer than 10 percent of readers report seeing “fake news” in their newspapers, and readers’ trust of ads came in at 75 percent for national and 79 percent for local newspapers. There are also reports that folks find it much more difficult to remember what is read online. Studies show that recall of things read in hard-copy newspapers and magazines substantially exceeds those read in digital format. It has to do with the brain’s ability to visualize and then recall. The same differences also apply to the recall of advertising in print vs. digital. We employ more than two-dozen paid writers each month to bring you stories of the most interesting people, places and events, in addition to creating more than a dozen other publishing jobs. My husband and I also have found great joy in using our publications to help the local arts, volunteer and philanthropy communities reach their audiences. In 2012, when the Clunie Community Center and McKinley Rose Garden faced closure by the city,
Friends of East Sacramento—the nonprofit that Lisa Schmidt and I founded—could not have moved forward without Inside Publication’s audience and influence. The publications were integral in helping us reach donors, recognize sponsors, recruit volunteers and market the properties for rent. Six years later we raised more than $250,000 and renovated both facilities. You might not agree with everything you read from us, but you will always find valuable local content not available elsewhere. Stay tuned for some great changes!
WITH APPRECIATION Two of our most valuable employees moved on last month and I want to acknowledge the tremendous role they played in the success of our company. After more than 20 years with Inside Publications, account representative Ann Tracy has retired,
along with our editor Marybeth Bizjak. Both started in our first few years. Marybeth introduced me to her friend, Ann, when we needed a rep for our advertising sales. It didn’t matter that she had no sales’ experience. Being an active mother of four meant she was an expert organizer. The three of us are about the same age, and our children, who are also the same ages, knew each other when they were little. Ann worked diligently and professionally with our advertisers and our staff loved her. Marybeth taught me everything I know about editing, and was the consummate professional. I valued her advice tremendously. We will miss them both but they deserve to start another chapter in their lives. We wish them only the best! Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. n
Civic projects, such as the privately funded renovations of the McKinley Rose Garden (shown here, photo taken by a drone) in 2012, would not have taken place without the support of Inside Publications.
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Tales Of The
(River) City LOCAL LGBTQ AUTHOR RELEASES FIRST BOOK
J. Scott Coatsworth
W
hat author Armistead Maupin did for San Francisco in his iconic novel series “Tales of the City,” author J. Scott Coatsworth has done for Sacramento. Coatsworth’s first self-published book, “The River City Chronicles,” is an amalgam of short mystery stories set in Midtown that began as a weekly serial. “I’ve been writing pretty much all my life, but after being rejected by a bunch of publishers in my twenties, I put writing on the back shelf until my mid-forties,” Coatsworth says. “When I came back to it, I started a blog and wanted to have some great content for my readers. One of my earliest novellas, ‘Between the Lines,’ was a magical realism tale set in Sacramento, so I used that as
JL By Jessica Laskey Life on the Grid
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a starting point for ‘The River City Chronicles.’” He lives in River Park with his husband Mark. Coatsworth describes the book as “a kitchen sink of my interests—of my adopted hometown, the Italian language (and Italian food—there are recipes at the back of the book) and the queer community.” Originally from Tucson via the Bay Area, Coatsworth initially found Sacramento lacking many of the amenities he’d grown used to in San Francisco. But he says that over the years it’s been “my pleasure to watch it grow and change and, in particular, to see Midtown transform and flourish.” You’ll recognize many of your favorite local haunts in the book, from Zocalo to the Everyday Grind coffee shop, which makes the book a mustread for anyone who loves the River City. “The River City Chronicles” is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, Apple Books and in local bookstores.
MAKING DANCE MORE INCLUSIVE Capital Dance Project announced in June that it is one of 133 grantees chosen for the California Arts Council’s Local Impact program. CDP is an independent collective of professional ballet dancers that every summer produces the multimedia performance piece “Behind the Barre: Made in Sacramento” in conjunction with local artists and musicians. The $9,000 grant will help CDP expand its outreach programming to
present two matinee Sensory-Friendly Dance Performances of “Behind the Barre” on Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Crocker Art Museum. By making accommodations to the existing performance—including shortening the run time; allowing the audience to move, sing and dance along; lowering the volume; and removing flashing or bright-light effects—CDP will be able to offer individuals with sensory disabilities, including autism, an inclusive theater environment.
Artist Mark Dean Veca in front of his artwork at Crocker Art Museum.
Capital Dance Project aims at making dance performances more inclusive.
Seven Sacramento-area museums are offering free admission to all active-duty military personnel and their families. “The Local Impact grant program strikes at the heart of the issue of access and equity in the arts,” says Nashormeh Lindo of the California Arts Council. “CDP’s project is crucial to help arts and culture opportunities reach California’s marginalized communities and promote the unique creative expressions within that community.” For more information, visit capitaldanceproject.org.
WE’RE ALL MAD HERE Last summer, Sacramentans were introduced to artist Mark Dean Veca’s psychedelic landscapes made up of surreal cartoons and pop-culture iconography during his installation “Maddest Hatter” at the Crocker Art Museum, as part of the hit exhibition “Turn the Page: The First Ten Years of Hi-Fructose.” This summer, we’ll be treated again to Veca’s unique artistic eye in a new installation that comes as part
of his receipt of the John S. Knudsen Endowment Fund’s $25,000 prize. The fund was established at the Crocker in late 2012 by a gift from the estate of art collector John Knudsen to support an emerging or mid-career California artist. Veca returned to the Crocker at the beginning of the summer to get started on a new, site-specific installation inside a corridor gallery that links Friedman Court to the museum’s first-floor education center. He aims to honor the existing architecture while transforming the space into an all-encompassing experience—and if you know Veca, it will be quite the experience. For more information, visit crockerart.org.
plans for a new food hall and market set to open at the Mill at Broadway housing development by fall 2019. Market Club at the Mill was dreamt up by The Golden Group’s Sonny Mayugba (co-owner of Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar and the upcoming Solomon’s Delicatessen and Tiger), his partners David Pringle and Andrea Lepore (who also owns Hot Italian), and project manager Julie Young of Urban Elements. Housed in a former warehouse, Market Club will include food vendors, boutique retailers, office space, artist studios, a patio overlooking a new park and Smash Table Tennis Bar (a ping-pongthemed watering hole), as well as a potential local farmers market space run by the Center for Land-Based Learning.
ANYONE FOR TABLE TENNIS?
FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION FOR MILITARY
The Golden Group—a group of local restaurateurs—has announced
Seven Sacramento-area museums are offering free admission to all
active-duty military personnel and their families through Labor Day (Sept. 3) via Blue Star Museums, a collaboration of the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, Department of Defense and more than 2,000 museums across the country. Aerospace Museum of California, California Automobile Museum, California Museum, Crocker Art Museum, Fairytale Town, Powerhouse Science Center and Sacramento History Museum are participating. Free admission is available to active-duty military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard), National Guard and Reserve members, and up to five immediate family members. Check with individual museums for hours of operation. For more information, visit sacmuseums.org. Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. n
Rendering of the Market Club at the Mill, which is scheduled to open in fall 2019.
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Tres Bon
ESTELLE BAKERY RETURNS WITH FRENCH TREATS GALORE
T
here are pastries and there are pastries. The first category includes bear claws and Danishes wrapped in cellophane
and laid out in an office break room, slightly sad and sweaty, sitting on a table next to a note about leaving a dollar and reminding the reader of the honor system or some fundraising enterprise. At the other end of the spectrum are sugary, glistening dollops of brightly hued perfection, golden-hued sweet breads and fragile creations ready to dissolve with just the softest bite. I’m happy to say that Estelle Bakery & Patisserie traffics in the latter. I don’t want you to think that all Estelle puts out are sugary delicacies, but they are the thing you first notice when you walk in the door of the Arden Way shop. The colors, the textures, the sheer decadence that is the pastry case at Estelle are simply astounding. Having been raised Catholic, I feel a certain guilt just being in the same room with such indulgence.
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To think of eating these treats almost makes my head explode. But for you, dear reader, I entered the belly of the beast and took on the challenge of supping full on the sinful delight of French pastry. And let me tell you, it was pretty darned swell. Let’s start with things other than sweet treats because I don’t want them to get short shrift. First, the basics: You might remember Estelle holding down a prominent corner on 9th and K streets for many years. After leaving that location, the Estelle team set their sights on a commodious space on Arden Way near Fulton Avenue. This new outpost is large, serene and has a pastry case that seems as long as a bowling alley. Just a few months ago, a second, smaller Estelle opened in Downtown Commons near Golden 1 Center. This petite locale is perfect for folks working Downtown or living in close proximity to the arena. If you’re stopping in for breakfast, the options are numerous and tempting. Croissants—plain, almond, chocolate, ham and cheese—are
prepared in the classic French fashion. Their buttery, flaky goodness is so thoroughly apparent, you almost don’t have to eat them to know they’re good. Eat them anyway. A breakfast sandwich featuring ham, cheese, egg and aioli is a wonderfully indulgent way to start the morning. At most places in California, you’ll find a slice of tomato or avocado or a handful of arugula on your breakfast sandwich. Not at Estelle. You get a proper French breakfast sandwich, on brioche, without even the suggestion of fruit or vegetable. Muffins abound. Scones prosper. And, like I said, croissants overflow. However, while you’re still staring at the pastry case, may I suggest a slice of quiche for a lovely brunch or lunch? Served with a delicate side salad, ham or veggie quiche not only fills you up but does it with a certain Gallic homeyness that is hard to replicate. At Estelle, the insanely flaky crust might actually outshine the dense, flavorful egg filling. Let’s move on to pastries. The first thing you might notice is the
macarons. Let’s be clear: These are not macaroons, the fluffy balls of coconut, egg and sugar that are one of my favorite concoctions. Nor are we to confuse these treats with Macron, the surname of the current president of France. These are macarons, small sandwich confections that combine light-as-air meringue cookies and indulgently sweet fillings, usually in rainbow-defying colors not found in nature. These little sandwichy treats gained popularity in the United States a little more than a decade ago. Now, macarons are sold in nearly every city in the country. Estelle happens to make them quite well. Lemon, raspberry, lime, vanilla and other macaron flavors fill the case. Oversized versions stuffed with fresh raspberries and cream delight the senses.
Then there are the glistening raspberry domes, prettier than the topper of your favorite cathedral. Architecturally and visually stunning, these tiny almond cakes with raspberry mousse raise decadence to a new standard. There are cookies, cheese Danishes, turnovers and sweet breads of innumerable quantity. There are candies and more. And then there’s the croixnut—a doughnut made from croissant dough. It is one of my favorite things I’ve eaten this year. Estelle Bakery & Patisserie is at 2530 Arden Way; (916) 551-1500; estellebakery.com. The Downtown location is on David J. Stern Walk near 7th and K streets. Greg Sabin can be reached at gregsabin@hotmail.com. n
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Bigger Than Life
FINE ARTIST FINDS NEW INSPIRATION CREATING OUTDOOR MURALS
A
s recently as two years ago, widely acclaimed local artist Maren Conrad had no interest whatsoever in painting outdoor murals. Conrad had painted interior murals before, and she was comfortable working on large-scale projects, usually in her trademark medium of metal leaf and layered resin, but she never considered herself a street artist. “I was a little
DB By Daniel Barnes Artist Spotlight
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bit daunted about painting a large exterior mural,” says Conrad. “I was concerned about being able to bring the quality of fine art into a street-art application.” The Wide Open Walls outdoor mural festival in the summer of 2017 changed everything for Conrad, and now she envisions outdoor murals as her dominant art form for the foreseeable future. Conrad’s first outdoor mural, the enormous koi fish gracing the block-long back wall of the MARRS building on 20th Street, only came about because she objected to another artist’s vision for that space. “At that point, I realized I had an opinion and an interest in it,” she says. When the original artist backed out, Conrad signed on for the MARRS mural, even though she knew the $2,500 stipend
would cover only a fraction of the materials required to execute her vision. “I wanted it to feel consistent with the rest of my artwork, and something that felt like a giant piece of fine art in the middle of the city,” she explains. Conrad blew through the stipend almost immediately, as the expensive metallic paint she used rapidly evaporated in the hot August sun. A few donors came to the rescue, and a volunteer army of assistant painters mobilized via social media. “I ended up building an amazing mural crew,” says Conrad. “I couldn’t believe how many different people walked up and offered to pick up a paintbrush.” Since the MARRS building borders the original rail line that helped California achieve prosperity, Conrad wanted to create a tribute to the Chinese workers who built the railroads. “I really wanted to do something that gave a nod to prosperity, referencing Chinese immigrants specifically, without doing something overly colorful, overly complicated or portraiture,” she says. The
giant koi references an ancient Chinese legend about a determined fish that swam up a waterfall into a cave and flew out a dragon. “It’s about being a fighter, and the message isn’t luck. It’s not like winning a lottery ticket,” she says. “The message is prosperity through perseverance.” Perseverance has defined her career. Outside Sacramento, Conrad is best known for her controversial Politically Vulnerable show in 2013. She created a dozen portraits of the wives, girlfriends and mistresses of California governors to hang at Vanguard, a nightclub across the street from the Capitol. The exhibit included images of Linda Ronstadt, Maria Shriver and actresses Piper Laurie, Brigitte Nielsen and Gigi Goyette. “Every single woman that was featured in those portraits publicly spoke about their sexual relationships with men in leadership, and the men in leadership took active roles to silence them,” says Conrad. An offended female lobbyist insisted Vanguard remove the exhibit, and the story went viral when The Associated Press picked it up. “It was Me Too before Me Too—that was the whole point,” says Conrad when asked why the story became national news five years ago. “I think at the time there was this bend to people
insidepublications.com
VISIT starting to see that it was something that needed to be talked about.” Conrad probably would have continued creating art for indoor spaces if not for the outpouring of community support for her MARRS mural. “It really changed my view of what I wanted to do with my art career for probably the rest of forever,” she says. “When you do public art, you open a conversation with everybody to talk about, which is new to me.” After approaching the MARRS mural like a painting, she wanted to incorporate the frame-within-a-frame optics of Instagram into her next major outdoor work. “I wanted to do something that invites the viewer, that makes you want to be in it,” she notes. That ambition became “The Wishing Well,” the ethereal dandelion mural in an alley at I and 19th streets. “It invites you to stand underneath this magnificent, goldenstemmed, larger-than-life dandelion,” she says. “It’s not behind a gate. It’s not only for certain people. It’s in
the dank tunnels and alleyways of Midtown.” Conrad’s other outdoor projects include an enormous sneaker mural on the side of Urban Roots Brewery & Smokehouse on V Street and a mural depicting the title character of “Lady Bird,” Greta Gerwig’s Oscarnominated love song to Sacramento, at 16th and I streets. Conrad first met Gerwig six years ago when the filmmaker and actress stopped by her studio with mutual friends. “She made something magical through something ordinary, and my art career is just like that,” says Conrad. “I take all this unremarkable stuff and make something remarkable and edited and refined that people can understand.” Wide Open Walls takes place Aug. 9–19. For more information, go to wow916.com. To learn more about Maren Conrad, go to marenconrad. com. Daniel Barnes can be reached at danielebarnes@hotmail.com. n
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! E R SCO
SMALL S MALL B BUSINESS USINESS ME N TO R HELPS MENTOR HELPS ENTREPRENEURS ENTREPRENEURS R E A L I Z E THEIR REALIZE THEIR DREAMS DREAMS
Keith Walter
K
eith Walter is admittedly “terrible at retirement.” The 62-year-old has tried to retire several times over the past several years and each time he’s found himself diving back into the work world at the behest of friends who need his skills as a telecommunications expert. “I love to problem solve,” says Walter, who started out as a physicist before getting involved in engineering and technology, where he specializes in “transformation projects” (when telecommunications companies periodically upgrade their technology, a consultant like Walter helps smooth the transition). “The bigger the problem, the better for me.” But Walter has discovered that his favorite problem solving to date has come from his work as a small business mentor with SCORE, a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow and succeed nationwide. Walter first got involved with the Sacramento chapter of SCORE—which he now chairs—six years ago when he and his wife moved to Fair Oaks after By Jessica Laskey one of his many attempts at retirement since age Giving Back: Volunteer Profile 50. He joined SCORE, Rotary and half a dozen
JL
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other local service organizations in an effort to keep himself rooted instead of jetting off to the next exciting project (recent work has taken him to Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore). “The idea was if I got involved in enough activities, I wouldn’t have time to un-retire,” Walter says. “Though, it certainly hasn’t changed my desire to run off to exotic locales.” But it did introduce Walter to an organization that has allowed him to share his extensive knowledge base with others trying to follow in his footsteps. Approximately 40 volunteer SCORE counselors with a wide range of business backgrounds work with applicants to discuss everything from business plans to escape plans. “About 2,000 people contact us each year asking for help,” Walter says. “The vast majority will never go on to start a business. Half of our work is walking them through what it takes to start a business so they don’t lose their life savings or put their families or future at risk. Often, their dream is a good dream but they don’t have the resources to start it right now, so we redirect them to explore other options within their profession, work with local job centers to find a new job or work on their finances.” This screening process not only helps avert potential disaster but also lets SCORE focus its efforts on those who are ready to start a business and provide them with connections to the Small Business Administration, city, county and state governments, chambers of commerce and financial institutions to help them begin or improve their operations. SCORE also holds workshops four times a month about the fundamentals of getting started and matches applicants with local mentors who can provide a specific skillset. “I’ve long believed that small business is the backbone of our economy and success as a country,” Walter says. “Someone might have a passion but not have the background or skills to turn that passion into a profitable business. SCORE has done great work over the last 50 years bringing those passionate people together with those who are interested in giving back.” “My favorite part is when I’m able to find someone who listens and takes my advice and that advice turns out well for them,” he continues. “SCORE gives me a reason to get up in the morning and find another problem to solve. That’s the beauty of the nature of volunteering—you never know where it’s going to go.” To learn more about SCORE, visit sacramento.score.org. n
APPROXIMATELY 40 VOLUNTEER SCORE COUNSELORS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF BUSINESS BACKGROUNDS WORK WITH APPLICANTS TO DISCUSS EVERYTHING FROM BUSINESS PLANS TO ESCAPE PLANS.
Art Preview GALLERY ART SHOWS IN AUGUST
The ARTHOUSE presents “The Color of Trees,” a solo show by Kathy Dana celebrating the color, mythical shapes and beauty of trees across the world. Shown top left: “Ocean View,” acrylic on canvas by Dana. ARTHOUSE Gallery, 1021 R St., Second Floor; arthouseonr.com The August show at Tim Collom Gallery features four artists originally from China, now living here. Shown bottom left is a Chinese ink on paper by Leo Pan. 915 20th St.; timcollomgallery.com “Wildfire” is a show of new encaustics by Jaya King running Aug. 10 through Sept. 1. Shown top right is “Flare,” an encaustic by King. Sparrow Gallery, 1021 R St.; sparrowgallerysacramento.com Artistic Edge Gallery will feature works by Bob Tonjes, Tenley Willock, Kathi Gibson and TJ Owens. Shown bottom right: “Ripples to Serenity,” oil on canvas by Kathi Gibson. 1880 Fulton Ave.; artisticedgeframing.com
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Murals 2.0
WIDE OPEN WALLS RETURNS FOR A SECOND YEAR
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f you are one of the few Sacramento folks still unaware of Wide Open Walls, known as WOW—our local mural festival—you might be walking around our central city with your blinders on. In its inaugural year in 2017, more than 50 local, national and international artists literally painted the town—in every color of the spectrum—over a 10-day span last August. The festival is now returning for its second year running from Aug. 9—19. Sacramento’s first mural event—the Sacramento Mural Festival—was held in 2016.
JV By Jordan Venema Building Our Future
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Although most people may have seen and heard of WOW, many are unaware of the curator who partnered with WOW founder David Sobon to create the largest public arts project in the history of the West Coast. Warren Brand, CEO and founder of Los Angeles-based Branded Arts, has curated more than 350 public arts murals and projects in more than 50 cities worldwide. “I’m an art collector first and foremost,” says Brand. “My mom was a painter, and it’s kind of a natural progression to begin curating art and working with artists.” Now Brand says his passion is “to help bring artists to greater heights.” Brand and Sobon met shortly after the Sacramento Mural Festival in 2016, when Brand gave Sobon a tour of the Los Angeles site of the Robert F. Kennedy Mural Festival, which Brand had curated earlier that year. “That was 30 public art projects in a three-block radius at the largest
public school on the West Coast,” says Brand. Ultimately, Sobon partnered with Brand to create Wide Open Walls, a festival similar to the Robert F. Kenney mural event but larger in scope. “The thing about Sacramento is that it’s more spread out in terms of locations than almost any other festival in the world, in terms of the amount of miles between the walls,” explains Brand. “Most of the time festivals are very geographically concentrated.” And while WOW invites artists from all over the world to paint murals throughout the greater Sacramento area, the festival also dedicates about half its walls to local artists. The goal of the festival, says Brand, is “to cultivate the talent that’s already in Sacramento,” while showcasing talent from around the world.
WOW is building on last year’s momentum by continuing to curate renowned local and international artists, although it will also scale back its scope by concentrating on fewer neighborhoods. More than 40 artists will paint murals around the Grid’s Downtown and Midtown neighborhoods, while also focusing around Del Paso Boulevard and Oak Park. According to Sobon, this year’s WOW is partnering with Sacramento Promise Zone, a partnership of more than 150 private, nonprofit and public-sector organizations that serve 22 square miles of underserved neighborhoods in Sacramento. Sacramento Promise Zone’s vision is to ensure that all residents enjoy good health, improved educational opportunities, living wage jobs, economic opportunity and sustainable communities. And since its designation as a Promise Zone in 2015 by the U.S.
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Department of Housing and Urban Development, Sacramento Promise Zone has brought more than $100 million of investments into those neighborhoods. Of the participating artists in this year’s Wide Open Walls, the biggest name, and perhaps the most recognizable street artist, is Los Angeles-based Shepard Fairey, known best for his Obama Hope poster and OBEY brand. Fairey will paint the west-facing front of the Marriott at 1121 15th St., which already boasts a mural painted last year by New York-based artists and identical twin brothers How and Nosm. Other notable artists participating in this year’s WOW include Shamsia Hassani, Afghanistan’s first female street artist, and Portugal’s Bordalo II, who often incorporates sculptural elements into his murals. And while artists will come from Spain, Brazil,
Italy and Mexico, about half of the artists will be from Sacramento, including John Horton, Raphael Delgado and Lin Fei Fei. Locations of murals and artists will be available on the WOW website. WOW also plans to launch an app for navigation. An official “meet and greet” with the artists will be hosted at every mural site on Aug. 10 between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Wide Open Walls will also include three block parties on Aug. 10. at 1414 Del Paso Blvd., Aug. 11. at the Elks Tower at 12th and J streets, and Aug. 18 at 1625 Del Paso Blvd. These parties will be free to the public and will include food trucks, live music and live painting, with more events to be announced on wideopenwalls.org.
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Parkway Visionary Frank Cirill by the American River. Photo courtesy of The Sacramento Bee.
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t’s easy to take the American River Parkway for granted, but it wasn’t easy to create. River Park resident Frank Cirill fought many battles to establish and protect the parkway. At its inception, there were fights to buy land and acquire easements. Along the way, there were conflicts over denial of public access to the Fair Oaks Bluffs, Cal Expo’s attempt to build a large parking lot near the river, and East Bay Municipal Utility District’s scheme to take American River water. Cirill as board member, president and president emeritus
WS By Walt SeLfert Getting There
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of the Save the American River Association was there for each of those fights and many more. Cirill died in early 2017 at age 94 after living in River Park for 52 years. Cirill never wanted to hide the parkway away like a jewel in a safedeposit box. He wanted to share it and see it shine. His vision was bigger than creating and protecting a worldclass parkway, a worthy dream in its own right. His larger vision was knitting together disconnected parkway trails and having people actively use them. Cirill loved the natural beauty of the parkway and thoroughly enjoyed its recreational opportunities. He used the parkway often and intensively to fish, kayak, run and bike. He was a triathlete, helping organize and participating in Eppie’s Great Race. “He ran on the parkway 20 miles a week until he was 86, and then he continued walking,” said his
daughter, Lisa Cirill. “He exercised until the day he died.” In my conversation with Lisa, she said her dad “worked for over 50 years to get critical connections needed” in the parkway and was a resolute advocate for better access. He wanted his neighbors and the larger community to experience the parkway’s tranquility and unique landscape. Lisa was a top administrator at the California Department of Public Health. She knows the importance of physical activity. She also knows that exercising in nature produces a unique boost to mental health. Lisa grew up in River Park. She lives there today in a house next to her parents’ home. She told me a story about a controversy over adding tennis courts at Glenn Hall Park when she was girl. There was opposition based on worries that the courts would bring in outsiders. The
courts were built and there haven’t been any problems. Lisa understands the current concerns of some River Park residents about building the Two Rivers Trail, a paved trail along the levee bottom on the river side, a place where there’s now a beaten dirt path. A levee top project probably would have been ideal for river views and to avoid trail flooding and damage, but planners conceded to residents’ worries about loss of privacy. Still “Save Don’t Pave” signs in River Park reflect other concerns, including harm to the natural environment and fears about crime and impacts from the homeless. For Lisa, the benefits from improving the public’s access to the parkway—a parkway that is nationally significant—are overwhelmingly positive. She pointed out that access to the parkway often is a selling point in River Park real estate listings and lifts home values.
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Brian Holloway American River Flood Control District “I pledge to keep taxes low and flood protection high.” As a lifelong Sacramento resident Brian Holloway will continue to work to guarantee our levees receive the best maintenance and reinforcement to keep your home and family safe. Director, Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency Board Past President, East Sac Chamber of Commerce East Sacramento Improvement Assn. Board
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all owe a debt to Frank Cirill for his vision and dedication. Over the years, the city and other agencies have improved my neighbors’ access to the parkway. The levee top between H Street and the Guy West Bridge was paved. Sac State made the connection to the Guy West Bridge safer and friendlier. The city built a trail undercrossing at the west end of the H Street Bridge. The city added bike lanes to J Street (between 56th Street and the campus entrance) and on H Street (between Carlson and 56th). Most recently, a bike lane was added to H Street between Camellia Avenue and Carlson. I look forward to more improvements that will serve our neighborhoods for generations to come. They will all contribute to Frank Cirill’s legacy. Walt Seifert is executive director of Sacramento Trailnet, an organization devoted to promoting greenways with paved trails. He can be reached at bikeguy@surewest.net. n
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Like her father, Lisa is a proponent of the Two Rivers Trail, and having the parkway accessible to everyone, of all ages and abilities. She said, “I wish he were still alive to see it happen, but he knew it would because it was in city and county plans.” And not just in local bike plans. Cirill was one of the 24 citizen advisory committee members who updated the American River Parkway Master Plan in 2008. Frank and the other community members spent years crafting a master plan that was then approved by the city, county and state. A fundamental plan goal is “to ensure preservation of the naturalistic environment while providing … human enjoyment of the Parkway.” I bike in the parkway at least twice a week, and my wife and I walk along the river as well. I’m very glad that 40 years ago we chose to live nearby. I still marvel at the parkway’s beauty and its wildlife. I thrill at seeing a deer, a great blue heron or even a rattlesnake. I can’t imagine Sacramento without the parkway. We
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East Meets West
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lthough a budding rock star artist in her native China, Lin Fei Fei didn’t know a soul in Sacramento when she and her Detroit-born boyfriend moved here in August 2015. Lin completed her MFA at the prestigious Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang, a city with a population of more than 8 million, and participated in art shows across Asia and Europe. She also was named one of the 10 “Contemporary Chinese Artists of the Future” by the Wang Shi Kuo Art Foundation in Beijing. A swift case of culture shock came in the form of the sleepy Sacramento suburbs. “I come from a big city, and the first time I got to Roseville, everything was so quiet, and everything was so slow,” she says. “I was depressed for a while, because
ARTIST LIN FEI FEI DEVELOPS CROSS-CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER ARTISTS
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I had just graduated, and I was full of energy. I wanted to do things, I wanted to travel and explore, but I felt like I was lost in an ocean.” Language initially was a barrier, but Lin’s outgoing nature, insane talent and innate curiosity in other people and cultures won out. It wasn’t long before she began making allies in the Sacramento art scene, while still maintaining her contacts in China. “Slowly, I tried to build relationships and connect with people on Facebook, go to different galleries and introduce myself,” she says. “I worked to help introduce several Sacramento artists to China, offering them opportunities to show and sell their art in China.” A connection with local artist Gabriel Sanford inspired Lin to bring Sanford’s work back to Shenyang, where Lin helped create the East Meets West International Art Exhibition at the Jolie Gallery in 2016. Sanford and Lin were the only two Sacramento-based artists to show at the exhibition, but that was only the beginning. “The next year I tried to go to different art shows, meet people,
and try to get to know more people, and show them the artistic talent in Sacramento,” she says. Lin participated in the high-profile, large-form art installation Art Street in early 2017, which allowed her to connect with some of the most exciting, and often unheralded, figures in the Sacramento art world. Emboldened by these new connections and bolstered by corporate support, the second annual East Meets West show featured the work of a whopping 18 Sacramento artists. Painter Andy Cunningham was the only featured artist besides Lin to travel to China with the show, which kicked off with an event that drew more than 300 people. “The show was received very well, a lot of people came to the opening,” he says. “People would come to the gallery and we’d have a sit-down discussion, a tradition there, but not so frequent in the U.S.” Lin sold a piece of art before the show even opened in July 2017, and she credits a high level of Chinese interest in East Meets West because of the country’s booming art scene.
“The economy is growing so fast, and people have actual money, and they want to buy art,” she says. “They’re curious about art, and they’re curious about what other people do from other sides of the world.” For Lin Fei Fei’s part, curiosity about art and other cultures started at a very early age. She has been drawing every day since she was 6 years old, and she was exposed to the art and literature of other cultures through her father, who she describes as “a very romantic guy.” Along her artistic path, she acquired influence from professors and gained inspiration from European artists, including Francis Bacon, and female artists, such as Georgia O’Keefe. Although she uses a variety of materials in her work, Lin specializes in intense oil paintings that blend the visceral with the sensual. “My work technically is the realistic style mixed with an abstract technique, and my theme is always around humanity and sexuality,” she says. “Different races and colors and cultures and backgrounds are shown, suggesting
we all have the same weakness or desire.” After a rocky start in Roseville, Lin has since moved to Midtown, where the urban energy is a little more her speed, and where she can bike to her studio on 21st Street. “People are nice, and the art scene is growing, but not crazy,” she says. “San Francisco or New York or Los Angeles is like a more mature person. I feel Sacramento is still a teenager, it’s growing.” There are plans for more East Meets West-style exchange shows in the future, but for now Lin is focused on creating more art, showing in other cities and appreciating the diversity of her adopted hometown. “First time I came here, I feel this is a wonderful place because people are from different places and speak different languages,” she says. “This is the kind of place I’ve always been looking for.” Lin Fei Fei is participating in the 2018 Wide Open Walls mural festival Aug. 9-19. Visit linfeifeiart.com and wideopenwalls.org. n
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Functional Arthouse LOCAL ARTIST TURNS EAST SAC BUNGALOW INTO CREATIVE LIVING
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hen Marc and Ingrid Foster purchased their 1922 East Sacramento bungalow in 2008, “the walls were crumbling, the floors were sloping and everything needed to be updated,” says Ingrid, cringing. But
CR By Cathryn Rakich Home Insight
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the recently married couple looked beyond that. “We immediately saw the potential and charm it had.” Delving into such an extensive project would have been daunting for most people, but the Fosters had two important things on their side. Both come from families adept at swinging a hammer. Marc grew up in Texas, where his family owned and restored an 1892 Queen Anne Victorian. With this experience under their belts, Marc’s two brothers flew out from Texas to help with the East Sac remodel. Ingrid’s parents also have a background in construction, building
homes in Lake Tahoe, where Marc and Ingrid lived briefly before moving to Sacramento. Second, and more importantly, Marc is a renowned artist and craftsman, specializing in largeformat, three-dimensional visual and functional art. “Wood, tons of stainless steel, new purchased materials, artifacts, found objects, concrete,” lists Marc, checking off his preferred mediums. The recipient of the 2018 Visual Artist of the Year Award by the Arts & Business Council of the Sacramento Region, Marc has an impressive
portfolio. “La Feuille,” an 18-foothigh honed stainless-steel sculpture of tree leaves emerging from the ground, can be found at the entrance to East Sacramento’s McKinley Village. Other recent projects include work at Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters and Wildwood Kitchen & Bar; “gritty” bench seating at The Bank, a soonto-open food and beverage hall on J Street; and a steel sculpture created from a salvaged boiler (rescued from the old Crystal Ice plant) for the Ice Blocks at 17th and R streets. Marc also has donated pieces to the annual Crocker Art Auction.
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With Marc’s artistic vision and renovation experience, the couple went to work to give new life to their 1,447-square-foot home with two bedrooms, one bath and a sunroom (which has taken on various roles over the years—from office to nursery to playroom—as their family has expanded). In addition, there is a bonus room with a half bath and a fully functional apartment in the back. The remodel included eliminating doors, tearing down walls and ripping up linoleum to expose original wood floors. “There were five doors that led into the kitchen and breakfast nook,” laments Marc. The original venting flue, which had been concealed within a wall, was uncovered to expose the old red brick. Marc’s two brothers helped build new cabinets in the kitchen, which now features a walk-in pantry, granite countertops and a tumbled-marble backsplash. A new front door came from a friend’s flat in San Francisco. In addition to the structural elements, Marc’s “functional artwork” is seen throughout the home: a modern metal coat rack; a cabinet of white oak and galvanized-steel tiles; wood-and-steel bar stools bolted to the floor; iron sconces flanking the fireplace; an industrial bunk-style bed suspended halfway up the wall; a bed and dresser of hot-rolled steel and padauk, an exotic wood from Africa; a privacy wall made of mahogany scraps; a kitchen table created from 1920s railcar floorboards with benches that double as storage. Ingrid
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DELVING INTO SUCH AN EXTENSIVE PROJECT WOULD HAVE BEEN DAUNTING FOR MOST PEOPLE, BUT THE FOSTERS HAD TWO IMPORTANT THINGS ON THEIR SIDE.
calls it “creative living in small spaces. You have to get inventive.” For their five-year wedding anniversary, Marc carved a figure of a woman with child from the wood of a landmark camphor tree in Midtown that had to be removed in 2012 due to disease. He also constructed a trilevel playhouse around a mature tree in the backyard for the couple’s two children. With the addition of their son and daughter, as well as a lovable golden retriever, the Fosters have already set their sights on another fixer-upper, also in East Sac, with a larger floor plan and bigger backyard. “We will be doing this all over again with little ones. Back then, we were footloose and fancy free,” says Ingrid, who has an MBA in strategic management and marketing and oversees the business side of her husband’s work. “Whatever it takes so Marc can do the creative stuff.” Are they looking forward to another major renovation? “Aspects,” admits Marc. “I’m a lot busier now than I was before. I might not be doing all of the work myself.” “Just the custom cool stuff,” adds Ingrid. Cathryn Rakich can be reached at crakich@ surewest.net. n
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Retail Therapy BASEBALL FANS HAVE A PLACE TO SHOP AT RALEY FIELD
O
ne hot afternoon this summer, I parked on 3rd Street, walked across Tower Bridge and wandered into the River Cats On Deck retail store at Raley Field. I expected to find sales racks filled with the stuff of
RG By R.E. Graswich Sports Authority
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stocked with teenagers goofing around. It’s a lovely, youthful environment. But the teens are immersed in themselves, not cultural legends and baseball technicalities. Yet there they were: Joe and Marilyn and a scorebook, relics from another generation, when baseball players wore flannels and fans showed up in suits, hats and dresses. For the record, DiMaggio had a Sacramento connection. The Clipper often attended State Fair horse races. The store has more surprises, all by design. The manager, Rose Holland, has been moving merchandise at Raley Field for 10 years. She and her merchandise team go beyond the essential retail duties of stocking what sells. They help create logos and designs, and they format the shop based on weather and holidays. “There’s a point each year when sweatshirts and blankets are replaced by T-shirts,” Holland says. “But we’re given a fairly free hand on what we display.” The shop is impressively diverse for a business that’s hyperfocused on a single brand. Actually, there are four brands that intrigue customers in various nooks around the store: Store manager Rose Holland (left) with assistant manager Erin Kilby River Cats, San Francisco Giants, at the River Cats' retail store On Deck. Sacramento Solons and Dorados de Sacramento, the Spanish alter ego of impulse buys and yard sales. Instead, I apparel to hats to toys and games. the River Cats. discovered a remarkable emporium of But it also featured two items I never The Giants represent a huge part baseball culture, Sacramento style. expected to find: a book about the of the shop’s inventory and a big The River Cats’ store is no ordinary tortured relationship between Joe chunk of its success. As parent club collection of kitsch and textiles with a DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe, and to the River Cats, the Giants and local sporting theme. The shop reflects an old-fashioned baseball scorebook. their orange-and-black merchandise a sophisticated curation of goods that The literary offerings were a treat, are far easier to market than their demonstrate an appreciation—no, a given the store’s demographic targets predecessors in green and yellow, the love—of baseball and its history. The and abundance of young fans at Oakland Athletics. store is worth a visit, even on a hot Raley Field. “We stock a lot of different stuff afternoon when the River Cats are out The kids who fill the seats and from the Giants, and it’s very of town. concourse at Raley Field probably popular,” Holland says. “We have A table near the front door was know nothing about MM and the their Memorial Day and July Fourth my introduction to the delights and Clipper. And they likely have zero hats. A lot of customers will buy from surprises. The table presented a interest in scoring a baseball game. us before they go to San Francisco. smorgasbord of goods, from children’s On game nights, the ballpark is
With the A’s, it took me a year to sell a dozen hats.” Not surprisingly, River Cats merchandise is also popular. The shop has home-team clothing for children, men and women and hats in multiple colors, logos and designs. There are hats that show Tower Bridge, hats that say “River Cats Baseball 2000,” hats that say simply “SAC.” The Solons and Dorados are more narrowly focused. The Solons are represented by several nice retroinspired T-shirts but no hats. The Dorados, whose uniform the River Cats wear on special Tuesday-night promotions, have jerseys for sale and attractive blue hats with a logo depicting a Mexican wrestling mask. “We could have more Solons merchandise, because retro is very popular,” Holland says. “We haven’t done a great job explaining the Dorados promotion, but the merchandise looks good, is fun and sells pretty well.” The shop has mastered the art of playing to its strengths. During games, scoreboard and stadium signs encourage fans to drop in. During
summer afternoons when games aren’t in progress, team owner Susan Savage decided to give fans a 10 percent On Deck store discount when they visit the Raley Field box office to buy tickets. “We’re lucky in that we have a captive audience and loyal customers,” Holland says. “We also do a lot of internet sales and sales to Little League teams around the country. There’s a River Cats Little League team in Hawaii.” I wanted the River Cats 2000 hat and a scorebook. The Marilyn and Joe book felt more like a winter read.
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Rent Control and Mendocino HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION
I
’m writing this month’s column from the sunny deck of our vacation rental home at the historic Heritage House Resort, located four miles south of the beautifully preserved North Coast village of Mendocino, a world and 40 degrees of temperature away from Sacramento. Yes, this is, in part, “how I spent my summer vacation,” but with a twist. The timing of my vacation is convenient: the Sacramento City Council and most senior city managers spread out in all directions for a vacation break during the first two weeks of July each year, following the rigors of approving a billiondollar-plus city budget for the new fiscal year. With city leaders absent, there’s not as much for me to keep an eye on.
CP By Craig Powell City Politics • OPINION •
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This also is the quiet before the storm at City Hall. When they reconvene, City Council members will debate and decide whether to place on the November ballot: a) a measure to renew the expiring Measure U “temporary” one-half cent sales tax hike; or b) a measure that would double the tax to a full 1 cent, as Mayor Darrell Steinberg has been pushing. It’s an issue that our publication will be covering in the months ahead of the November election.
RENT CONTROL We can also expect the beginnings of a showdown between the mayor and City Council over rent control in Sacramento. The Service Employees International Union failed in its $600,000 effort to qualify a strict rentcontrol measure for the November ballot. The proponents came up short of the 35,449 signatures needed to qualify the measure for the ballot. For the past nine months, the mayor has, behind the scenes, been pressuring the City Council to impose a “moderate” form of rent control on
the city in a bid to stave off the more draconian version of rent control represented by SEIU. But even after SEIU failed to qualify its rent-control measure for the November ballot, the mayor has still been pushing the council to pass some form of rent control. One might conclude that he is trying to rescue the rent-control agenda of SEIU, with which he has been politically allied, despite his public protests that rent control is a bad idea for Sacramento. There is another possible explanation. SEIU has a shot at putting its measure on the June 2020 ballot if it submits the requisite signatures by mid-September of 2019, the end of a 180-day signaturegathering deadline. Steinberg may be hoping that passage of some form of rent control by the City Council will persuade SEIU to abandon further signature gathering. But SEIU has never said it would abandon its initiative if the City Council adopts some form of rent control. And how likely is SEIU to abandon its strict rent-control initiative after spending $600,000 on its first signaturegathering effort?
The answer is unclear. But SEIU may have already abandoned its initiative. When it launched its signature-gathering drive in March, it deployed legions of paid and volunteer signature gatherers everywhere throughout the city—at stores, homes, apartments, public events, etc. By late May, the intensity of its efforts had faded dramatically.
RENT-CONTROL SPONSOR HITS ROUGH PATCH The SEIU that launched its rentcontrol measure earlier this year is not the same SEIU that exists today. First, an internal SEIU Local 1000 election this past spring led to the ouster of all senior-level officers except its president, Yvonne Walker. There are some indications that the new leadership team may be helping to refocus the union’s mission, including a new emphasis on matters that directly affect SEIU members and a reduced focus on costly public policy campaigns that have little to do with core union business, possibly
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including sponsoring local rentcontrol initiatives. Then there is the recent Janus decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling which declared that workers who don’t wish to join a government union can no longer be required to pay “agency shop” or “fair share” fees to a union. The decision is a political earthquake. When Wisconsin adopted similar “right to work” laws, government unions in the state experienced as much as a 30 percent drop in membership and revenues. Government unions in California, including the giant SEIU, are reeling from the decision. They are recalibrating their budgets and strategic goals to focus on keeping membership losses to a minimum and on recruiting new members. The financial crunch is likely to leave little extra cash for funding political programs to enact societal change, like rent control, as well as put a squeeze on union’s prodigious campaign contributions to Democratic politicians at every level of government. Even if SEIU decides to spend the $200,000 to $300,000 more it will likely take to secure the remaining signatures needed to place its Sacramento rent-control measure on the June 2020 ballot, there’s little chance that a post-Janus diminished SEIU will have the financial wherewithal to fund the $2 million to $3 million it would take to run a competitive campaign for the measure in two years’ time. (The opponents of rent control in Sacramento are promising to raise $3 million to $4 million to defeat it). SEIU will have a big enough challenge trying to maintain anything close to its current level of political giving to its favored politicians. Additionally, the Sacramento initiative is not the only local rentcontrol initiative SEIU is funding in California this year. It’s reportedly funding active rent-control measures in a half-dozen other California cities, as well as helping the ambitious effort to repeal the state’s Costa-Hawkins law, which currently prevents cities from imposing rent control on single family homes, condos and rentals built after 1994, as well as restrictions
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on rentals as they become vacant. Many political veterans believe the statewide fight over a Costa-Hawkins repeal will amount to a $100 million political slugfest.
RENT CONTROL’S LEGAL THICKET Finally, if SEIU’s Sacramento rent-control measure qualifies for the June 2020 ballot, it would likely draw substantial pre- and, if it passes, postelection legal challenges. The SEUI initiative would roll back rents to Feb. 20, 2018 (the date on which proponents filed the measure with the Sacramento city attorney), and would compel property owners to refund all rent hikes issued after that date. That would be a burden on mom-and-pop rental owners. If the measure appears on the June 2020 ballot and is approved by voters, it would compel owners to refund all rent increases issued during the 48 months before voters approved the measure, a draconian, and likely unconstitutional, burden on rental owners. Courts have ruled that rent-control laws that deprive property owners of a fair return on their investment represent an illegal and impermissible “taking” of property under the 5th Amendment. Preventing owners from recovering their increased costs of operations for more than two years would likely trigger a wave of lawsuits challenging the measure as an unlawful “taking.” The rent-control measure would also grant to a newly created rent-control board the power to unilaterally determine all fees charged to owners, determine its own budgets and payroll, and issue regulations that would have the force of law. It’s expected that such a broad grant of legislative powers to an entity not created by the city, nor authorized by state law, would be challenged as an unlawful usurpation of the legislative powers granted exclusively to the city by state law. In the face of SEIU’s recent internal management upheaval and its expected major loss of members and revenues after Janus,
to allow time for the home’s ceilings and flooring to be demolished and rebuilt. We thank our lucky stars for the incredible folks at Farmers Insurance whose agents and adjusters are among the most caring and supportive folks you’ll ever meet. They’ve kept our tragedy from becoming inordinately traumatic, for which we will be eternally grateful. By a stroke of luck (for a change) we were able to arrange, on very short notice, to rent an idyllic summer vacation home for three weeks at the Heritage House, a sprawling property with seaside cottages spread across some of the most beautiful real estate and coastline on God’s green earth. It was the location where the 1978 movie “Same Time Next Year” was filmed (starring Alan Alda and Ellen FIRE, FLOOD Burstyn, musical score by Marvin Hamlisch). We’re told it was, for a AND MENDOCINO brief time, the hideout of notorious Our vacation in Mendocino, while gangster “Baby Face” Nelson when he well-timed, was not exactly planned was on the lam for a time in the ‘30s. in the traditional sense. In mid-June I’ve been an admiring patron of the we had a fire at our Land Park home place for more than three decades. that caused extensive smoke damage Mendocino is an area I’ve visited to our house and everything in it. A annually since I was a teenager large team of firefighters from the Sacramento Fire Department arrived camping at nearby Van Damme State Park at Little River, one of the jewels at our home in less than five minutes of our state park system. A town with four engines and trucks. They of just 1,100 residents, Mendocino did a truly heroic job of saving our has an extraordinarily rich array home from being a complete loss, of cultural offerings, including its while being extraordinarily kind and annual music festival, film festival, supportive to me and my family. art center, a frenzied performing arts Following the fire, we spent two schedule, civic groups, study groups, weeks in area hotels before renting a public forums, poetry readings, and very nice East Sacramento home for wonderful art galleries, restaurants the nine months to a year it will take to fully renovate our Land Park home. (try Café Beaujolais), inns and B&Bs. The Heritage House’s staff has While East Sac is a truly wonderful been extraordinary, looking after our neighborhood that I’ve always every need. And we have a lot of needs cherished, it will be hard for us to after having lost virtually everything part from our beloved Land Park for in the fire. My wife, our youngest nearly a year. My volunteer work son Bradley, our 15-week-old French leading the Land Park Volunteer bulldog Boo Radley and I will be Corps won’t be affected, but my going home soon. We’re all very much regular haunts will change from La looking forward to it. Bou by the zoo and Mulligan’s Café Craig Powell is a retired attorney, at the William Land Golf Course to businessman, community activist and some of the excellent cafes and coffee president of Eye on Sacramento, a houses of East Sac. civic watchdog and policy group. He Sadly, on just our second night in also founded and leads the Land Park our new East Sac home, a middleVolunteer Corps. He can be reach at of-the-night break in an upstairs craig@eyeonsacramento.org or (916) plumbing fixture flooded our new home, driving out our nomadic family 718-3030. Opinions expressed are his own. n once again, this time for three weeks will it choose to deplete its already threatened finances by putting millions behind a local rent-control measure that will likely be mired in litigation for years, even if it manages to pass? Not likely. And its apparent suspension of paid signaturegathering efforts in May indicates that it has already decided to abandon the effort. So why would the City Council bother to enact a rent-control ordinance for the purpose of sidelining an SEIU ballot measure that’s either already dead or is very likely to be abandoned by SEIU in the future? It’s a question that has not been answered by local elected officials.
READERS NEAR & FAR
1. Micah Olmstead, Madeline Groppo, Hazel Macko, Mikey Heffron, Ellie Olmstead, Ben Wilson, Sullivan Groppo, and George Macko at Camp Sacramento in Twin Bridges, CA 2. Deborah Hoffman and David Cline in AmalďŹ , Italy 3. Kathi and Tod Beach at Tower Records in Dublin, Ireland 4. Jason Michaels with his family at Waimea Canyon Park in Kauai, Hawaii 5. Jim and Michelle McDonald in front of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece 6. Judy and Bob McClung at Temple of the Sun in Trujillo, Peru 7. Sherrie Leong-Stanley, Pearl Lim, Corky Mau, Nathan Stanley, Pat Orner, and Marilyn Dong at Plitvice Lakes National Park in central Croatia
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A Half-Cent More
WHEN MEASURE U SUNSETS, WHAT COMES NEXT?
I
f nothing is certain beyond death and taxes, Measure U was supposed to be the exception. The half-cent sales-tax initiative was sold to Sacramento voters in November 2012 as a temporary lifeline to remedy cuts from the Great Recession. Parks and pools would be restored to full-service glory. Police ranks would be rebuilt. Fire station brownouts would stop. Measure U promised six years of restoration and repair. Then the tax would disappear, gone in March 2019. It won with 64 percent voter approval.
RG By R.E. Graswich City Beat
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But for elected officials, taxes are as addictive as potato chips. They can’t stop eating them. Measure U raised about $45 million each year, and the thought of that revenue stream drying up terrifies City Hall. In June, Mayor Darrell Steinberg went to Sacramento City College, stood before a group of city employees and developers, and announced he wants to make Measure U permanent. And more: He wants to double the tax. Steinberg has proposed a November ballot initiative to enshrine Measure U as an eternal funding fountain, not a half-cent tax but a 1-cent tax. It’s a risky play for a regressive tax that has made some supporters nervous and could potentially strain alliances across the city. “The city has managed the Measure U money pretty well, and none of us wants to see it sunset next
March without a replacement,” says City Councilmember Jeff Harris, who represents East Sacramento, River Park and South Natomas. “If Measure U sunsets, we will be scrambling for an emergency election. But my concern is that 1 cent is an overreach. What if people think it’s too much? What if it doesn’t pass? We’re stuck,” he says. Harris was a parks commissioner in 2012, when Measure U went before voters. He believed in the initiative, having seen what neglected maintenance and staff layoffs did to city parks during the recession. He knocked on hundreds of doors and asked voters to support the temporary tax. Some residents told Harris they expected him to return one day and ask to extend the tax—more potato chips. They didn’t buy his “temporary tax” pitch.
“I had people say, ‘You knucklehead, don’t tell me it’s only going to last six years. You’ll be back.’ And they were right. I don’t mind going back, because I think the money has been put to good use. But I am concerned about getting doors slammed in my face if I ask them not for just one-half cent, but for a full cent.” Steinberg has lofty plans for the money: housing, youth services, the riverfront. “A dream is just a dream unless it’s combined with creative and bold action,” he says. Reality may be significantly less poetic. Much of the money from a permanent 1-cent tax would be shoveled into the city’s pension obligations for retired employees. Like other California cities, Sacramento has been hit with budget-busting invoices from CalPERS since 2012. The state’s public employee retirement system is battling insolvency. In the process, it drags cities toward bankruptcy. Cops and firefighters, who can retire after age 50 and get monthly pension checks up to 90 percent of their salary, command big chunks of tax dollars. Even in prosperous times, CalPERS can’t cover all pensions with investment returns, so it taps cities. The League of California Cities estimates municipal pension costs will double in the next seven years. For Sacramento, pension contributions will hit about $134 million in 2024-25. The city budget calls the obligation “unsustainable.” If Measure U is made permanent, Harris expects a large part of the money will go to pensions. With the remainder, he would like to keep staffing for park maintenance and public safety at current levels. The city has four scenarios for Measure U. First, do nothing and let the tax die. Nobody at City Hall favors TO page 41
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STARTING A NEW CHAPTER NEW OWNERS OF CRAWFORD’S BOOKS REALIZE A LIFELONG DREAM
Sue and Greg Richards with their children David and Jennie and Bunnie the dog.
JL By Jessica Laskey Shoptalk
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S
ue and Greg Richards have always loved bookstores. “Bookstores are where we end up on vacation,” says Greg, a licensed structural engineer who specializes in school design and construction. “Wherever we may
be, we check out the local used book shops.” The Richards love bookstores so much that now they own one. On Jan. 1, they became the owners of beloved Hollywood Park bookstore Crawford’s
Books upon the retirement of its founders, Jim and Joyce Crawford. “Owning a bookstore had been a pipe dream of ours for years,” says Sue, who spent eight years working in children’s mental health, took time off to raise the couple’s two kids and then worked another eight years as an office manager for a nonprofit. “We were longtime customers of Crawford’s and one day when I was headed to Kennedy High School to drop off food for marching band practice, Greg suggested I stop by Crawford’s and tell them that if they ever want to sell to please keep us in mind.’” Sue did just that—and it just so happened that that very morning the Crawfords had discussed retirement. The couples met a few days later to start the purchasing process and just like that, the Richards’ pipe dream suddenly became a reality. “This has been a leap into new territory,” Sue admits. “Neither of us have ever worked retail, so we’re reaching out to people who know how to do things like marketing and advertising. There’s a lot to learn,
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but we’re taking baby steps. The customer base has been amazing and has made this a really nice transition.� One thing the Richards definitely know is books. As avid readers and advocates for early reading exposure for children, the dynamic duo is planning to maintain the bookstore’s wide variety of genres— including romance (which Sue says is a rarity these days in independent bookstores), westerns and mysteries (a particular fascination of Jim Crawford’s)—as well as expand the children’s section. “Kids get so excited about books,� Sue says. “I believe that if you teach kids early on the importance and value of reading, they become lifelong readers.� To that end, the Richards have procured the required reading lists for all the local schools so families have someplace to buy schoolbooks other than big box stores. They’re also expanding the children’s activities they offer. They host game mornings every Saturday when youngsters can come in and play fantasy board game
Dungeons & Dragons or card game Magic: The Gathering. They are also starting to host book clubs—including a tween club at the request of their 12-year-old daughter—and a toddler reading hour. “Our goal is to go beyond being a retail outlet that just sells books and become a community hub,� Sue says. “We want to build up our section of local authors and feature local art as well to help artists get their names out there. We have friends who are musicians, so we’re planning to eventually offer live music.� “We also talk to people and ask what they want to see,� Greg adds. “We keep close notes about what people come in looking for and we’re always asking for ideas from our customers. We’re open to what the community wants.� If the community wants a vast selection of genres housed in a venerable local bookstore owned by two passionate bookworms, then Crawford’s Books is the place to go. Crawford’s Books is located at 5301 Freeport Blvd. For more information, visit crawfordbooks.net. n
FROM page 38
S U S T A I N A B LY F A R M E D
Distilling A Legacy One Bottle at a Time
Sacramento’s own J.J. PďŹ ster uses only organically grown potatoes from Noonan Farms in the Klamath Basin to distill environmentally sustainable vodka. Our practices call for creating wetlands that attract migrating birds that feed soils organically. We also donate a percentage of proďŹ ts to help protect wildlife. It’s a win-win for waterfowl and vodka lovers alike.
Tastings: Fridays 3 – 6 pm Sat Noon – 6 pm & by appointment Contact Gail Keck for details or event reservations (503) 939-9535 9819 Business Park Dr. Sacramento, CA 95827 www.jjpďŹ ster.com
that path. Second, ask voters for a permanent half-cent tax. It would buy time against pensions and allow the city to maintain services if fat is cut from operations. Option No. 3 would seek a permanent three-quartercent tax, easing the pension burden through 2024 and continuing current park and safety services. The fourth option is Steinberg’s plan: a permanent 1-cent tax. A full cent could create capacity to issue bonds and acquire debt for mayoral priorities. Steinberg was emboldened by a poll that suggested voters would accept a permanent 1-cent sales tax. Polls make Harris nervous. He worries the mayor may expect too much. “Polls have been wrong before,� Harris says. “Polls said I would never be elected.� R.E. Graswich can be reached at reg@graswich.com. n
Farm to Glass INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM
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Luxury Lifestyle REACHING THE PINNACLE OF SOPHISTICATION AT NEW SAWYER HOTEL
W
hen the announcement came about the opportunity for residency on top of the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel, across from Golden 1 Center, it didn’t take Tom Kandris long to get in on the action and put his name on the list. He was one of the first. The Sawyer was part of the development of Downtown Commons and the arena project. A muchneeded 16-floor Kimpton Hotel was being developed by a partnership of the Sacramento Kings and JMA
SC By Scot Crocker Inside Downtown
42
THE GRID AUG n 18
Ventures. The top floors would consist of 45 luxurious condominiums with amenities that would rival any big city downtown development in the country. That was a pretty ambitious plan for sleepy Sacramento, and many community and business leaders still didn’t know if the arena project and surrounding development would be successful. Those with some vision, like Kandris, didn’t question the opportunity or possibility for a second. “I got wind of the project over three years ago,” said Kandris, a local business entrepreneur and Kings supporter and season-ticketholder. “I actively networked to be a part of this early. I knew this was going to be really cool and I didn’t even know the price points.” What he did know, as well as others who have purchased residences, was
that he was going to enjoy a lifestyle that had never before been available in the Downtown area. “With the arena and development, things were happening, and I want to be part of the Kings' vision to revitalize Downtown and showcase a cultural shift for Sacramento,” Kandris explained. Of the 45 condominiums that went up for sale at the Residences at the Sawyer, 40 have been sold and construction is moving rapidly. Some residents have already moved in. Kandris and his wife, Theresa, expect to move in soon. Kandris will be on the top floor with views from his balcony that gaze down on the bustle of the arena below, across the river to West Sacramento, and over the top of Sacramento, the Capitol and more.
“The underlying theme for the buyers is the excitement and renovation of Downtown,” added Chris Miller, director of sales for the Residences at the Sawyer and vice president of development for The Agency, an international thirdparty residential development and real estate company. “We have different types of people of varying demographics coming to live here.” As Miller describes the mix, there are empty-nesters from around the region who maintain a primary residence in the foothills and suburbs of Sacramento, but want a second residence in the heart of Downtown where they can enjoy restaurants, bars, sports and entertainment without a drive. He also said they have young professionals who will make the Sawyer their permanent residence to adopt the high and cool
downtown lifestyle, often foregoing the “car culture” entirely. The one constant for all who buy a residence at the Sawyer is a lifestyle that is unique to Downtown Sacramento. Amid the bright lights and bustle of the central city is a level of service to all who live at the Sawyer. Private valets greet residents as they drive in, and attentive staff address them by name. They help with groceries, luggage and anything else. Once inside the Sawyer, they have options for fine dining at Echo & Rig, sports and games at Punch Bowl Social, and poolside cocktails and food at the Revival. If that’s not enough, residents have access to the 24-hour concierge service, housekeeping, security, resident lounge and a private entrance to the Golden 1 Center via a tunnel from the parking garage. “I just have to say this will be a great urban experience for friends, family and business associates,” said Kandris, who is active in community and civic affairs in addition to his support of new startup businesses, board roles and building a small private equity concern. “Success comes from strengthening a sense of community. That’s why I bought here and that’s the type of businesses I consider for investment or other support.” Both Kandris and Miller agree that this isn’t the end of cultural changes in Downtown. There’s more to come. Vanir, a construction-management firm, is considering a development in close proximity that might include another hotel. “We see the vision of people like Vivek Ranadive, Mark Friedman, Sotiris Kolokotronis, Kevin Nagle and others on this side of the river and in West Sacramento working to build destinations,” Miller said. “They are driving great projects and they are writing a new history of the Downtown core.” The sum of all of these new projects and developments will reshape Sacramento on many levels—not only the physical but also the lingering perceptions that Sacramento is simply a “cow town.” Work by Mike Testa at Visit Sacramento, leadership in government and investment
by business are bearing fruit. Sacramento’s image and reputation are changing nationally and internationally, from its focus on food and drink to a new level of recreation and sophistication for those that
want a “Manhattan lifestyle” here in California’s capital. Growth at this pace does cause socio-economic problems which have to be addressed, but those solutions are easier as blight turns to bright, emptiness fills with active
environments, and Sacramento no longer has to scratch out a reputation as the best-kept secret in the country. Scot Crocker can be reached at scot@crockercrocker.com. n
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g n i P utt s t o o R n Dow ENTICES R P P A R FORME FARM N A B PAIR OF R U EIR OWN H T T R A ST
V By Daniel Barnes Farm to Fork
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THE GRID AUG n 18
ery few of their neighbors know what Randy Stannard and Sarah McCamman are growing in the backyard of their house on 64th Street. Behind the unassuming and slightly worn Tallac Village neighborhood home, on a 1-acre piece of land stretching all the way back to 65th Street, Stannard and McCamman have transformed a once-neglected yard into a burgeoning
urban farm known as Root 64. Stannard and McCamman met while apprenticing at Soil Born Farms, and they had been searching throughout the greater Sacramento area for a small parcel of land with a move-in-ready house when they found the location in Tallac Village. Escrow closed in August 2017, and the partners immediately started getting the large patch of dried grass behind
the house farm-ready, with the goal of harvesting their first crops in time for the Oak Park Farmers Market in May. “The garlic was the first thing that went in the ground last fall,” says Stannard, who also serves as executive director of Oak Park Sol, a nonprofit that works to create urban farms and community gardens. “We had to put in the irrigation system,
how to cook and eat well,” she says. “I found a good community surrounding the farm scene.” Two years of long, hard days at Soil Born gave McCamman the confidence to start her own operation, Heavy Dirt Farm in Davis. She worked there for six years, building up a following at the Oak Park Farmers Market. “More and more people would come to the farmers market to buy from me,” she says. That made the transition to selling under the Root 64 banner almost seamless. “It’s the same products, and we have the same stall and I have the same tablecloth. It’s just a different sign.” Stannard believes that the social capital of the contacts he and McCamman made while apprenticing at Soil Born Farms is just as important as the hands-on farm experience. “Many of those apprentices are farming in the region, so we have a good farmer-to-farmer network of friends,” he says. “If we’re looking for resources, we can put out a call to borrow whatever we might
Randy Stannard harvesting melons at his urban farm.
and we got that up and running just in time for when we needed water.” There are now roughly 60 distinct types of herbs and vegetables in the ground at Root 64, several dozen fledgling fruit trees donated by Soil Born Farms and the Sacramento Kings Foundation, and a newly built straw-bale walk-in cooler that will dramatically decrease energy costs. In addition to selling at the Oak Park Farmers Market, Root 64 also partners with a handful of nearby restaurants and caterers to provide the ultimate in farm-to-fork freshness. “There are some really awesome chefs in Sacramento,” says McCamman. Rebecca Campbell, the co-owner of Sac City Brews Neighborhood Tap House in Tahoe Park, met Stannard when she worked on the board of Oak Park Sol, and she became one of the few chefs to receive Root 64’s initial delivery of produce. “It’s a pretty impressive thing. They have a superdiverse crop plan,” says Campbell, who creates a small menu of seasonal
salads almost entirely from the vegetables at Root 64. In addition to Sac City Brews, Root 64 also supplies organic, hyperlocal herbs and vegetables to nearby businesses OneSpeed Pizza, Magpie Cafe and Rossi Catering & Deli. “We’re trying to do stuff as close to us as we can,” says Stannard. “It’s a mixture of existing relationships and also proximity to the farm.” Stannard and McCamman walk the field on Monday, then send out an availability list to their partner chefs before hand-delivering special orders and standing orders every Wednesday morning. “The chefs definitely are very supportive,” says Stannard. “It takes a commitment on their end to want to work with small farmers because it takes a little extra work.” For her part, McCamman is hardly afraid of a little extra work. She didn’t know anything about farming when she first joined Soil Born Farms 10 years ago, but she was driving the tractor within her first month. “In college, I had become interested in food-justice issues, and I also learned
need, and somebody in our network probably has it.” When we spoke in late June, Stannard and McCamman were anticipating late-summer and earlyautumn crops of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and squash. “Usually about mid-July we start seeding stuff in the greenhouse again for fall,” says Stannard. They had yet to decide if they wanted to plant a winter crop at Root 64, as the area tends to flood during the rainy season, but they eventually want to open a neighborhood farm stand. “We’re not quite at the point where we’re prepared to invite people into our space,” says Stannard. “That’s down the road.” For more information about Root 64, visit the farm’s Facebook page or Instagram @ root64sacramento.
Daniel Barnes can be reached at danielebarnes@hotmail.com. n
Randy Stannard and Sarah McCamman work on their farm every day and spend Saturdays at the farmers market.
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INSIDE’S
R STREET Café Bernardo European inspired casual café 1431 R Street • 916.930.9191 paragarys.com
Fish Face Poke Bar
DOWNTOWN Cafeteria 15L Classic American dishes with millennial flavor 1116 15th Street • 916.492.1960 cafeteria15l.com
Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters Award-winning roasters 3rd and Q Sts. • chocolatefishcoffee.com
de Vere’s Irish Pub A lively and authentic Irish family pub 1521 L Street • 916.231.9947 deverespub.com
Downtown & Vine Taste and compare the region’s best wines 1200 K Street, #8 • 916.228.4518 downtownandvine.com
Ella Dining Room & Bar New American farm-to-fork cuisine 1131 K Street • 916.443.3772 elladiningroomandbar.com
La Consecha by Mayahuel Casual Mexican in a lovely park setting 917 9th Street • 916.970.5354 lacosechasacramento.com
Ma Jong Asian Diner A colorful & casual spot for all food Asian 1431 L Street • 916.442.7555 majongs.com
Mayahuel Mexican cuisine with a wide-ranging tequila menu 1200 K Street • 916.441.7200 experiencemayahuel.com
Old Soul Artisan pastries and roasted coffee 555 Capitol Mall • oldsoulco.com
Preservation & Company Preserving delicious produce from local farms 1717 19th Street #B • 916.706.1044 preservationandco.com
Solomon’s Delicatessen
Esquire Grill
Opening summer of 2018 730 K Street • Solomonsdelicatessen.com
Classic dishes in a sleek urban design setting 1213 K Street • 916.448.8900 paragarys.com
South
Firestone Public House Hip and happy sports bar with great food 1132 16th Street • 916.446.0888 firestonepublichouse.com
Frank Fat’s Fine Chinese dining in an elegant interior 806 L Street • 916.442.7092 frankfats.com
Grange Restaurant & Bar The city’s quintessential dining destination 926 J St. • 916.492.4450 grangesacramento.com
Hot Italian Remarkable pizza in modern Italian setting 1627 16th Street • 916.492.4450 hotitalian.net
Timeless traditions of Southern cooking 2005 11th Street • 916.382.9722 weheartfriedchicken.com
OLD SAC The Firehouse Restaurant The premiere dining destination in historic setting 1112 2nd Street • 916.442.4772 firehouseoldsac.com
Rio City Café California-inspired menu on the riverfront 1110 Front Street • 916.442.8226 riocitycafe.com
Willie’s Burgers A quirky burger joint 110 K Street • 916.444.2006 williesburgers.com
Humble Hawaiian poke breaks free 1104 R St. #100 • 916.706.0605 fishfacepokebar.com
Lowbrau Bierhalle Modern-rustic German beer hall 1050 20th Street • 916.452.7594 lowbrausacramento.com
Old Soul at The Weatherstone Artisan pastries and roasted coffee 812 21st Street • oldsoulco.com
Hearty food and drink in an old firehouse setting 1630 S Street • 916. 442.4885 hookandladder916.com
Paragary’s
Iron Horse Tavern Gastropub menu in an industrial setting 1800 15th Street • 916.448.4488 ironhorsetavern.net
Localis Local sourcing becomes a culinary art form 2031 S Street • 916.737.7699 localissacramento.com
Magpie Café
French inspired bistro in chic new environment 1401 28th Street • 916.457.5737 • paragarys.com
The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar A focus on all things local 2718 J Street • 916.706.2275 • theredrabbit.net
Revolution Wines Urban winery and kitchen 2831 S Street • 916.444.7711 • rev.wine
Sac Natural Foods Co-Op
Seasonal menus, locally sourced ingredients 1601 16th Street • 916.452.7594 magpiecafe.com
Omnivore, vegan, raw, paleo, organic, glutenfree and carnivore sustenance 2820 R Street • 916.455.2667 • sac.coop
Shoki Ramen House
Skool Japanese Gastropub
Ramen becomes a culinary art form 1201 R Street • 916.441.0011 shokiramenhouse.com
Inventive, Japanese-nuanced seafood 2319 K Street • 916.737.5767 skoolonkstreet.com
Sun & Soil Juice Company
THE HANDLE Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates
Raw, organic nutrition from local farms 1912 P Street • 916.341.0327 • sunandsoiljuice.com
Unmatched sweet sophistication 1801 L Street, #60 • 916.706.1738 gingerelizabeth.com
Suzie Burger
Mulvaney’s Building & Loan
Tapa the World
Farm-fresh New American cuisine 1215 19th Street • 916.441.6022 mulvaneysbl.com
Traditional Spanish & world cuisine 2115 J Street • 916.442.4353 tapatheworld.com
Old Soul
Temple Coffee Roasters
Artisan pastries and roasted coffee 1716 L Street (rear alley) • oldsoulco.com
2200 K Street • 2829 S Street 1010 9th Street • templecoffee.com
The Rind
The Waterboy
A cheese-centric food and wine bar 1801 L Street # 40 • 916.441.7463 therindsacramento.com
Classic European with locally sourced ingredients 2000 Capitol Ave. • 916.498.9891 waterboyrestaurant.com
Zocolo Tastes inspired by the town square of Mexico City 1801 Capitol Avenue • 916.441.0303 zocalosacramento.com
Burgers, cheesesteaks and other delights 2820 P Street • 916.455.3500 • suzieburger.com
OAK PARK La Venadita Hot spot for creative Mexican cuisine 3501 3rd Avenue • 916.400.4676 lavenaditasac.com
Biba Ristorante Italiano
Oakhaus
Legendary chef, cookbook author Biba Caggiano 2801 Capitol Avenue • 916.455.2422 biba-restaurant.com
A modern take on a traditional hof brau 3413 Broadway • 916.376.7694 • oakhaussac.com
Block Butcher Bar Specializing in housemade salumi and cocktails 1050 20th Street • 916.476.6306 blockbutcherbar.com
Centro Cocina Mexicana Mexican cuisine in a festive, colorful setting 2730 J Street • 916.442.2552 paragarys.com
THE GRID AUG n 18
Signature woodfired pizzas and local craft beers 2009 Matsui Alley • 916.661.6134 federalistpublichouse.com
Hook & Ladder Co.
MIDTOWN
46
Federalist Public House
Old Soul Artisan pastries and roasted coffee 3434 Broadway • oldsoulco.com
Vibe Health Bar Clean, lean and healthy breakfast and snacks 3515 Broadway • 916.382.9723 vibehealthbar.com n
SELL YOUR HOME DURING OUR SUMMER SPECIAL OFFER! FOR A LIMITED TIME THE FEE TO LIST YOUR HOME FOR SALE IS 4 1/2%! With low inventory being the leading narrative during this current real estate market, deciding to sell your home now can potentially maximize your home’s Resale Value. Utilize a Realtor that will negotiate the sale of your home with your Best Interest in Mind. I appreciate the opportunity to earn your business. DORNE JOHNSON, Keller Williams Realtor, can be reached at: Phone: (916) 717-7190 Email: SacRealtor@yahoo.com
4 1/2% Summer Special Offer Expires on 08/31/2018 Offer being made is Exclusive to Dorne Johnson, Realtor
INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM
47
COLDWELL BANKER BEAUTIFUL EAST SAC TUDOR! Remodeled 5 bedrooms, 3 bath and 2674Sqft. $1,475,000 RICH CAZNEAUX 916.212.4444 CalRE#: 01447558
IN THE HEART OF EAST SAC! Don't miss this adorable 2bd/1ba hm w/hdwd krs, new paint on a deep lot. ELISE BROWN & POLLY SANDERS 916.715.0213 CalRE#: 01781942/01158787
CAPTIVATING CURTIS PARK! Steps to park, see this updated 3BD/2BA charming bungalow w/lrg yard. STEPH BAKER 916.775.3447 CalRE#: 01402254
INCREDIBLE LAND PARK REMODEL! This stylish hm has 3BD/1BA and a 250sqft detached home ofjce. Plus lrg garage. Updates galore! TOM LEONARD 916.834.1681 CalRE#: 01714895
PARKWAY ESTATES! Beautifully kept home on a quite parkway street, 3bd+Loft/2 full bath w/stunning built-in pool. $315,000 LINDA PERRY 916.524.2020 CaBRE#: 01407797
NEW ERA PARK CHARMER! 3BD/2BA w/over 2000sqft in dynamic Midtown! Huge kitchen w/dining bar. Backyard perfect for entertaining. $619,000 MARK PETERS 916.600.2039 CalRE#: 01424396
FANTASTIC EAST SAC OPPORTUNITY! Charming 2BD/1BA Bungalow w/hrdwds, updtd kitchen & oversized garage, on an 8000Sqft lot. $619,900 PALOMA BEGIN 916.628.8561 CalRE#: 01254423
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY! 5BD/3BA/2527Sqft hm in Elk Grove. Beautifully Lndscpd, new kring thru-out. Freshly painted in/out. 3 car gar. $490,000 TIM COMSTOCK 916.548.7102 CalRE#: 01879462
TAHOE PARK Beautifully updated 3-4BD, 1.5BA home on sleepy corner w/oversized shady tree. Exceptional value for the buyer! STEPH BAKER 916.775.3447 CalRE#: 01402254
NEWLY CUSTOM BUILT! Luxury East Sac hm with 3-4BD/2.5BA & nearly 2000Sqft. Must see to appreciate! Close to Bertha Henschel Prk. $924,950 TOM LEONARD 916.834.1681 CalRE#: 01714895
FABULOUS FORTIES! 4 bedrooms, 1 bath, 2764Sqft home with all the classic details. $995,000 RICH CAZNEAUX 916.212.4444 CalRE#: 01447558
CUSTOM SOUTH LAND PARK HOME! This beautifully remolded 3bd/2.5ba home offers resort style backyard w/sparkling pool. CHIP O’NEILL 916.807.0158 CalRE#: 01265774
SACRAMENTO METRO OFFICE 730 Alhambra Boulevard #150 | 916.447.5900
COLDWELLBANKERHOMES.COM
©2017 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each ColdwellBanker Residential Brokerage OfŰce is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. Real estate agents afŰliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.