S-2012-08-02 by News & Review

NOMINEES s e e pa g e 2 8

k.j.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bad credit see Bites, page 8

low-income residents silenced by dollars? see Frontlines, page 8

chill the charter commission see editorial, page 17

get back on the horse!

see arts&culture, page 24

Sacramentoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S newS & entertainment weekly

Volume 24, iSSue 16

thurSday, auguSt 2, 2012

BUILDING A

HEALTHY S A C R A M E N T O

Creating Community Leaders BY C O R R I E P E LC

s the full-time in-home care provider for her blind husband and son with Down syndrome, South Sacramento resident Ollie Robertson depends on the donated food she receives each week from the Western Service Workers Association’s (WSWA) supplemental food distribution to make ends meet. “You go to the supermarket and fresh vegetables are very expensive – they cost quite a bit of money,” Robertson explained. “I appreciate that we can come here and we don’t have to pay for them – it helps me balance my budget.” According to Elena Sanchez, WSWA IT REALLY operations manager and a EMPOWERS THE LOW-INCOME full-time volunteer, they COMMUNITY receive donated food from TO BE LEADERS local businesses such as the Davis Food Co-op, Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op and the Sunday Farmers Market in downtown Sacramento and distribute it to members. Through the $10,000 grant WSWA received from the California Endowment this year, Sanchez said the money will help WSWA enhance its supplemental food distribution. “We hope through the grant to be able to expand or increase the number of participants for our food distributions and be able to promote healthful nutrition practices between the families and their neighbors (and) friends,” she explained. To help give back for receiving help from WSWA, Robertson is also a volunteer and serves as a delegate for the Workers Benefit Council, which Sanchez said is the decision making body of the organization. “Delegates are leaders in the Workers Benefit Council and they help to make decisions about how to run the benefit program and really how the whole organization will grow in the interest of the economic and political betterment for Sacramento

service workers,” Sanchez explained. “It really empowers the low-income community to be leaders in their own community and really fight for what is rightfully ours.” As a delegate, Robertson said she has the opportunity to speak and represent WSWA at the California State Capitol, such as she did a month ago when WSWA members testified at public hearings of the Senate and Assembly subcommittees on Health and Human Services. Sanchez said they were there to testify against the proposed 7 percent cut and proposed privatization of in-home supportive services, which if passed would cut the amount of wages someone like Robertson receives from the government as part of the In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program in California. Sanchez said WSWA’s work in the 1970s and 1980s helped pass the legislation. “If I wasn’t in contact with (WSWA) and didn’t get all the information … we wouldn’t know what they were doing – we would just be out in the dark,” Robertson said. “We’re able to get the information so we’re able to protest against those cuts, and I’m able to work and care for my son in our home.”

WESTERN SERVICE WORKERS ASSOCIATION Founded in 1973, the Western Service Workers Association (WSWA) is a free and voluntary unincorporated membership association of service, household and other low-income workers and concerned citizens that work toward creating a

permanent solution to the problems involving lowincome workers in the Sacramento area. WSWA is run by approximately 28,000 members, who each pay 62 cents a month to receive the association’s benefits.

PAID WITH A GRANT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT 2 | SN&R | 08.02.12

Crash, burn, rebuild Initially, I observed the recession from afar, watching as it became clear that the housing market— which peaked with record sale prices in 2006—wasn’t experiencing a “correction” but, rather, a fullscale crash and burn. From there, it got worse as the sub-prime-loan debacle revealed a banking industry built on risky loans and companies laid off employees in mass numbers, miring the nation into a pool of economic anxiety. Still, it seemed abstract. My husband and I tried to be smart with money, after all. We saved diligently and put off vacations, home upgrades and big purchases to pay off unexpected bills. We had life-insurance policies and 401Ks, for chrissakes. That perspective changed, however, after I was laid off in 2008. And again in 2011 when we sold our house in a short sale. In the years between, there were myriad financial emergencies and setbacks. It felt like, at times, that we’d never catch up, much less prosper. We weren’t alone. Times were tough all-around. They still are, of course. Even as housing and job numbers show signs of life, it’s clear we exist in a new economic reality—one that has, in turn, inspired a new resiliency. In the last few years, in fact, we didn’t just cut back and cut out to get by, we rethought that which we held important—that which was necessary. We planted gardens and bought secondhand, we traded vacations for day trips, big parties for backyard potlucks. We learned that sometimes less really can be more. For Corbyn Hightower, the author of this week’s feature story (see page 18), losing her high-paying job didn’t just mean she and her family were forced to downsize their life—something that included selling their car and scavenging for food—it meant the chance to rediscover personal ideals, redefine happiness and rebuild a better, richer life. —Rachel Leibrock

August 2, 2012 | vol. 24, Issue 16

05 07 08 15 17 18 24 26 31 35 36 38 40 55

STREETALK LETTERS NEWS + BITES GREEN DAYS OPINION FEATuRE STORY ARTS&CuLTuRE NIGHT&DAY DISH ASK JOEY STAGE FILM MuSIC + Sound AdvIcE 15 MINuTES cover design by hayley doshay cover photo by wes davis

38 Our Mission To publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. To create a quality work environment that encourages employees to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare. To have a positive impact on our communities and make them better places to live. Co-editors Rachel Leibrock, Nick Miller Senior Staff Writer Cosmo Garvin Staff Writer Raheem F. Hosseini Copy Editor Shoka Shafiee Calendar Editor Jonathan Mendick Editorial Coordinator Kel Munger Editor-at-large Melinda Welsh Editorial Interns Kate Paloy, Sarah Vorn, Amy Wong Contributors Sasha Abramsky, Rob Brezsny, Josh Fernandez, Joey Garcia, Becky Grunewald, Mark Halverson, Jeff Hudson, Jonathan Kiefer,

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SN&R is printed by The Paradise Post using recycled newsprint whenever available.

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Editorial Policies Opinions expressed in SN&R are those of the authors and not of Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact the editor for permission to reprint articles, cartoons or other portions of the paper. SN&R is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. All letters received become the property of the publisher. We reserve the right to print letters in condensed form and to edit them for libel.

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LIVE PROFESSIONAL BOXING

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HOT AUGUST FIGHTS & CAR SHOW FRIDAY AUG 24

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“Move to Colorado, where my mother is living now.”

Asked at Quarry Ponds Town Center in Granite Bay:

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cook

I have invested in deferred compensation as soon [as] I learned about it, so I have been able put a little bit of money away. I worry about other people who can’t afford health care. ... I also think it is up to our elected leaders to take care of us in that way, the same way they provide clean water and access to immunizations.

I don’t really know. That’s a hard one. Look for another job, I guess. Move to Colorado, where my mother is living now, and try to find a job there.

bakery manager

We— my husband and I— have been through a lot already. We don’t have a specific backup plan; we do whatever we have to do. We are both veterinary surgeons, and that industry got hurt in the economy. We made it this far.

Rhiannon Mykitin

Pedro Juanes

Kelli O’Leary

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salesman and educator

You mean if my finances don’t work out the way I am planning? Probably move in with one of my children.

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I do not have a backup plan. I might be able to maybe fall back on my parents, but I don’t want to do that. If I can’t buy it, I don’t get it. I do what I can with my own. I’m hoping it’s gonna work, but I should start looking into that.

Eventually, [I] would like to open my own bakery or restaurant. I have been thinking about it lately, like putting away a little bit of money each check to save. My dad also lives down the street, and he likes to help as much as he can, when he can. So, if anything happens, he would always be there.

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LETTERS

Visit us at www.newsreview.com or email sactoletters @ newsreview.com

Dirtbag profiling

FIRST SHOT SN&R photo of the week PHOTO BY WILLIAM LEUNG

Re “Steal this bike” by Raheem F. Hosseini (SN&R Feature Story, July 26): I’ve had a bunch of bicycles stolen in Midtown and environs over the past few years. Hate that. But I am more bothered by Sgt. Andrew Pettit’s apparent LETTER OF approach to dealing with “vagrants” whose bicycles are nicer than THE WEEK he apparently thinks they should be. Officers confiscate bicycles and make the riders prove ownership before they get them back? Based on what cause? The rider looks like a “dirtbag”? I hope it’s more than that. If not, why not just jail dirtbaggy-looking dudes until they prove they haven’t been breaking any laws? Charles Barnes Sacramento

Lock ’em up Re “Steal this bike” by Raheem F. Hosseini (SN&R Feature Story, July 26): What a wonderful article, but you don’t mention anything about how to prevent theft. What did all of the “victims” you portrayed have in common? None of them locked their bike. If you don’t want your bike stolen, then lock it at all times. Never leave your bike unlocked, even for a moment, even at home. A thief doesn’t want to deal with a locked bicycle, because 1. he doesn’t want to carry it, and 2. it can’t be sold legitimately with a lock on it. A bicycle is the easiest thing in the world to steal, because it also provides a getaway vehicle. Use a good U-lock or [Kryptonite] New York Chain; any cable lock is worthless and can be broken by either bolt cutters or someone who is fairly strong and has good leverage. Remember, lock your bike! Mark Vanveenendaal Sacramento

Send the tamale lady back Re “Deporting the tamale lady” by Nick Miller (SN&R Frontlines, July 26): I read this article and have several issues with both its content and the way it was presented. I moved here from Stockton, where Walmart had the same situation with tamale vendors in the parking lot. I was approached while exiting the store on a continuing basis. I also ran a business in Stockton, had a business license and paid taxes on my income. Do you think the tamale lady has a business license? I am so fed up with the Mexican [immigrant] population selling products, providing services and requesting cash. With cash transactions, it is very easy to avoid paying taxes on one’s income, and we all lose out. Second, any legitimate eatery in the Sacramento area not only has a license but also has health inspections. This food, pulled from the back of a trunk, could be a deadly concoction with meat products not being kept at the correct temperatures. Who is regulating this? BEFORE

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Your article was pandering to emotions. Come on, really? With the attorney wiping tamale lady’s tears? Then adding the children on top of it all? If anyone is here illegally, they need to be sent back, whether they committed a crime or not. My taxes have been and continue to pay for the out-of-control population pouring into the United State illegally. We have many success stories about immigrants coming into the country legally. But this story? Come on. Vernon Steinkamp Sacramento

No parking fraud with public transit Re “What a fraud” by Christopher Arns (SN&R Frontlines, July 19): Why not mention to the people that complain about parking in downtown Sacramento to maybe think about using the light rail and buses to commute? Do they really need to let a vehicle sit somewhere most of the day? They would save a bunch of money.

Nearly 4,000 people converged on Cesar Chavez Plaza this past Saturday for a big-time jam, Launch music festival, where this guy—Dave 1 of Chromeo—fueled the dance party.

officials. And no one knows that better than state and local officials themselves. So the line about how baffled state and local officials are as to why people are provoked to “beat the system” when it comes to parking in Sacramento is hard to buy into. I don’t think I’m alone on this, either.

David Hegge Sacramento

Problem is stupid parking rules

Sonny Iverson via email

Re “What a fraud” by Christopher Arns (SN&R Frontlines, July 19): After reading this story, I couldn’t help but think of all the frustration of myself and others over the years of the seeming injustice done by the parking system in Sacramento. When I read the statement “an increase of 79 percent [in placard use] since 2001, leaving state and local officials scratching heads as to why,” I had to scoff. I’ve never abused a disability placard for parking and don’t condone it. But I don’t believe state and local officials are “scratching heads” as to why, though that’s what they’d have us believe. Many people in Sacramento, including myself, have been overcharged and unfairly treated by ridiculous parking regulations, highly overpriced parking fines and late fees, and overzealous meter maids. Most people know that parking regulations and fees are designed not to maintain order with parking, but to line the pockets of overpaid state and local |

FEATURE

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Revolt over the revolting

Correction In last week’s issue, Hugo Vera was incorrectly identified as an attorney (“Deporting the tamale lady” by Nick Miller, SN&R Frontlines, July 26). He is an assistant to attorney Julia Vera. We regret this error, which has been corrected online.

POET’S CORNER

Re “Doggy poo’s stinky, bagged or not” by Robert N. Austin (SN&R Guest Comment, July 19): Hooray for Robert N. Austin and his guest commentary against poo bags being tossed on yard-recycling piles! The city of Sacramento’s solid-waste website clearly states that feces are prohibited in yard-waste piles, whether or not the bag is “recyclable.” The city also sends out yard-waste guidelines via snail mail. What makes dog owners think that I want their pet’s feces rotting in front of my house for a week or more?

Black Suits a pair of aces and a pair of eights would not have been his last hand but his back was to the door —Sandy Thomas

Sacramento

Dennis Hagen Sacramento |

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FRONTLINES Shop ’til you’re stopped It’s pretty half-assed, as far as

embezzlement scandals go. Lisa Serna-Mayorga has already paid back the 9,000 bucks worth of charges, which she ought not have put on the city’s by COSMO GARVIN credit card but did anyway. Reportedly. Still, the surprisingly dumb and unnecessary downfall of Serna—a longtime friend and helper to Mayor Kevin Johnson— reminds us again that Team K.J. has always been a little too handsy with taxpayer money. Remember earlier this year when Johnson was busted by the media for using a police-department SUV and driver to shuttle the mayor to an Obama fundraiser in the Bay Area? Team K.J. promised to repay the city money. No harm done. Serna-Mayorga, of course, worked for Johnson’s St. Hope organization before she joined him at City Hall. In 2008, around the time her boss was getting elected as mayor, the federal government slammed St. Hope for misusing about $800,000 in AmeriCorps money. It said AmeriCorps volunteers were used to chauffeur Johnson around and wash his car and to do political work for him. And it found federal grants were diverted to supplement St. Hope salaries. Johnson ultimately settled with the feds. He never admitted to any wrongdoing but agreed to pay back about $400,000. See a pattern here? Serna-Mayorga’s fuckup is small by comparison. Still, questions remain. Who knew what when? How long did the mayor’s office know about the problem—and attempt to make it go away—before Serna had to walk? How did she get the money to repay the charges? Was it provided by the mayor or one of his many nonprofit organizations? Did Johnson’s then-chief of staff, Kunal Merchant, know what was going on? Why didn’t he stop it? “Because this is a criminal Team K.J. has investigation, we cannot discuss always been a little information that could affect the of this case,” said too handsy with outcome mayoral spokesperson Joaquin taxpayer money. McPeek in an email. What about the city’s accounting people? Were they asking for receipts to go with these charges? Did they pay the charges when they should have known that something wasn’t kosher? “Because of the criminal investigation, I cannot discuss or release information or facts that could negatively affect the outcome of this case,” said city spokesperson Amy Williams in an email. The investigation will go on. Maybe some other people will get in trouble, too. But, most likely, the answers won’t be all that satisfying. Because they won’t tell us why stuff like this keeps happening.

There were cheers around town earlier this week on news that the

long-neglected Downtown Plaza might finally be sold to new owners. Bites has long argued that the whole suburban-style shopping Death Star be dynamited so we can start over with a blank grid. But lately, it’s been fun to observe the mall as a sort of science project; weird and interesting things are growing in it. There are all sorts of off-brand stores, and a Hyundai dealership, and a post office. And also a tattoo shop, and Zuhg Life, and that place where the guy is trying to win the Guinness world record for most assorted elephants ever assembled in one place? Are you kidding? That’s awesome. The mall has become the retail version of one of those abandoned oil platforms—left to barnacle over and turn into artificial reefs and home for new thriving ecosystems. Given enough time, who knows what sort of neighborhood might begin to accrete there in the plaza, organically. Alas, we’ll likely never know. The new owners will come in and give the place a power washing and plug in a few more bland tenants, and the mall will continue to limp along. All this only three years after K.J. told the mall’s owners, Westfield, to sell and “not hold our city hostage anymore.” Keep up the pressure. It’s totally working. Ω

SN&R

08.02.12

Sixteen-year Alder Grove resident Ngai Doan gardens with his grandson, Aron Nyguyen. Alder Grove residents might have to move—quickly and without much say in the matter—if city council fasttracks redevelopment.

Public housing, private talks Dream to develop riverfront community has city council fast-tracking work on low-income apartments—despite resident complaints An unfolding revitalization project has some wondering whose interests the Sacramento City Council actually serves: thousands of public-housing by Raheem F. Hosseini residents fearful of being displaced, or one of its own. raheemh@ City council unanimously agreed last newsreview.com week to request developer qualifications and predevelopment monies from the city and photos county, important steps on the path to redeby veloping two of the city’s largest—and Taras Garcia oldest—public-housing structures, both at which lie in Councilman Rob Fong’s district. Marina Vista on Seavey Circle and Alder Grove on Revere Street comprise nearly 70 acres and more than 750 apartment units for some 2,500 “extremely low-income residents” in the city, according to a staff report. This represents nearly half of the city’s entire public-housing inventory. The two aging structures—a short mile apart just south of downtown and east of the Sacramento River—recently benefited from $5 million in federal weatherization monies. But elected officials say much more is needed in a neglected part of the city where student absenteeism soars. “We are a city built on great neighborhoods, but some of those neighborhoods have

been left behind a very, very long time,” Councilman Jay Schenirer said during the June 7 meeting, when the idea of a full-scale revitalization project involving Marina Vista and Alder Grove was first introduced.

“We have this great riverfront in Sacramento, and ... we haven’t taken advantage of it.” John Shirey city manager Since, elected officials have set an aggressive time line to vet the deep-pocketed developer behind a massive housing development at Third Street and Broadway, known as the Setzer site, for possible work on these two public-housing projects. The goal is to have a developer—and preferably this one, who remains unknown despite being in council’s crosshairs—selected by October, so that departing Councilman Fong can throw a vote its way before he leaves office in November.

SMUD says pay not to play See FRONTINES

Clubbing for carrots See GREENLIGHT

City’s new green whips See GREEN DAYS

Chill the charter commission See EDITORIAL

Pavley’s anniversary See EDITORIAL

BEATS

Fighting the frack That motivation was expressed more explicitly last month, when the District A representative asked his fellow council members for support. “The reason I asked this to come to council tonight is because, frankly—and this is really directed to my colleagues—I need your help,” he said. “I mean, the clock is sort of ticking. I recognize that we’ll have a new District 4 representative in November. But I frankly think that this project is bigger than District 4. It should be a project of citywide import.” But while Fong’s fellow council members have rallied to his cause, critics worry it’s made for an unnaturally quick pace that could cut down on input from the affected residents—who could possibly be displaced from their homes, neighborhoods and school districts for more than two years. “The time line is so short, that public and resident outreach and input is impossible,” Sacramento Resident Advisory Board vice president Barbara Stanton told the council last week. “This project is not just brick and mortar. It is about the fate of 750 households and 2,500 people.” Fong has been trying to realize a revitalization project at the 70-year-old sites for the past five years. While city officials didn’t mention a firm by name, Fong said the development team behind a 31-acre housing development at the Setzer property has also expressed interest in replacing the low-density apartment units and possibly building a community center. Home builder Signature Properties purchased the Setzer site in 2006, media reports state. “I think now is the right time to push, because the development team that is doing Setzer is doing things now,” Fong said last month. “I don’t know if it’ll be them or

someone else, but we really have the opportunity to now realize the dream of a larger, integrated community out there that isn’t separated by walls.” While public-housing advocates admit it’s a worthy dream, they say the city council is sacrificing community input for speed and transparency for developer cash.

“There’s no residents, there’s no housing people. It’s like there’s been no transparency. ... The community doesn’t know anything except that they’ve been meeting.” Barbara Stanton vice president Sacramento Resident Advisory Board “There’s no disputing new apartments would be great,” Stanton told SN&R. “But no one knows what this is going to look like.” Talk was more bullish during council’s June 7 meeting, when no housing advocates or site residents were on hand to speak. Stanton referred to statements made by City Manager John Shirey, who spoke of the need for a “political strategy” to take lobby federal dollars that might be more available during the current political season. “You know, we have this great riverfront in Sacramento,” Shirey began, “and like other cities that I’ve worked in, we haven’t taken advantage of it.” The city manager explained that he has “some grand plans about how [the city] can

Facade of the Alder Grove low-income apartments. BEFORE

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utilize the riverfront, and particularly in this area where the Setzer property sits,” and that Marina Vista and Alder Grove are an “advantage” because of their proximity to where private investment is already occurring. Shirey expressed hope to “marry the resources of the private investment and an opportunity to also bring up the fortunes of that poorer neighborhood. “But everybody needs to understand that this train will leave the station,” he added. Stanton was one of four public-housing advocates to urge council members to slow their roll and make more time for public participation last week. The Sacramento Redevelopment and Housing Agency issued the same recommendation at its July 18 meeting, but was overruled by last week’s council vote. Thus far, only one outreach meeting has been held at each affected site, where residents wondered what would happen to them during a lengthy reconstruction process. Tyrone Buckley, a policy director with the Sacramento Housing Alliance, soaked up the community concern at both meetings, saying folks were most worried about being sent to worse neighborhoods with shoddier schools, increased public-transportation costs, and whether they would in fact be able to return once a multiyear revitalization process was complete. “The way it was laid out didn’t give residents a full idea of what was going to happen to them over a multiple-year process,” Buckley told the council. This fast-tracked time line is in stark contrast to the more deliberative process occurring at a distressed public-housing development in Twin Rivers. Thanks to a $300,000 federal housing grant, the significantly smaller property—218 units in all—is in store for eight months of stakeholder meetings, resident surveys and other grassroots efforts before a request for developer qualifications is solicited. Contrary to that “bottom-up process,” as Stanton calls it, the Marina Vista-Alder Grove project has been the subject of private weekly discussions involving officials from the city, county and Congresswoman Doris Matsui’s office—but no one representing the residents themselves. “There’s no residents, there’s no housing people,” Stanton complained. “It’s like there’s been no transparency. ... The community doesn’t know anything except that they’ve been meeting.” That message resonated with Councilwoman Angelique Ashby, who voted in favor of issuing the RFQ, but asked housing advocates to “stay engaged.” They hope they’ll have time to. Ω A RT S & C U LT U R E

AFTER

Fracking has quietly gone on in California for decades— though you wouldn’t know it. The scale of fracking, and controversy around it, have been slight compared to what’s gone on back East. Now environmental groups and some state legislators are pushing for new rules on fracking in California. State Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski wants companies to disclose what chemicals are in the “frack fluid” companies pump into the ground to break up rock and release gas and oil. State Sen. Fran Pavley wants companies to tell neighboring landowners before fracking occurs, and Assemblywoman Betsy Butler wants a moratorium on all fracking until new rules are written. State regulators with the California Department of Conservation brought their “listening tour” to Sacramento on July 25—in order to hear from environmental and industry groups, and regular citizens, on whether to regulate and what sorts of restrictions to impose. “Our position is very simple: Ban fracking now,” said Dan Jacobson, legislative director with Environment California. This year, for the first time, the United States produced as much electricity from natural gas as it does from coal. The online environmental magazine Grist noted last week that the natural-gas boom, combined with the recession, contributed to a 2-percent reduction in U.S. greenhousegas emissions last year. According to the USEPA, electricity production using natural gas emits about half of the CO2 per megawatt hour of a coalfired plant, and about a third of the polluting nitrogen oxides, another more potent greenhouse gas. But many environmentalists are buying the notion of natural gas as a “transition fuel.” “Once we’re addicted to natural gas, the industry will just throw up new barriers to renewable sources,” said Jacobson. (Cosmo Garvin)

Yolo DA accuses ACLU Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig hates criminals and crime. He’s also no fan of the American Civil Liberties Union and launched an unusual attack on the 92-year-old civil-rights organization last week. In a guest comment published in Woodland’s Daily Democrat, Reisig complained that “the American Civil Liberties Union and its allies have waged a relentless attack on public safety for decades.” The point of the op-ed (co-written by Guadalupe Diaz) seemed to be to defend California’s death penalty against a new ballot measure—Proposition 34— that if approved by voters this fall would end executions in the state. But Reisig seemed equally concerned with getting in some digs at the ACLU. “The ACLU and its agents are responsible for endless delays in the criminal justice system, frivolous appeals and a mountain of misinformation. And now, they claim the death penalty is irrevocably broken and costly and should be repealed.” Jeff Reisig. (There’s no law against hyperbole, it seems.) Someone else who claims the death penalty is broken: The guy who wrote it. Former prosecutor and Sacramento attorney Donald Heller has since become a vocal opponent of killings by the state and a supporter of Prop. 34. (C.G.) |

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The price of privacy is apparently $607 a year—or at least that’s the cost when it comes to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. by This past April, SMUD finished installing Chuck Seidel smart meters throughout Sacramento, marking the completion of a three-year project to put electronic fingers on the pulse of every Sacramento ratepayers’ energy use. The idea behind the meters is elegant. By sensing loads at all points in the grid, SMUD can regulate energy flows and pressures with exquisite efficiency. As SMUD project manager Erik Krause explained, the utility expects to save at least $15 million a year in operational costs, thus honoring SMUD’s pledge to keep rates low. Smart meters will also reduce dependence on fossil fuels, encourage alternative-energy sources, such as wind and solar, and limit greenhouse-gas emissions, according to the utilities. A fraction of local ratepayers, however, wanted to opt out of the program, citing privacy concerns. But SMUD is charging these ratepayers to opt out—a one-time fee of $127, plus $40 on each monthly bill. So far, less than 1 percent of SMUD energy users have anted up. Perhaps this is because few people understand how smart meters work. SMUD says it’s done its due diligence—board meetings that are open to the public, blog posts, Web pages, etc.—but most ratepayers still remain in the dark. Smart meters permit a kind of “just-intime” approach to energy distribution. As PG&E’s Paul Moreno explained, “Electricity is easy to move, but hard to store.” Smart meters let utilities generate—or buy—no more power than they really need. Customers also benefit, argue the utilities. Electricity costs more when demand is high—typically late summer afternoons, when air conditioners Would more are blasting—and smart ratepayers have meters, says Moreno, opted out of SMUD’s allow utilities to “offer green-friendly and more efficient smart incentives” to customers meters if the price to curb peak-hour use. was right?

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As former SMUD general manager S. David Freeman put it: “If somebody’s fool enough to want to run his laundry at 2 p.m. on a hot summer’s day, he ought to pay for it.” Critics, however, say smart meters bore a virtual keyhole through the door of every Sacramento household. They are little data generators. They are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They never sleep, and they cannot be turned off. The data they send back can be revealing. As Martin Pollock of Siemens Energy— who, along with other global players such as General Electric Co. and Landis+Gyr, dominate this market—says these new meters “have the ability to record [energy consumption] every minute, second, microsecond more or less live. ... We can infer how many people are in the house, what they do, whether they’re upstairs or downstairs, do you have a dog, when do you habitually get up, when did you get up this morning, when do you shower—masses of private data.”

“If somebody’s fool enough to want to run his laundry at 2 p.m. on a hot summer’s day, he ought to pay for it.” S. David Freeman former general manager Sacramento Municipal Utility District

A 2010 report published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology says it’s this data—and not necessarily the unburnt coal or gas—that’s the plum of smart meters. Many “actors,” says the report, would like to get their hands on this info—lawyers, insurance companies, landlords, private eyes, sellers of trinkets and baubles, and, of course, law enforcement. SMUD insists this won’t happen. Its meters aren’t so smart, it says—recording only in five-minute splits, rather than continuously. And anyway, all customer-usage records will be protected behind firewalls and “multiple levels of encryption.” It shall be a good steward. Either way, smart meters are now fait accompli. Ratepayers can hope SMUD proves as its word—or pay the piper. Ω

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Eat your fruits and veggies by jeff vonKaenel

Kaiser Permanente tests new wonder-drug prescription

Kaiser Permanente has a new wonder drug. Take it at any meal or on an empty stomach. It helps reduce weight and lower the risk of diabetes, heart attacks and numerous other diseases. It is very safe with no side effects. And what’s more, it even tastes great. The name of this new medicine is the Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program. Kaiser has started to prescribe the purchase of fruits and vegetables at farmers markets for young overweight patients. One of the places that Kaiser has been testing this program is Washington, D.C. On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., my good friend Gus Schumacher suggested that I meet him at his Georgetown house at 8 a.m. Saturday morning to go “farmers marketing.” This is sort of like clubbing, except instead of taking a taxi to various nightclubs, one takes a taxi This is sort of like to various farmers markets. I clubbing, except instead always enjoy hanging out with Gus. And I wanted to learn of taking a taxi to more about Kaiser’s Fruit and various nightclubs, one Vegetable Program. Gus is a great guy. He takes a taxi to various went to Harvard College, farmers markets. worked at the World Bank, served as the undersecretary of agriculture for the United States Department of Agriculture, and now is the executive vice president of policy for Wholesome Wave. This organization has received support from Paul Newman’s Newman’s Own Foundation, which has an innovative program that enables food-stamp recipients to double their purchases at farmers markets. Wholesome Wave runs the Kaiser program in D.C. Gus is one of the few working Americans who is To learn more about Wholesome Wave’s actually older than I am. I am 61. He has twice the energy Fruit and Vegetables of most people half his age. We arrived early at our first Prescription, go to http://tinyurl.com/ farmers market, located in a low-income D.C. neighborFruitVegetableRX. hood. Gus knew one of the farmers, so we helped unload the trucks while talking to the farmers about sales. We learned that sales had been good, and soon, Gus and I were off for more farmers marketing. Our next farmers market was in a gentrified part of D.C., next to a metro stop and a yuppie-hippie restaurant. Here, we spoke with the person who assisted the Kaiser patients. Patients receive a voucher that enables them to buy food at the farmers market. The Kaiser-Wholesome Wave worker was enthusiastic about the program and the results. The data from the Kaiser study has been impressive. Jeff vonKaenel Providing each member of the family with a weekly is the president, CEO $7 farmers-market prescription has led to significant and majority owner of the News & Review improvements in body-mass index. When I spoke with newspapers in the farmers at this market, they were also very happy Sacramento, with the Kaiser program: It led to more sales. Chico and Reno. Although I do not expect “farmers marketing” to replace clubbing anytime soon, I would be happy to see thousands of Americans bringing their “fruit-and-vegetable prescriptions” to local farmers markets. And why not? I’m all for a medicine that keeps us healthy and tastes great. Ω

GREEN DAYS

AN INCONVENIENT

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF SACRAMENTO

RUTH

Go natural City of Sacramento’s garbage fleet spares air, saves money See blue—and see green. That’s what Keith Leech, chairman of the Sacramento Clean by Sarah Vorn Cities Coalition, wants residents to know when they see the city of Sacramento’s blue garbage and refuse trucks out at work. In addition to being ecofriendly— the trucks are cleaner because they run on natural gas— there are also economic benefits. While the cost of a natural-gas vehicle is typically higher than its gasoline counterpart, and vehicles require 1.7 gallons of liquefied natural gas to equal 1 gallon of petroleum, natural gas costs on average one-third less than petroleum. Additionally, by replacing older trucks with newer natural-gas ones, the city save the money spent on repairs and replacement parts and the cost of running trucks on diesel fuel. According to Leech, new trucks Sarah Vorn is cost approximately $300,000 each, an intern and average $20,000 t0 $25,000 on with SN&R. maintenance a year, while older trucks could cost as much as $85,000 a year to keep in working condition. With more than 80 percent of his fleet running on natural gas, Leech hopes to bring in more blues to keep the city green. The Clean Cities Coalition is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy Vehicle Technologies Program with a goal to reduce petroleum use in transportation. There are nearly 100 Clean Cities Coalitions nationwide, with several Green Days is on the in Northern California. lookout for innovative “California is [leading the field] sustainable projects of working with alternative fuel throughout the and advanced-technology vehiSacramento region. Turn us on at cles,” said Leech. “Our fleet here sactonewstips@ in the city was one of the first natnewsreview.com. ural-gas refuse fleets.” Leech, also the fleet manager for the city of Sacramento, hopes to educate and encourage others to join him and fellow Clean Cities supporters in reducing the consumption of petroleum with natural gas.

by AUNTIE RUTH

Multifretting It’s the economy, stupid. It’s distracting everybody from every other issue under the sun, and as the sun beats hotter and hotter—The New York Times reports that this is the warmest year on record—the economy is making us all stupid. Indeed, Auntie Ruth has her share of stupid economic worries, everyone does. But just as it’s not good enough to do one thing at a time—witness the ongoing popularity of multitasking—it’s no longer good enough to worry about one thing at a time. We can worry better than that. If we don’t, we’ll fall apart a single issue at a time, we’ll become iconic bores, Mitt Romney might be elected president. No, if you can multitask, then you can multifret. That’s right. Let us embrace our destiny as a nation of multifretters. We can do it. We must do it. We will do it. You read it here first.

The city’s blue garbage and refuse trucks will help save the environment—and money.

“Natural gas is very clean,” Leech reminded. According to information provided by the California Air Resources Board, natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons consisting mainly of methane, and is domestically produced. It is nontoxic and will not contaminate groundwater. Vehicles operating on natural gas can reduce smog-forming emissions of carbon monoxide by 70 percent, and non-methane organic gas and oxides of nitrogen by 87 percent. Natural-gas vehicles also emit 20 percent fewer greenhouse gases than gasoline-powered vehicles.

“Our fleet here in the city was one of the first natural-gas refuse fleets.” Keith Leech fleet manager city of Sacramento

compressed natural gas that comes right off of the PG&E pipeline. The city and county of Sacramento received a grant of more than $1 million each to fund their fueling infrastructures. “It’s expensive,” said Leech. “That’s why organizations like Clean Cities look for smaller fleets, both public and private, to partner up for opportunities to [create more inexpensive fueling infrastructures].” One of the newest projects in development to advance the usage of natural gas comes from a partnership between Clean World Partners, an organization dedicated to converting organic waste to renewable energy, and Allied Waste Services of Sacramento. Trucks will pick up organic materials from local restaurants, take it back to the site, and turn the waste into compressed natural gas with an anaerobic digester. “It’s an exciting project. It’s going to get scaled up over the next few years,” said Leech. Ω

Auntie Ruth bets women are

Multifretting— better at multifretting than men, that he can do it! Democrats are better multifretters than Republicans, that Republican men are voting for Romney because they can’t multifret to save their ass. And she bets America can fret about climate change and the economy at the same time. (Is this just the posture of an enviro-columnist who frets about climate change all the time, trying to reposition the argument? Well, yeah. And she’s kicking butt.) Kicking, but the Sierra Club just posted a study that says Generation X is, like, “whatever” when it comes to climate change. Fewer members of that beleaguered generation are worrying about climate change as compared to two years ago—according to the University of Michigan professor Jon Miller, who authored the study—largely because of the complexity of the science, and the perception that climate change isn’t yet affecting Gen X’s daily lives (as compared to Gen Y, which, as Auntie Ruth reported last May, is showing signs of breaking from their parents in pro-environmental directions). Whatever. Auntie Ruth’s father-in-law, a wise and kindly Irish-Catholic gent now deceased, said often that Americans only pay attention to the environment so long as the economy is doing well. While correct for his time, he left this mortal coil before climate change became the barn burner issue it is today. One that a nation of multifretters certainly could elevate to the level of the economy, stupid. Or else. Ω (Come friend Aunt Ruth on Facebook and let’s hang out.)

The city started buying naturalgas trucks 10 years ago. There are currently more than 200 natural-gas refuse trucks in operation in Sacramento, which uses well in excess of 1.5 million gallons of liquefied natural gas per year. The State Alternative Fuels Plan is designed to reduce petroleum dependence by 20 percent by 2020, and increase alternative fuels use to 26 percent of all fuel consumed by 2022. Currently, Leech’s fleet uses natural gas from Clean Energy Fuels in Southern California. Larger transit operators, such as Sacramento Regional Transit, use

ECO-HIT Fly the (eco-)friendly skies

While air travel isn’t environmentally friendly by anyone’s standards (what with its copious burning of fossil fuels and emission of greenhouse gases), Sacramento International Airport is pretty darn green. The new Terminal B, for example, received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design— a.k.a. LEED—silver certification. The largest airport terminal in the nation to achieve this certification, Terminal B boasts green features, such as the use of reclaimed wood, drought-tolerant landscaping and low-use water fixtures. The airport also installed four new electric-vehicle chargers in its daily overflow-parking lot this July; there’s already two in the parking garage.

Air travel isn’t this green—yet.

—Jonathan Mendick BEFORE

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THIS MODERN WORLD

BY TOM TOMORROW

The charter choice

Governor, get some answers The California State Parks Foundation is greatly four points as a framework for immediate dismayed about the irregularities that have surpolicy actions. faced from the California Department of Parks First, an independent audit should be conand Recreation recently. ducted by the state auditor. Other investigations Our state-park system is and always has been underway should continue, but it is critical that bigger than any governmental bureaucracy. For an autonomous and unimpeded audit be the last 14 months, CSPF has publicly and conducted. repeatedly made the urgent case for citizen volSecond, the $54 million in “found” funds unteerism, activism and, most critically, financial must be dedicated to state parks and recreation contributions to keep our parks open. Our efforts purposes as originally intended. and the efforts of dozens of community organiThird, funds that will be appropriated to the by zations to raise funds is one of the reasons there state-park system’s operations should be used to Elizabeth is a temporary but real keep parks open now in a Goldstein safety net for the parks that way that matches or leverpresident of the There are few other ages the contributions of California State Parks were slated for closure. Foundation That case for the public’s symbols of our state’s communities across the state attention and support for our greatness, our and provide seed funding for state parks remains. Yet, the enterprise projects and procollective history recent news has damaged posals that will generate the public’s confidence and and our very identity revenue. undermined the urgency and And, fourth, a qualified, as our state parks. independent body of dediHave a comment? necessity CSPF and park Express your views partners across the state so cated and skilled citizens in 350 words on clearly and vehemently articulated. that ensures transparency, public engagement, a local topic There are few other symbols of our state’s and participation must be empowered to oversee of interest. greatness, our collective history and our very and guide the DPR. The existing State Park & Send an e-mail to identity as our state parks. Recreation Commission might be strengthened editorial@ newsreview.com. We support all efforts to legitimately to serve this role. obtain answers as to how and why these In the days, weeks and months to come, we irregularities occurred, and ensure they never stand ready, as we have for 43 years, to work as happen again. As those inquiries begin, we a partner on behalf of our members and the milhave suggested to state leaders the following lions of Californians and tourists who enjoy our state parks. Ω BEFORE

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Should Sacramento voters approve the formation of a commission to review the city’s charter? Would the election of its 15-member advisory panel actually help our city become better able to govern itself and solve its myriad problems? There’s no way of telling at this point. We’re glad, of course, that the city council decided to put the matter on the ballot in November. And we’re aware that the costs for doing so have been exaggerated—by Mayor Kevin Johnson and the Sacramento Police Officers Association—with lots of false information flying around. And we’re also cognizant that charter commissions can actually work. In 1999, a Los Angeles charter commission ultimately prevailed in improving its city by creating an executive mayor, neighborhood councils and an ethics commission. But could L.A.’s experience and outcome of a decade ago be repeated in the contentious political environment that we now occupy in Sacramento? We’re finding it hard to imagine. It’s easy, however, to imagine all this becoming another discomforting Sacramento muddle. There may be as many as 100 candidates vying for 15 spots on the board, so the process will begin in a tumble with the mayor, council members, unions, and business interests backing various slates and individuals who serve their agenda. Indeed, the commission could easily become a kind of larger, messier doppelgänger of the city council itself. And it’s a no-brainer that many of the 15 who seek a commission seat will do so with the intent of using it as a springboard to higher office. In the absence of real leadership, is more always better? We believe in inclusive government and would love to think a charter commission could help Sacramento better face its future. But we haven’t yet been convinced. And we worry that it might serve as yet another municipal distraction at a time when we really don’t need one. Ω

Pavley’s anniversary Ten years ago last week, Assemblywoman (now Sen.) Fran Pavley of Los Angeles stood by proudly as her Assembly Bill 1493 was signed into law in California. The bill was the very first legislation in the world to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions from passenger vehicles. The fact makes ours the first government on the planet to take the step to act to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in automobiles. Under the Bush administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fought mightily to halt California’s right to enact the legislation. But finally, in 2009, that agency granted a waiver that allowed Pavley’s strict emissions standards to take effect. Today, the bill—which requires a 30-percent reduction in new auto emissions by 2016—has been copied and more or less adopted by 20 other states in the country. Can governments plan ahead and take the action necessary to help us avert the worst-case scenarios we face from climate change and a warming planet? On the occasion of this particular anniversary, it seems possible they can. Ω |

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Wh the en the ir H Mo ighto “nea lly w r dau , Zeke er fam catac ly ght il a n disc er R d Co y—fr smic ove anie rby om drop less red r), n (n lef t in exp a ric dow ot pi to ri to po ens hn nsiz ctu ght ver , La ty,” r ive ess ed life in t and ed, rry sty , le. heir

It was a mild summer evening when I found myself face to face

with a small gray rooster. Joined by a group of fellow Roseville chicken farmers, we stood in our neighbor’s yard and gathered more of its brethren. I took the first bird and, steadying its head, drew my knife and made a strong, swift cut. First, one side of the neck and then the other. I held its body still as the blood drained into a white plastic felt it as the recession took a hit on our bucket. Afterward, we worked combined six-figure together cheerfully, plucking income, a devastation that sent feathers and prepping the our family into a rapid economic chickens for cooking. sinkhole—one that ended up requiring a move halfway across the country. This was someNow our life is radically different. These one’s dinner days, we live in a decrepit old bungalow near Finally, tonight. downtown Roseville; we’ve sold the family

when we were done, I stripped off my gloves and pedaled my bike home, leaving the roosters for my neighbors. Next time, I told myself, I might take home some of the carcasses. This time, I’d just been there to help with the work, to learn, to discover what options I had for feeding my family. It was hard, too, not to think of how much things have changed. Just four years ago, my husband and I enjoyed an affluent life in Austin, Texas, where we raised three kids, giving them every conceivable comfort and privilege. That existence, however, started to disappear with frightening velocity in 2008 after the economy crashed, and we all watched as the housing market plummeted and unemployment rates peaked. Closer to home, we 18

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car; and things like harvesting wild berries, bartering with the neighbors and, as it turns out, slaughtering chickens, is part of our daily existence.

FROM RICHES TO RAGS I was 37 when I found out I was expecting my third child. At the time, I was so busy with my sales job that my husband and I easily decided he’d quit his informationtechnology job to stay home with the kids. I was earning enough money to provide well for us—even if it meant I wasn’t home much. Indeed, sometimes I flew to three or four different cities during the same month, attending conferences, expos and corporate meetings.

It was a great and expensive lifestyle. I sipped on $4 coffee drinks and stayed at fancy hotels. I handed my keys to the valet and always tipped well. For years, my success was built on the concept of abundance—on the idea that people like having lots of stuff, and I found it easy to convince stores to stock the high-end naturalskin-care products and BPA-free $20 eco-friendly water bottles I was selling. No one was losing. My clients were almost embarrassingly eager to buy what I was selling no matter how high the cost, and I couldn’t see when or where the gravy train would stop. Of course, we now all know that the gravy train wouldn’t just come to a stop, it’d badly wreck. In October 2008, the stock market crashed, and, almost immediately, with a surprising suddenness, my retailers stopped—cold—placing orders for expensive, high-end trinkets. At the time, my husband Larry and I still lived with our three kids—baby Molly, toddler Zeke and school-age Rainer (the latter, my daughter with my ex-girlfriend)—in a tidy, creepily perfect neighborhood in the exurban hinterlands south of Austin. We tried to make the best of it. This transition, Larry and I decided, meant we’d be able to do something we’d long considered: move back to Northern California where my former partner lived with her girlfriend. For years, we’d co-parented at a distance, with Rainer spending her school years with Larry and me, then flying out to Roseville to stay with Mimi and Patty for summers and some holidays. Finally, one of my countless job inquiries panned out when I was offered a position in

sales similar to the one I’d just watch shrink. This time, however, it was with a much smaller company, covering a limited geographical area with a much less lucrative commission structure. There’d be almost no job support, no budget for promotion, no lavish expense account. It was, however, located near my ex-girlfriend.

My clients were almost embarrassingly eager to buy what I was selling, and I couldn’t see when or where the gravy train would stop.

And so we readied to downsize our lives—big time—moving from our pristine Texas suburb into a shabby Roseville neighborhood that was conveniently centered in my sales territory. We rented the largest UHaul truck our meager bank account could abide—which, as it turned out, was not very large at all—and liquidated everything we could in the world’s most desperate garage sale and then headed west.

We pulled up to our new house on a rainy day in March 2009. We’d picked out the three-bedroom house on Craigslist, sight unseen. Now, as we arrived, what surprised and thrilled me, after years living in our isolated Austin neighborhood, was just how cozy and almost urban it felt. Roseville is, in reality, something of a sleepy suburb, but to us, this colorful little downtown neighborhood seemed downright bustling: The railroad tracks were a few hundred yards away from our small one-way street, and the corner strip of businesses included a mortuary, pawn shop, and a narrow convenience store with two small aisles stacked high with Mexican pastries and cheap wine. The house itself had a lovely rock facade, a cozy front porch, and an apple tree with blossoms in full flower, its falling petals carpeting the small yard and walkway. Then, we went inside and were … well, disappointed doesn’t begin to describe it. Cheaply paneled walls, aged carpeting that was a matted and mottled light brown, pebbletextured chalk-white appliances that were likely vintage late-’80s. On the upside, the house was large but underpriced, which was why we had picked it as a perfect safe harbor for our newly struggling family. Eventually, we’d learn more of the secrets contained within its 100-year-old bones: closet doors that won’t stay closed unless you pick them up by the scruff of their necks to force the issue; rooms with doors so small no furniture, whatever the size, could make it through; a single wall gas unit meant to warm the entire house, which we soon discovered, had become home to a noisy family of doves. BEFORE

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After the Hightowers moved into this large, but shabby rental in Roseville, they made it home by painting it bright colors and decorating with personal, offbeat touches.

That first day, we sat inside on the house’s decrepit spiral staircase and snapped a family portrait. Our faces in this photo are tired and apprehensive, the kids seated in a weary cluster at our knees. They had been optimistic, but now our homecoming, after years in suburban posh comfort, seemed a genuine challenge for all of us. |

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DUDE, WHERE’S OUR CAR? Soon, I started my new sales job. I was working for a natural-skin-care line sold in health-food stores—one not established

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enough to have the kind of devoted clientele that means easy repeated sales. Looking back over those first few weeks, I can’t remember if the children struggled with the adjustment, or if it was mostly me suffering all sorts of self-doubt. In an effort to make it all seem like a grand adventure, I exaggerated the lawlessness of it. I let Molly ride her tricycle around the new dining room, mostly because I couldn’t think of a reason why not—because it’s not what we’re supposed to do? Doing what we were supposed to do certainly hadn’t saved us from a cataclysmic drop into near poverty. With that renegade spirit, we hung fairy lights on the front porch, covered the floors with a rainbow assortment of shag rugs, and made thrillingly foolhardy paint-color choices based on what was available on the “cheap mistakes” shelf at the store. Then, catastrophe visited us. Again. A few months after we arrived in Roseville, the company that hired me outsourced its sales staff. I lost my job, and we were plunged back into crisis mode. We forged ahead, making reductions in places where it wouldn’t cut so close to the quick. We shopped for necessities—clothes and shoes for the kids, etc.—at thrift stores, kept the cable and home Internet shut off, and told ourselves repeatedly, “It’s temporary.” Then, Larry landed a low-paying job at a store at the Fountains at Roseville, unpacking and pricing clothing in the back room of a fancy ” AGS women’s store. We felt R like we’d managed S TOge 21

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to grab the edge of the life raft just as it was drifting away. Still, we couldn’t close the gaps. So in late 2010, after a couple of years of barely hanging on, we decided to sell the only car we had— both for the cash and for the money it’d save on fuel and upkeep. Our Honda SUV was only a few years old and paid off. It was the first new car I had ever owned, and, as a traveling salesperson, I’d spent more time in that car than I spent anywhere other than home. After I posted an ad on Craigslist, I felt anger and sadness, then a sense of goddamn it, we don’t need this car; this car doesn’t define me, and it doesn’t define my family. The safety it represented, I realized, was an illusion. Or rather, the safety it offered now was what it would give financially. Once, I had accepted that this was the best (read: only) solution, the instant, dramatic release of tension felt like a balloon popping. In fact, we opted to give up on car ownership altogether, and instead spent a small percentage of the selling price to outfit everyone in the family for bike travel. There was something about taking the extreme step of becoming a car-free family that made this feel less like a loss and more like an adventure. After several panicky days of waiting, we got a serious offer from a young family. I arranged to meet them at the parking lot of a nearby office building. We arrived there after business hours. The prospective buyer—a father, handsome, with a dark complexion—walked around the Honda, feeling for telltale body-repair work. Later that evening, they came to our house and handed us a cashier’s check for the deposit as they prepared to drive off with my family’s last real asset. Rainer and Molly gave exuberant hugs of farewell to our car’s new owners before they left—as if this little family was made up of long-lost friends whom we’d finally made the time to see. The sky had a green-gray cast to it, and everything looked and felt just a little different when I walked slowly up the porch steps. I was sad, and yes, a little jealous of this successful young couple that had weathered these tough years better than we had. Zeke was quiet as he perched himself in front of a small window that overlooks our driveway. He watched as the couple’s toddler son tried to heave himself up into the high vehicle—only to be scooped up by a parent and buckled into his car seat. Suddenly, Zeke hopped from his vantage point and ran outside to the front porch as the car—the wife behind the wheel—made its way down the street, the father now following behind the Honda in the smaller sedan in which they’d arrived. I kept gently herding Zeke into the house, trying to discourage him from that moment of loss, but he insisted upon seeing it. He needed to see it, to say it out loud: “They’re taking our car. They’re going to have it now. That’s not our car anymore.”

He was quiet for a moment, thinking, and then: “Are they bringing it back later?” No, Zeke, they’re not bringing it back.

BIG CHANGES, LITTLE ADVENTURES Larry already had a pretty good bike, but mine was a dilapidated vintage Schwinn in need of replacing. We’d also need a bicycle for Rainer and at least one trailer for the younger children and any cargo I’d need to haul around town. Because it really only rains in the winter here, we figured we didn’t need to worry much about accommodations for bad weather until colder weather hit. Sometimes, you just make the initial big change and adapt as needed. Go figure: It was raining the day the shop called to tell me that my bike was ready for pickup. I rode the bus the 10 miles to the shop. When I walked in and saw it there, smelling like fresh rubber, I felt a momentary pang of regret in spite of its loveliness. This was not a car; this was it—my new vehicle. “You’re going that far in this rain?” the store clerk asked when he learned I’d planned to ride the 10 miles back home. That was my first experience with the kind of questions that were about to become constant: a strange sort of consternation at our carlessness. The kind of question that made a certain stubborn feeling bubble to the surface. I needed to feel like this was a choice—a brave and adventurous one. I rode home at dusk in the rain, watching as shopkeepers lit their outside signs, and doors and windows turned into golden-lit rectangles cutting through the thick gray evening. Passing by at a relatively slow speed meant I could really take in these little worlds. The coziness of it all gave me a feeling of euphoria, and when I arrived home and got warm and dry, I enjoyed that simple feeling for the miracle that it was. I expected certain post-car changes to be immediate, and they were. Once it was really and truly gone, we were much more discriminating about what errands were necessary. Kindergarten drop-off became a new struggle, taking all of us out of the house in the coldest part of the morning. Molly—though small and almost fragile—is ornery and slow to awaken, and can be shrill and unforgiving when crossed. I have found that the best way to deal with her is to utilize the element of surprise: Most mornings, I pull her from bed, as pink and impotent as a mewling kitten, cocoon her in a blanket and—silently and without ceremony—dump her into the bike trailer before she has a chance to bare ” her fangs. AGS

Selling our car radicalized and marginalized us. Now, we were out of the closet as having Blown it Big Time.

y gel lar ce. e v n e a , h ist , 6 ex eke pler Z m d an , si t), new n o r fr ei 5 ( th lly, ed to o M apt ad BEFORE

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to rationalize their car ownership to us, saying they lived too far from work or had to carpool too many kids to too many functions. I got used to saying things to make them more comfortable. Now, when we make a new acquaintance, I prepare myself for the chirpy, polite response people give when we say we don’t have a car. It’s like telling people you live in a trailer on the side of the road. They bite back their surprise, try to seem like they’re unfazed, and then when a few minutes pass and the conversation stalls, they furrow their brow: “Really?” Yes. Really. It’s not a bad thing, though. Sometimes, even, make it an adventure.

Other ESfrom page changes were H more C I d e “R ontinu unexpected. Getting out of c

the driver’s seat and onto the sidewalk created a surprising shift, as potent as it is hard to explain: It was like wandering into a model-railroad landscape, a diorama, something always seen from a distance. Suddenly, I was integrated into street-level life. Storefronts, parks, tables set up outside of cafes—I was right there with it, and in it. Everything looked different from this new perspective, without my high perch.

geese come and go. Now, having grown attached to the residents of our trail and its meandering creek, we’re watching this little family closely.

A FRUITFUL ABUNDANCE Blackberry bramble grows wild in Roseville. They’re easy to spot, with spreading thorncovered vines, broad elliptical leaves and tight, chartreuse clusters that, late summer, will mature into soft, darkly purple berries. It’s hard to buy blackberries: They’re fragile, and you’ll pay a king’s ransom for a half-pint container only to find that by the time you get home, the bottom layer has burst and run with juice. PHOTO BY CORBYN HIGHTOWER

Ranier, 13 (middle), isn’t embarrassed by her family’s economic downturn; rather, she’s embraced their newfound thriftiness and creativity.

Technically, the hike-and-bike trail near our house closes at sundown. We blatantly ignore that. If we need to get home after dark, we take what we’ve come to think of as “Our Trail.” It follows the swells and curves of a nearby creek, hopping over it and back via footbridges. Its banks are covered with oak trees, blackberry bramble, fennel and tall grasses. You can always smell the creek before you see it. In the evening, with only our bike headlights breaking the purple-blackness of the night, we dip and climb with no warning and whoop the downhills that make our bellies drop with surprise. We are the only family I ever see who rides bikes to Costco, and, once, when we made the 6-mile trip during a downpour, drivers stared at us in the parking lot and nudged their passengers before smiling at us and shaking their heads. It makes me feel a little defiant, a little proud. It’s just rain, we remind each other. “We’re tough, aren’t we?” the kids say. We bring insulated bags for frozen things. We only buy one really bulky item each time, and we make use of every square inch of the bike’s trailer, and the children hold things on their laps. On one of our more recent trips, we were lucky enough to catch sight of recently hatched goslings at the creek. Larry saw them first, and when he stopped suddenly on the trail to better see them, I nearly slammed into his bike. Over the last few weeks, he’d noticed a pair of Canada geese acting conspicuously parental, clearly defending an egg cache in the thicket. So when he saw them marching with their newly hatched offspring, he took notice and drew our own (similar) posse to a halt. The frozen foods already softening in our cargo pouches could wait a few minutes more. We unbuckled the gleeful kids and watched for a long time. Since we’d sold the car and started exploring the trail, we’ve observed many generations of ducks and

It made me feel connected to Roseville to be able to wave into stores at the people we do business with: the gray-haired waiter at the diner whose smiling face always greets us with delighted surprise; Alexis from the grocery store, sitting with her back leaned against the wall, smoking a cigarette on break. Sometimes, though, I resented having to put on a social face whenever I left home. The big silver chariot with its subtly tinted windows created a barrier between me and the community around me; I didn’t have to smile when I didn’t want to. I’d also worried about the kids’ response to the huge change. What ended up surprising me most, however, was Rainer’s take on it. Even as an adolscent, with all its accompanying social sensitivities, she wasn’t stigmatized by our family’s economic shift. No, rather, she was proud. She focused instead on the cool surprises our new dynamic held. She became a bellwether of eco-family living, and chose to emphasize that to others—and seemingly to herself. She wore the poverty stigma lightly, and when friends visited, she took pride in showing them the joyous color of the make-do world we’ve created from cast-off things. She doesn’t seem defined by the struggles. I learned they didn’t define me, either. Or, perhaps more accurately, they redefined me. Selling our car radicalized and marginalized us. Now, we were out of the closet as having Blown it Big Time. It was the one thing that we could say that seemed to give everyone pause. We knew many who had let go of cable TV, but we didn’t yet know anyone else who had become a no-car family. It automatically cast us in a role I didn’t know if I was ready to occupy. People started BEFORE

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What surprised me most was my daughter Rainer’s take on our new financial situation. She wasn’t stigmatized by our economic shift—she was proud.

I’m not sure why more people don’t pick them. Sure, you have to wrangle with fine, prickly thorns that make your skin itch; you must pay attention, too, not to miss the window of time after they’re no longer too sour and before the summer sun has finally shriveled them into hard, black husks. We pay attention. Over and over, we come across new thickets of them hidden along roadsides or beside the trails. Then, when they finally ripen, it’s time to pile the kids into the big orange gardening wagon. We bring jelly jars, but not big ones—those would mean too much weight on the bottom layers. When we reach the best spot, we prop a long, wide plank up against the bramble to give access to the higher areas and work, intent and quietly focused. Once, some teenage boys passed us on the other side of the busy street. They asked us

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what we’re picking, and then, if they can join us. I glanced over at Rainer to search for signs of embarrassment and, finding none, handed them a jar. I asked, “Did you grow up here?” and am surprised when one answers yes. I wonder, did their parents not care about blackberries? Because you’d have to actively not care about the fruit to ignore this abundance: Here were blackberries! There aren’t many places on Earth where something so succulent comes at such low cost: The only price you pay is in scratched up hands and stained fingertips. We work for a few hours, long enough so that the teens eventually mount their skateboards, lean back and roll off with lackadaisical efficiency. They don’t say goodbye, but it’s clear we’ve earned a little admiration. We continue working, a little quieter now. After a while, Rainer looks up at me and says something, but I’m so busy and lost in thought, I can’t be sure that I’ve heard her right. I ask her to repeat herself. “I love our life,” she says. “I’m so glad we’re doing this.” I’d be surprised, but at this point, it’s hard to surprise me anymore—what with the many strange and sudden changes we’ve endured since this started. Knowing that my oldest, who’s about to enter her teens, is pleased by these sort of simple experiences in the natural world leaves me with a potent feeling of relief. This connection to the Earth is a gift we can give her. It’s hard to ignore the shifts of seasons and the presence of nature in our world when you are down and in it, just in the accomplishing the most quotidian of tasks. You feel a subtle cold front blowing in on your way to the hardware store; you see the blackberries turning color while you patiently watch day after day; and you navigate based on the location of the sun in the sky. And it’s all because we have become a ramshackle caravan of bikes and trailers decorated with silk flowers. Being car free has made our world smaller, but now, while our world has shrunk somewhat, our neighborhood has grown larger, infused with more meaning. The other day, I spotted an SUV identical to the one we’d sold and remembered, with sudden vividness, the feeling of holding that heavy key in my hand for the first time. Then, I’d felt as though I was finally driving my life, and that the future would happen at a certain speed and with a strong straight trajectory. There wouldn’t be a deviation down a narrow dirt trail with unexpected sadness or big muddy places that I’d have to struggle through. Now, years later, I didn’t miss having a car as much as I thought I would. Sometimes, of course, I missed what it said about my life: that the road was solid beneath my wheels, that there were air bags at every side and in front of me, and that I was moving forward, driving my family down a clear and certain path. But the unpredictability our days hold doesn’t scare me anymore. My children see the stability that comes from weathering hard times and adapting to new ways of doing things. My middle-schooler thinks the way we’re living is cool. And I’m OK with being a little bit proud of that. Ω Corbyn Hightower is a writer living in Roseville. Her work has appeared in The Huffington Post and More magazine. Read more at www.corbynhightower.com.

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he toterhome engine hums assertively, disrupting the sleepy silence of the cold, dark morning in an otherwise vacant grocery-store parking lot in Folsom. It’s 5 a.m. on October 7, 2011, and the truck sits idle, waiting, while one of the passengers inside the cab, a 20-year-old blonde, Sara Patrick, locks eyes on a nearby Starbucks, counting down to when it finally opens so she can fetch a caffeine fix. But the focus of the brunette 30-year-old sitting shotgun, Melissa Harris, is her 14-year-old horse, Bailey, now standing inside the trailer hitched behind the RV.

In 2000, when Harris was 19 and Bailey, 4, the two were already racing in 25-milers. Then, one day, he attacked her. Before the incident, Harris was leading the horse, walking in front of him, and she sensed that something was amiss. “I turn around, and he’s rearing straight up, and his ears pinned and his mouth open,” she says. “So I bent down and put my hands over my neck. … He grabbed my arm and threw me in the air a couple of times.” Harris wound up in the emergency room, but says now, “Even though he was the one that hurt me … I knew it was my wrongdoing; I just needed to figure out how to fix it.” Shortly thereafter, in an effort to reduce his aggression, Harris had Bailey gelded.

Still, Harris and Bailey persevered and were able to compete in the Tevis Cup in July 2010. But during the race, another misstep when somewhere around the trail’s 90-mile mark, Bailey stepped on a plastic water bottle and came crashing down, dragging his rider momentarily. The pair finished the race with Harris leading her horse in the dark for the last 10 miles.

“I’m surprised at how calm Bailey is,” Harris says. Patrick agrees—the horse is usually “bad” when being hauled. What does he do? “I didn’t want to be one of those riders that “He shakes the whole trailer,” Patrick says. A few minutes later, the sound of pounding comes from the just went out and bought a horse they trailer and the toterhome vibrates. Harris has been riding horses all her life; on this particular knew was [already] capable of doing it. morning she and her agitated mount are waiting with her father, I wanted the experience of training one.” Gabe Harris, the vehicle’s driver, and Patrick, a riding student of Harris’, to meet up with the rest of her racing crew: Harris Melissa Harris and Bailey are on the road to the Western States Trail Ride, endurance rider more commonly called the Tevis Cup. The Tevis Cup, set to take place again this Saturday, Then, in 2005, Harris became ill with encephalitis as a August 4, is an equestrian endurance ride, widely known as one result of mosquito sting. And, like some soap-opera plot line, of the world’s toughest. It covers 100 miles in 24 hours, with she suffered from amnesia. riders from across the United States and Canada, Japan, and “She lost her memory for three years,” says Melissa’s Australia traveling here to conquer the trail that begins near father, Gabe Harris. Truckee in the Sierra Nevada and concludes in Auburn. It’s a Her physical capacities were impacted as well: grueling journey that includes 17,000 feet of ascents and 22,000 “I lost my equilibrium, I had a hard time walking down feet of descents over rocky granite terrain, narrow trails that hills; I would fall down,” she says. hug the mountainside and through the American River—and So Harris moved back in with her parents temporarily. She some of this in the dark of night. recovered, but more horse-related injuries followed, including So why would Harris want to put such physical and mental broken teeth, courtesy of a spooked stallion, and some equinestrain on herself and her horse through countless months and inflicted broken ribs. thousands of miles of training, a process in which one small misstep on the trail could result in injury, or worse? “I wanted to see if I even had what it took,” story Harris says. and photos Her love of horses runs deep. by “I’m to blame,” Liz Harris, Melissa’s mother, Shoka admits. It’s Liz who planted the seed of her daughshokas@ ter’s equine obsession early on when they lived in newsreview.com Southern California, and then later in Garden Valley in the Northern California foothills, where they had a few horses of their own. She even used to take little Melissa to the babysitter on horseback. At age RIDER MELISSA HARRIS AND HER HORSE BAILEY ENDURE INJURY, ILLNESS 5, Melissa got her own horse, and years of riding, horse shows, riding in parades in elaborate homeAND TRAIL TROUBLES—AGAIN—IN A QUEST FOR THE 2012 TEVIS CUP made dresses and working at stables followed, until eventually, Melissa opened her own training stable, El Dorado Training Facility, on an 88-acre ranch near her Shingle Springs home. Still, she was drawn into the world of endurance riding, and her ultimate goal was to complete the Tevis Cup and finish in the top 20. In 1997, Harris got Bailey—formally named Sol Del Valiente—an elegant bay Arabian stallion with a white star on his forehead and a snip on his nose, when he was just 8 months old. She wanted to start from scratch, she says, to shape this horse into an endurance athlete. “I didn’t want to be one of those riders that just went out and bought a horse they knew was [already] capable of doing it. I wanted the experience of training one and bonding with one,” she says. The thing is, though, when working around 1,000-or-so-pound animals, one’s bound to get hurt. Melissa Harris tacks up her horse Bailey (left) before departing the second Foresthill hold during the 2011 Tevis Cup 100-mile endurance race. And Harris did.

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08.02.12

Beers, bikes, big crowds See BREW THE RIGHT THING

Aussie kicks See COOLHUNTING

Afterward, Harris set her sights on the 2011 race, which, due to unsafe conditions on the trail (the river was too high and too swift to cross) was postponed from July to October. At first, Harris was relieved—she’d have three extra months to prepare, after all. That changed in September, however, when vets discovered Bailey was suffering

Royally screwed See FILM

Goodbye DTJB?!

from ulcers and stress-induced temporomandibular joint disorder, a.k.a. TMJ dysfunction. Harris was devastated. “I laid awake crying that night.” Bailey rested for the next few weeks until the condition subsided, and Harris decided he was well enough to ride.

Before the race, Bailey undergoes a vet check with a red ribbon braided into his tail: a visual cue to others that he’s a kicker.

he morning before the race on that October day in 2011, the toterhome leaves the grocery-store parking lot around 5:40 a.m. after the rest of Melissa Harris’ crew, the McCormick family—Wendy, Bob and 11-year-old daughter Emily, another riding student of Harris’—arrives in a truck and SUV and caravan to their destination, the Gold Country fairground in Auburn. It growls through the fairground and parks on a bluff that overlooks the race’s finish line and sets up camp before dawn. This year, the trail’s usual starting line is snowed out, forcing the race to be rerouted into a loop that begins and ends in Auburn. Before the race, Bailey undergoes the required preliminary vet check. The horse, whom Harris calls “really high maintenance,” has a red ribbon braided into his tail: a visual cue to others that he’s a kicker. The horse clears the exam, but the vet secretary writes “Careful!” on his form. “’Cause he’s an asshole!” Harris jokes. By 10 p.m. that night, Harris has retired into a nest of blankets and pillows in the toterhome. Just a few dozen yards away on the bluff, however, sits a railroad track; throughout the night, trains roar by, spooking Bailey. So much for a good night’s sleep: Harris goes to soothe him several times, and by 4 a.m., she’s dressed, feeding and

THE HORSE

FRONTLINES

FEATURE

STORY

A RT S & C U LT U R E

See 15 MINUTES

tacking up Bailey in complete darkness, save for the glow of one tiny flashlight. Finally, just before 6 a.m., riders, mounts and crew stumble through the blackness, over the railroad tracks and across a field to the check-in point. The riders will stop for vet checks at several points during the race, but there are also two onehour mandatory “hold” breaks in Foresthill for resting and refueling. At 11:40 a.m., Harris arrives at the first hold. Bailey’s shoulders are wet with perspiration. “My feet hurt so bad,” she says. The McCormicks hustle to get Bailey to gulp down some water and a mouthful of hay. A vet checks his pulse and respiration rate. Bailey passes inspection. Horse and rider rest and eat lunch. Harris nibbles on a croissant sandwich with cheese and swallows a Motrin for her aching ankle. By 12:40 p.m., they’re back on the trail, but when riders begin arriving for the second race hold, McCormick thinks she’s close behind. “Oh, she’ll top 20, for sure,” she says with assurance. But hours go by, and there’s no sign of them. Did something happen? Did Bailey misstep again? There’s hearsay that a horse and rider stumbled off a cliff; could it have been them? At 5:19 p.m., Harris finally rounds the corner up the road walking next to her bay. “I feel sick to my stomach,” she says. “The next loop is going to kick my ass. … I can feel it.” The sun setting, Harris pulls on a white sweatshirt and embarks on the next section of the trail. The next time Harris’ crew will see her is at the finish line back in Auburn. The McCormicks return to Auburn just after 7 o’clock as the first rider crosses the finish line. The crew’s long wait into the night begins, not knowing when—or if—Harris and Bailey will make it to the end. Wendy McCormick and Patrick bundle up to wait at the stadium, fighting off sleep as the temperature drops. Finally, at 2:52 a.m., they see a white sweatshirt approaching the stadium out of the dark. Harris and Bailey emerge. “I feel like shit. I can’t eat or drink anything; I’ll throw up,” says Harris, who, ultimately, finishes in 100th place. The weary crew yearns for a shower and sleep, but Harris insists on waiting for the afternoon awards ceremony to receive her certificate of completion. “I worked hard for that piece of paper!” she laughs. Despite everything, she says, the race was easier than the typical Tevis Cup because it didn’t include the trail’s usual, harsher mountain terrain. It was difficult, nonetheless. “I’m amazed he even finished after everything he’s been through.” As such, Harris says she considered skipping this year’s race because of Bailey’s medical issues. In February, however, a muscle biopsy on Bailey led to diagnosis of a disease that can be managed by altering his diet. And so Harris and Bailey plan to race this Saturday along the trail’s more traditional, excruciatingly difficult trail. Why would she put herself—and her horse— through it once more? Simple. “I wanted to try it one last time.” Ω The Western States Trail Ride starts Saturday, August 4, at 5:15 a.m. See www.teviscup.org for more information.

Harris arrives at the first Foresthill hold at 11:40 a.m. (left), and a crew member, 11-year-old Emily McCormick, offers Bailey a buffet of hay and electrolytes. BEFORE

See SOUND ADVICE

Red hot and smokin’

AFTER

08. 02.12

SN&R

NIGHT&DAY 02THURS DON’T MISS! TALK ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT: At the August 2

meeting of the Auburn Area Democratic Club, Linnea Johnson, lead attorney and team leader for the Central California Appellate Project, will speak about the history of the ICC, its importance in today’s political environment and her fascinating experience prosecuting war criminals before the court. Th, 8/2, 7pm. Free. Auburn Library, 350 Nevada St. in Auburn; (530) 886-4500.

List your event! Post your free online listing (up to 15 months early), and our editors will consider your submission for the printed calendar as well. Print listings are also free, but subject to space limitations. Online, you can include a full description of your event, a photo and a link to your website. Go to www.newsreview. com/calendar and start posting events. Deadline for print listings is 10 days prior to the issue in which you wish the listing to appear.

Kids’ Stuff TWIG JOURNALS: Led by Artworks, participants will create and bind their own twig journal. Th, 8/2, 2pm. Free. North Natomas Library, 4660 Via Ingoglia; (916) 264-2920; www.saclibrary.org.

Volunteer MULCH MADNESS: Grab your wheelbarrow and join the after-work mulching party at McKinley Park. Volunteers are needed to help care for the park by applying mulch rings around the park trees. The event is supported by the City of Sacramento Parks and Recreation Department and the Sacramento Tree Foundation. Mulch is provided by the City of Sacramento Urban Forestry Service. Bring your own, or use provided wheelbarrows, gloves and rakes. Th, 8/2, 6-8pm. Free. McKinley Park, 601 Alhambra Blvd.; (916) 924-8733; www.sactree.com.

03FRI

DON’T MISS! MOONLIGHT COSTUME BALL: MEN IN TIGHTS: Merry men

and women are invited to a night of revelry, music, dancing and more at Fairytale Town’s annual Moonlight Costume Ball. This year’s Robin Hoodthemed fundraiser features a red carpet photo op, dance floor, deejay, costume contests, a live performance by Celtic rock band Tempest and proceeds support the renovation of the Sherwood Forest play set. F, 8/3, 7-11pm. $10-$15. Fairytale Town, 3901 Land Park Dr.; (916) 808-7462; www.fairytaletown.org.

Special Events BUDDHIST TEACHER PHILLIP MOFFIT: Nationally known Buddhist teacher Phillip Moffitt will discuss how to develop mindfulness in a talk benefiting Mountain Stream Meditation Center. The talk, based on his newly published book, Emotional Chaos to Clarity, will explore Buddhist teachings and practices that can help you develop skills—such as setting priorities and identifying core values—that can profoundly improve your ability to respond

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to any difficult life situation. F, 8/3, 7pm. $25-$65 suggested donation. Esterly Hall, 336 Crown Point Circle in Grass Valley; www.mtstream.org/ tickets.html.

COMEDY UNDER THE STARS: Join the Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District and Sacramento’s Laughs Unlimited for a full night of laughs. Food and spirits will be available for purchase in the theater. Comedy may contain explicit language and offensive materials and is intended for an adult audience. F, 8/3, 8-10pm; F, 10/5, 8-10pm. $15-$20. Veterans Memorial Amphitheatre, 7991 California Ave. in Fair Oaks; (916) 966-1036; www.fairoakspark.org.

Classes AUTISM INSURANCE SEMINAR: The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) will host a series of seminars to educate parents on the new California law requiring most insurance providers to cover behavioral health treatment for autism spectrum disorders. F, 8/3, 6-8pm. Free. CARD, Inc, 2945 Ramco Street, Ste. 160; (818) 345-2345; http://centerforautism.com/ insurance-seminar.aspx.

Film SIDEWAYS FOOD & FILM EVENT: The Nevada City Film Festival and Miners Foundry Cultural Center present the Sideways, plus a hearty and delicious dinner featuring California cuisine by A Family Affair, tastings of local wines and live jazz music. F, 8/3, 4:30pm. $40-$50. Miners Foundry Cultural Center, 325 Spring St. in Nevada City; (530) 265-5040; www.minersfoundry.org.

Literary Events AUTHOR CHERYL STAPP: California Writers Club, Sacramento Branch presents authorturned-historian Cheryl Stapp, who will share the joys, frustrations, techniques, exciting findsù and helpful marketing contacts made while researching and writing Disaster & Triumph: Sacramento Women, Gold Rush Through the Civil War. Expect to hear fascinating facts about pioneer days in America. F, 8/3, 9-11am. Free. IHOP, 2216 Sunrise Blvd. in Rancho Cordova; (916) 213-0798; www.cwcsacramento writers.org.

Concerts ALEX DE GRASSI, FRANCO MORONE AND WALTER STRAUSS: Three acoustic guitar innovators appear together for the first time as a triple bill. These three masters will serve up a smorgasbord of fingerstyle guitar featuring musical influences from around the world. Arrangements of traditional American, European, and African melodies cross rhythms with original compositions as these three dish up an audible feast. F, 8/3, 8pm. $20-$22. St. Joseph’s Cultural Center, 410 South Church St. in Grass Valley; (530) 272-4725.

ARLO GUTHRIE & THE GUTHRIE FAMILY REUNION: Legendary folk music icon Arlo Guthrie will tour in select markets across North America with three generations of Guthries to celebrate Woody Guthrie’s

100th birthday (July 14, 1912) in July and August 2012. At this gig, they’ll be joined by former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty. F, 8/3, 7:30pm. $45-$70. Ironstone Amphitheatre at Ironstone Vineyards, 1894 Six Mile Rd. in Murphys; (209) 728-1251.

CREED: Florida’s favorite platinum-selling quasiChristian rock band, Creed, stops at Thunder Valley for a show with openers Eve To Adam and Like A Storm. F, 8/3, 7:30pm. $25-$70. Thunder Valley Casino, 1200 Athens Ave. in Lincoln; (916) 408-7777; www.thundervalleyresort.com.

FOLK MUSIC JAM SESSION: Folk musicians are invited to play together informally during an acoustic jam session. Pull out your fiddles, guitars, mandolins, penny whistles, pipes, flutes, squeezeboxes—you name it— and join your fellow musicians for a little bluegrass, old-time, blues, Celtic, klezmer, and world music over the lunch hour. All skill levels welcome. F, 8/3, noon. Free. Wyatt Deck, Old Davis Rd. in Davis.

MYSTIC ROOTS: Mystic Roots will be performing live at the Corner Pocket on. Also performing will be J Ras of Soullifted, J-real and Squarefield Massive. Advance tickets are available at Corner Pocket. F, 8/3, 9:30pm-1:30am. $10-$15. Corner Pocket Sports Bar, 7777 Sunrise Blvd., Ste. 1300 in Citrus Heights; (916) 722-2582; www.cornerpocketonline.com.

WHISKEY RIVER MUSIC FESTIVAL: Enjoy the Nugget Campground and some amazing bluegrass, folk and jazz beats at the 5th Annual Whiskey River Music Festival. The festival is located five minutes from Placerville, on the South Fork of the American River. Go rafting during the day and party the night away. F, 8/3, 9am. Call for pricing. The Nugget, 6045 Rafters Ln. in Placerville; (530) 622-6887; www.wildrivertrips.com.

04SAT

DON’T MISS! SCREEN ON THE GREEN:

Councilman Steve Cohn and Pops in the Park present the 2012 Screen on the Green movie series, featuring this screening of Madagascar. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating and snacks. Sa, 8/4, 8:15pm. Free. South Natomas Community Park, 2901 Truxel Rd.; (916) 808-5240; www.sacscreen onthegreen.com.

Classes MEDITATION BASIC PRACTICES: Meditation is the science and the art of going within; a science because it gives you tools and an art because you use these tools to tune in to your own experience within. In this workshop, you will learn all the basics to get you started in your practice of meditation. Sa, 8/4, 9:30am-noon. $30. Ananda Sacramento, 10450 Coloma Rd. in Rancho Cordova; (916) 361-0891; www.anandasacramento.org.

SAT PRACTICE TESTS: The Sacramento Public Library will present free workshops for college-bound students. High school students are invited to take a free SAT practice examination, with a real SAT test, under real test conditions. Kaplan Test Prep will administer the practice test. First Sa of

every month, 8:30am-noon

through 12/1. Free. Sacramento Public Library (Central Branch), 828 I St.; (916) 264-2920; www.saclibrary.org.

Kids’ Stuff DREAM TIME MASKS WITH ARTWORKS: Examples of different masks from various cultures will be shared: masks for happy occasions, sad occasions and masks to ward off evil spirits. Create a mask based on myths from Australia, the Caribbean and other countries. Sa, 8/4, 3:30pm. Free. Del Paso Heights Library, 920 Grand Ave.; (916) 264-2920; www.saclibrary.org.

Literary Events NEL PENNEY BOOK-SIGNING EVENT: Penney, a resident of Sacramento, will be available to sign copies of her book, Treasures in the House of the Righteous. In this work, Penney reveals the miracles that God has performed in her life. Sa, 8/4, 1pm. Free. The Bible House, 7601 Laguna Blvd. in Elk Grove.

Concerts CHAMELEON, THE SANTANA EXPERIENCE: Hear Chameleon, a Santana tribute band that plays a sizzling mix of the best music of Carlos Santana. With its driving rhythm section, percussion and fiery guitar work, the group captures the feel and spirit of the classic songs. It’s a musical experience guaranteed to get you up and dancing. Sa, 8/4, 7:30pm. $8-$15. Miners Foundry Cultural Center, 325 Spring St. in Nevada City; (530) 265-5040; www.minersfoundry.org.

DUBSMASHERS, ROCKER T & ZAHIRA SOUL: Pure Anywear Presents A Night of Live Dub with Dubsmashers featuring Rocker T and Zahira Soul. A special opening deejay set will be performed by Rocker T and Jah Wave backed by Lionheart Sounds. There will also be giveaways and vending by Pure Anywear and Ital Hemp Wick. Sa, 8/4, 8pm-2am. $15-$20. The Stonehouse Old Brewery, 107 Sacramento St. in Nevada City; (530) 265-5050.

MATT STILLWELL: Matt Stillwell broke into the country music scene with his single “Shine” debuting at No. 25 on iTunes country chart and the accompanying music video reaching No. 5 on CMT Pure and breaking into the top 10 on GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown. Currently Stillwell is creating quite a fire at country radio with his new single “Ignition.” Sa, 8/4, 8pm. Call for pricing. Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar, 440 Palladio Pkwy. in Folsom; (916) 984-8629; http://countrybarfolsom.com.

MIGHTY CASH CATS: The Mighty Cash Cats bring the music of the Man In Black, the legendary Johnny Cash. Mighty Cash Cats also goes behind the myth and music of the Man In Black and delves into the roots of Cash’s music. Sa, 8/4, 8-11pm. $16-$18.

Sutter Creek Theatre, 44 Main St. in Sutter Creek; (213) 924-4901; www.suttercreektheater.com.

RUSSELL THOMPKINS JR. AND THE NEW STYLISTICS: For fans of classic R&B, the soul train stops here. See Russell Thompkins Jr. and The New Stylistics in the Club 88 showroom. During the early 1970s, the Stylistics had 12 straight top 10 R&B hits, including “You Are Everything,” “Betcha by Golly” and “Wow, I’m Stone in Love With You.” Sa, 8/4, 8pm. $29-$45. Cache Creek Casino Resort, 14455 Hwy. 16 in Brooks; (888) 772-2243; www.cachecreek.com.

TEACUPS PLAY AT THE LIBRARY: Join Afternoon Teacup Collection at the first of two free library performances. The group will perform Cowell, Costello, Purcell, Riley, Gabrielli, Tiersen and a few other musical treats. This show is all-ages. Sa, 8/4, 3pm. Free. Belle Cooledge Library, 5600 South Land Dr.; (916) 997-7240; www.facebook.com/ afternoonteacupcollection.

05SUN

DON’T MISS! GOOD STREET FOOD & DESIGN MARKET: Good Street Food

& Design Market features deejays, live music, good beer and wine, and good bike parking. There are a few things that set it apart from other markets: high quality products that are locally made or grown, one-of-a-kind items, and custom goods designed to improve the consumer experience. First Su of every

month, 1-5pm through 11/4.

$3 entry. Good Street Food and Design Market, 1409 Del Paso Blvd.

Special Events SHAKESPEARE ON THE VINE: No Holds Bard will be perfomed on the Carvalho Family Winery’s outdoor Crush Pad. Grab a glass of wine and join. food catered by Jackson Catering will be available for purchase. Su, 8/5, 2pm. Call for pricing. Old Sugar Mill, 35265 Willow Ave. in Clarksburg; (916) 514-2270; www.carvalhofamily winery.com/our Events_winery.shtml.

COMMUNITY YARD SALE: Join the fun at Fulton-El Camino Recreation and Park District’s Community Yard Sale. Make some extra cash, shop to your heart’s content, or do both at a massive yard sale. Food and drinks will be available for purchase during the event. Su, 8/5, 9am-1pm; Su, 10/7, 9am-1pm. Call for pricing. Howe Avenue Park, 2201 Cottage Way; (916) 927-3802, ext. 125; www.fecrecpark.com.

NEVADA CITY SUMMER CRAFT FAIR: The Nevada City Craft Fair returns to the Miners Foundry Cultural Center. The event showcases the local region’s top Etsy vendors, artisans and do-it-yourself crafters, and features their unique, handmade, original and repurposed art, clothing, accessories, jewelry and housewares. Su, 8/5, 10am-8pm. $3. Miners Foundry

Cultural Center, 325 Spring St. in Nevada City; (530) 265-5040; www.minersfoundry.org.

RIDE FEST 2012: This car show features vendors, live music, food, games, demonstrations and tours of Universal Technical Institute. Check the power of your ride with a dynamometer run. Su, 8/5, 10am-2pm. Free. Universal Technical Institute, 4100 Duckhorn Dr.; (916) 473-6022; www.uti.edu.

Film DOUBLE SCREENING ABOUT THE SAN FRANCISCO: Catch a double-bill screening of Remembering Playland at The Beach and SUTRO’S: The Palace at Land’s End with director Tom Wyrsch in person. Learn some interesting history about San Francisco. Su, 8/5, 1pm. $8-$10. Crest Theatre, 1013 K St.; (916) 442-7378.

Kids’ Stuff FATHER & DAUGHTER DANCE: This “father and daughter” dance features dancing, entertainment, a daddy hula-hoop contest and princess fashion show. Tickets cost $30 for a father and daughter (includes dinner) and $10 for each additional daughter. Su, 8/5, 5-8pm. $10-$30. Sekous BBQ, 455 Bercut Dr.; (916) 208-7638; http://fatheranddaughter dance.eventbrite.com.

KIDS DAY: Fairytale Town and Chalk it Up partner together to celebrate National Kids Day with carnival games, arts and crafts activities, live music, chalk art and more. Musical Charis, the Freebadge Serenaders and Ricky Berger will perform live on the Mother Goose Stage. Su, 8/5, 11am-3pm. Free with paid park admission. Fairytale Town, 3901 Land Park Dr.; (916) 808-7462; www.fairytaletown.org.

Concerts CYNTHIA DOUGLAS: See why audiences are raving about Cynthia Douglas’ jazz fusion vocals. Douglas has lent her pipes to more than 20 gold and platinum albums with artists such as Johnny Taylor, Bob Seger, Millie Jackson and George Clinton. Su, 8/5, 5-8pm. $5-$10. JB’s Lounge; 1401 Arden Way, inside the Red Lion Hotel, (916) 723-5517; www.cynthiasings.com.

THE DIVA KINGS: Come get some grub and refreshing beverages while the Diva Kings perform their original songs mixed with some covers. Bring your friends and spend a Sunday evening on the river. Su, 8/5, 7pm. Free. Crawdad’s River Cantina; 1375 Garden Hwy; (916) 929-2268; www.crawdadsontheriver.com.

06MON Meetings & Groups

ESTABLISHING A MEDITATION PRACTICE: Learn to quiet the mind and to allow your attention to naturally go within. Marilyn Buehler will discuss different styles of meditation and the purpose of each. The evening will include a guided meditation and some time in

silent meditation. M, 8/6, 7-8:30pm. Free. SMUD Customer Service Center, 6301 S St.; (916) 812-9496; http://radiant-light.org.

Kids’ Stuff

07TUES

MARK BUNNELL, THE JUGGLING TORNADO: Mark presents a fastpaced comedy show with hilarious stunts and props plus lots of audience of participation. It’s interactive and clever entertainment for all. W, 8/8, 3pm. Free. Belle Cooledge Library, 5600 South Land Park Dr.; (916) 264-2920; www.saclibrary.org.

DON’T MISS! CLASSIC MOVIE NIGHT:

Join for a series of classic movies hand-picked by staff who will share the reason for their choice, the historical context of the movie and interesting behind-the-scenes facts regarding its production. Drama, comedy, adventure and romance filmed between the 1920s through the 1970s will be screened in the West Meeting Room.

PYTHON RON’S ANIMAL KINGDOM: In this hands-on learning experience, Python Ron introduces kids to the exciting world of reptiles, insects and arachnids. W, 8/8, 3:30pm. Free. Orangevale Library, 8820 Greenback Ln. in Orangevale; (916) 264-2920; www.saclibrary.org.

First Tu of every month

through 12/4. Free. Sacramento Public Library (Central Branch), 828 I St.; (916) 264-2920; www.saclibrary.org.

Teens REGISTER FOR LEGACY YOUTH PROJECT: Images Theatre

Classes RELAX AND GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP: There is more than just

IF YOU HADN’T NOTICED, Sacramentans love their cars. This city has a pretty sweet drag strip (read: the Sacramento Raceway), and is home to an abundance of car clubs and auto shops. So it’s not surprising that Sacramento will host two unrelated car-themed events in the same weekend: Saturday’s California Automobile Museum Car Cruise and Sunday’s Sacramento Swap Meet. Read the following guide for the skinny on these two vastly different events.

CALIFORNIA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM CAR CRUISE The Car Cruise begins on Saturday, August 4, at 4 p.m. on the corner of Fulton Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard. It travels north up Fulton and ends with a car show between El Camino and Marconi avenues. There, a celebration will highlight cars, trucks and motorcycles of all kinds— including lowriders and sports cars. Awards will be given to cars in 16 different categories, and attendees will hear live music by Todd Morgan and the Emblems. Admission to the show is free to spectators, but registration for cruise participants costs $49. Participants will meet at 1 p.m. in Sacramento State’s Lot 1, at 6000 J Street. For more information, visit http://calautomuseum.org/html/cruise.html.

falling asleep to getting a good night’s rest. This workshop will discuss how to unplug and relax. James Weber will discuss why you cannot fall asleep, stay asleep or feel rested in the morning when you wake. Discover what you are missing so you can get a good night’s sleep. Tu, 8/7, 6pm. Free. Belle Cooledge Library, 5600 South Land Dr.; (916) 264-2920; www.saclibrary.org.

—Jonathan Mendick

ONGOING AXIS GALLERY: 7th National Juried

THE MAGIC OF ANDY AMYX: Magician Andy Amyx is known for his dazzling style of magic and illusions. He combines sleight of hand and amazing feats with comedy and audience participation. Tu, 8/7, 4pm. Free. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 7240 24th Street Bypass; (916) 264-2920; www.saclibrary.org.

08WED

Exhibition, Axis Gallery is holding its National Juried Exhibition, juried by Apsara DiQuinzio, assistant curator of painting and sculpture at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Sa, Su, 12-5pm

through 8/26. Opens 8/4; W, 8/8, 6-8pm; Sa, 8/11, 6-9pm. Free. 1517

19th St.; (916) 443-9900; www.axisgallery.org.

LITTLE RELICS BOUTIQUE & GALLERIA: Vacation for the Soul, Jay Spooner and David Arnold take photographry enthusiasts around the world to view the most sacred places and create an exquisite exhibit. Through 8/31, 11am-6pm. Free. 908 21st St.; (916) 716-2319.

2012 GEA NATIONAL GEOTHERMAL SUMMIT:

Sunday’s swap meet at Power Balance Pavilion is for the hardcore vintage-car enthusiast and features booths full of pre-1970 car parts that you can buy and swap, as well as cars, trucks and motorcycles of all ages for sale. There will also be booths manned by commercial automotive vendors and people selling random swap-meet paraphernalia, such as sunglasses and art. Doors open at 6 a.m. and—as a call placed to the information line will inform you—most of the good stuff is completely gone soon after that, so get there early if you’re looking for a big score. Most of the vendors will be sold out by noon, but some commercial automotive vendors stick around until 4 or 5 p.m. Renting a vendor booth to sell or swap your goods costs $20-$60. Public entry is $8, and parking on this day is free at Power Balance Pavilion (1 Sports Parkway). For more information, visit www.sacramentoswapmeet.com.

Company presents Legacy Youth Project, in which over a 6-week period, youth ages 13-19 participate in three workshops per week, where they receive instruction in drama, creative writing and the performing arts. W, 8/8, 6-8pm. $84-$125. Images Theatre Company, 5960 S Land Park Dr., Ste. 138; (916) 428-1441; www.imagestheatre.org.

Art Galleries

Kids’ Stuff

DON’T MISS!

SACRAMENTO SWAP MEET

community-friendly environment. 8/8-8/12. $4-$30. Nevada County Fairgrounds, 11228 McCourtney Rd. in Grass Valley; www.nevadacountyfair.com.

The Geothermal Energy Association will bring together policy leaders, utilities and industry professionals for the GEA National Geothermal Summit to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the geothermal industry during the world’s current energy crisis, and to work to build a roadmap for the region’s future. W, 8/8, 7:30am-7pm. Call for pricing. Hyatt Regency Sacramento, 1209 L St.; (917) 971-7852; www.geoenergy.org/ nationalgeothermal summit/main.aspx.

Museums CALIFORNIA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM: Wedlocks Gift: Depot Images In Ink, The California State Railroad Museum will debut its second set of the documentary-style sketches as part of a continuing exhibit In the 1970s after realizing the many of the historic railroad depots were in danger of being demolished, commercial artist Walter J. Wedlock went on a quest to sketch the depots in a race against time and the wrecking ball. Through 12/31; Through 3/4, 2013. $4-$9. 111 I St.; (916) 445-6645; www.csrmf.org.

Wait, there’s more! Looking for something to do? Use SN&R’s free calendar to browse hundreds of events online. Art galleries and musems, family events, education classes, film and literary events, church groups, music, sports, volunteer opportunies—all this and more on our free events calendar at www.newsreview.com. Start planning your week!

Special Events NEVADA COUNTY FAIR: The Nevada County Fair is the perfect opportunity to enjoy live entertainment, food, carnival rides, animals and exhibits—all in a

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Best Mediterranean

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Arts & smarts Food & Drink Best hair on the air

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DISH

Gringo-wiches See FOOD STUFF

Buy One, Get One 1/2 Off *

Behold the torta

FEaturE D On tripLE D .

La Fiesta Taqueria 1105 Alhambra Boulevard, (916) 454-5616, http://lafiestataqueria.com

My early history with Mexican food, in three acts: Act 1: Small-town girl eats at a Mexicanby American restaurant with her family once a Becky month for 10 years. Always orders the cheese Grunewald enchiladas. Act 2: Small-town girl moves to big city (Sacramento) and walks to Los Jarritos Mexican Food on Broadway twice a week. She’s living on student loans, and the chicken taco plate keeps her nourished for just dollars a day. Act 3: Girl meets friend in south Sacramento at the original La Favorita Taqueria on Florin Road. Mind: blown. I still remember that day vividly. I walked Rating: in to find people were eating goblets of seafood ★ ★ 1/2 and drinking the murky leftover liquid. The employees wore soccer-style jerseys and joked Dinner for one: and worked together like a real team. And what $5 - $10 was this ceviche stuff? Was it really raw? This was Mexican food as I’d never seen it before. Then Favorita started to proliferate as a chain— some called La Favorita, others called La Fiesta Taqueria. My broke-ass friends and I debated which one was best and, most importantly, whose avocado salsa tasted better. Over time, I ventured out to many other places in south Sac for Mexican and even took ★ POOR my first trip to the motherland. I thought that I had moved past La Fiesta and its fast-food ★★ FAIR ambience; I heard rumors that the salsa bar had gone downhill. ★★★ GOOD I’ve been living within walking distance from the grid’s La Fiesta for years, but scoffed ★★★★ EXCELLENT at the idea of visiting until I thought it might be worthy of a review. As I strolled there, I started ★★★★★ EXTRAORDINARY to construct the narrative in my mind and came to the assumption that the chain has indeed deteriorated in quality over the years. But that was before I got the torta. It is huge, served in a flash and arrives as big as a sub; almost the size of two regular tortas. It’s wrapped in foil with orange grease that abundantly oozes from the al pastor that fills it. It is fast-food at its finest; a three-napkin affair. There’s no sign that the salsa bar has deteriStill hungry? orated— besides the carboardlike chips, that is, Search SN&R’s but they serve as bland but serviceable vehicles “Dining Directory” to find local restaurants for the pico de gallo, tomatillo salsa and, best by name or by type of of all, the avocado salsa. food. Sushi, Mexican, Fiesta also goes the extra mile at its salsa Indian, Italian— bar with chopped nopales, crisp pickled veggies discover it all in the “Dining” section at and big hunks of radish floating on ice. It is still fast food, though, and there are probwww.newsreview.com. lems: The ceviche is gray and uninspiring, tasting only of cucumber and onion, with an oozing (and unnecessary) layer of crema underneath. The chili verde taco, customarily prepared with pork shoulder in a tomatillo sauce, is dry and oversalted; the grilled chicken is rubbery and perfunctorily seasoned with chili powder. A chili relleno plate was BEFORE

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Jim Denny’s

clearly nuked and not the lovely, puffy, eggy dish it can— and should— be when made fresh. On another visit for Sunday breakfast, an artfully rumpled young couple is eating forearm-sized burritos and drinking equally large micheladas. The michelada, which comes with a single, perfect pink shrimp perched on the side and a salted rim, is swimming with black pepper and chili flakes. The soupy juevos rancheros soggify in thin tomato salsa, and not only are the eggs not overmedium as ordered, a portion of the white is totally clear. The chilaquiles can be ordered smothered with both red and green salsa; and queso fresco; and the red, thick, enchilada-type sauce that I craved for my juevos. The huge plate of hot, fried chips does not come with eggs, an authentic touch.

La Fiesta Taqueria’s salsa bar goes the extra mile with chopped nopales, crisp pickled veggies and big hunks of radish floating on ice. The Sunday-morning quiet gives me time to contemplate the festive décor and the high, arched windows looking out onto the dreary stretch of Alhambra Boulevard, and to wonder why people go to the Del Taco across the street when they could have a much better meal at La Fiesta, prepared with care by efficient young people wearing soccer jerseys. It’s nice to know that some things never change. Ω

Breakfast & Lunch 7am – 2:30pm 816 12th St, Sacramento · 443-9655 Enter as Strangers - Leave as Friends

Buy one Dinner Get second Dinner

50% OFF exp 08/15/12

Torta Ahogada Fresh baked bread, your choice of meat, covered in homemade hot sauce

2368 Fruitridge Rd (916) 393–9090

Closed Tuesdays • We Cater Sunday: Live MariachiS

eat fresh eat a pita

THE V WORD Show and tell and a dare This week’s edition of the annoyingly idealistic vegan’s column is going to be a show and tell. Let’s do the “tell” first. There’s an excellent almond milk from Califia Farms (www.califiafarms.com) that’s palatable, low in calories and fat, but high in calcium. But why replace your usual cow milk? This is where the “show” comes in. Watch the entire video at www.mercyforanimals.org/ohdairy, and then ask yourself how it makes you feel. Keep in mind, the abusive treatment at this farm isn’t unusual and is considered standard practice in the dairy industry. How does it change the way you look at that scoop of ice cream when that farm worker says, “[When] I get going, it’s just like, ‘Oh this feels good.’ I wanna keep fucking hitting ’em”?

www.pitakitchenplus.com 2989 Arden Way • Sacramento 916-480-0560 • Fax 916-480-0576 Open 7 Days Mon-Sat 11am - 9pm, Sunday 11am - 8pm

—Shoka STORY

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DISH Where to eat? Here are a few recent reviews and regional recommendations by Becky Grunewald and Greg Lucas, updated regularly. Check out www.newsreview.com for more dining advice.

Downtown

Estelle’s Patisserie With its marble tables and light wooden chairs, there’s an airy atmosphere, casual and cozy. Estelle’s offers an espresso bar and a wide assortment of teas and muffins and rolls for the breakfast crowd as well as sweets, including DayGlo macarons. For the lunch-inclined there are soups, salads, sandwiches and meat or meatless quiche. One of the authentic touches is the spare use of condiments. The smoked salmon is enlivened by dill and the flavor of its croissant. Its tomato bisque is thick and richly flavored, and, in a nice touch, a puff pastry floats in the tureen as accompaniment. Everything is surprisingly reasonable. Half a sandwich and soup is $7.25. A caprese baguette is $5.25. Ham and cheese is $5.75. There’s a lot to like about Estelle’s—except dinner. Doors close at 6pm. French. 901 K St., (916) 551-1500. Meal for one: $5-$10. ★★★1⁄2 G.L.

Midtown

The Porch The Porch is light and white with a vibe that suggests the airy sweep of an antebellum Charleston eatery. One can only

envy the extensive on-site research conducted by chef Jon Clemens and business partners John Lopez and Jerry Mitchell, creators of Capitol Garage. The most enjoyable menu selections are salads or seafood sandwiches or entrees. Slaw on the barbecue pork sandwich elevates its status, and its pickled vegetables are sweet and tart, adding an additional dimension. The shrimp and grits dish, while laden with cheddar and gravy, is a synergistic mélange— perhaps The Porch’s trademark dish. Also in the running is the purloo, the low country’s version of jambalaya, with andouille, crunchy crawfish appendages, and the same sautéed bell peppers and onions that also appear in the grits. Southern. 1815 K St., (916) 444-2423. Dinner for one: $20-$30. ★★★ G.L.

The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar Resistance is futile when it comes to Red Rabbit’s desserts. The berryinfused ice-cream sandwich is bright and refreshing with a chewy shell that dovetails neatly with the smooth fruity interior. But there’s less effusiveness for the entrees. The Bastard Banh Mi doesn’t improve on the original. A number of items from the “Farm to Plate,” “Tasty Snacks” and “Buns” sections of the menu land

! É E R T N E E E FR

high in the plus column, however. Any place that offers chimichurri rocks hard. Here it enlivens the Farm Animal Lollipops snack—particularly the lamb—and the mayorof-Munchkin-City-sized lamb bocadillas. American. 2718 J St., (916) 706-2275. Dinner for one: $20-$40. ★★1⁄2 G.L.

six to seven blocks from their offices near the capitol, to pick up sandwiches or—in one instance—five meatballs, begin spewing superlatives when asked their views on Sampino’s. Italian Deli. 1607 F St., (916) 441-2372. Dinner for one: $7-$15. ★★★★1⁄2 G.L.

Sampino’s Towne Foods

Thir13en From the start—and, lo,

Sampino’s Towne Foods turns out to be a bright jewel in a drab Alkali Flat strip mall of paycheck cashers and laundromat. It’s everything an Italian deli should be and more, right down to the Louie Prima on the box and the timpano in the refrigerated display case. Several lobbyists, who elect to drive the

these many weeks hence—the situp-take-notice plate remains the pork tonnato sandwich. It’s the Italian peasant spread or sauce made with tonno—tuna—tonnato that empowers this open-face masterwork. Spread on a toasted half baguette, the tonnato is the foundation upon which the pork rests. Above the pork is an awning of

Juno’s Kitchen & Delicatessen To quote Gov. Jerry Brown from his first iteration as California’s chief executive more than 30 years ago:

MUST DRINK:

Take a break from hunting down bottles of the Russian River Brewing Co. and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s collaboration Brux, and mark your calendar for two special beer events. First, Clips of Faith, a New Belgium Brewing fundraiser in Davis’ Central Park (at B and Fourth streets) on Friday, August 10, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free, proceeds from the 15 different beers go to Davis Bicycles!, and a big crowd’s expected. Also: Hit up IPA Appreciation Days at Hot City Pizza (5642 J Street) from August 2 to 5. There’ll be some 10 hopped-up beers each day— plus Lincoln-based Knee Deep Brewing Co.’s limited-release imperial red. Now, back to the Brux. —Nick Miller

Beer: Summer Love Ale Brewer: Victory Brewing Company Where: The Davis Beer Shoppe, 211 G Street in

Davis; (530) 756-5212

Beer: Flemish Primitive Wild Ale (Surly Bird No. 3)

Brewer: De Proefbrouwerij in Belgium Where: Hot City Pizza, 5642 J Street; (916) 731-8888

Beer: Simtra Triple IPA Brewer: Knee Deep Brewing Co. in Lincoln Where: Alley Katz, 2019 O Street; (916) 442-2682

VOTE US BEST INDIAN BUY 1 GET 1 1/2 OFF EXP 8/8/12

Buy any entree at regular price, get the second for 1/2 OFF! Must present coupon, cannot combine with other discounts. One per table

Happy Hour 2pm-7pm everyday

Offer good daily after 4pm. Not valid 8/2/12 or with any specials or promotions. Maximum 2 coupons /table. Offer exp. 8/12/12

1315 21st Street, Sacramento 916.441.7100

Gourmet Cupcakes ANY

Formoli’s Bistro Formoli’s is the other half of the restaurant swap on J Street that sent Vanilla Bean Bistro (formerly known as Gonul’s J Street Cafe) to Formoli’s old war-

Beer parties

FREE

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East Sac

ren and brought Formoli’s into its current high-ceilinged, spare, dark cranberry space of black tables and chairs just six blocks away. Flavor combinations are a big part of the Formoli playbook, and the blend of the tower’s components is the payoff just as it is in the salad of beets—wafer-thin enough to be used interchangeably in the carpaccio—with shaved fennel, frisée, a few orange segments and pistachios laced with a stentorian balsamic vinaigrette. Mediterranean. 3839 J St., (916) 448-5699. Dinner for one: $20-$40. ★★★★ G.L.

BREW THE RIGHT THING

Buy one entreé at regular price, get second entreé of equal or lesser value . 1630 J St • 441-4340 • OPEN DAILY

mixed greens, with a generous overhang, sprinkled with not enough crispy onions and paperthin slices of pickled fennel. There isn’t space to wax poetic about the cordon bleu sandwich, the burger, the designer cocktails or the fizzy water from Wales. See for yourself. Very authoritative. American. 1300 H St., (916) 594-7669. Dinner for one: $12-$20. ★★★★1⁄2 G.L.

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08.02.12

(916) 481-9970 • Open 7 Days a Week 1148 Fulton Ave., Sac

Mamma Susanna’s Ristorante Italiano There’s

flakes do the trick. Italian. 5487 Carlson Dr., (916) 452-7465. Dinner for one: $12-$20. ★★★ G.L.

Vanilla Bean Bistro Gonul’s J Street Cafe has moved up the street and evolved into the Vanilla Bean Bistro. Its narrow, low-ceilinged coziness is consonant with its understated, whateverthe-impulse-inspires alchemy that owner/chef Gonul Blum, has shown over the past eight years. Blum hails from Turkey. That country’s culinary tradition provides a sturdy foundation, but for her, it serves more as a launching pad. A recurring feature practiced here is the inclusion of fruit—preserved and fresh—in many dishes. And the tabbouleh delivers a roundhousepunch flavor combination. Turkish. 3260-B J St., (916) 457-1155. Dinner for one: $10-$20. ★★★★1⁄2 G.L.

North Sac

something endearing, almost Norman Rockwell-esque about a neighborhood restaurant that is most commonly referred to by its patrons as the neighborhood restaurant. There is no shortage of options on the menu with nearly a dozen or so pastas, even more types of pizzas, a smattering of salads and various entrees, including the piccata chicken or veal dish that Mamma Susanna’s counts as one of her specialties. Of the pastas and pizzas, the norcina tastes like and looks like an orangey vodka sauce with roasted red-pepper slices and sausage rounds tossed in a bed of penne. While the menu claims spicy, some red chili

Asian Café Asian Café serves both Thai and Lao food, but go for the Lao specialties, which rely on flavoring staples such as fish sauce, lime juice, galangal and lemongrass, lots of herbs, and chilies. One of the most common dishes in Lao cuisine is larb, a dish of chopped meat laced with herbs, chilies and lime. At Asian Café, it adds optional offal add-ons—various organ meats, entrails, et al— to three versions of the dish: beef with tripe, chicken with gizzards, or pork with pork skin. The beef salad offers a gentle respite from aggressive flavors, consisting of medium-thick chewy slices of eye of round with red bell pepper, chopped iceberg and hot raw jalapeño. The single best dish here

is the nam kao tod, a crispy entree with ground pork that’s baked on the bottom of the pan with rice, then stirred and fried up fresh the next day with dried Thai chilies and scallions. Thai and Lao. 2827 Norwood Ave., (916) 641-5890. Dinner for one: $10-$15. ★★★★ B.G.

ILLUSTRATION BY MARK STIVERS

“Small is beautiful.” Juno’s proves this axiom in spades. The menu is fairly compact and slanted more toward lunch than dinner. Juno’s macaroni and cheese, which comes with rock shrimp on rigatoni, a Grana Padano, Gruyère and cheddar trio and a dusting of paprika, is a creative take on a comfort-food classic. In the traditional-sandwich realm, all start out with the advantage of Juno’s homemade sour—but not sourdough—bread with its crunchy crust and soft interior. In the soppressata salami sandwich, the bread amplifies the tartness of the pepperoncini while the turkey sandwich with provolone, tomato, arugula and pesto requires several napkins as the oil in the pesto seeps inexorably through the airy bread slices. American. 3675 J St., (916) 456-4522. Dinner for one: $5-$10. ★★★★ G.L.

white rice, which is as soft as an angel’s buttock. Diners also have the option to order hand-shaped, griddled-to-order tortillas. They are warm, soft, taste like corn and barely resemble those cardboard things you get at the store. Mexican. 5701 Franklin Blvd., (916) 428-7844. Dinner for one: $10-$20. ★★★ 1 ⁄ 2 B.G.

South Sac

Arden/ Carmichael

Pho King 2 Pho King 2 takes diners on a trip to crazy-delicious town with its salads, including one offthe-menu salad featuring cold, pink tendon smothered in pickled daikon, carrot, crunchy garlic chips and peanutss and served with sweet fish sauce dressing. A beef with lemon salad, with thin slices of eye of round “cured” in lemon juice, is coated with sesame oil, herbs and chili flakes and is meant to be piled on rice crackers studded with black sesame seeds. It’s an incredible dish, and one you won’t find on a menu very often. Vietnamese. 6830 Stockton Blvd., (916) 395-9244. Dinner for one: $10-$20. ★★★★ B.G.

Bowl & Ramen Randomness yields wonderful rewards at Bowl Ramen, a ramen eatery under the same ownership as Mana Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar. This venture may explain the miso soup, not a common occurrence in other Korean joints, which is proffered here, along with the eight banchan dishes. It also explains the initially incongruous ramen and California Roll combo. For the less intrepid and the spice-averse, there’s nine ramen options, including ones that feature dumplings, cold buckwheat noodles and potato noodles. If not a believer in the miracle of sundubu, Bowl & Ramen offers conversion. This unique tofu stew has mushrooms, veggies, onions and an egg on top but simply reciting the ingredients doesn’t do the combination justice. Here, the bibimbap is presented in an artful way; among the dish’s vegetables are small cubes of zucchini that appear out of place but skillfully augment the other flavors. Korean. 2560 Alta Arden Expy., (916) 487-2694 Dinner for one: $9-$15. ★★★1⁄2 G.L.

Tacos & Beer This is one of the area’s best Michoacán restaurants. Of its regional dishes, the enchiladas Apatzingán are unusual, filled with only a smattering of sharp cheese and diced onion, soaked in a vinegary sauce, and smothered in very lightly pickled, shredded cabbage with raw hunks of radish and avocado slices. Another specialty is the morisqueta—the ultimate comfort dish due to the unique texture of the

Wrappers delight Traditionally, the word crepe describes a thin French pancake used to wrap savory or sweet ingredients such as fruit, meat or chocolate. But another type of crepe is popular in Vietnamese (bánh xèo) and Cambodian cuisine (banh chao). Southeast Asia’s favorite crepe—filled with savory ingredients—gets an additional wrapping. This yellow pancake is made with rice flour and turmeric, filled with meat (usually pork and shrimp) and vegetables (bean sprouts, green onion) and then is fried. Later, at the table, people break this pancake into pieces, garnish it with cilantro and mint, wrap it in lettuce, and dip it in fish sauce. Bánh Xèo 46A (7837 Stockton Boulevard, Suite 700; (916) 476-4895; http://banhxeo46a.com), a new restaurant in south Sacramento, takes it up a notch by providing rice-paper spring-roll wrappers. This makes it a triple wrap: the crepe itself, the lettuce wrap and the spring-roll wrapper. It’s a refreshing summer roll. —Jonathan Mendick

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COOLHUNTING Aussie rules Sacramento Suns Australian-rules football team If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any Australian friends, you probably have no idea what â&#x20AC;&#x153;Australian-rules footballâ&#x20AC;? is. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit like American football, but not much at all like association football (soccer) or rugby. Without SPORTS explaining the entire set of rules, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just say it involves a lot of running, some kicking and way less stoppage time than American football. Anyway, Sacramento has two pro teams (a menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and a womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s), both called the Sacramento Suns. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also both part of the United States Australian Football League and are hosting their first ever national tournament at 1801 Moore Boulevard in Davis on Saturday, August 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.sacfooty.com. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Jonathan Mendick

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Monster mash Invisible Monsters Remix Not many authors get the chance to redo a novel in the way they originally intended. Lucky for him, Chuck Palahniuk got to do just this with one of his first novels, Invisible Monsters, originally published in 1999. Now, his updated Invisible Monsters Remix (W. W. Norton & Company, $25.95) is a tome inspired by fashion magazinesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not meant to be read in a linear fashion. Unlike the original novel, the chapters now bounce around in BOOK time and place as Palahniuk originally intended, yet the story remains strong and easy to follow. And with characters such as the pill-popping drama queen Brandy Alexander and a veiled, disfigured ex-fashion model, this remix is still a thrilling experience not to be missed. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Vivienne Finche

Map of your heart Sacramento map pendant THE EYECARE STORE NEXT DOOR.

Show some Sactown pride by wearing the city close to your heart with one of these small and sweet handcrafted pendants. Available in either a silver or bronze finish, the swell little mapsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; made by The Pendant Emporium, a New Orleans-based Etsy shopâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;feature a tiny 1963 map of the SHOPPING Sacramento region, and also highlight other nearby towns such as Jackson and Galt. Each pendant (chain not included) sells for $8.95 plus $2.85 shippingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a small price to pay for keeping the River City near and dear, no matter how far you stray. Love another city? Chances are the shopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already got a pendant mapped out for you; if not, custom orders are an additional $2. www.etsy.com/shop/thependantemporium.

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For anybody whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ever seen those annoying family decals stuck on nearly every passing minivan but felt like they just didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t represent their true geeky nature, the ThinkGeek website is now selling Star Wars family decals. There are a ton of different Star Wars characters from which to choose to show your familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fascination with the CULTURE iconic film series. The combinations, priced at $14.99 each, are seemingly endless. Want a family of just stormtroopers? Done. How about one Chewbacca, one Han Solo and two cute little Ewoks? No problem. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even a kid Princess Leia, a kid Luke Skywalker and kid stormtroopers to represent the whole family. www.thinkgeek.com/product/eea6. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Aaron Carnes

ASK JOEY Destroy your beliefs by JOEY GARCIA

Joey

loves the smell of her tomato plants.

Got a problem?

Write, email or leave a message for Joey at the News & Review. Give your name, telephone number (for verification purposes only) and question— all correspondence will be kept strictly confidential. Write Joey, 1124 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815; call (916) 498-1234, ext. 3206; or email askjoey@ newsreview.com.

I have sent money or gift certificates in response to invitations to graduations but haven’t attended the celebrations. The person receiving the gift never sends a handwritten thank-you note and doesn’t even call. The same holds true for gifts I have given to people celebrating birthdays and weddings. What do you think of this? I am ready to become a gift Scrooge. Oh no, you’re not. Scrooge was a greedy guy. You want recognition of your generosity. It’s certainly thoughtful to handwrite a thankyou note and drop it into the snail mailbox for delivery. But we live in the Age of Entitlement. Many people believe that they deserve gifts and cash in exchange for inviting you to watch their transit through a rite of passage. Solve your unrequited feelings. Send a donation to a nonprofit in the name of the person of honor. Focus on organizations that serve the developing world, such as Doctors Without Borders or Heifer International. Then, notify the graduate or newlyweds or birthday honoree of your actions. You can trust that Third World recipients of services provided by your funds will be deeply grateful, even if your social circle is not.

Shake off ideas about what a sweet person you are or any notions that you have met an obligation. If you choose to respond to a future invitation by sending a gift certificate or cash, unhook all expectations from the giving process. Shake off ideas about what a sweet person you are or any notions that you have met an obligation. Destroy the belief that says you deserve something in return for your gift. Give nothing until you can give without strings attached. That’s what it means to be alive and truly present. I am in prison, 30 months done, nine to go. My girlfriend keeps saying that when I get out, I might want to be by myself. I feel like she’s rethinking everything because of the hurt I have

BEFORE

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caused. How do you let a woman know you love her more than life itself? Should I wait to get out and show her and stop writing stuff that sounds like a broken record? I don’t know much about love, but I know how it feels. But maybe it’s time to move on?

BASICALLY, WE’RE

AWESOME.

Yes, make a break from the belief that your girlfriend is the center of your universe. That throne belongs to God. Or, if you’re not a believer, place a virtue, such as integrity, at the heart of your internal world. Measure everything you do or say by whether it serves God (or alternatively, whether it keeps you in alignment with your chosen virtue). Use the nine months ahead to prepare for rebirth. That means you must stop clinging to your girlfriend. When she suggests time alone, don’t be frightened. Consider the invitation. How does it feel to imagine being alone? If you fear loneliness, you will always have trouble letting go of relationships, even those that are unhealthy. Your fear of being alone will demand that you tolerate anything, even abuse, rather than face being with yourself. Right now, your mind is imprisoned by ideas about what love is or should be. Let me challenge you back to the tabula rasa. The mind at peace trusts in the rightness of the moment. If your girlfriend leaves, pray that she finds love, even if it means she is with someone else. When your mind drifts, gently draw it back into the activity you are in. Focus on developing within yourself the emotional, mental and spiritual maturity necessary to be attractive to God. Let difficulties wash over you. Grieve them, yes, but trust that what happens is for your personal evolution. Does this make sense? Your relationship with your girlfriend is not the answer. Your willingness to evolve into the next incarnation of yourself is key. Ω

NO, SERIOUSLY. ASSEMBLYMAN ROGER DICKINSON HONORS SACRAMENTO NEWS & REVIEW AS 2012 SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR. WHAT’S UP?

Meditation of the week: “I think the difference between me and some people is that I’m content to do my little bit. Sometimes people think they have to do big things in order to make change. But if each one would light a candle we’d have a tremendous light,” said Sister Thea Bowman. How are you improving lives in the developing world?

FEATURE

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“A SPRAWLING, RICHLY DETAILED STUDY OF AMBITION, DESIRE AND THE WILD SWINGS OF FORTUNE.” A.O. SCOTT, THE NEW YORK TIMES

“GRADE A! SUCCULENTLY ENTERTAINING.

THE NEXT BIG DOCUMENTARY-AS-CULTURAL TOUCHSTONE.”

STAGE Two good reasons for a drive

OWEN GLEIBERMAN, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

The Two Gentlemen of Verona

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The Two Gentlemen of Verona, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; $20-$80. Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival at Sand Harbor State Park, 2005 Highway 28; in Incline Village, Nevada; (800) 747-4697; www.laketahoe shakespeare.com. Through August 26.

PHOTO BY CHARR CRAIL

START FRIDAY, AUGUST 3

All in all, the cast is fairly deep, with 10 Actors’ Equity Association contracts giving the production a nice professional sheen. Be sure to bring a sweater: It gets cool after intermission. The production’s gorgeous lakeside venue cuts both ways: It’s incredibly beautiful, but gazing at the view can compete with as much as it complements the show. The view and the show are a couple of good reasons to take the drive to Tahoe. Ω

ANN HORNADAY, THE WASHINGTON POST

EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENTS

Coffeehouses, wine bars and an indie-pop band live onstage: That’s the updated setting for this Shakespeare comedy. Waiters buzz through as well-heeled young people scribble secret love letters over a mug of this, a bottle of that, while music smoothes scene transitions. Shakespeare probably lived a similar dream. At the center are Valentine and Proteus, 20by ish pals—almost frat brothers—who boast of Jeff Hudson lofty longings for their ladies but feel a carnal urge, too. When Proteus abruptly dumps his flame and makes an underhanded play for Valentine’s love (and gets his erstwhile “best friend” banished), giddy amour yields to desperation and deceit. And while Shakespeare salvages a requisitely “happy” ending, this near collision with tragedy as the clock runs out leads many to dismiss Two Gentlemen as “flawed.”

4 WELL-DONE

5 SUBLIME-DON’T MISS

Well, maybe not. Director Charles Fee doesn’t push it too hard, but he clearly feels that bad behavior between buddies is not so rare. And really, in college, didn’t you know guys who made a pass at a roommate’s girlfriend? Aren’t there countless stories about politicians and celebrities in ugly love triangles? Even though Two Gents lacks the symmetrical, tidy finale found in more popular Shakespeare comedies, isn’t it more realistic? To quote Robinson Jeffers, “then that which is most disliked in those verses remains most true.” The Two Gentlemen of Verona is also known to Shakespeareans as “the one with the dog.” And this pooch steals scenes, using little more than wagging tail. Veteran actor Kevin Crouch, as lowly manservant Launce, the dog’s owner, grins and works up a sweat as he gabs on about how the mutt lifted a leg during a high-class palace banquet.

Don’t drown Danny and the Deep Blue Sea

There’s nothing like a damaged person to do some serious damage, whether that’s to the barroom or to one’s heart. But what if a pair of damaged people—seriously damaged, in that drink-too-much-hate-myself-and-havesex-with-strangers way—decide they want something different? That’s the question at the heart of John Patrick Shanley’s Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, a play that finds Danny (Shane Edward Turner) and Roberta (Kara Ow) meeting in a dive bar and letting things go from there. Turner and Ow have great chemistry, which is crucial to making this play work; flashes of vulnerability as the actors make it clear just how dangerously unhappy these people are—anti-social, but not outright sociopaths. They seesaw between despair and hope, played out with the necessary trace of cynicism and veneer of wistful longing, which makes Danny and Robert frightening, but not completely unlikeable. Directed by Brian Rife—who has earned rave reviews as an actor in both community and professional productions locally—Danny and the Deep Blue Sea also benefits from a very well-designed, functional set, courtesy of Ow, Rife and Steven Adkins. This dark drama is quite a departure from Uh, Yup Productions’ last show, The Love of Three Oranges, a commedia dell’arte play they staged last December. Keep this troupe on your radar. It’s small but interesting. —Kel Munger

Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday; $15. Uh, Yup Productions at the Wilkerson Theatre in the California Stage complex; 2509 R Street; tickets@uhyupproductions.com; www.uhyupproductions.com. Through August 4.

Now Playing PHOTO BY CHARR CRAIL

August 18 & 19 @ William Land Park Saturday: 10am–7pm Sunday: 10am–5pm

Dying City: Never believe a soldier who says he’ll come back.

Holy crap, this is an awesome play! Christopher Shinn examines the post-9/11 world in the lives of three people: a woman (Lyndsy Kail), her soldier husband and his brother (both played by Chad Deverman). Jonathan Williams directs a small play with a big emotional wallop.

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$20-$32. Capital Stage, 2215 J St.; (916) 995-5464; www.capstage.org. J.C.

YOU’RE WELCOME, FILM GEEKS.

SMASHED COOK–OFF JAZZ / BLUES, LATIN / SAMBA REGGAE & CONTEMPORARY

THE LIFE AND UNDEAD OF KING HENRY V

The zombies are deliciously fun, but the real surprises here are that the language is all Shakespeare and the story makes good sense: King Henry IV’s usurpation of the British throne has brought about the zombie apocalypse. Th, F, Sa 8pm; Su 2:30pm. Through 8/4. $10-$15. Big Idea Theatre, 1616 Del Paso Blvd.; (916) 960-3036; www.bigideatheatre.com. K.M.

D I S C OV E R T H E M O S T

MAGICAL

Tickets: $5 | BananaFest.org

LOOKS & MONEY

Two absurdist plays—The Ugly One by Marius von Mayenburg and The New Tenant by Eugene Ionesco—get a viscerally and intellectually entertaining staging by the B Street company. God bless Buck Busfield—he’s picked a great way to open the 2012-13 season.

FI L M OF T H E Y EAR

FREE EVENT

T 6:30pm; W 2 & 6:30pm; Th, F 8pm; Sa 5 & 9pm; Su 2pm. Through 8/5. $23-$35. B Street

PSYCHE

When these kids get together and throw a show in the barn, they start with an original script by Meghan Brown about the nature of creativity and celebrity, with a little help from the gods. Directed by Steven Schmidt and Maddy Ryen. Th, F, Sa 8:30pm. Through 8/4. $10-$15. Barnyard Theatre in the historic Schmeiser Barn, 35125 County Rd. 31 in Davis; (530) 574-1318; www.barnyardtheater.org. J.H.

SHEER S H HEER EER IMPROBABLE IIMPROBAB MPROBABLE JJOY. OY ” A.O. SCOTT

VOICE OF GOOD HOPE

Voress Franklin pulls out all the stops in her inspired portrayal of the legendary congresswoman Barbara Jordan in this play by Kristine Thatcher, directed by James Wheatley. Th, F, Sa 8pm; Su 2pm. Through 8/4. $8-$15. Celebration Arts, 4469 D St.; (916) 455-2787; www.celebrationarts.net. K.M.

Short reviews by Jim Carnes, Jeff Hudson and Kel Munger.

Marconi El Camino

Read SN&R’s review of The Music Man online at www.newsreview.com.

Fair O Oaks aks

Fulton Ave

“A BLAST OF

This Saturday, August 4 5pm-8:30pm on Fulton at Marconi

Theatre, 2711 B St.; (916) 443-5300; www.bstreettheatre.org. J.C.

REEL REVIEWS.

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SHOW TIMES VALID AUGUST 3 – AUGUST 9, 2012 OPENING FRIDAY, AUG 3

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Several years ago, when construction began on billionaire David Siegel’s 90,000-square-foot mega-mansion near Orlando, Florida, he wasn’t trying to by Jonathan Kiefer build the largest single-family house in America. It just worked out that way: Somebody had to do it, and it might as well be a 70-something timeshare tycoon with the notion that his family needed more living space and the gumption to model it on the palace of Versailles. To photographer and filmmaker Lauren Greenfield, this seemed like a good documentary opportunity. It became an even better opportunity when, with a good portion of footage already gathered, the market crashed, and so did Siegel’s master plan; suddenly he’d have to make do with the home he already had, a mere 26,000 square feet. Ever wonder what a foreclosure might feel like for a guy like that?

No more rooms at this inn.

1 2 3 4 POOR

FAIR

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08. 02.12

Also of note is how it might feel for his 30years-younger third wife, Jackie, the former Miss Florida with a hardcore shopping habit and an air, at first, of someone who might greet the news of your bread scarcity with the suggestion to eat cake. “What’s my driver’s name?” she inquires at an airport Hertz counter, after flying commercially for the first time in forever; as if on a whole country’s behalf, the clerk makes a hard helpless face in reply. In view of this and of the actual throne on which the Siegels often pose for photo ops, it becomes clear that Jackie is why the movie is called The Queen of Versailles. She has an engineering degree and can make certain complex calculations. That car-rental business occurs when Jackie visits her hometown in upstate New York, where she grew up in circumstances modest enough to allow for at least some understanding of how car rentals work. But that was before, among other major changes, the flagrantly figure-deforming breast implants, and it’s fair—compassionate, even—to wonder what else in her has since been warped. Is she inviting mockery, seizing a chance to ad-lib her idea of a reality-TV role for herself? Is she suffocating after a gorge of tasteless opulence, sending out some perversely coded cry for help?

Having joked that when Jackie turned 40 he’d trade her in for two 20-year-olds, David tells Greenfield the marriage depletes him, and likens it to having another child. The Siegels already have seven children, plus a niece. They also have a few pets, which tend to die from neglect or in other ways and return as stuffed additions to the hoard of knickknacks. “We are considered the Rolls-Royce of the timeshare industry,” David also says, early on, and Greenfield supplies scenes of his Westgate Resorts sales force, including David’s semiestranged son from another marriage, hard-selling an illusion of upward mobility to people who probably can’t afford it. After the crash, when they definitely can’t afford it, and with overdue bills halt the building of Versailles, David gets cranky about living within means. He tells his other son, “If you loved me, you’d turn off the lights,” and eventually comes around to what he calls his own addiction to cheap money. With recession-diminished fortunes, the Siegels pruned their staff from 19 to four, and one of the remaining maids had to move into the kids’ abandoned playhouse. The shock and virtue of this film is how easily it could seem to have been made by Christopher Guest. Greenfield’s account of the Siegel saga can’t count as a mockumentary not just for its ostensible factuality, but also for its long-sighted refusal to be satisfied with mockery. If these nouveau riche pseudo-royals come off as jaw-droppingly oblivious about how their lifestyle might look to the rest of us, they do so not just symbolically but also familiarly, in recognizable human terms. Besides, it would seem we have that same obliviousness to thank for their consent to a whole film’s worth of potential selfincrimination.

The shock and virtue of Lauren Greenfield’s film is how easily it could seem to have been made by Christopher Guest. David Siegel has since sued Greenfield for defamation, of course. Fittingly, this seems less to do with highlighting his vaguely untoward devotion to beauty pageants and to George W. Bush than with maybe wounding Westgate Resorts’ bottom line. Curiosity, not superiority, is what kept Greenfield’s camera rolling long enough to catch the real story here, which is that America has to have a largest single-family house somewhere, still unfinished and still for sale. Ω

by JONATHAN KIEFER & JIM LANE

•

The Amazing Spider-Man

2 5 0 8 L A N D PA R K D R I V E L A N D PA R K & B R O A D WAY F R E E PA R K I N G A D J A C E N T T O T H E AT R E

Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios reboot the Spider-Man franchise, hoping to compensate for the loss of director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire. Retelling the whole story from square one was a mistake; the clunky script by James Vanderbilt, Steve Kloves and Alvin Sargent only reminds us of how clear and economical David Koepp’s script was back in 2002. It still might have worked if they’d been able to replace the irreplaceable Maguire, but Andrew Garfield can’t come close; he turns Peter Parker into an unlikeable, twitchy, sullen mumbler—the kind of character you avoid making eye contact with on public transportation. Director Marc Webb does what he can, but the movie needs a star at the center of Spider-Man’s web, not the black hole Garfield plays. As the love interest, Emma Stone is wasted. J.L.

Katy Perry: Part of Me

Directors Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz follow pop diva Katy Perry on her 2011 California Dreams Tour, with side trips into biography and interviews with Perry and her family, friends and support staff. We get glimpses of Perry’s Pentecostal Christian roots, her early flings at faith-based music, the inexplicable failure of her first record label to develop her career (was there ever a more perfect example of middle-of-the-road bubblegum pop?), and most startling and touching, the collapse of her 16-month marriage to Russell Brand. It’s a sympathetic, even adoring portrait, and Perry herself comes across as likeable and unaffected. The movie also documents the undeniable fact that the star’s flashy concerts and her coquettish candy-box eroticism certainly give her wideeyed fans their money’s worth. J.L.

Magic Mike

An experienced male stripper (Channing Tatum) takes a feckless young slacker (Alex Pettyfer) under his wing, teaching him the ropes of exotic dancing while developing a cautious flirtation with the kid’s skeptical older sister (Cody Horn). Reid Carolin’s script is a fountain of unlikely clichés (the unlikeliest being that the diffident, underfed Pettyfer would be such a sensation his first time on the runway), but the director, the unpredictable Steven Soderbergh, gives the clichés a surface gloss of credibility. Better yet, Tatum seems to have found his signature role; his dance moves are great, and in a few short years he’s progressed from an inert lump to an actor of some promise. Horn, too, is a find; it’s almost worth the price of admission just to watch her face the first time she sees Tatum dance. J.L.

BEASTS OFTHE SOUTHERN WILD ToRome WithLove WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY WOODY ALLEN

Polisse

A great find from the 2012 Sacramento French Film Festival, this extraordinary ensemble drama plays out very much like a grand, Gallic episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. But instead of tautly topical formula best suited to a half-watched TV, it sprawls with unruly big-screen dynamism and doesn’t dare let go of your attention. As seen by a shy photographer, played by director/cowriter/force of nature Maïwenn Le Besco—or, as the credits call her, just “Maïwenn”—it’s ostensibly a group portrait of short-fused cops at the child-protection unit. “We don’t judge; we don’t care,” one officer says, coaxing a confession, and it is the movie’s great privilege to investigate that claim. What’s miraculous is the degree of lyricism it derives from unquenchable and innately compassionate psychological curiosity. J.K.

BEFORE

WED-TUES: 11:05AM, 1:20, 3:30, 5:45, 8:00, 10:15PM WED-TUES: 11:10AM, 1:45, 4:20, 7:00, 10:00PM

“BEGUILING AND ENDEARING.” - Joe Morgenstern, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

MoonriseKingdom

WED-TUES: 11:15AM, 1:30, 3:45, 6:00, 8:15, 10:25PM

F O R A D V A N C E T I C K E T S C A L L FA N D A N G O @ 1 - 8 0 0 - F A N D A N G O # 2 7 2 1

Beasts of the Southern Wild

The debut from writer-director Benh Zeitlin, working with playwright Lucy Alibar and a New Orleans collective, rides in on a murky flood of festival hype. And what caused that, anyway? The inevitable confluence of poverty porn and indie quaintness? Newcomer Quvenzhané Wallis steals the show as a brave 6year-old who yearns for her missing mother, copes with her ailing father (Dwight Henry), and navigates the archly magical-realist realms that lurk amid the muck and grit of her doomed Louisiana bayou. It’s a flamboyant indomitablespirit demonstration, with undeniable vitality but also a sort of heavy, beastly dullness. Zeitlin has talent and guts, yes. Ultimately, though, he inspires not wonder or awe so much as our awareness of the pride he takes in his own presentation. J.K.

“DON’T MISS THIS ONE.”- Rex Reed, NY OBSERVER

If they come from outer space, it’s a different kind of break-in.

The Watch

An Ohio Costco manager (Ben Stiller) forms a neighborhood watch in the wake of a grisly murder in his store, but his only volunteers (Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and Richard Ayoade) are a pretty unfocused and none-too-bright crew. Soon they find themselves in over their heads and dealing with a stealth invasion from outer space. Jared Stern, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s script rings some surprising changes on its premise, and it smartly lets Vaughn loose in his trademark motormouthed middlebrow rants (here they’re so pungent, we wonder if they were scripted or ad-libbed). The four-way synergy of the boys keeps the pot bubbling, and director Akiva Schaffer wisely doesn’t interfere, confining himself to calling “action” and “cut.” The result is great fun, and one of the funniest movies of the year. J.L.

An Oklahoma girl (Julianne Hough) in 1987 Hollywood hopes to make it as a singer but ends up working in a club on the Sunset Strip and falling for an aspiring rocker (Diego Boneta). The movie version of the hit Broadway jukebox musical surrounds these appealing youngsters with stars (Alec Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Tom Cruise, Mary J. Blige) and flashy retro-rock musical numbers, staged with electric glitz by director Adam Shankman and choreographer Mia Michaels. The story is stretched too thin for too long, and an added subplot with Zeta-Jones as the mayor’s wife out to clean up the Strip does little more than let her in on the fun. Cruise (as an Axl Roseish rock star) and Blige (as a strip-club owner) give the best performances, and the driving beat keeps toes tapping. J.L.

complacent marriage between a freelance writer (Michelle Williams) and a cookbook author (Seth Rogen) gets upended by the perfectly available fantasy man (Luke Kirby) who happens to be their neighbor. Making up for strenuously lyrical dialogue and some pat indie quirk, Williams is terrific as usual; it’s a pleasure to see why so many emotionally alert directors find her so inspiring. But Polley can’t quite manage the mature temperament of her previous feature, Away From Her, possibly because that film derived from a supremely disciplined Alice Munro short story, and this one’s an unruly original. It’s too gingerly done, with Rogen’s gift for raunchy realness gone all but unused, and even Sarah Silverman, as a disruptive alcoholic, seeming nearly inert. Not at all a loss; just not enough: the limply dramatized equivalent of an advice-column platitude about choosing self-fulfillment over relationship chaos. J.K.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Step Up Revolution

Rock of Ages

As an asteroid approaches to destroy the world, a man named Dodge (Steve Carell) and Penny, a neighbor he barely knows (Keira Knightley) set off on a quest to find Dodge’s longlost sweetheart—and other things they never expected. Writer-director Lorene Scafaria sets up and end-of-days romantic dramedy as Dodge and Penny trek cross-country meeting an odd lot of characters. But the movie runs into trouble because a crucial, intangible ingredient is missing: chemistry between Dodge and Penny— or more to the point, between Carell and Knightley. Nobody’s really to blame; it’s chemistry, and sometimes the magic just doesn’t work. J.L.

The rebellious daughter (Kathryn McCormick) of a high-rolling developer in Miami (Peter Gallagher) joins a local step-dance flash mob (led by Ryan Guzman and Misha Gabriel) to protest her father’s plans. The bad news is that this dance-video franchise is back for a fourth installment; the good news is that at least this episode is a marginal improvement on the third. The cast (except Gallagher) is yet another gaggle of hungry unknowns; good luck to them in building careers. The dancing has a good beat and is fun to watch, but so digitally enhanced that we can’t be sure the dancers are really doing it—and if we’re not sure, it doesn’t matter if they are. Their moves have a sped-up, staccato look, as if they couldn’t quite do their stepping up as fast or as nimbly as the movie wanted them to. J.L.

Take This Waltz

This second feature from the promising Canadian writer-director Sarah Polley is set in a sunny, vibrantly cozy Toronto, where the

FRONTLINES

FEATURE

Total Recall

In a grimy, rainy city of the doomed future, a factory worker (Colin Farrell) takes a mental vacation from his job manufacturing law-enforcement robots, only to find himself dodging law-enforcement robots—and by extension their boss, an evil tyrant (Bryan Cranston) with a world-domination agenda. There follows a headlong rush of implanted memories, confused identities and variously toxic atmospheres, not least which is that of our hero’s suddenly troubled marriage. And so another Philip K. Dick story gets another shot at being another movie.This one, from director Len Wiseman and a bunch of writers, seems fun enough but, well, not totally recallable. It’s just fine as midsummer popcorn dressing. Farrell’s half-innocent badass beefcake plays well with his co-stars, whose ranks include Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel, enlivening rote roles as the women in his double life. J.K.

STORY

REVIEWS. EVERY THURSDAY. YOU’RE WELCOME, FILM GEEKS

COMING TO THE CREST THEATRE SUNDAY, AUGUST 5TH at 1:00 PM

Ted

In 1985, a friendless boy wishes that his Christmas teddy bear could come to life and be his friend, and his wish comes true. But by 2012, nothing has changed except their voices; the boy (now played by Mark Wahlberg) and the bear (voice by director and co-writer Seth MacFarlane) haven’t grown up; they just sit around smoking pot and talking trash, and the boy/man’s girlfriend (Mila Kunis) is getting tired of it. MacFarlane’s first feature (he’s the brains behind TV’s Family Guy) just misses being a real classic. The script (co-written by Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild) is raunchy and irreverent, riddled with pop-culture jokes and nonstop laughs; the visual effects are seamless; and there’s a good message about friendship and growing up. Come to think of it, it may turn out to be a classic after all. J.L.

REEL

Two highly rated documentary films tell the story of San Francisco’s “lost” landmarks

PLAYAND AT THE BEACH & SUTRO BATHS

“Remembering Playland at the Beach” 60m “Sutro’s The Palace at Land’s End” 84m

Playing together for one ticket price! $10 - $8 The Crest Theatre in Sacramento 1013 K Street (916-442-7378) 1Day Only! Films Director Tom Wyrsch will attend

A RT S & C U LT U R E

AFTER

08.02.12

SN&R

Two’s company, three’s a crowd Sac stoner-rock duo I’m Dirty Too decides less is more Guitarist Zac Brown and drummer Jess Gowrie didn’t intend to start a two-piece rock band: They just never found the right bass player to join the group. by Aaron Carnes Of course, the fact that the pair was writing larger-than-life melodic stoner-rock anthems only made their decision to not round out I’m Dirty Too’s rhythm section that much stranger. But with a little bit of creativity, they made it work. PHoTo by wILLIAm Leung

Jess Gowrie (left) and Zac Brown look pretty clean to us.

Catch I’m Dirty Too on Friday, August 3; 8:30 p.m.; $5; 21 and over. TownHouse Lounge, 1517 21st Street; www.facebook. com/imdirtytoo.

40 | SN&R | 08.02.12

“The more I fiddled with my configuration of amps, the more it sounded like we had a bass player,” Brown explains. “We figured why ruin a good thing with the chemistry we have as a two-piece?” Brown now runs his guitar signal through a guitar and a bass amp, each one attached to different effects pedals to create two different sounds—one bass, the other treble—a trick that gives the songs a thick sound to rival any traditional rock trio. A bigger challenge they faced as a twopiece, Brown adds, came in taking up the slack of not having a separate lead singer. He and Gowrie searched for someone, but, as with the bass dilemma, never did find the right fit. And so they looked inward. “Neither of us had done a lot of singing before, if any, really. We didn’t even want to sing in front of each other,” Brown remembers. “We had to get over that. So we shared parts, which took a lot of the pressure off.” By the time they’d played their first gig, they were trading off lead-vocal duties in sections and harmonizing together in others. Rather than screaming their heads off like many of other stoner rockers, the duo takes a quieter approach, juxtaposing their melodydriven vocal parts against a heavy riff-oriented sludge-metal sound.

It’s not the vocals they found challenging, however, but rather the social pressures that come with crowd interaction. “What’s most nerve-wracking is between songs when we have to talk,” Brown says. “Sometimes it comes off right, other times, I’m getting blank stares, and we just jump right into the next song.” Now, as the two have grown more comfortable onstage, their soft-spoken nonrock-star charm makes for an appealing stage presence—not to mention a democratic spirit. “We are 50 percent, straight down the line. Each of us have input and veto power in every single song and every single part,” Brown says. There are, however, certain limitations. Brown, for instance, must write musical components that will translate to both the guitar and bass. “There’s not a lot of room for intricate parts. If I play in the higher register, we lose that low end. It keeps me playing in a style more like a bass player. It makes me focus on the rhythm I’m playing. It has to be raw-andto-the-point riff songwriting,” Brown says. But as far as limitations go, he adds, this one has turned out to be a blessing. “Playing riff-oriented music is why I started playing guitar when I was 11 years old. I heard [Led Zeppelin III], and was like, ‘Wow. This is fucking great.’” Now, though they’ve grown confident with how the band’s sound translates live, they also weren’t sure if they should record bass parts for their new album, The Downhill Dive, set for release Friday, August 3. Ultimately, Brown says, they decided against it. “We tried to keep it to a realistic sound of our live show,” Gowrie says.

“ I started playing guitar when I was 11 years old … [and] heard [Led Zeppelin III].” Zac Brown I’m Dirty Too The decision was the right one. On record, the absence of bass isn’t noticeable: The low notes are adequately covered by Brown’s guitars, making the lack of a proper bass track barely noticeable. Brown and Gowrie are excited to finally release the new album—not just for how it sounds but, they say, because enough fans were more than willing to donate funds for the band’s recent Kickstarter campaign. That support, Brown says, is invaluable. “There are people that do believe in us and are willing to put their money where their mouths are,” he says. “[They don’t] just say, ‘You guys are good. You guys can do something,’—[they] really do something about it.”Ω

SOUND ADVICE

Sammies time again: If you’re on Facebook, you probably already know that the 21st annual Sacramento Area Music Awards

season is here, because pleas for nominations have taken over your wall. SN&R apologizes. Yet, why not oblige your favorite local artists or band? Visit www.sammies.com before the nominations period ends on Tuesday, August 7, and possibly hook up your fave locals for a Sammies nod. This is easier than actually going to a show, and it’s free, so indulge in some laziness and thrift. To recap: Nominate musicians for a Sammies award now through Tuesday. Official 2012 Sammies nominees will be announced in the August 16 issue of SN&R. Is Downtown James Brown leaving Sacto?: His was the only sad face on 20th Street during Exquisite Corps’ album-release block party last Wednesday: Downtown James Brown. Or Down-and-Out James Brown, perhaps? “I’m leaving Sacramento,” DTJB walked up and told me. “I’m done here.” What?! It’s kind of a big deal when the city’s premiere street performer of more than two decades opts for San Francisco’s greener milieu: DTJB hopes he can make a little more money in the Bay, adding that it’s just too hard to get cash in Sacto lately. But anyone who knows DTJB knows he’s got a penchant for empty threats. So, is the guy really leaving? He insisted this was the case. And he sure as hell seemed sincere. Although, he did state that he’d only be going away “for a while.” If it’s true, drinks on The Golden Bear’s patio will never be the same. Tsk, tsk, tsk: Police estimated that more than 3,500 attended this past Saturday’s Launch music festival, which was a very successful downtown day rage-cum-fete that went off without a hitch. Almost. The lone crime was the powers that be cutting off local legends Chk Chk Chk before their set was over.

Right during the middle of a song. Despite pleas from the crowd and the band, to keep the party going. Singer Nic Offer threw his mic to the ground when the festival’s sound engineers killed the main speakers, which silenced the band to the crowd. Afterward, Chk Chk Chk members were visibly irked, stating that they’d played all over the world for years and had never had this happen. Until Saturday. In their hometown. In front of friends and family. I get that festival performers are on a time limit, and the schedule of performers is tight. But there’s no excuse for cutting off a band, especially Chk Chk Chk at a hometown show. The Launch fest was glorious, but this was lame, lame, lame. The Javalounge says goodbye— again: Midtown lost another allages venue this week. Tucked away on 16th Street just north of Broadway, The Javalounge was a great haven for punk and rock before it closed in December 2009. But then, riding the mantra of “too rad to die … too tough quit,” the venue/coffeehouse reopened in October of last year. But times were, apparently, as rocky as the first go—including the theft of Javalounge’s PA system earlier this year. Instagon played the final gig on Sunday night, and owner Toben Woodman wrote on Facebook that he’d be playing tunes until the last cup of joe on July 31.

The Voice arrives: It’s kind of a big deal for Sacramento that local Lindsey Pavao kicked hella ass and should have won this last season of NBC’s The Voice. Most American males watch the show for Christina Aguilera’s ridiculous bosom, but I tuned in with the girlfriend to catch Pavao’s latest rendition each week—and she crushed it. Almost all the way to the top. Anyway, Pavao headlines Harlow’s this Thursday, August 2 (2708 J Street, 9 p.m., $10), for her first true gig since doing TV. Yes, she played Dive Bar and Friday Night Concerts in the Park already, but this is night is all hers.

THINK FREE.

Fisherman’s Wharf James Brown?

thu aug 2 9pm

Coming Soon

sat aug 11 10pm $12

lindsey miDNiGht pavao PLAYeRS

fri aug 3 10pm

mon aug 13 8pm $15 adv

reminiSCe

heartless bastards

r&b & Cult ClassiCs sat aug 4 10pm $8 adv

With GueStS LittLe huRRicANe

LiVe mANiKiNS

AnD ranDoM abilaDeze

wed aug 8 7pm $35

OttmAR LiebeRt

aug 15 8pm no cover

the quiNN heDGeS bAND cd release show!

AND LuNA NeGRA

thu aug 16 9pm $12 adv

fri aug 10 9pm $12.50 adv

the SizzLiNG SiReNS PReSeNt

trippen to fall

FuNGO muNGO

ALL ORiGiNAL membeRS With GueStS LOONeR

—Nick Miller

nickam@newsreview.com

Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 22 Aug 24 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 28 Aug 31 Sept 1 Sept 5 Sept 5 Sept 7 Sept 9 Sept 13 Sept 16 Sept 21 Sept 21 Sept 22 Sept 24 Sept 25 Sept 28 Oct 10 Oct 11 Oct 12 Oct 17 Oct 19 Oct 20 Oct 23 Oct 24 Oct 29 Oct 30

Peter Murphy Mother Hips Animal Kingdom/Atlas Genius Dan Curcio Exquisite Corps Hapa Civil twilight Arden Park Roots w/ Wooster Gene loves Jezebel Missy Higgins Chelsea Wolfe (late) tainted love blame salley Growlers Mason Jennings orgone/rubblebucket Catherine Russell Katie Knipp the features (nashville) Matt schofield Coyote Grace the lumineers Saint Vitus/Weedeater Nick Gravenites & David LaFlamme Star F***er tea leaf Green Steelin’ Dan Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group Zach Deputy other lives storm large

Dress CoDe enforCeD (Jeans are oK) • Call to reserve Dinner & Club tables

2708 J Street • Sacramento • 916.441.4693 • www.harlows.com BEFORE

FRONTLINES

FEATURE

STORY

A RT S & C U LT U R E

AFTER

08.02.12

SN&R

EIGHT GIGS

02THURS 03FRI 04SAT 05SUN

Lindsey Pavao, a Sacramento bartenderturned-reality-show contestant may not have made it past the semifinal rounds on NBC’s hit show The Voice, but the singing competition gave her career a major boost, nonetheless. Christina Aguilera mentored Pavao throughout her TV tenure, but the singer didn’t seem to absorb any of the diva’s scenery-chewing histrionics. POP Indeed, Pavao’s seemingly kept her edgy, earthy take on indie pop intact. Currently, Pavao’s driving a Kickstarter campaign to fund a new record, although it seems like only a matter of time before a label snaps her up. 2708 J Street, www.lindseypavao.com.

—Rachel Leibrock

If you don’t think old-school East African music is still relevant, you probably need to widen your earholes. First, listen to K’Naan, a hip-hop artist from Somalia, who pays homage to his storytelling WORLD ancestors in his raps and plays traditional African drums during live shows. Then, check out Nas and Damian Marley, who sampled the popular Ethiopian jazz song “Yègellé Tezeta” by Mulato Astatke on their collaborative Distant Relatives album. Lastly, head to Sophia’s Thai Kitchen to see Sun Hop Fat—an Oakland-based group named after a Chinese grocery store—which plays ’70s Ethiopian jazz with the funk, texture and intricate musicianship it requires. 129 E Street in Davis, www.sunhopfat.com.

Iron Maiden’s self-titled 1980 debut catapulted it to the head of the burgeoning new wave of British metal. The group echoes Judas Priest’s twin-lead attack, accelerating heavy blues riffs like a railgun while Steve Harris’ bass lines drive rhythms. Octavescaling frontman Bruce Dickinson’s addition keyed 1982’s career-making The Number of the Beast. Iron Maiden’s ability to METAL balance prog-inflected arrangements and open-throttle roar made the group a heavy-metal godfather, inspiring artists, like Metallica and Lady Gaga. The classic lineup reunited in 1999, and its latest, 2010’s The Final Frontier, updates Maiden’s ’80s sound. 2677 Forty Mile Road in Wheatland, www.ironmaiden.com.

ACE OF SPADES Y&T

END OF DAYS - DEADLANDS SUCKER PUNCH SATURDAY, AUGUST 4

SUPER DIAMOND

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS

MONDAY, AUGUST 6

THE WORLD ALIVE A SKYLIT DRIVE I SEE STARS WINDS OF PLAGUE - STICK TO YOUR GUNS - ATTILA FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS - STRAY FROM THE PATH MAKE ME FAMOUS - BETRAYING THE MARTYRS OBEY THE BRAVE - ICE NINE KILLS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 7

LOST PROPHETS CHERRI BOMB - ALLINADAY

Back before rock ’n’ roll, Bill Monroe invented bluegrass, which was basically old-timey country music played as fast as humanly posBLUEGRASS/PUNK sible. In other words, it was the punk rock of its day. Now, in the 2000s, nine-piece Fat Wreck Chords artist Old Man Markley (along with Larry and His Flask) has been carving out a genre that is equal parts punk rock and traditional bluegrass. It features banjo, mandolin, fiddle—all the traditional instruments. The only big difference is the addition of drums and raspy punk vocals, though Old Man Markley sure can harmonize with the best of the old bluegrass bands. 2030 P Street, www.oldmanmarkley.com.

—Aaron Carnes

—Chris Parker

—Jonathan Mendick

FRIDAY, AUGUST 3

The Press Club, 5 p.m., $7

Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 7:30 p.m., $39-$90

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen, 9:30 p.m., $5

Harlow’s, 9 p.m., $10

Old Man Markley

Iron Maiden

Sun Hop Fat

Lindsey Pavao

1417 R Street, Sacramento, 95814 www.aceofspadessac.com

ALL AGES WELCOME!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16

NASHVILLE PUSSY HORSENECK

S N&R

08. 02.12

SOON

8/24 Gift of Gab 8/25 Full Blown Stone

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17

GREAT WHITE

FASTER PUSSYCAT - PRETTY BOY FLOYD - BULLET BOYS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18

STEPCHILD SOUL MOTOR - ZEROCLIENT FOR ALL I’VE DONE - ARE WE HUMAN

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19

STRUNG OUT

THE DARLINGS - HANDGUNS - LONELY KINGS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21

CHIDDY BANG K-OTTIC - J. SIRUS - BRODI NICHOLAS

Tickets available at all Dimple Records Locations, The Beat Records, and Armadillo Records, or purchase by phone @ 916.443.9202

COMING 8/26

Saving Abel

8/30 Turquoise Jeep 9/2

The Melvins

9/3

Against Me

9/5

Powerman 5000

9/6

Buckethead

9/7

Static X

9/8

Rehab

9/10

Blaqk Audio

9/11

The Fresh & Onlys

9/14

Anthrax/Testament

9/20

Tomorrows Bad Seeds

9/22 The Used 9/24 Kreator 9/27

Hatebreed

10/6

Zion-I

10/10 Steve Vai 10/11 D.R.I 10/13 Morbid Angel 10/23 Motion City Soundtrack 10/24 Alesana 11/6

Gwar

11/9

Blue October

11/14 Minus The Bear

05SUN 08WED 08WED 08WED Battle of the Bands

Chris Pureka

BEFORE

FRONTLINES

Midwest punk group Dear Landlord isn’t charting any unexplored territory, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great band. It plays honest, aggressive pop-punk in the vein of Crimpshrine and Screeching Weasel. Dear Landlord’s songs contain the same power and rawness premainstream punk bands had a generation or two ago. Even if PUNK it’s a little repetitive at times, the intensity and passion more than make up for it. Underneath the ultracatchy choruses are some dark self-depreciating lyrics. There’s something particularly cathartic about expressing sentiments like “I Live in Hell” against music that’s fun and has melodies that beg to be sung along to. 1020 20th Street, www.facebook.com/dearlandlord.

—Jonathan Mendick

—Kel Munger

FEATURE

STORY

Memorial Auditorium, 8 p.m., $40

Luigi’s Fun Garden, 7 p.m., $7

No, the cover charge doesn’t include admission to the Nevada County Fair. But you should still buy a ticket, since it’s only $6 if you buy in advance online. Anyway, your $5 cover will get you in to see three under-18 groups: Bunjee, ROCK Variations 8 and Persist to Rise, as well as eight 19-and-over bands: Rooky Red Lion (pictured), the Devil’s Train, Rat Stomp, Bullet Train Hobos, Adhara, Downshift, Darkline and Division Threshold. Which is a steal. Presented in conjunction with the Center for the Arts, the winner will get to play at the Center’s main stage during next year’s concert season. 11228 McCourtney Road in Grass Valley, www.nevadacountyfair.com.

Massachusetts-based acoustic-folk singersongwriter Chris Pureka has an impressive style that carries undertones of rock and the blues. In other words, she’s got her musical roots in order. Her most recent album, How I Learned to See in the Dark, is introspective without being navel-gazing, making use of complex lyrics to balance out catchy musical phrases in songs like “Wrecking Ball” and “Shipwreck.” The genderqueer singer has a Bob Dylan-like delivery—if Dylan could carry a melody—and her songs focus on FOLK emotional truths. This show benefits The Yoga Seed Collective’s communityoutreach programs, so you’ll hear great music and do a good deed. 1400 E Street, Suite B; www.chrispureka.com.

Kaskade

Dear Landlord

Nevada County Fair Arena, 6 p.m., $5

The Yoga Seed Collective, 6 p.m., $15

ARTS&CULTURE

It’s not uncommon for Kaskade to be thoughtlessly lumped in with Skrillex and Deadmau5, but unlike those EDM avatars, he makes neither dubstep nor “brostep.” Instead, he belongs in a nether zone between the two. Last year’s Fire EDM & Ice shot for the rafters, with chill keyboard blips and mellifluous hooks that sound best percolating through an arena. Much of the album was cheesy; its housier moments would be at home on an episode of Snooki & JWoww. But AraabMuzik—who’s lovely “Streetz Tonight” samples Kaskade’s “4 AM”—is a fan. Not even whip-smart hipsters are too cynical to beat up the beat. 1515 J Street, www.kaskademusic.com.

—M.T. Richards

—Aaron Carnes

AFTER

08. 02.12

S N&R

NIGHTBEAT BADLANDS

2003 K St., (916) 448-8790

List your event!

Post your free online listing (up to 15 months early), and our editors will consider your submission for the printed calendar as well. Print listings are also free, but subject to space limitations. Online, you can include a full description of your event, a photo, and a link to your website. Go to www.newsreview.com/calendar and start posting events. Deadline for print listings is 10 days prior to the issue in which you wish the listing to appear.

THURSDAY 8/2

FRIDAY 8/3

SATURDAY 8/4

SUNDAY 8/5

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 8/6-8/8

Tipsy Thursdays, Top 40 deejay dancing, 9pm, call for cover

Fabulous and Gay Fridays, 9pm, call for cover

Saturday Boom, 9pm, call for cover

Sin Sunday, 8pm, call for cover

Mad Mondays, 9pm M; Latin video flair and Wii bowling, 7pm Tu

BLUE LAMP

THE THREE WAY, 50 WATT HEAVY, HOOTEN HALLERS, COFFIN HUNTER, WOULD BE TRAIN ROBBERS; 8:30pm, $7 THE LOVELESS; 8pm, call for cover

1400 Alhambra, (916) 455-3400

THE BOARDWALK

AS DREAMERS, THOU, THE GIANT,

THE NEW AIRA, BOSS BIZ, SUNNY B, CELL, LOUIE V, T-CHRIS; 8pm, $10-$12

FADE, RHYME PROGRESSION, ARTISAN FLOW, HAZE, TISDALE, 8pm W

BOWS AND ARROWS

ROSS HAMMONDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S REVIVAL TRIO, THE INVERSIONS; 8pm, $5

MATTHEWDAVID, PREGNANT, B-WILD; 8pm W, $5

THE CAVE

MEMPHIBIANS, ANDREW FELTS, GROOVINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; HIGH, GIBBONS & THE SLUTS; 8pm

9426 Greenback Ln., Orangevale; (916) 988-9247 CITADEL, ANTHEM; 7:30pm

OFFICIAL RESPONSE, NORTH BOUND TRAIN, PENJULA, SIMPL3JACK; 8pm

1815 19 St., (916) 822-5668

3512 Stockton Blvd., (916) 317-9999

CENTER FOR THE ARTS

ALBERT LEE, 8-11pm, $25-$30

314 W. Main St., Grass Valley; (530) 274-8384 Open-mic, 7:30pm, no cover

JONNY MOJO, 8pm, $8

PAUL KAMM, ELEANORE MACDONALD; 8pm, $15

DISTRICT 30

JOACHIM GARRAUD, DJ Double K; 9pm, call for cover

DJ Jules, 9pm, call for cover

Dominate w/ DJ Eddie Edul, 9pm, call for cover

1016 K St., (916) 737-5770

ELKHORN SALOON

WEST OF NEXT, 7pm, no cover

18398 Old River Rd., West Sacramento; (916) 371-2277

FACES

Deejay dancing and karaoke, 9pm, $3

Hip-hop and Top 40 Deejay dancing, 9pm, $5-$10

FOX & GOOSE

YELLOW JACKET MOTEL, SPANGLER; 811pm, no cover

T-DUB & THE INTERNATIONALS, THE SIGNIFIERS, SACTO SOUL REBELS; 9pm

VINTAGE VANDALS, DELTA CITY RAMBLERS, BLACK MARKET III; $5

DJ Smilez, 10pm-1:15am, no cover

AVENUE SAINTS, HUMAN FILTH, MORTAL ATROCITY; 10pm-1:15am, no cover

2000 K St., (916) 448-7798

Hey local bands!

Want to be a hot show? Mail photos to Calendar Editor, SN&R, 1124 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815 or email it to sactocalendar@ newsreview.com. Be sure to include date, time, location and cost of upcoming shows.

1001 R St., (916) 443-8825

BABS JOHNSON GANG, GOLDEN PELICANS, CRUDDY; 8pm Tu, call for cover

DAVID LINDLEY, 8pm, $20-$22

THE COZMIC CAFĂ&#x2030;

594 Main St., Placerville; (530) 642-8481

GRAND TARANTULA, IDLEHANDS, MONDO DECO; 8pm, call for cover

G STREET WUNDERBAR 228 G St., Davis; (530) 756-9227

Queer Idol, 9pm M, no cover; Latin night, 9pm Tu, $5; DJ Alazzawi, 9pm W, $3

Dragalicious, 9pm, $5

Open-mic, 7:30pm M; Pub Quiz, 7pm Tu; STEVE MCLANE, 8pm W, no cover

THE GOLDEN BEAR

DJ Shaun Slaughter, 10pm, call for cover

DJ Crook One, 10pm, call for cover

DJ Whores, 10pm, no cover

HARLOWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

LINDSEY PAVAO, 9pm, $10

Reminisce: R&B and cult classics, 10pm, call for cover

LIVE MANIKINS, 10pm, call for cover

LEVEL UP FOOD & LOUNGE

Karaoke, 9pm, no cover

DJ Rock Bottom and The Mookie DJ, 9pm, no cover

LUNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CAFĂ&#x2030; & JUICE BAR

Joe Montoyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Poetry Unplugged, 8pm, $2

Listening Room Festival, 8pm, $6

PENNY HARDING, JEFF SEARS, KATHY BARWICK; 8:30pm, $9

Nebraska Mondays, 7:30pm M, $5-$20; Comedy night, 8pm W, $6

MARILYNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON K

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rock Onâ&#x20AC;? Live Band Karaoke, 9pm, no cover

ISLAND OF BLACK & WHITE, BOSS 501; 8:30pm, call for cover

THE CHICK Pâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S, JACKWAGON; 8:30pm, call for cover

BLUE OAKS, 5:30pm Tu, no cover; HONYOCK, 9pm W, $3

NAKED LOUNGE DOWNTOWN 1111 H St., (916) 443-1927

BE BRAVE BOLD ROBOT, WINTERTIME LAKEISHA MONDY, SUTTER JUNKIES, CAROUSEL, MARC DEL CHIARO; 8:30pm CHI MCCLEAN; 8:30pm, $5

ODAME, JAMES CAVERN, COLE THOMPSON; 8:30pm, $5

Jazz session, M; DIRT NAP BAND, Tu, $5; KEVIN MASON HULL, 8:30pm W, $5

OLD IRONSIDES

Karaoke, 9pm, no cover

The Lipstick Weekender w/Shaun Slaughter & Roger Carpio, 9pm, $5

Karaoke, 9pm Tu; Open-mic w/ Nico Applewhite, 8:30pm W, no cover

2326 K St., (916) 441-2252 2708 J St., (916) 441-4693 2431 J St., (916) 448-8768

1414 16th St., (916) 441-3931 908 K St., (916) 446-4361

1901 10th St., (916) 442-3504

Not Your Average Pub Food.

WANNABE BARNABY, MAJOR POWERS AND THE LO-FI SYMPHONY; 9pm, $7

Industry Night, 9pm, call for cover OTTMAR LIEBERT, 7pm W, $35 Hip-hop and R&B deejay dancing, 9:16pm Tu, no cover

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THURSDAY 8/2

FRIDAY 8/3

SATURDAY 8/4

SUNDAY 8/5

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 8/6-8/8

ON THE Y

Karaoke, 9pm, no cover

THE ABSOLUTES, DEDVOLT, ART OF CHAOS, MISAMORE; 9pm, $6

Karaoke, 9pm, no cover

Open-mic comedy, 10pm, no cover

Karaoke, 9pm Tu; CHRONAEXUS, ROTTEN FUNERAL, AUTOLATRY; 8:30pm W

THE PALMS PLAYHOUSE

THE BLACK LILLIES, 8pm, $15

COUNTRY JOE MCDONALD, 8:30pm, $20

MARK HUMMEL & THE BLUES SURVIVORS, LITTLE CHARLIE BATY; 8:30pm, $20

DJ E-Rock, DJ Eddie Edul, 9pm-2am, $15

DJ Peeti V, 9pm, call for cover

670 Fulton Ave., (916) 487-3731 13 Main St., Winters; (530) 795-1825

THE PARK ULTRA LOUNGE 1116 15th St., (916) 442-7222

Asylum Downtown: Gothic, industrial, EBM dancing, 9pm, call for cover

PARLARE EURO LOUNGE

Top 40, 9pm, no cover

Top 40, Mashups, 9pm, no cover

DJ Club mixes, 10pm, no cover

Top 40 dance mixes, 9pm W, no cover

PISTOL PETE’S

Karaoke, 9pm, no cover

CAMPFIRE CROONERS, 9pm, $5

THE 8 TRACKS, 9pm, $5

Karaoke, 9pm W, no cover

POWERHOUSE PUB

TWO STEPS DOWN, 9:30pm, call for cover

WONDERBREAD 5, 10pm, $15

INSPECTOR 71, 10pm, $10

PINKIE RIDEAU, 3pm, call for cover

Karaoke, 9pm M; DJ Alazzawi, Rigatony, 10pm Tu, $3; MASON REX, 9pm W, $5

Top 40 w/ DJ Rue, 9pm, $5

Top 40 Night w/ DJ Larry Rodriguez, 9pm, $5

OLD MAN MARKLEY, HOT TAR ROOFERS, BOTTLES AND BARLOWS; 8:30pm, $5

DRY COUNTY DRINKERS, 8:30pm, M, $5; FATE UNDER FIRE, 8:30pm, W, $5

1009 10th St., (916) 448-8960

140 Harrison Ave., Auburn; (530) 885-5093 614 Sutter St., Folsom; (916) 355-8586

THE PRESS CLUB

2030 P St., (916) 444-7914

SHENANIGANS

Comedy Night and DJ Selekta Lou, 9pm, $5

SHINE

Thursday Night Jive: a stand-up comedy night, 8pm, $5

705 J St., (916) 442-1268 1400 E St., (916) 551-1400

SOPHIA’S THAI KITCHEN 129 E St., Davis; (530) 758-4333

STONEY INN/ROCKIN RODEO 1320 Del Paso Blvd., (916) 927-6023

ROBBIE WALDEN AND THE GUN SLINGERS, 9pm, $5

SWABBIES

5871 Garden Hwy, (916) 920-8088

THE ANTHONY COLEMAN QUARTET, MARK NOXX; 9pm, call for cover MOLLY PEASE, ELIZABETH BUSCH, RYAN DARTON, SCHEMING SCARLET, BRIAN JENNINGS, JC VILLAFAN; 8pm, $5 MASON REX; 8pm, $5 RADIATION CITY, JAMES & EVANDER, YALLS; 9:30pm, $5

Country dancing, 7:30pm, no cover, $5 after 8pm

Country dance party, 8pm, no cover

BUMP CITY, 6-10pm, $10

MARSHAL WILKERSON, 3pm, call for cover

DEPARTMENT OF ROCK, 3-7pm, $5

PAILER AND FRATIS, 5:30-7:30pm, no cover; BONE MACDONALD, 9pm, $7

JOHNNY KNOX, 5pm, no cover; JELLY BREAD, 9pm, $7

Blues jam, 4pm, no cover; CONTINO, 8pm, $5

X TRIO, 5pm, no cover; BIG EARL AND THE CRYIN’ SHAME, 9pm, $5

TOWNHOUSE LOUNGE

Live music and deejay dancing, 9pm, call Record Club w/ DJ Roger, 9pm, $5, free for cover before 10pm

1517 21st St., (916) 613-7194

Open jazz jam, 8pm Tu; Poetry With Legs with Primal Urge, 7pm W

SUN HOP FAT, CASH PONY; 9:30pm, $5

TORCH CLUB

904 15th St., (916) 443-2797

Comedy open-mic, 8pm M; Bluebird Lounge open-mic, 5pm Tu, no cover

GROOVE SESSION, 9pm Tu, $5; Openmic, 5:30pm W; KERI CARR, 9pm W, $6

Pop Freq w/ DJ XGVNR, 9pm, $5

Open-mic, 9pm M, no cover

All ages, all the time ACE OF SPADES

Y&T, END OF DAYS, DEADLANDS, SUCKER PUNCH; 7pm, $22

1417 R St., (916) 448-3300

GRENADE JUMPER, 5606, OPPOSITION, LOST FREEDOM; 6:30pm, $10-$12

1529 Eureka Rd., Roseville; (916) 988-6606 1050 20th St., (916) 552-0317

DEEP TIME, SAUNA, MONSTER TREASURE, NACHO BUSINESS; 8pm, $5

MASON REX, DER SPAZM, SAN KAZAKGASCAR; 8pm, $5

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AUGUST 9 & 12

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WEDNESDAY 8/8

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0'/ B JK × J8:I8D<EKF# :8 × /1*'GD J?FN × )( 8E; FM<I K@:B<KJ 8K 8CC K@:B<KD8JK<I CF:8K@FEJ :?8I>< 9P G?FE< ($/''$.+,$*'''

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CELEBRATING OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY ALL YEAR LONG!

ThUrSdayS

Molly Pease with Elizabeth Busch, Brian Jennings and JC Villafan 8pm Friday, $5. Shine Jazz

DEAR LANDLORD, MURDERBURGERS, BASTARDS OF YOUNG; 7pm W, $7

CLARK REESE, SARAH PRAY; 2pm, no cover

545 Downtown Plaza, Ste. 2090, (916) 822-5185

TallbOy Pbr

WORD ALIVE, A SKYLIT DRIVE; M, $16; LOSTPROPHETS, 10pm Tu, $15

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CLUB RETRO

LUIGI’S SLICE AND FUN GARDEN

Anthony Coleman Quartet with Mark Noxx 9pm Saturday, call for cover. Shenanigan’s Jazz

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Where there’s smoke, there’s a ban Cities such as Sacramento revisit pot dispensaries as Los Angeles bans ’em Medical-marijuana patients in the city of Los Angeles needn’t think the sky is falling after this week’s city-council decision to by ban collectives distributing the drug in a retail storefront. David Downs According to Don Duncan, a leader at patient lobby Americans for Safe Access, Los Angeles has a long history of tussling over its clubs, yet hundreds of dispensaries appear to be open in the city. The city council’s ban will take effect in up to four weeks, making dispensary operators liable for a misdemeanor. City officials could begin issuing warnings to clubs that don’t close, or police could show up to shut them down. But the city council tried a less harsh ban in 2010, which resulted in roughly 100 lawsuits from operators. Los Angeles’ new ban could face similar legal challenges, Duncan said. Meanwhile, it’s unclear if the city has the resources to play Whac-a-Mole with several hundred resilient, risk-tolerant dispensary operators. It’s not good legal advice, but “many facility operators are thinking, ‘Well, I’ll stay open and roll the dice,’” Duncan said. Duncan added According to Don Duncan, that operators will also pursue a voter a leader at patient lobby referendum on Americans for Safe Access, Los local dispensary Angeles has a long history of regulations—drafting a petition tussling over its clubs. “It’s a that will require roller coaster, and we’re 28,000 to 40,000 local signatures in going to keep at it,” he said. support of a regulatory regime. The city council could then approve of such regulations, or send the referendum to the voters, who might approve it. A Los Angeles medical-cannabis patient Wednesday, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said he thinks Angelenos approve of medical marijuana, but that they just want sensible regulations around it. There may be political repercussions for the 14 city council members who voted to ban stores, he said. “It can’t be all or nothing. It needs to be safer for everybody, and that doesn’t include a ban. That’s just silly. Plus, regulations can create jobs,” he said. In the interim, medical-marijuana options will remain plentiful in the City of Angels, from the copious storefronts to the clandestine delivery services, and dispensaries in neighboring cities. Los Angeles County’s ban is currently caught in legal limbo. West Hollywood, Venice [this is a district, not a city] and other neighboring cities also might see some overflow, if options in Los Angeles decrease. “Don’t be discouraged,” said Duncan. “It’s a roller coaster, and we’re going to keep at it.” Ω

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE

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by ROB BREZSNY

FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 2, 2012

ARIES (March 21-April 19):

The astrological omens suggest that you now have a lot in common with the legendary Most Interesting Man in the World¡ ªadventurous, unpredictable, interesting, lucky, one of a kind. To create your horoscope, I have therefore borrowed a few selected details from his ad campaign’s descriptions of him. Here we go: In the coming weeks, you will be the life of parties you don’t even attend. Astronauts will be able to see your charisma from outer space. Up to one-third of your body weight will be gravitas. Your cell phone will always have good reception, even in a subway 100 feet underground. Panhandlers will give you money. You could challenge your reflection to a staring contest — and win. You’ll be able to keep one eye on the past while looking into the future. When you sneeze, God will say “God bless you.”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Psychologist Bruno Bettelheim said the dreams we have at night are “the result of inner pressures which have found no relief, of problems which beset a person to which he knows no solution and to which the dream finds none.” That sounds bleak, doesn’t it? If it’s true, why even bother to remember our dreams? Well, because we are often not consciously aware of the feelings they reveal to us. By portraying our buried psychic material in story form, dreams give us insight into what we’ve been missing. So even though they may not provide a solution, they educate us. Take heed, Taurus! Your upcoming dreams will provide useful information you can use to fix one of your longstanding dilemmas.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): When French

composer Georges Auric scored the soundtrack for Jean Cocteau’s movie Blood of a Poet, he produced “love music for love scenes, game music for game scenes, and funeral music for funeral scenes.” But Cocteau himself had a different idea about how to use Auric’s work. For the love scenes he decided to use the funeral music, for the game scenes the love music, and for the funeral scenes the game music. In accordance with the current astrological omens, Gemini, I recommend that you experiment with that style of mixing and matching. Have fun! (Source: A Ned Rorem Reader, by Ned Rorem.)

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “Piglet was

so excited at the idea of being useful that he forgot to be frightened any more,” wrote A. A. Milne in his kids’ story Winniethe-Pooh. That’s my prescription for how to evade the worrisome fantasies that are nipping at you, Cancerian. If no one has invited you to do some engaging and important labor of love, invite yourself. You need to be needed — even more than usual. P.S. Here’s what Rumi advises: “Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You’ve been making pretty good progress in the School of Life. By my estimates, you’re now the equivalent of a sophomore. You’ve mastered enough lessons so that you can no longer be considered a freshman, and yet you’ve got a lot more to learn. Are you familiar with the etymology of the word “sophomore”? It comes from two Greek words meaning “wise” and “fool.” That’ll be a healthy way to think about yourself in the coming weeks. Be smart enough to know what you don’t know. Cultivate the voracious curiosity necessary to lead you to the next rich teachings.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A few years

ago, a Malaysian man named Lim Boon Hwa arranged to have himself “cooked.” For 30 minutes, he sat on a board covering a pan full of simmering dumplings and corn. The fact that no harm came to him was proof, he said, that Taoist devotees like him are protected by their religion’s deities. I advise you not to try a stunt like that, Virgo — including metaphorical versions. This is no time to stew in your own juices. Or boil in your tormented fantasies. Or broil in your nagging doubts. Or be grilled in your self-accusations. You need to be free from the parts of your mind that try to cook you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): On a spring day

in 1973, an engineer named Martin Cooper debuted the world’s first cell phone. He placed a call as he walked along a New York City street. The phone weighed two and half pounds and resembled a brick. Later he joked that no one would be able to talk very long on his invention, since it took a lot of strength to hold it against one’s ear. Think of how far that amazing device has come since then, Libra. Now imagine some important aspect of your own life that is in a rather primitive state at this moment but could one day be as natural and fully developed as cell phones have become. Are you willing to work hard to make that happen? Now’s a good time to intensify your commitment.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the

coming week, you will lose some clout and self-command if you’re too hungry for power. Likewise, if you act too brazenly intelligent, you may alienate potential helpers who are not as mentally wellendowed as you. One other warning, Scorpio: Don’t be so fiercely reasonable that you miss the emotional richness that’s available. In saying these things, I don’t mean to sound as if I’m advising you to dumb yourself down and downplay your strengths. Not at all. Rather, I’m trying to let you know that the best way to get what you really need is to tailor your selfexpression to the unique circumstances you find yourself in.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):

For a while, French writer Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) was very poor. He lived in a place that had no heat and almost no furniture. To enhance his environment, he resorted to the use of fantasy. On one of his bare walls, he wrote the words, “rosewood paneling with ornamental cabinet.” On another, he wrote “Gobelin tapestry with Venetian mirror.” Over the empty fireplace he declared, “Picture by Raphael.” That’s the level of imaginative power I encourage you to summon in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. So much of what you’ll need will come from that simple magic.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s an

excellent time to overthrow false gods and topple small-minded authorities and expose fraudulent claims. Anyone and anything in your environment that do not fully deserve the power they claim should get the brunt of your exuberant skepticism. When you’re done cleaning up those messes, turn your attention to your own inner realms. There might be some good work to be done there. Can you think of any hypocrisy that needs fixing? Any excessive self-importance that could use some tamping down? Any pretending that would benefit from a counter dose of authenticity?

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In old

China, people used to cool themselves by sipping hot drinks. After taking a bath, they buffed the excess water from their skin by using a wet towel. When greeting a friend, they shook their own hand instead of the friend’s. To erect a new house, they built the roof first. You’re currently in a phase of your astrological cycle when this kind of behavior makes sense. In fact, I suspect you’re most likely to have a successful week if you’re ready to reverse your usual way of doing things on a regular basis.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I’m really

tired of you not getting all of the appreciation and acknowledgment and rewards you deserve. Is there even a small possibility that you might be harboring some resistance to that good stuff? Could you be giving off a vibe that subtly influences people to withhold the full blessings they might otherwise confer upon you? According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to work on correcting this problem. Do everything you can to make it easy for people to offer you their love and gifts.

You can call Rob Brezsny for your Expanded Weekly Horoscope: (900) 950-7700. $1.99 per minute. Must be 18+. Touchtone phone required. Customer service (612) 373-9785. And don’t forget to check out Rob’s website at www.realastrology.com.

15 MINUTES

FRONTLINES

FEATURE

PALOY

Smokin’ hot Ana and Pierre Perales met years ago and, discovering some key common interests, eventually combined their love of two Cuban specialties—salsa dancing and cigar rolling—into a lucrative business endeavor. Now, the couple’s Casillas Cigars (7435 Madison Avenue in Citrus Heights) is more than a shop for stogie lovers, it’s a business built on heritage, where customers are often found lingering over a game of chess. The Perales, who have four children, often take their talents on the road, visiting wedding receptions and corporate parties, where he teaches clients how to roll cigars, and she gives dance lessons. It’s a success story built on tradition and romance—Pierre even named a cigar after his wife; the Carinoso (translated, it means “endearing”). Pierre Perales talks to SN&R about family, women who smoke and whether or not to inhale.

Do you grow your tobacco here? No, it’s grown in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Ecuador. I go to Central America about twice a year. [I] knock on doors, bus my way up and down Central America. … Ya know, we are just the little guy. We bring back five, six, seven bales [of tobacco]. In the summer, you get the biggest blends, the bigger ring gauges. In the winter, you will get a lot of smaller [cigars], because people need a quicker smoke.

Ana (front) and Pierre Perales.

What effect does smoking a cigar have on you?

how you’re feeling as a novice. If you are feeling bold, then go for something darker.

Smoking a cigar is like having a good friend. It consoles you, it [hears] you. In the end, it’s like losing a good friend because it’s gone.

Have you ever accidentally blended two?

Do you have a favorite cigar?

We did. We blended a double maduro— a very, very strong tobacco with a light wrapper. Now, we have a customer for life who likes that. It became popular [with other customers], and we call it The Martinez.

It’s just like [drinking] wine—it depends on what mood you are in, what you’re eating, where you are at and who you are with.

Do women smoke? All of the time, yes.

Do you think the stigma of woman smoking a cigar not being seen as attractive has gone away? It has definitely gone away. There’s a whole forum in magazines now called LIT—Ladies in Tobacco. Women have always been a part of the tobacco industry since the beginning. All of the cigar boxes from the turn of the century were decorated with beautiful women in dresses.

What would you suggest to someone who wants a nice cigar? A good rule of thumb is that the lighter the color, the milder the smoke. So it depends on

BEFORE

by KATE

PHOTO BY KATE PALOY

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

STORY

A RT S & C U LT U R E

you get that fat nicotine buzz. You don’t get that as much in a cigar, and you are not inhaling. [The cigar tobacco] doesn’t [have additives]; it’s not synthetic, and it’s not made in a lab.

What’s the toughest part of this whole process?

Does your wife smoke?

The taxes. [Cigars] are highly regulated. Customs and [dealing with] all of the importation and documentation [paperwork], permits, licenses, taxes and shipping.

She does. She rolls as well. We work together; the dancing and the rolling of cigars. It’s a fun little gig.

Does tough take the fun out of it?

What do you say to your daughter and your son when they say “I want to smoke a cigar?” When are they old enough—when they are 18.

With all of the health issues and concerns that go with smoking, do you encounter a lot of people who disapprove of what you’re selling? There’s a big misconception [about cigars]. The cigar, our tobacco has nicotine in it, but [it’s got] natural levels of nicotine. It doesn’t have the exaggerated synthetic amount that a cigarette does. When you smoke a cigarette, |

AFTER

I was told in the beginning, when I started, when I decided to roll my own, that [some] people in this industry [will] give you samples of their best [tobacco], but then sell you the stuff that’s not so good. Once you buy and establish an account, the quality starts diminishing. It never fails. I got tired of that, [and now I] go to these countries and get my own tobacco. Then we don’t have to worry about the quality.

Will you pass this business down to your children? Yes, I would. I have bigger aspirations for them, but I would definitely, if they are comfortable doing it. I tell them, “Work hard. ... When you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.” Ω

08.02.12

SN&R