What can you do with a cowboy boot, a hand saw, some metal pipes and string? A whole lot says Mike Silverman, performing as That 1 Guy on Thursday at Beatnik Studios. Don't miss your chance to see this one man band and his invention, The Magic Pipe. Silverman, who grew up in the Bay Area, was introduced to music by his father's vintage stand-up bass. He says he remembers banging on it until he could reproduce sounds he liked. The instrument and being "in the right place at the right time" to his present career. That 1 Guy has performed internationally and has large fan bases in places such as Europe and Australia, as well as the United States. He plays annually at the Woodford Folk Festi

A winter storm carrying wind gusts up to 60 mph and heavy rain pounded the Sacramento region Wednesday, cutting power to more than 50,000 people, knocking down dozens of trees and causing minor street flooding. Most of the outages were scattered in small pockets with small numbers of customers per outage. The highest number of outages was 370 at the storm's peak, which occurred between about 9 and 10 a.m., said Chris Capra, spokesperson for Sacramento Municipal Utility District. The storm didn't cause nearly the amount of power outages as the biggest storm in October, when thousands of outages occurred, Capra said. The lack of leaves on trees at this time of year helped; there wasn't a s

I never really understood it before, but to live in Sacramento is to be surrounded by water.  That may sound ludicrous, but I have lived here most of my life, spent a lot of time by the water, but not until I saw more of the world did I understand how much water is a part of where I grew up.  The water around here either collects or seeps or flows into our space, and can be seen all around town and really anywhere in the region.  So I like water, I like spending time by it.  Even when I am out in a high desert, I will find water to be near.  Here in town, I will spend a lot of time by the water on a bicycle, fishing, or just standing. Lately, as I have been bicycle commuting, I have notic

How donations are helping relief efforts:   Latest update from the American Red Cross Disaster Newsroom: * This is already the largest single-country personnel deployment in global Red Cross history. The number of emergency response teams in or en route to Haiti equals those that responded to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami – an emergency that spanned 14 countries. * It is clear that what took minutes to destroy will take many years and the collective support from governments and relief agencies across the world to help mend. The American Red Cross is working in close coordination with other responding organizations and will undoubtedly collaborate on joint, long-term recovery project

The following is the latest on the City of Sacramento Department of Transportation's response during today's storm. We are in the process of closing Raley Boulevard between Santa Ana Avenue & Vinci Avenue due to localized flooding over the roadway at Magpie Creek. We will monitor through the night and reopen as soon as water recedes. There do not appear to be any problems at this time with our creeks and waterways. Staff responded to turned signal heads at nine intersections today, six intersections on flash, four intersections that lost power, and two street lights knocked down by falling trees. These should be addressed by the end of today. Weather conditions are subsiding for now. U

Having set dozens of appointments with state assembly members and senators, the Sacramento Metro Chamber calls for the region’s business and civic leaders to join up for the annual State Legislative Summit, Wednesday, Jan. 27, as the Metro Chamber will lead a regional advocacy effort focused on increasing jobs in the region by advocating for policies that will help employers and workforce expand in the coming years. “All business—every sector and every size—needs access to our State House,” said Matthew Mahood, president & CEO. “We encourage business to take advantage of this once-a-year opportunity. The Metro Chamber is advocating for critical issues important to jobs and business in our

"That's the thanks I get?" could be going through this Sacramento City worker's mind when a car sprays him as he tries to unclog a drain at Freeport and 10th in front of The Crepe Escape. In my journeys around Downtown, East Sac and Land Park, it looks like we emerged relatilvely unscathed. A worker prepares to cut a big limb (below) at the corner of N and 23rd this morning, perhaps as preventive maintenance. I caught news blurbs of a tree that fell on a house in Fair Oaks and of a Southwest flight from Sacramento being struck by lightning in southern California.There are scattered power outages in the area, (good for restaurants), and a potential for blizzard conditions in the Sierra. As

  According to Jewish tradition, the highest form of tzedakah, or charity, is to donate to a community fund, or kupah. Whether your donation is in the form of community service hours, survival materials or a monetary donation, it all helps to strengthen and build our community at large.   The Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region, and their overseas beneficiaries, work with a broad set of national and international institutes that span the world to provide relief, rescue, and reconstruction. The federation system is dedicated to inspiring community members to secure the financial and human resources necessary to achieve the mission of caring for those in need, without discrimination

The second workshop we have scheduled for January is a media discussion with the co-founders of Sacramento Press, Ben Ilfeld and Geoff Samek. This workshop will give you the opportunity to meet the co-founders of Sacramento Press, hear them discuss the future of media in their eyes, and ask them any questions you may have about the site, online news, etc. The workshop will be at the Sacramento Press office on Monday, Jan. 25 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Our office is located at 431 I St., Suite 107 in the Amtrak station. We are in the same building complex as Starbucks. If you are facing Starbucks, go around the building to the left and you'll see our Sac Press sign out front. We recommend you f

In response to the recent 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti, the United States has reacted quickly to raise funds and send assistance. There are organizations across the country providing assistance and Sacramentans are also responding quickly to the devastated country's call for help. On Friday, Jan. 15 Sutter Health Systems announced that it will be donating $1.25 million to Haiti relief. The majority ($1 million) of the donation will go towards Doctors Without Borders and the rest will be used to fund medical supplies and fill cargo boxes with supplies. Another large company, has made it easy for customers to donate by setting up collection boxes at check stands throughout the company

The Sacramento City Council likes the idea of an ethics commission. Councilmembers decided Tuesday to examine possibilities for a future ethics committee. The proposal to research ideas for an ethics commission came from the city’s Charter Review Committee. Councilman Kevin McCarty said in a message after the meeting that he had suggested that the Charter Review Committee analyze ideas for an ethics commission. Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy spoke in favor of the idea, saying that an ethics committee would be a way to ensure “sunshine and bright light.” *** Underground tours in Old Sacramento are likely on the horizon. The City Council unanimously decided Tuesday to loan the Historic Old

Fishing, hunting, camping, hiking or hang-gliding, the International Sportsmen's Exposition will have it all this weekend at Cal Expo. Exhibits and demonstrations will stretch four buildings, as hands-on activities cover outside. Casting competitions and fishing tournaments will be available. Casting tarps stretched 100 feet across the floor of building C, will provide the forum for fellow anglers. A large fish-filledaquarium will be featured for live demonstrations. Prizes include new fishing equipment. Clinics with professional anglers and hunters will be held for the home amateur to learn tricks of the trade. Classes include camouflage, duck calls and hunting laws. DockDogs will perfo

After leaving sports writing, journalist and author Mitch Albom truly found his niche. His first foray into the non-sports world was the book "Tuesdays with Morrie," the best-selling memoir of all time. "Tuesdays with Morrie," which recounts Albom's conversations with his former sociology professor who is dying of Lou Gherig's Disease, was subsequently adapted into an Emmy Award-winning television movie as well as a play. Wednesday, the Sacramento Theatre Company will begin staging its run of the Albom-penned play of the same name. The idea for the book first came to Albom after seeing Nightline's Ted Koppel interviewing Morrie Schwartz, his former professor at Brandeis University. After

FOR ALL WHO MISSED OR REQUESTED THE SHOW AGAIN, THIS IS FOR YOU! Fascinating and Dramatically Compelling, this Eloquent Play depicts the supposed Meeting of two of the most important men of modern times: Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Differing in their Philosophies, but alike in their mutual respect, the two men debate their varying approaches to the same grave Social problems, both prepared to die for their beliefs but neither aware of how soon their assassins’ bullets would await them. The story takes place in a suite high up in a Harlem Hotel room where Malcolm X and his bodyguard Rashad are resting before Malcolm X’s fateful speech at the Audubon Ballroom. Malcolm X has r

Denver's mayor was in town Tuesday to talk about downtown arenas and the need for strong mayors — two subjects close to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson's heart. Building an arena downtown could help reinvigorate Sacramento's core, if the success of Colorado's capital city is an indication, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper said during the Downtown Sacramento Partnership's annual State of Downtown Breakfast. Last week, would-be Sacramento arena developers outlined seven proposals for a new "sports and entertainment center" in response to Johnson's request for such proposals. All but two were proposed to be built downtown. The same day, a Sacramento Superior Court judge issued a tentative ruli

A proposed measure to fund jobs and other services for young people in Sacramento is being supported by a coalition of labor and religious groups and some local elected officials. A $29 annual tax on parcels of property in the city would be set up to pay for programs provided through Youth Jobs and Opportunity Act. Property owners would be charged the tax. The proposed initiative could appear on the November ballot. Supporters say they intend to collect 30,000 signatures from residents. Proponents say several kinds of programs could be funded through the program, including after-school programs, apprenticeships and street outreach services. Groups supporting the proposal include the Yes

Late night talk show host Conan O'Brien's career dilemma following his role as "Tonight Show" presenter at NBC may soon be solved -- with a job opportunity at KTXL FOX40. On the Wednesday edition of the morning news program "FOX40 Live," hosts Natalie Bomke, Joe Orlando, Rosemary Orozco and Paul Robins will extend a formal job offer to the former host of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and current host of NBC's "The Tonight Show." "We're totally serious," said FOX40 news director Brandon Mercer. "We're hiring producers anyway, and he's one of the most creative guys in the business." "We are always looking for the best available talent," FOX40 general manager Bob Ramsey said. "There has

 SCUSD budget gap grows by $10 million School district facing eighth year of reductions   Story By Maria L. Lopez Photo by BigEducationApe.blogspot.com Surveys by K12 Insight Sacramento City Unified School Superintendent Jonathan P. Raymond announced today that the district will need to reduce its 2010-11 general fund budget by $28 to $30 million. The projection was readjusted after review of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget proposals. Raymond said the district had expected to trim $18 million from next year’s budget but revised the estimate after the Governor’s proposals were released. Raymond said that since 2002-03, SCUSD has cut more than $144 million from its budget. “W

Rob Turner, co-editor of Sactown Magazine, wrote what I found to be a truly inspired back page article in the Magazine's sixteen issue. So aptly titled "Meals on Wheels,"  the one-pager succintcly broke down the issue, the barriers, and the plan for allowing mobile food vendors to roam the streets of Sacramento.  Personally, I have read the city ordinances but I still cannot quite understand the reasoning that prohibits such glorious eating establishments from taking root in our fine city.  (Perhaps you can, so be it, but I really think we're missing out.)  I chose to heed Rob Turner's advice and write to city council member and Vice Mayor Steve Cohn (as well as the editors of SacTown Maga

The Harlem Globetrotters made a stop in Sacramento Monday as part of its "2010 'Magical Memories' World Tour." They wowed the thousands of fans at ARCO Arena and faced its long-time rival Washington Generals, but the game was only part of the show. The team's dancing, antics, and fan participation showed that the Globetrotters are more than high-flying dunks and spectacular passes. It's also about entertainment. "That's the best part of it all," Firefly Fisher said about making fans smile. "It's entertainment, plus basketball and you put those two together, it's fun." The Cordero family experienced the fun first-hand when Laurie and Tim were invited onto the court, while their son, Tyl