Festivals and Events

Sacramento Artists Council's speakeasy fundraiser

2013-05-22T06:01:42Z

Guys and dolls dressed in Prohibition-era attire attended Sacramento Artists Council's Speakeasy Fundraiser at the Antiquite Maison Privee on Saturday, May 18.

The fun-filled event included casino-style gambling for guests. Winnings could be used to purchase art donations scattered throughout the Antiquite Maison Privee's main entrance room.

The Sacramento Artists Council continues to support local artists, musicians and others through fundraisers such as the annual masquerade. This year, the SAC celebrated the 3rd Annual Masquerade Gala/Speakeasy Fundraiser and raised several thousand dollars to keep music and art in local schools (the final tally is not yet complete).

Spiffy dealers managed a blackjack, craps and roulette table where gamblers tried their luck. The Monte Carlo-style games were popular throughout the evening, and several guests were glued to the tables.

Many donated gift certificates were given out as guests played a fishing game.

James Cagney made a special appearance as a gangster in a Prohibition-era movie that played on the stage wall.

The juice joint was quite active and became a bit livelier as the Twilight Drifters came to the stage. The Sacramento band plays several different types of music and showcased their talents as they played swing and rockabilly sounds for the flappers and their partners to enjoy.

This year's event was different than the previous two masquerades. “This year we have a lot more activities going on. Instead of having a sit-down elegant feel we want people up and having fun,” said SAC’s founder and executive director, Susan Rabinovitz.

Proceeds from the fundraiser, Rabinovitz indicated, will help adopt art programs in local schools. “We want to make this fun and special while people are spending money and help support this charity event,” shared Rabinovitz.

Over 100 pieces of art as well as gift certificates from local businesses were donated for the fundraiser. Rabinovitz was thankful for and amazed by the show of support from artists and local businesses. “Actually it's been overwhelming,” she said.

Rabinovitz wanted to also acknowledge Dad's Kitchen, who partnered with SAC to supply food for the event. Speakeasy Ales & Lagers and 21st Amendment Brewery donated their specialty beers for the event.

Besides supporting local artists, SAC also helps with scholarships for high school seniors, and works to keep art alive in public education through its Adopt-A-School Art/Music Program. Log on to their webpage for more information about the organization and future events.

Créateur designs, hair and makeup

2013-05-15T19:23:55Z

This month's Second Saturday Art Walk in Midtown included a Créateur Hair and Fashion press party show at Hot Italian.

The fashion affair was a mixer to present the work of fashion, hair and makeup artists Yennie Zhou, Nikki Tran and Ling Chan. The mixer also served to introduce the upcoming May 18 Créateur Hair and Fashion Show.

Two models wearing Zhou's designs showcased not only her designs but also the artistry of the “Nikki+Ling” collaboration. The pairing will be featuring futuristic designs, fantasy hair and makeup at Friday's fashion show.

Several representatives, designers and photographers from Sacramento Fashion Week attended the mixer. A video showing the much anticipated, and recently released, 2013 Sacramento Fashion Show on DVD played in the background.

At the event, Duane Ram, representing DMR Productions shared that designer Saul Latvanen might be featuring his men's collection at the event. That information was confirmed on Monday.

The Créateur Hair and Fashion show will be held at the Marriott Courtyard located at 1782 Tribute Road. The event will include a fashion show and a fantasy hair and makeup quick demo. Designers will also be available for a meet and greet where guests will have the unique opportunity to learn more about the hair, makeup and fashion designers.

Tickets are still available for the May 18 event but are expected to sell out. Log on to the Créateur Hair and Fashion Show for further details.

Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up.

4th Annual Vida de Oro Folk Art Festival

2013-05-15T06:45:41Z

Families enjoyed a Mother's Day celebration at the 4th Annual Vida de Oro Folk Art Festival. The festival was held at the Good: Street Food + Design Market building located at 1409 Del Paso Blvd.

Vida de Oro (which means “golden life”) was a free, family-friendly event held Saturday, May 11. This was the first year that the event was held at this venue.

Artists, vendors and performers were on hand to help celebrate the event.

The Good warehouse building has a high ceiling, and for most of the day it helped keep things somewhat cool, bringing relief from the hot weather. Delicious food and drinks were sold at the back of the building, providing a picnic-type setting.

Vendors and artists offered merchandise suitable for collection, and visitors looking for a Mother's Day present had many delightful choices.

Children watched performances and participated in hands-on activities. Angela James had a table to sell handmade musical instruments used by her Fenix Drum and Dance Company. James also provided craft materials for children to create their own artwork.

Artist Rob-O had a couple tables set up for guests who wanted to create their own sugar skulls, enhancing the market experience for both young and old. Many of Rob-O's creations were in the same area, giving art collectors the opportunity to purchase his renowned traditional Dia de los Muertos art.

Two other well-known artists had tables next to each other. Both artists shared their art experience with guests. Felipe Dávalos, an artist and author whose work has been published by National Geographic, sat next to Juanishi V. Orosco, one of the founders of the Royal Chicano Air Force, aka Rebel Chicano Art Front.

Both internationally known artists remain busy. Dávalos has spent the past 15 years living in Sacramento. Orosco has spent most of his life in Sacramento and continues to create bigger-than-life-size murals.

Most Sacramentans have seen Orosco’s work and yet don’t know it. His art, along with the work of other RCAF members, can be seen at the Southside Park amphitheater. If you ever walk from Old Sacramento to the Downtown Mall Plaza and take the tunnel that connects them, then you have seen his work. Orosco and the RCAF created the colorful mural that lines the tunnel. When you exit the connecting tunnel, you’ll see other Orosco murals on the plaza walls.

Orosco shared that he became interested in art at an early age. “I remember when I was around 10 years old, my older brother used to draw cartoons and I wanted to draw like him. I would practice and practice until one day I was as good as he was,” said Orosco. His love for art continued, and he made it a life goal to learn as much as he could about art and artists. His influences include Diego Rivera, Michelangelo, Dali and others.

Orosco takes pride in his work and his face shows that as he speaks about his murals and growing up in the Sacramento area. Other murals he's created appear up and down the Western United States, from San Diego, to Idaho, to California and to a new project in Oregon. When asked what keeps him going he quickly and enthusiastically answered, “Murals!”

Since 1969 the RCAF art collective and Orosco have been a part of the Sacramento art scene and it's great to see artists as committed to their trade as he is. “I'm not as young as I once was but creating murals makes me feel young,” said Orosco.

Other artists and performers scheduled to attend included photographer Frederick Romero and Gillermina “Mina” Perez.

Performances during the event included dancers from the Miktlantekuhtli Azteca Dance Troupe, Ballet Folklórico de Beamer, Cheyenne Danner, Summer Lynn, Folklórico Latino de Woodland and the Yemaya Dance Troupe.

Other performers included trick roper, whip master and Vida de Oro Festival Promotions Director James Barrera. I have seen Barrera's rope and whip tricks at other venues, including the World Music Festival and Festival de la Familia.

Singers Arieana and Pete Vidales, Carlos Lastra, Rose and Cecelia Marin, and Melissa Cobian rounded off the wonderfully entertaining performances.

The festival allowed local artisans and performers from the Del Paso area the opportunity to showcase their work and show what's available in the community. The festival also gave out-of-town artists, performers and vendors the opportunity to feature their talent.

Vida de Oro, a nonprofit arts and publishing organization, put together a well-rounded event in this family-friendly venue. Festival founders Adrian and Mina Perez and Barrera continue to promote cultural arts and entertainment in Sacramento through events and their online publication.

Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up.

Fashion at Sacramento City College

2013-05-11T09:53:41Z

Vintage fashion costumes adorned the entrance to Sacramento City College's campus' Student Center. The SCC City Fashion Club presented an enchanting evening of fashion on Wednesday night, May 8.

The Spring 2013 Fashion Show featured a classwork runway and designs by seven student designers.

Excitement and anticipation were apparent backstage as models and designers worked on last-minute details. Also backstage were beauty and esthetician school representatives from Paul Mitchell.

Faculty members Lynne Giovannetti and Jean Winchell represented the fashion club and managed the activity backstage and at the door.

Giovannetti, Applied Apparel Studies Program professor, shared some information on the City Fashion Club. “The club is open to students throughout the campus. You don't have to be a fashion student to be a member,” said Giovannetti and continued, “They have a faculty advisor who is Jean Winchell.”

Giovannetti indicated that the club's aim is to have a showing at the end of every semester. The shows' goal is to show what students learn in beginning to advanced classes during the semester of the showing. “In December we'll do another show, so we'll have something for every semester and the fashion club will be the ones who put it on.”

SCC offers several associate degrees and certificates for students wishing to study the different aspects of the fashion industry.

In order to keep up with vintage and current trends, Giovannetti said, “Our fashion program has been around for over 40 years. It just keeps changing. It changes to conform to the industry around every five years. We take a good look at the program and then we retool all the degrees and courses to match what's going on in the industry so we stay up to date.”

Winchell, an adjunct professor who teaches stretch fashion courses and is a figure skating costume designer, quoted the club's mission: “to share our love of fashion with the world in order to create a fashion-conscious campus where you can feel free to be daring and shock the halls with your fashion!”

Many of the concepts learned in stretch classes, Winchell noted, went into the design and construction of the fashion showed.

Winchell's enthusiasm was apparent as she described new equipment used at SCC. “We just got some new sergers about a year ago so that every student has the opportunity to sit down with an exceptional sewing machine,” said Winchell. She continued, “Getting these sergers was very fortunate, the students are going crazy. The one thing that this program really teaches is that the students here are taught to design and then construct the complete project.”

Once on the runway, student designers exhibited their passion as models paraded beautifully constructed fashion.

Student designers Crystal Gill, Sinan Dunlap, Temperance Bonner, Marcy Millet, KB Yang, Kaysy Xaynhalath, Ulysses Gonzalez and the fashion department classwork showcased an array of designs.

The Spring Fashion Show included fashion for men, women and children. Imaginative formal; casual, activewear; wedding; and urban styles graced the runway.

Each designer showcased their passion for fashion and incorporated what they've learned at SCC, while their individual creativity brought their designs to life and the delight of the audience. The City Fashion Club will soon be preparing for a show in December 2013.

Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up.

Kaleidoscope fashion

2013-05-08T22:50:56Z

Psychedelic forms viewed through a kaleidoscope have fascinated me since childhood. With kaleidoscope images in the back of my mind I attended the American River College “Kaleidoscope 2013” fashion show held on May 3.

The American River College's 12th Annual Fashion Show brought 12 student designers to the campus' Black Box Theater stage for three showings. The air conditioned theater also served as a relief from the heat outside.

Stunning children, men and women's designs captivated the audience during each of the three fashion runway shows.

A production with so many designers and shows had to have many volunteers to make things move smoothly. ARC students and faculty worked hard to accomplish this as they worked backstage, on and offstage. Many of the volunteers, designers and models had only a few hours of sleep the night before, and many had been on campus since 7 a.m.

After the first runway show, Joanna Durkee, one of the show directors, shared a few thoughts about the fashion show. “The first show I think went well,” said Durkee as she prepared for the second show.

“The designers showed really well. It was very eclectic as it included children's, evening, resort and elegant fashion. You had something from every style,” continued Durkee. The show director also has experience as a designer and has participated at various fashion shows in Sacramento including including this year's Sacramento Fashion Week with her Niv Elliot line.

When asked about challenges and rewards for the ARC fashion show Durkee said, “I think the biggest challenge is the amount of people I have to work with because we have 100 models, 12 designers and three shows you have to organize. The most fun I've experienced is seeing it in person. Before the first show I was really nervous but as soon as the first set of girls hit the runway things changed. Everything came together and it was great, the music worked well and the outfits looked fantastic.”

Besides the 12 designers who showcased their talent, alumnus guest designer Michael Kouri was invited to share his “Forever Yours” line shown at this year's Sacramento Fashion Week. Ruchi Shah provided accessories for Kouri's line.

Kouri's dramatic designs set the stage as each ARC designer showed four or more pieces during their runway show.

A panel of judges was on hand for the early show and collaborated to vote in several categories. As they watched the morning runway show they could be seen talking to each other as each of the designers showcased their line. Before the second showing they also had a chance to speak with each of the designers.

Carolyn Keys' “Lil Madam” collection was the only children's line on exhibit. Adorable little girls walked down the runway in beautiful floral-patterned dresses. Wearing their “Sunday best” the little models drew audible compliments from the audience. The boy escorts stepped back slightly allowing the “Lil Madam” collection models to pose and show a true kaleidoscope display.

Each designer was inspired by different elements, styles and eras. Alexandra Kastner's showed her debut collection “Mod Me Up.” The collection was inspired by the '60s boxy mod look. The Brazilian native showed six bright one and two-piece outfits to showcase her talent.

Lisbeth Contreras showed a collection of day and evening casual wear. Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Contreras' collection was simple yet elegant, contemporary yet vintage, creating a diversified look.

Bright floral patterns adorned most of Svetlana Nalobina's “A Step Into Summer” collection. Nalobina's '70s inspired collection encompassed that decade's retro style look. The Russian native used bold floral prints to embellish each of her designs, creating a sophisticated style.

Tiffany Hagewood's “Mod-ish” brought five sleeveless one-piece dresses to the runway. Inspired by the '60s London Mod movement Hagewood's black, white and teal collection was quite enticing. Her vintage collection included contemporary touches giving the always stylish '60s an update for today's look.

The audience was thrilled to see Venice Ousley's collection “Incogneetah” as Michael Jackson's song “Thriller” was used to introduce her line. Ousley's alluring collection contained camouflage and cheetah prints. These elements, along with bright black and red colors, created a seductive look.

“Gods and Monsters” by Syu Martin brought a dark beauty to the stage. Martin's designs showcased her conspicuous Gothic Lolita style that separated her collection from most others. Martin's “You can be beautiful on the outside but be a monster inside” collection had the Japanese fashion pop-culture style that has become popular with today's youth. Martin's Prince Noir collection has won awards at the SacAnime fashion shows.

With 26 years of fashion construction and design experience, AnHa Tran showcased her colorful collection “Break Away.” Tran's collection, with its many colorful garments, reminded me of birds of paradise. Her elegant line was beautifully accentuated with very colorful and fashionable headwear and accessories.

The only men's collection showcased at the Kaleidoscope Fashion Show belonged to designer Saul Latvanen. Entitled “The Same Boy You've Always Known," Latvanen's designs were elegantly edgy and high-end couture Latvanen displayed a collection at last year's ARC fashion show and two of his garments from that show were displayed on last Saturday's red carpet. He also participated in last year's Sacramento Fashion Week.

Having met Latvanen before, I remembered he had mentioned he was going to be working on a men's line, and that this was the first time he'd shown a full men's collection. “My inspiration was 'The Same Boy You've Always Known' which is a new menswear fashion style but with different fabrics. For example, the models will be wearing lace, which is a feminine fabric but in this case I'm making it very masculine at the same time,” said Latvanen as he described his collection. The designer ended by saying, “Technically the collection is 1970s inspired while at the same time exhibiting an edgier couture men style..”

Dure Arshad’s “Diamonds in the Sky” collection brought a set of sleeveless and beautifully stylish wear to the runway. The collection of dresses ranged from outfits that could be work for a night on the town or to a formal event. Ar shad’s couture collection was very feminine, elegant and included meticulous patterns on each dress.

“La Beaute” was Helen Romero's line. The Romero collection was inspired by a Victorian elegance combined with a modern look. The black and white collection included fine and precise detail. Romero's designs were accentuated with precise hand stitching on her collection.

Kristin Huss brought delightful splendor to the stage with her “Echos of Morning” collection, inspired by the tragic loss of her mother to cancer. Huss wanted to create something beautiful in her honor. Huss' beautiful form-fitting collection was brilliant and paid honorable homage to her mom.

Kaleidoscope fashion

2013-05-03T09:14:14Z

American River College's Fashion Department will hold a gala fashion show this Friday, May 3.

Up-and-coming designers will be featuring creative fashion for women, men and children.

The 12th Annual Fashion Show will feature 12 designers with unique collections. Designers have been preparing for the show since before a casting call that took place in early April.

The May 3 event has three fashion shows and each shows differs in price depending on the time of the event. Show times are 11 a.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Student discounts apply for a limited time. A note from the ARC Facebook shows a discount code for ARC students when they use promo code: ARCSTUDENT.

The spring show is called “Kaleidoscope.” Designers showcasing their fashionable wear and their collection will be:

Dure Arshad, Collection: “Cloudwalk”
Lisbeth Conteras, Collection: “Wonderland”
Tiffany Hagewood, Collection:: ”(to be named)”
Kristen Huss, Collection: “Echos of Mom”
Alexandra Kastner, Collection: “Mod Me Up”
Carolyn Keys, Collection: “Lil Madam”
Syu Martin, Collection: ”Gods & Monsters”
Svetlana Nalobina, Collection: “(to be named)”
Venice Ousley, Collection: “Incognita”
Saul Ramirez, Collection: “The Same Boy You’ve Always Known”
Helen Romero, Collection: “La Beaute”
Anha Tran, Collection: “Resilience The Courage to Come Back”

Several of these designers have experience showing their lines at different venues.

ARC recently announced that alum designer Nolan Kouri (aka Michael Kouri) would also be presenting a special collection. The Kouri collection will feature accessories by local designer Ruchi Shah. A Kouri collection was featured at this year's Sacramento Fashion Week.

ARC is located at 4700 College Oak Drive and parking will be available in Lot D. Log on to the ARC website and their Facebook page to learn more about the event.

Mural unveiling at Rio Americano High School

2013-05-02T06:24:59Z

Paul Valéry, the French writer, poet and philosopher, once said, “An artist never really finishes his work, he merely abandons it.” Those words exemplify the process that took place over a three-year period to create a mural at Rio Americano High School.

On Tuesday night, April 30, the unveiling of the completed mural took place at Rio's band building.

The high school's “Rio Music” project commenced in 2010 with the sponsorship and support of the Sacramento River Cats and the Rio Band Boosters.

Artist Markos Egure was commissioned for the project, which proceeded in three different phases. Egure's other artistic work can be seen at various sites in the Sacramento area. Egure, and the company he founded, Wes Kos Images, have been creating projects in the Sacramento area since the company was established in 1997.

The Rio Music Project Mural unveiling and celebration included wonderful music by three young talented musicians.

A couple dozen supporters were on hand as they enjoyed the soothing sounds performed by the Rio trio.

The Rio Americano Band Program directors, Josh Murray and Max Kiesner, were also on hand to meet and greet visitors.

Murray addressed the crowd, thanking them for being at the event. Murray indicated the school had been built around 1965, and at the time was just going to be a temporary campus. “It was only supposed to be here 10-15 years, so they weren't thinking about aesthetics,” said Murray as he explained the mural project.

The idea of doing a mural was tossed around. “We wanted people to see the mural when they came to the school,” said Murray, and continued, “It would be the first thing they would see and notice that music is important and that it could be a source of pride for the whole school, for the community, for every kid that walks through this door.”

Murray also shared that after the decision was made to create a mural, the artist was found via a Google search, resulting in the selection of Egure, although his name did not pop up on the first page.

When Egure addressed the crowd, he talked about the process of beginning the mural in 2010. The artist gave some reasons for doing the project, and noted that the most important reason turned out to be the students, the future talent that practiced and played in the building.

“Overall the mural took one year and one week over three years’ time,” noted Egure, who said he was already looking at the other walls of the building. Egure's donated project took a lot of his time, but he noted that he does this type of work as part of giving back and being involved in community art. Egure has created 28 murals in schools he's been associated with and has donated 22 projects as part of giving back to the community.

As you drive into the Rio Americano campus, located at 4540 American River Dr., the band building is indeed the first thing that grabs you attention.

Egure has several other projects in the works. Beginning this summer, he will start on a mural at the YMCA, and also shared that he will be featured on a “Yard Crashers” episode in May or June of 2013.

Midtown Art Walk

2013-04-26T00:46:00Z

April's Second Saturday Art Walk drew the highest attendance of the year. More visitors and vendors enjoyed warmer weather as they visited the various art galleries and events in Midtown.

Sacramento law enforcement made its presence known as they patrolled Midtown on foot, bicycle, horseback, patrol car and I even saw a helicopter flying in the 20th and J Street area,

The added security made some people feel safer. “I like to see the police out here. I've heard about people getting robbed and assaulted the past few months around here and I do feel safer walking the streets,” said Grant Martin. Other people walking with Martin's agreed with his comments as they nodded.

20th Street between J and K had plenty of activity. War protestors occupied the corner of 20th and J streets. Live jazz music played at the Entertainment Plaza in front of the MARRS building. The art of John Huerta also graced the area and both activities brought plenty of shoppers and on-lookers to the street.

Vendors usually occupy the alley area between J and K streets behind The Depot bar but it had been empty the past few months. Many returned to sell their specialties this month. Across the street, the always busy, LowBrau hosted the largest crown on the block.

I made a list of places to visit during Second Saturday. One of the galleries I wanted to stop at was the Gallery 2110 and The Sacramento Art Complex located at 2110 K Street. This was the first time in several months that I had visited the gallery and noticed right away that many of the previous artists had moved out and new artists had taken up residence.

The Main Gallery at Gallery 2110 featured the art of Susan Ballenger. Ballenger's paintings and drawings of farm equipment and old rusty engines showcased the artist's perspective on Americana artifacts. The rustic and vibrant colors drew my attention which in turn made me inspect each piece of art closer as I marveled at the details.

An artist reception allowed invited guests to visit the complex before it was opened to the Second Saturday crowd.

The Sculpture Garden patio in the back exhibited three dimensional art and the Loft Gallery, on the second floor, showcased the work of Jenny Long.

Several of the resident artists were on hand to meet and greet visitors to the art complex.

Another place I planned to visit was the Spanish Fly Hair Garage to view their promoted live music, fashion show, art, tattoo and body piercing demos. “Fly Fest” as the event was tagged had many guests in the front salon where a fashion runway had been set up.

When I arrived, the patio in between the salon and the back room was overflowing with guests and Ghost Parade played in the back room.

Since no tattoo or body piercing demos took place when I arrived I decided to return later for the fashion show.

More protestors could be seen on the corner of 16th and J streets in front of the Memorial Auditorium. These protestors stood in unity calling for gun reform and to protest the sale of assault weapons.

Music coming from Barber's Shop Automotive grabbed my attention and noticed several people admiring cars parked in front of the shop. The new Fiat 500 along with other vehicles were stationed in front of the garage while the Bathtub Gins played inside to an intimate crowd.

The Bathtub Gins can be seen playing on many Second Saturdays at the Alfa Romeo garage.

Making my way back to “Fly Fest” I arrived in time to catch Daniel Osterhoff aka DJ Whores, spinning some of his mixes while Casey Inkdup Lewis set up his drum set.

A fashion show soon followed and was repeated later in the evening. Hair and makeup for the fashion show was done by Spanish Fly and its sister salons Maverique Style House and Crushed VLVT. Krazy Mary's Boutique provided the outfits.

I stayed to watch Diamond Dez perform while Lewis played the drums. As Diamond Dez performed a little girl from the audience stood up and joined Dez on stage showing her dancing abilities that delighted the audience.

The audience at the Spanish Fly Hair Garage increased as the evening continued and other performances took place.

I had one more place to visit on my list. I made my way to Courtney Cuts on 9th and K near the KBar where a friend had some artwork on display. The salon unfortunately closed before 9 pm.

The Art Walk was exhausting but there is always so much to see and experience in Midtown during Second Saturday. If you're looking for places to visit during the monthly Art Walk, Sacramento Press and Sacramento News & Review publish several suggested events in Midtown a few days before each Second Saturday.

Aztec dance ritual at Southside Park

2013-04-24T22:45:26Z

Sacramento's outdoor festivals and events increase during the spring and summer. The Xipe Colores Ceremony is one of these festivities that has been celebrated for the past 37 years.

The annual ceremony recently took place once again at Southside Park. The April 13 event began a little later than expected but brought a good size crowd of supporters to the event.

The Xipe Colores Ceremony was organized by the Maquilli Tonatiuh Aztec Dancers and dancers from Kalpulli Itzkuauhtli also participated.

Xipe Totec was, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Aztec god of spring and new vegetation and also the patron of goldsmiths.

The Xipe Colores Ceremony held at Southside Park celebrated the beginning of spring and honors children.

The celebration area was roped off for a dance and cleansing ritual. A series of drums stood in the middle among ornate incense holders and other items.

The ceremony paying homage to springtime, regrowth and children was very colorful. Dancers created music as they walked with “Codo de Flailer” (ayoyote-seeded) ankle bands. Other instruments made from these seeds were carried by other dancers.

The weather was rather hot during the ceremonial dances and little or no shade fell on the ritual area. Once the drumming began the colorful and frantic dancing began and continued for hours with a few seconds rest in between dances.

The exhausting dance is full of symbolism celebrating life.

“The celebration has slightly deviated from its roots and now we mostly celebrate the beginning of spring. The ceremony is performed in expectation of a bountiful harvest for farmers, “said Salvador Poulos. The nearby resident continued, “Now the ritual of honoring Xipe Totec is celebrated, as I understand it, in the 'Danza de los Voladores' (Dance of the Flyers).”

The Xipe Colores Ceremony returns next year and will continue to be held at Southside Park. Visit the Maquilli Tonatiuh Aztec Dancers and Kalpulli Itzkuauhtli Facebook pages to view other upcoming events.

Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up.

ZuhG music, ZuhG Life

2013-04-20T05:46:56Z

ZuhG is a band with deep roots in Sacramento. They have been described as unique, energetic, funky, lively and above all, fun to watch live. ZuhG is a band that moves audiences to their feet and inspires them to move to their beats and to dance.

The talented musicians that make up ZuhG are not afraid to experiment with different types of music and do things differently. They have played most of Sacramento's venues and venture out to spread their brand of music as they constantly tour.

Although reggae continues to be what most fans enjoy when they watch ZuhG play, the band continues to experiment with different music genres, including folk music. Their last CD was “Calm & Clear,” a folksy album released on March 30, 2013.

ZuhG opened ZuhG Life in the Sacramento Downtown Plaza in 2010. The store sells art, clothing, jewelry and music by local artists, and is located near the food court on the second floor of the mall. It was at the store that I met Bryan Nichols, who talked about the ZuhG Life, ZuhG the band and other topics.

Describing ZuhG music:

My auto response answer to that is usually; funky, reggae jam music. You know people ask that a lot. My guitar player will say rock ‘n’ roll right away. I'll say funky, reggae, jam and then on the flip side of that we just released a somewhat folk music record. We like to dabble in several elements.

On the current ZuhG lineup:

It changes quite a bit you know. We've been on a couple of national tours that are like a month long and whatnot and it's not for everybody so sometimes we come home and someone says, “I don't want to do that anymore.” So the lineup has changed a lot over the years but it's always been me, Charlie (Wheeler) and JR (Halliday), the guitar player. Right now we got a guy name Joe (Arrington) on the drums. Jesi Naomi doing vocals. We got Shawn Tindell who just joined us recently on the bass. He used to be in a band called Monkey Flower and now he's our bassist because they had their last show a while back.

We've had from five and up to 10 onstage.

On coordinating tours and picking up other players:

When we're finally ready to go on a tour we find the musicians and people in our band that are for sure able to go. In case we have something like if a drummer can't go we'll get a different drummer. All members are from Sacramento and they all live in Sacramento.

On playing Concerts in the Park this summer:

This will be the second time we're playing Concerts in the Park. The first one we played was last year. We got to headline and we have another one on July 12 and we'll get to headline that one again.

Other projects:

Other big events coming up? We have a lot of festivals all summer long. Some big ones I'd like to point out we have Cosmic Family Gathering which we help organize. It's up in Placerville and it's a three-day festival, May 17 through 19, with a lot of local bands and some out-of-town bands as well.

We're doing that and then another big project is a Dr. Dre Tribute concert project. It's members of ZuhG, guitar players and bass players and then we have a bunch of Sacramento rappers doing the rapping. So it's like a live band-Dr. Dre thing which is super fun. It's fun to play hip-hop music.

On the 19th we're playing in Chico but the big one is the show on the 20th. We're doing a 420 show at the Assembly (Sacramento). It's new venue, the Assembly on K Street. Some big names will be going trough there. It's bigger than Harlow's a little smaller than Ace of Spades.

Special things about touring:

There's a lot of things to look forward to when touring. Just getting out of town and out of your house and just being out on the road and being in a different town every day it's just a lot of fun. It's like there's not a lot going on when you're driving all the way from one town to another but at the same time it's entertaining and it's fun. So yeah just being in a different town every day, playing for new people, meeting new people every day it's just a lot of fun and people are usually pretty responsive and supportive. We get to hang out with a lot of new people so I think it's great.

On drawing inspiration and motivation:

Lots of things inspire and motivate you know. Musicians that I look up to inspire me. We watch as much music as we can when we're not performing. We watch bands that have just been killing it and it's inspirational just because they're so talented. That's what inspires me just the musicians that are better than me.

On jamming:

We do have some songs that are live that end up being 10-15 minutes long for sure and yeah a lot of that depends on the crowd. If they're feeling it and we're having a dance party and it's keeping you going then we'll go for a while, and if they're not then we might end early. We don't practice elongated improv jams really. We don't get together and practice where we practice the parts and transitions and the core of the song any live improv or extension is unrehearsed which makes it fun and different every time.

Regarding the Kings possibly building a new arena where the mall stands:

Rumor has it that if the arena is built here, yes most of the mall will be I guess torn down and turned into an arena.

I've accepted both outcomes. If it doesn't come here and we have the opportunity to stay in the mall longer, I'll do that and I'll be happy to do that. It's been fun working at the store and it's been a good thing for local musicians and everybody. On the flip side of that if we have to close because the new arena comes I'm excited to see what I'll do with all my free time that I would have. I'm here six days a week and my other band member Charlie is also here five to six days a week and we have some other friends who help. With the amount of work I do I'd just have so much free time so you know I'm interested on starting a record label with all the connections we've made. So we have other projects in mind to occupy my time with and this is rewarding. It would be fun to do something with other local music artists.

So, if the store closes I'd have to look at other things. Right now I'm trying to buy a house with my guitar player JR and we have dreams of building a recording studio. After that maybe starting a record label you know. I would enjoy recording bands, booking them tours, printing out CDs for them.

Regarding the ZuhG Life store:

We've been open two-and-a-half years. We had a grand opening on November 13, 2010.

The idea behind the store is definitely local. The original idea was to sell local music and be like a merch booth for all the local bands in Sacramento like ZuhG and bands that we work with and then that grew into other things.

I enjoy painting so when we started the store I was selling my paintings in here and then we had artists coming in here saying “Hey, can I sell my art here too?” So now we switch the art once a month and we have local clothing companies, local jewelry, anything that is Sacramento. People can just bring it in and if we like it we'll work with them.

This is just a local hub for anybody bringing in anything crafty you know what I mean? Or teaching music lessons out of the back room.

We also have live music on the stages outside. So yeah the concept has always been the same but it's grown a lot since the early days.

On ZuhG Life and what would happen to Nichols and other vendors:

The revenue here isn't huge, we just pay the bills. I work for free, anybody that works here works for free, we're happy to do it but because a lot of the items are consignment.

Where will they go after if we have to close? I don't know, I'm not saying that opening up another store is not an option, there's definitely that possibility. I'm not going to sell my fixtures and clothing racks I'd probably put them in the garage for a while and see if any location opportunities arise and if they do then it will be a serious thought to keep ZuhG Life going in a different location.

On live music at the Sacramento Downtown Plaza:

I actually had a job booking music before I owned my store so I was booking music for the mall and then after a while they asked me if I wanted to open up a store, a music store. They knew I taught guitar lessons at the time and there were some empty stores and they asked if I wanted to open up some kind of music, guitar or some kind of store and I thought about it. I went on tour to Oregon and told them I'd think about it.

When we came back I said yes and then came up with this idea. So we have two stages in the mall, upstairs and downstairs. We've been doing this for over three years now and I get a lot of touring bands which is cool because we meet a lot of great bands from all over the world and then we have a lot of locals. Right now we have live music every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

It's so cool that my day job is booking music for the mall, I'm very grateful to have this. It's what I like to do so it's not hard, I like my job.

On future goals:

We've always focused on playing festivals and that's a constant. You want to upgrade each time you start off at festivals; opening up and maybe getting a bad slot and hope maybe you get a better slot next year. This upcoming festival season is full of great slots and good festivals all over California so we're going to continue that push, keep playing the festival circuits and keep getting bigger and better at it.

We also have a guy who is going to book us a big tour again in the near future. We don't have the dates yet or even where but we just found out that he is indeed going to book a tour for us.

At the moment we’re concentrating on summer events. We're booked all the way to September now and then I have a festival called ZuhG Fest in October so I'm going to be busy with that and then we'll see what starts happening in 2014. It's crazy to even think about 2014, I feel like 2013 just got here.

Thoughts on recording “Calm & Clear”:

Every album is different but this last one “Calm & Clear” is an acoustic folksy album. We didn't originally have that idea. We were in the studio recording a normal funky rock ‘n’ roll ZuhG album. We recorded a couple of songs and I also recorded a couple of acoustic songs.

We go to the studio we go once or twice a month, we like to spread it out. We don't go like every day and try to pump out an album. We go like once or twice a month for 10-hour days. So anyway we had a couple of acoustic songs and then we started adding stuff to them and adding different things and after a while we're like “Yeah let's just record an acoustic album.”

JR and I just kept going to the recording studio and recording these acoustic songs that had been on the waiting list forever. We didn't play too many acoustic songs live but we have them you know. So anyway yeah it just kind of started happening and we just kept going.

Jesi Naomi sings on it and we wrote a lot of music in the studio which was good for us and fun at the same time because you're creating things on the spot that will go on CDs that will last forever.

As a guitar player, singer and songwriter I write songs like you see us play live. I also sit at home with my acoustic guitar on my couch and I'll write some folk or acoustic songs. I know we'll not be getting the crowd dancing with songs like that. We're not going to be performing that at Concerts in the Park but that doesn't mean they're not good songs though. It's an album full of songs that you won't hear us playing live too much which is the unique thing about it.

Final thoughts:

Check out our new CD. We're excited about our 420 show and the Cosmic Family Festival and come by the store to chat and say hi.

Spring 2013 fashion show at Sac State

2013-04-17T19:50:40Z

“Project Runway” made its way to Sacramento State University's Union Ballroom this pastt Friday night.

Loosely patterned after the “Project Runway” reality television series, participants competed to be selected as the winning designer at SFA's spring 2013 “Project Runway” inspired fashion show. Designers were judged on their marvelous work and a winning designer was selected at the end of the competition.

KCRA anchor/reporter Lisa Gonzalez served as host for the evening. Minjeong Kang, Esther Amato, Simone Vianna and Duane Ram served as judges for the fashion shown and selected the top designer at the end of the showcase.

Eight designers and three boutiques showcased a variety of fashionable wear in the “Project Runway” inspired competition.

The audience cheered for their favorite designers and stylists and voted to select the most popular designer of the evening.

Months of preparation came to an end as each designer's hard work was greeted with great enthusiasm as their designs were paraded down the runway.

Madelynn Esquivias' designs were the first to be shown and included some men's designs. Esquivias' designs included colorful gowns accessorized with flowers and floral patterns. The intriguing collection was inspired by Esquivias' mom who is a cancer survivor.

Samantha Furno's fashion line had something for everyone. One, two and three-piece outfits graced the runway. Furno's outfits included a couple of gowns, including one with a black backless top. Short dresses complemented Fumo's line. A black short outfit had to be seen from the back where a “wow” factor shined as it had a floral pattern not seen from the front.

Chou Khang's line was dominated by beautiful, mostly one or two-piece black outfits. Khang's line was cheered on by members of the audience. One of the loudest cheers was for the designer and her outfit, which had a see-through back. A closer look at some of these outfits revealed intricate work that could not all possibly be seen during the initial walk down the runway.

Anastasia Kryukova, the only non CSUS student designer, showcased a wonderful line. Kryunkova's fashion collection made a dramatic entrance with a sophisticated black outfit that included an elegant hand bag and the model's fingernails were also painted with the same colors as the outfit and bag.

The Julia Moua collection included many more colors with floral prints. Accessories in the collection included matching hair bows and ties. Moua's collection included men's clothing, making her collection appealing to a wider and fashionable audience.

Diana Oulrey's collection included dresses, gowns, a shorts outfit and the use of colorful flower patterns. The colorful pattern was used for full and sleeveless blouses. Oulrey's outfits were quite colorful and a couple of dresses that were longer on the back than the front flowed like colorful flags as the models swayed and moved down the runway.

Diana Perez and Kirsi Sasso collaborated for their showcase that began in choreographed fashion as half the models walked toward the other half and disappeared on each side of the stage. In dramatic fashion, one model at a time emerged to move on the catwalk. Outfits with skull and rose prints were beautifully exhibited. The collection included a two-piece pants outfit and a black dress. One male outfit was included with the model wearing a shirt with an imprint that read KD Revolt.

The last designs of the evening belonged to Theresa Truong. The designs included island-looking apparel with floral hair accessories. The one and two-piece outfits were dominated by different shades of blue and black.

After the designer showcase ended three boutiques exhibited their fashion after a intermission giving guests the chance to view vendor tables and the judges were able to tally their results.

Near the Hair & Fashion Battle Expo vendor table a couple of ladies talked about the event. Leonora Taylor shared that she loved the student collection. “I loved the Diana Oulrey collection but each designer had something I liked," Taylor said. "I think it's wonderful that Sac State has this high caliber of student designers and can't wait to see their next fashion show. Actually I can't wait for the boutique stylists to show their collection."

Three local boutiques also shared the runway. Amy Banks, stylist for Sugar Shack Boutique, put together a wonderful collection to showcase fashion available at the boutique she represented. Each outfit was accessorized and made for an elegant showcase. Other stylists presented a collection to showcase other boutiques. Rachel Chardoir represented Article Consignment and Elysa Quintella showed for Sei Bella Boutique.

When the time to announce the winners came, the judges pretended to have a hard time deciding as they discussed the situation on stage. This charade helped spring a surprise on the audience.

As the winners were about to be announced SFA President Nikko Panganiban came on stage to announce a “surprise” presenter. Panganiban introduced "Project Runway" season 11 participant and local designer Richard Hallmarq. The Sacramento designer was received with loud cheers and applause.

Winners at the “Project Runway” inspired fashion showcase were marketing and design major Samantha Furno who won the judges’ top designer award.

Madelynn Esquivias, an international business and apparel marketing and design major, was selected as most popular by the audience.

SFA continues to excel in their fashion shows and by including boutiques it allows a collaboration between CSUS and other fashion industry members. By seeing designers who go out and make a name for themselves, such as Hallmarq, it gives other local designers the motivation to try and do the same. Such collaborations also help fuel Sacramento fashion.

Cesar Chavez Day in Sacramento

2013-04-11T23:38:37Z

Last year brave marchers participated in the annual Cesar Chavez march under rainy skies. This year it did not rain on their parade and a larger number of marchers participated on Saturday, April 6.

Participants gathered at the Southside Park Amphitheatre, near the corner of 7th and T streets. Marchers eventually paraded towards the Capitol Mall and advanced to Cesar Chavez Plaza that remains closed due to renovations.

This was the 13th year the march has taken place in Sacramento. This year many of the marchers also marched to demand legislation to give undocumented residents a path to the always controversial issue of citizenship for illegal immigrants.

A White House Presidential Proclamation released on March 29 proclaimed March 31, 2013, as Cesar Chavez Day. In that proclamation, President Barack Obama stated, “I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate service, community, and education programs to honor Cesar Chavez's enduring legacy.”

The legacy that Chavez left was celebrated by a crowd of over 350 marchers.

Banners from groups such as Primero de Mayo, Occupy Sacramento, Latin Democratic Club, Roger Dickinson California State Assembly member, Sacramento City Teachers Association, Sacramento City Teachers Association and many others were displayed as they marched.

Along the route some participants chanted “Si se puede!” (yes we can) , “El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido” (the people united will never be divided) as well as chants aimed against Obama's deportation policy.

A marcher, Marcos Sanchez, nodded as he recited, “According to the Department of Homeland Security, the federal government, in 2011, deported close to 400,000 people who were in the country illegally.”

Students from local colleges and high schools made up a good portion of the marchers. Some of the students in rhythm chanted, “Money, for jobs and education. Not for racist deportation.” Most marched with the same passion as Chavez himself and with as much fervor and enthusiasm.

The most colorful contingency belonged to the Kalpulli Itzkuauhtli Danza Azteka many of whom marched and danced the three mile route barefoot.

Once the march returned to Southside Park the Kalpulli Itzkuauhtli dancers performed in front of the park's amphitheatre.

Speakers from organizations took turns to thank the marchers and talk about their group.

Conscious of the growing power Latinos hold at the ballot box, Sacramento area politicians including Assembly members Roger Dickinson and Richard Pan joined the marchers. Both Assembly members thanked marchers for their support and for keeping the legacy and memory of Chavez alive.

Similar events took place throughout the U.S. commemorating Cesar Chavez Day.

Sacramento – in living color

2013-03-23T01:56:13Z

A colorful day of events transpired this past Saturday, March 16.

Run or Dye is a 5K event that took place at McClellan Park in Sacramento.

Run or Dye

Billed as the world's most colorful 5K the event lived up to its billing and was attended by over 2,000 participants.

Run or Dye has scheduled events that take it from coast to coast and is also open to participants of all ages.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

That same day Old Sacramento held its annual St. Patrick's Day Parade where green was the color most prevalent.

Participants followed the beat of drummers and marched behind bagpipers as Sacramento celebrated St. Patrick's Day.

Thousands of spectators lined the streets to watch the parade that featured Irish and Highland dancers, bagpipe and drum bands, several cultural organizations and community groups to celebrate the 17th annual St. Patrick's Day parade.

Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up.

Film on Fashion

2013-03-13T07:27:05Z

The California Film Foundation (CFF) in collaboration with Sacramento Fashion Week (SACFW) presented an event called Fashion on Film.

Filmmakers were invited to create a music video, short documentary or narrative using the California fashion industry as the focus.

CFF and SACFW were available for help if filmmakers needed guidance. Each film had to meet several conditions in order to show their film.

The completed films were part of the scheduled events during Sacramento Fashion Week.

Filmmakers, directors, models, designers, merchandisers, musicians and others engaged in the fashion industry gathered teams together to create film projects.

The completed films were shown to a sold out audience on Wednesday Feb. 27 at the Fusion International Arts Center.

Several vendors occupied spaces near the front entrance where they showcased fashionable outfits, shoes, bags, jewelry and other accessories. Each vendor was given the opportunity to say a few words about their shops and show off their wear during a couple of short fashion shows and in between film showings.

Vendors represented at the event were Nor Cal Fashions, Z Boutique, Nikki's Dollar Jewelry & More, Keepstars Clothing Co., and Designs by the Diva. Each vendor had plenty of merchandise and brought their products to show and sell.

The Fashion on Film event allowed artists, their supporters and guest the opportunity to make further connections with other film and fashion industry leaders.

Lari Miyamoto, model and CEO of Mad by Design Studios, served as host for the evening. Miyamoto wore an elegant black outfit and shoes by Z boutique making the statuesque model even taller. Miyamoto kicked off the first Fashion on Film VIP gala reception.

Will Rodriguez Creative Director and Co Producer of Sacramento Fashion Week was in attendance and welcome guests to the event saying, “I want to thank everybody here tonight. This is an exciting and new event we've added to Sac Fashion Week. We're fully exited to be working with global and regional creative talent and it seems like a natural fit where you have fashion, you have entertainment and you have filmmakers so why not come together and put it all together during fashion week.”

Rodriguez also introduced Film on Fashion. “We have a number of films to watch tonight and once again I just wanted to thank you for all of the love and support for Sacramento Fashion Week. We're really trying to make Sacramento get that exposure that it truly deserves. There's a lot of really great talent in this town and around this area that needs that exposure so that's what we're trying to do. With the partnership of California Film Foundation, Sacramento Fashion Week and some of our other partners it's been blossoming into something so grand and we're really exited to be sharing this experience with you guys. So thank you.”

Martin Anaya, Executive Director at Sacramento Film Festival (California Film Foundation), followed Rodriguez on stage. Anaya thanked guests and also thanked his volunteers. Richard Burnsed, Program Director CFF, also joined Anaya on stage. Before stepping off the stage Anaya announced singing artist Tia Ferrera was present.

Films shown included music, fashion, photography and designer showcases featuring Sacramento landmarks. Various boutiques and their owners were also featured in different videos.

Ferrera was featured in the first film which was a music video for her “Ladies Night” single from her upcoming “It's Complicated” debut album.

As the other films were shown the director of the featured film said a few words before or after the showing. Each film featured was well received and used local talent to create their project.

The last film of the evening was Fashion Alley directed by Richard Pannell. The film included the song “Be Fly” by Bellatre. The trio also performed live to the audiences' delight.

After the showings Bellatre performed an outstanding rendition of “Be Fly” and received great ovation.

Guests were invited to stay and mingle and be photographed at a photo booth set towards the back of the Fuse Center.

The Fashion on Film short films were very entertaining and each had its own following. It would be great if at a later time the films would be posted by the California Foundation Film in order for the films to be seen by a wider audience.

The inaugural Fashion on Film was a great addition to SACFW and allowed smaller boutiques and vendors the opportunity to showcase their products. Creative local talent showing an interest in film making and fashion also benefited from the event and several participants indicated they looked forward to next year's event.

Fabulous fashion forum

2013-03-09T03:46:56Z

Sacramento Fashion Week came and went much too quickly. The week dedicated to Sacramento fashion was not all glamor and included several workshops.

As part of the week long schedule there was the return of a panel discussion when Sacramento State University hosted the 2013 Sacramento Fashion Week (SACFW) Fashion Forum. In collaboration with Sacramento Fashion Association (SFA) the forum was held at Sac State's University Union on Monday, Feb. 25.

The moderator for the SACFW event was Tracy Saville, CEO & Publisher of Possibility Media Group.

The open panel discussion included various industry professionals and was open to the public.

Former International Academy of Design and Technology instructor Ester Amato was the first panel member introduced. Amato recently began teaching at Sac State. She began by describing her fashion background saying, “I just started here at Sac State, teaching, I've actually been in the industry for 30 years in every area of fashion designing. I've traveled all over the world in the name of fashion and had my own company for several years.”

Amato is proud of having had several of her students become involved in SACFW. “Several of the designers are students that I taught,” said Amato. She also takes pride in mentoring several of them and said, “ I'm actually going to be like a mother out there excited to see them go down the runway knowing that I had them when they started out so it's going to be amazing.”

Joining Amato was Uduak Oduok, Founder & Editor in Chief of Ladybrille Magazine and Attorney & Partner at Ebitu Law Group. Oduok welcomed the audience and during her introduction said, “I have been practicing for the past 12 years I look forward to sharing some insight and hopefully you'll walk away empowered and hopefully some of you might think about being fashion lawyers.”

With over 20 years of experience in the fashion and entertainment industry, Oduok brought a wealth of legal knowledge to the forum. Oduok has spoken at previous Sacramento Fashion Week workshops about contract, business, licensing, copyright and trademark law as it applies to business, modeling and everyday law.

Naima Mora, winner of America's Next Top Model (Cycle 4), also joined the forum panel. Mora competed with regional models Noelle Staggers (Reno, NV) and Lluviana "Lluvy" Gomez-Gibbs (Modesto, CA) in America's Next Top Model. Staggers and Gomez-Gibbs have modeled for local designers at Couture Press fashion shows in Sacramento.

Mora continued to model after the 2005 competition and has been involved in music and recently authored her first book “Model Behavior”.

Mora summarized her background saying, “I've been involved in the fashion industry over the last 6-7 years since winning America's Top Model. I'm the singer of my rock band, I sing and play guitar and I just published a book actually with Tracy (Saville) called Model Behavior. So I guess my favorite part about Sacramento Fashion Week is just being able to partake in supporting all the emerging talent that comes out of lesser known fashion cities.“

Mora let the audience know that she's from Detroit and said other smaller cities like Sacramento have a lot of unhidden talent. In describing local designer talent Mora said, “I'm seeing things I haven't seen before because the designers are like untouched, you know, they're not living in these huge fashion cities that are recycling ideas that you see over and over again.”

Returning as a panelist was Gerry Simpson, Model Coach/Visual Artist & Photographer for GOS” Art.

Simpson told the forum audience how he became involved in fashion. “I got into fashion when I was nine years old. I have a twin brother and my mother hired us out to model so I got my first job as a model. My twin became a mechanic and I kept on modeling,” said Simpson.

Simpson continued, “I took to modeling and my modeling got me into fashion design and making clothing. I won a trip to California 29 years ago. I was supposed to be here a week and I've been here 29 years. I've been in visual merchandising, stylist for Nordstrom. I'm currently a self-taught photographer and artist 13 years.

The talented artist will also be exhibiting a fine art and photo exhibit during this month's Second Saturday. An opening reception is scheduled on Mar. 9 from noon to 5 pm. The exhibit is being held at the Brickhouse Art Gallery located at 2837 36th Street, off of Broadway.

Amy Wister was also part of the panel. Wister told the audience, “I'm probably an anomaly in the panel here. I do not have a traditional fashion background. My background is in IT so I got here through a very interesting journey I'm the founder and CEO of a company named The Stylist Online. We have a proprietary system that teaches women a lot about their body types and really how to embrace their individual figure.”

The Stylist Online has many helpful suggestions for everyone on their website and as Wister put it, “We work with everyday people on an everyday basis.”

Wister also told the audience that the forum and other SACFW workshops would pay dividends for the students and commended them for being at the event.

Amber Collins, a former model, was the sixth and final panelist. The model talent agent began by telling the audience something about her Sacramento based company Cast Images Talent Agency and what they do.

Collins described her fashion background as a model working in the larger fashion trend setting cities such as Paris, Milan and other places. Her 20 year career as a model and casting agent has brought her to work with clients such as Calvin Klein, Trussardi, Abercrombie, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Kohl's Macy's, Nordstrom and many others.

Collins also said a few words about SACFW saying, “Everyone working in Sac Fashion Week is absolutely doing it for passion.” Collins continued, “Every year it gets better and better. There are so many things that are getting better but there's still not a lot of infrastructure in our city, so everybody who's working on this does it because they are very passionate. They're passionate about fashion, they're passionate about their community, they're passionate about working so that we all get together and together we raise this city and the things that are going on in it and that really moves me. I love seeing everyone working on this event and doing it as a volunteer. They do it just for the love of fashion and there is so much comradery as well so I think that's my biggest pleasure.”

Such passionate and positive words continued through the forum as the panel discussed their work and gave supportive advise.

Other interesting topics included the impact of social media. The panel offered suggestions on what to focus on such as quality not quantity, not overexposing personal information and being on point not just posting noise. Personal branding was another topic discussed as well as addressing opinionated social media exchanges.

After the forum ended a mixer hosted by the Sac State Student Fashion Association was held across the hall from the panel room. Students, guests and panel members chatted about the event and SACFW.

SFA together with SACFW did a great job in hosting the Fashion Forum which gave valuable information to students and guests interested in the fashion industry.

Behind the scenes at Sacramento Fashion Week

2013-03-07T02:18:39Z

Sacramento Fashion Week (SACFW) was a huge success this year as it expanded to three nights of runway fashion.

The 2013 SACFW had a full schedule of meetings, workshops, runway displays, showcasing local, national and internationally known boutiques, designers, models and speakers.

A launch party, model and designer practices, a fashion forum, workshops, a Fashion on Film event, designer meet and greet, VIP galas, afterparties and of course runway fashion took place from Feb. 24 – Mar. 2.

The full week schedule began early on Sunday Feb. 24 starting with a practice at the Elks Tower Ballroom.

The full practice on Sunday morning brought over 100 models, designers, photographers and volunteers to view the venue and establish a game plan. SACFW staff and interns worked feverously to ready themselves for the many planned activities.

As part of Kondrya Photography, for SACFW, several photographers met to cover the practice and other events.

Many of the people involved were at the Elks Tower Ballroom early in the morning and left early evening and this pattern continued throughout the week.

Work was hard but there was plenty of time for play and socializing. The SACFW Launch Party was held at the Mix Downtown allowing for interaction with fashion and other professionals.

Combining social events allowed fashionistas the opportunity to mingle with local talent who showcased their wearable art.

Mexican Flag Day at Sutter's Fort

2013-03-07T00:08:55Z

Sutter's Fort, built by John A. Sutter, is an American institution that continues to host events that feature California's early history. On Sunday, Feb. 24, Mexican Flag Day was celebrated at Sutter's Fort.

Sutter was a Swiss immigrant who took Mexican citizenship not long before the California Gold Rush. Sutter's Fort was established on the large track of land granted to Sutter by the Mexican Department of Alta California.

Events held at Sutter's Fort help bring California history to life and the many docents and volunteers help make this possible.

The celebration began with an American flag ceremony at Sutter's main gate. Mindy Orozco welcomed guests and after raising the American flag invited guests to say the Pledge of Allegiance.

Inside the fort guests could embark on self-guided tours and docents made themselves available for questions and posing for photos.

The Mexican flag ceremony took place inside the fort.

Omar Gonzale z welcomed guests saying, “Welcome to this year's celebration of Mexican Flag Day. This program is put on by the Comité Fiestas Patrias 2013 in collaboration with the Mexican Cultural Center of Northern California with the support and sponsorship of the Mexican Consulate in Sacramento.”

Gonzalez continued, “Now before we start I'd like to ask everyone to give a very loud round of applause for Sutter's Fort and all their wonderful staff and volunteers that made this event possible. My name is Omar Gonzalez I'm a local attorney and I'm also president of the Comité Fiestas Patrias and a member of the board of directors of the Mexican Cultural Center of Northern California.”

Addressing students from Ethel I. Baker Elementary School who sat in the audience Gonzalez asked, “Do you know who California belongs to? Raise your hand, it belongs to each and everyone of you. You guys are our future, California is yours so it's important that you learn your history and that you appreciate your history because we have a beautiful legacy here between the state of California and the country of Mexico.”

Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, Ambassador and Consul General of Mexico also addressed the crowd. Gutierrez gave special thanks to Ethel I. Baker students for being in attendance and gave them a brief history of California's roots and its relationship to Mexico.

Maria Lesso, the 2012 Reyna Fiestas Patrias pageant winner made an appearance and also addressed the young students saying, “I just want to say some words to the kids. You guys, dreams can come true I'm living one of mine right now and you guys just have to keep on trying and never give up.” Students seated in the first row smiled as she addressed them.

Several Ethel I. Baker students were asked to read an essay they wrote about the Mexican flag.

Hot chocolate and Mexican sweet bread were provided by La Esperanza Bakery and were served by volunteer students from Sacramento State University who represented several fraternities and sororities.

Students were able to witness demonstrations at Sutter's Fort and were most excited to see docents wearing costumes firing off their weapons. A canon firing was also on the schedule of events.

Live entertainment was provided by Folklorico Aztlan de Sacramento. Their colorful outfits and lively dancing were well received.

Also in attendance were representatives from the State of California Franchise Tax Board who were there to answer questions regarding personal taxes. General information was given and they also answered questions about the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provided by the IRS.

The free event was full of activities, it was educational and served as a family outing for many.

SFA model casting

2013-03-04T22:31:12Z

Sacramento State's Student Fashion Association (SFA) recently held model castings for their April 12 fashion show. The castings took place on Feb. 22-23 at Sac State's University Union.

Over 80 models attended the casting and two judging panels evaluated them. Each model performed a short catwalk and posed for the judges. During Friday's casting three judges made notes for designers to review at a later date to help them select models for their showcase.

Serving as a judge was Simone Vianna, fashion editor, wardrobe consultant and she also serves as a talent coordinator for Sacramento Fashion Week. Alongside Vianna was Mary Kawano owner of Krazy Mary's Boutique and Sugar Shack Boutique. Jennifer Siopongco, fashion blogger and past SFA President served as the final judge for the first casting.

SFA Model Casting Director, Elysa Quintella, worked with judges and models to keep things going smoothly.

SFA board members guided cast members as they filled paperwork for the event. Measurements, head and body shots were also taken by SFA members and volunteers.

SFA's new board members were assisted by past members who continue to be involved.

SFA membership is open to students and its members are involved in producing and promoting a fashion show each semester. Student designers' creativity is showcased at these shows.

Casting models included many students and was also open to non-students. Male and female models regardless of size and height were invited to participate.

Networking opportunities with industry professionals are a great benefit for SFA members. At each of their fashion shows the community at large is given the opportunity to work with Sac State students and participate as sponsors and guests. Collaboration between fashion industry professionals continues to grow.

Nikko Panganiban, SFA President, talked a little about his role at the casting. Panganiban indicated the castings and show that follows are exciting. When asked what year of study he was in the Sac State senior smiled and said that he should have already graduated. As with many students searching for a career path he's switched emphasis until recently saying, “I finally found what I really have a passion for so it took me a while to find out what I wanted to do.”

Panganiban's attitude and personality are a great asset to SFA and his response to describing the most exciting and worst thing about being SFA President supported that assumption. Panganiban noted that he couldn't think of anything bad and said the most exciting thing was, “Seeing all the new members and seeing all the fresh faces and how enthusiastic people are about it. That's been the most exciting thing.”

SFA continues to allow students, with a passion for fashion, the opportunity to become involved in community and educational events. Membership to the club is open to all Sac State students regardless of major and allows them opportunities to network with industry professionals.

Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up.

Bless Me, Ultima plays at Downtown Plaza's Century Theatres

2013-02-17T11:17:55Z

The Sacramento International Film Festival presented the film premier of “Bless Me, Ultima” based on a book by Rudolfo Anaya. The film played to a full house at the Century Theatres in the Downtown Plaza.

In association with Agave 52 and Arenas Entertainment the Sacramento International Film Festival presented the by invitation only screening of the film on Wednesday, Feb. 13.

The Anaya adaptation tells the story of a family living in New Mexico in the early 1940s. Ultima, played by Miriam Colon, is a healer who comes to live in the Luna-Márez household. Antonio Márez (Luke Ganalon) is a 6-year-old whose heart is opened to nature, spirituality and the supernatural.

Directed by Carl Franklin the film is narrated first person by Antonio. The young boy narrates his struggles with religion, education, culture, traditions, friendships, family, love and death.

During the opening dialogue Antonio asks, "Why is there evil in the world?" The audience is soon introduced to Antonio and his family. Ultima, a curandera (a healer), enters their life when she moves in with the family.

The film follows the young boy as he tries to understand good and evil. The many characters and situations involved offer a glimpse of a family and culture in a small town in New Mexico during WWII.

During the screening many in the audience whispered to their neighbors how they found similarities in certain situations portrayed on the big screen to their own upbringing. Indeed I thought about my childhood and could relate with Antonio and members of his family.

After the film ended Frank Orosco, President LULAC #3206 and owner of Agave 52, announced that an after-party was being held at Tequila Museo Mayahuel. Orosco thanked the audience and asked them to share their experience with family and friends.

Martin Anaya, Executive Director of the California Film Foundation also addressed those in attendance and spoke about the event. In describing the film, Anaya said, “It's not a film about brujas (witches), magic and things like that it's a film about understanding and about the human experience.”

Anaya thanked guests saying, “On behalf of the folks at the Sacramento Film Festival I want to say thank you to each one of you.” Anaya gave special thanks to Adrian Perez, Dr. Jorge Santana and announced that the film will open on February 22 at selected theater locations.

The reception at Mayahuel featured hors d'oeuvres from the restaurant where 80 guests or more came to socialize and discuss the film.

Quality tequila samples from Tequila Alderete awaited guests who wanted to sample these treats. At another station Mi Sueño Winery brought several select wine samples for guests to enjoy.

As guests discussed the film Rocio Zambrano shared her thoughts saying, “I loved the movie. It was very well done and I could relate.” Zambrano expressed her delight of the movie and spoke about the wonderful portrayal of her culture in the film and how guests at Mayahuel could relate.

Bless Me, Ultima opens in selected theaters on Feb. 22 and some cinemas will also be showing pre-opening day screenings. Check the film's webpage for locations and previews of the film.

Sacramento Fashion Week introduces designer lineup

2013-02-06T18:59:04Z

Sacramento Fashion Week (SACFW) celebrating its 7th year anniversary this year, unveiled the selection of designers for this year's event.

The designer lineup introduced at a press party featured a piece from each designer. The event took place at The Find located at 817 16th Street on Jan. 31.

Sacramento Fashion Week takes place this year from Feb. 24 – Mar. 2.

The Spring/Summer Designer Showcase presents six designers and two featured student designers. Monica Buo, Rebecca Cahua, Britboy Fashions, Maisha Bahati, Jason Powers, Niv Elliot, Samuel Parkinson and Nelli Rosh are the designers featured on Friday, Mar. 1.

The Fall/Winter Designer Showcase features Yennie Zhou, Karisa Gold, Tawnya Jackson, Felix Rodionov, Ryan Douglas, Janelle Cardenas, Michael Kouri and Vasily Vein on Saturday, Mar. 2

Most of the designers will be showing for the first time while a few return from previous years. A Boutique Show and Shop will also be featured on Thursday, Feb. 28.

This year is the first time a boutique runway will be featured. Participating boutiques includes Trumpette, Violet Muse, Felicia Strati, Made To Fit Couture, Article Consignment and Aquamarine Jewelers.

The three runway showcases will take place at the Elks Tower Ballroom.

Beautiful outfits from each of the designers were exhibited at the press party event. Other community representatives from the fashion and other industries joined the gathering to view the magnificent designs.

This year SACFW has chosen the Junior League of Sacramento as the beneficiary for the 2013 event.

Karri Grant made a few announcements and covered some of the events planned during Sacramento Fashion Week.

A representative from the California Film Foundation spoke about the Fashion on Film project that will feature short films with fashion as its focus. The films will be presented on Feb. 27 at the Fusion International Arts Center.

Aimee Gillum, President of Junior League of Sacramento, said a few words about their participation in SACFW. Gillum expressed her gratitude saying, “On behalf of our organization we are very excited about this relationship and being Sacramento Fashion Week's beneficiary. Our two organizations are very similar. We're both volunteer based and our mission for both is to develop our members and train them. So for the league side, we're an all women organization and we are a volunteer and training organization developing the potential of women to become civic and community minded women who go out and make an impact in our community.”

Designers on hand, in dramatic and elegant fashion, walked in and showcased one of their designs worn by their selected models.

Showcasing an outfit from their line the designers stayed to pose for photos and talk to those in attendance.

I took a few minutes to talk to one of the designers showcasing at SACFW for the first time. Jason Powers who founded and designs apparel for The Rampant Fashion Cooperative shared his experience as a designer and being a part of this year's SACFW.

“I started Rampant three years ago in October 2009” said Powers. When asked if he studied fashion in school Powers indicated that he actually had a degree in business.

Powers spoke about how he started in fashion and said, “It all started because both my mom and my grandma both knit. So I've been playing around with texture, pattern and color since I was little so that's how this whole thing started.” He continued, “Oh my gosh, they had me doing things since I was 6 or 7 years old.”

Powers is a Montana native and indicated he moved about 12 years ago. I asked how many designs he was showing and when. Powers responded saying, “I have 10 designs for Sac Fashion Week. I will be showing on March 1.

When asked how he found out about SACFW Powers responded, “I had been in contact with Sacramento Fashion Week since last year. I chose not to participate in last year's event. I wasn't ready so I held everything back and got creative and got into this year's event ready to go.”

My final question for Powers was to ask him what was the hardest and easiest part of the application process to be in this year's SACFW. Powers did not hesitate and stated, “Waiting! The hardest thing was waiting. I feel like I waited forever I kept waiting for my phone to ring. The easiest part though I think was the submission process. It was super easy it was very detailed so once you have your design set, things go really easy. The hardest part was the waiting.”

Powers ended by saying, “I'm looking forward to doing Sac Fashion Week and perhaps do L.A. Fashion Week at the end of the month. It's all very exciting.” Powers' family is still in Montana but indicated his mom would be coming to see his showing.

Modeling a Yennie Zhou white design model Heather Dominguez-Cuevas also talked to me about the event. I asked Dominguez-Cuevas if she walked the runway for SACFW last year. “Yes I did, this will be my third time. This year I'm walking for Yennie Zhou and Maisha Bahati. I will be here Friday and Saturday night.”

When asked about her experience with SACFW Dominguez-Cuevas answered, “I've met a lot of really good friends. More than anything I've had a really good time meeting people and it's helped me network outside of Sac Fashion Week so it's been a really great network experience for me.”

Regarding schooling and what she wanted to study the model said, “I just left ARC and I'm looking for somewhere to transfer. I'm still trying to figure what I want to concentrate on and right now it looks like education.”

It was fascinating listening to Dominguez-Cuevas answer when and why she got into modeling, “I used to get picked on because of my height when I was in high school all the time. I was really awkward and tall. I was always the tallest kid in my class. One day a girl that I was friends with she said 'you know you should really just model' and I decided to do it and it's worked out really well for me.”

Regarding advice for a young model starting out in the business she said, “If you want to do it you really have to want it. You have to fight for it. Network but be smart. The most important thing is to be smart and do your research. That's more important than anything other than being tall. Being tall really helps.”

When asked what Dominguez-Cuevas was most looking forward to, the confident model enthusiastically said, “I'm looking forward to walking for Yennie because Yennie is the best designer in the world! Also the opportunity for networking!”

The final touches in preparation for Sacramento Fashion Week continues in the coming weeks. Designers will work up until the last minute to bring their designs to life. SACFW staff will also be working to present a series of scheduled events during Sacramento Fashion Week.

Tickets for the major showcases are now on sale. Log on to the Sacramento Fashion Week for information on the events planned.

Last year's event sold out and the same is expected to happen this year. Tickets are already on sale and can be purchased via Eventbrite.

Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up.

A Fashion Affair at the Citizen Hotel

2013-01-28T00:25:40Z

The elegance of the Citizen Hotel was a great setting for Sacramento Fashion Week's “Fashion Affair” event. The gathering held on Thursday, Jan. 17 gave designers, models, hair, makeup and other fashion professionals the opportunity to socialize and network.

As Sacramento Fashion Week draws nearer designers for the event are introduced. Talent Coordinator of Sacramento Fashion Week Simone Vianna pointed out a couple of the designers at the event.

Monica Buo and Clifton Simmons sat at a table enjoying the event. I sat with both of them to get their thoughts on being involved in Sacramento Fashion Week.

Buo and Simmons met while attending the International Academy of Design & Technology (IADT). Buo shared how they met saying, “We had a couple of classes together. From there a connection evolved. He's like my other half.”

Both designers are working toward a B.A. in Fashion Design and Merchandizing. Buo sees herself as a student trying to build her own business. “We both have like a little business established already. I'm the founder of Buo-tiful Designs. What we do is w omen’s wear, I'm doing juniors right now and trying to build up my clientele” said Buo.

When asked for their thoughts about the process that they've gone through during the Sacramento Fashion Week Buo stated, “I think that it's a really good opportunity to be in this show. I know it's opened up the door for other designers who have participated and I'm really excited. I think they're doing a really good job of bringing people in for this event.”

Buo and Simmons will be showing on March 1.

Buo has established a WordPress blog called Buo-tiful Designs while Simmons has his own site Terrell Sim Fashion as well as another site called Silk Ties and Lace Pantyhose. Simmons stated that the silk ties and Lace Pantyhose started off as just a hobby and has grown to be much more.

In response to what inspired them Buo said, “I was 14 when I thought about being a designer. My grandmother taught me how to sew and by then I thought it was really amazing so when I started sewing I started becoming really inspired. When I went to high school I started to take every fashion course that was available and then I started going to college and went to school to study fashion.”

“I started in 2010 making clothing for friends and family,” said Simmons. He continuedm “I've always been altering and doing costumes because I'm a dancer so that inspired me. Actually I realized my gifts and I just started sewing and it just came out. I started out wanting to study Criminal Justice and switched to fashion. I wear a lot of different hats and try to stay diversified.”

Both designers are looking forward to the event and keep busy being involved in different projects.

Another designer, Niv Elliot, who will also be participating during Sacramento Fashion Week brought one of her designs. Model Amanda Christensen wore a ravishing Elliot design to the event soliciting wonderful compliments throughout the evening.

Not all designers have been announced and most models still wait in anticipation to find out if they will be modeling and for which designer. Announcements will be shared at the Sacramento Fashion Week website.

Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up. Join The Sacramento Press on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at Chops Steakhouse to honor Journalism Open winners. Get tickets!

March for the dream continues in Sacramento

2013-01-24T20:24:39Z

“We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.

The words of Martin Luther King Jr. were quite evident as the 32nd annual March for the Dream took place on Monday, Jan. 21.

An estimated crowd of 30,000 marched to the Sacramento Capitol Building and the Convention Center. Marchers of all ethnic persuasions came to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. as they marched from the Oak Park Community Center, Sacramento City College and Grant High School.

Community representatives, local employers, healthcare professionals, small business vendors and others attended the event to supply guests with valuable information about education, employment and community services.

This year the event also featured a rally in front of the Capitol West Steps.

For the first time in several years rain did not come down on this parade allowing families to enjoy a car show and other outdoor events.

Crowds gathered inside two large halls to view high school marching band performances, poetry readings, community educational and employment panels. Dozens of community organizations were represented and had booths at different halls in the convention.

Educational videos played during the event emphasizing the work of Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement. The event also included many activities for children and adults to participate in. The hands on activities added to this year's Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.

The work and name of Martin Luther King Jr. and the role he played in American history continues to be kept alive through the annual Sacramento celebration.

Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up.

Sacramento Fashion Week casting call

2013-01-18T01:33:06Z

This year's annual Sacramento Fashion Wee k will be held from Feb. 24 – Mar.2.

In preparation for the event Sacramento Fashion Week held two casting calls for the 2013 showcase. One was held on Saturday, Jan. 12 at the International Academy of Design and Technology in Sacramento. A second casting took place on Sunday at the Capsity Offices located at 2572 21 st Street.

Sacramento Fashion Week is well known for showcasing talented local and regional designers. Sacramento Fashion Week has provided a platform for upcoming and established designers the opportunity to showcase their talent.

As the popularity and importance of Sacramento's Fashion Week continues to grow it attracts designers, hair stylists, makeup artists, fashion bloggers and models giving them the opportunity to participate and expand their experience and profiles.

Many models at both castings have walked the runway for Sacramento Fashion Week and showed up for this year's casting. Several other new models also nervously walked for the judges.

Sacramento Fashion Week staff and participating designers were on hand to evaluate and select models at the casting. Over 200 models participated at the castings and they will patiently wait to be notified if they have been selected to walk the runway during Sacramento Fashion Week.

Besides meeting an age, size and height requirement models also had to meet a minimum 18.5 Body Mass Index (BMI). Sacramento Fashion Week instituted the BMI standard of determining when one’s weight translates into a health risk for the first time this year. BMI is calculated by measuring a person's height and weight and stations were set up take those measurements.

Bridgétt Rex, Editor-In-Chief, Sacramento Fashion Week mentioned the new standard saying, “This is the first year that we've officially established this requirement.” Rex was at both casting days and earlier in the day, during the Sunday casting, along with Producer, Executive Director, Duane Ram were interviewed by KCRA TV about the event.

In a posted blog Sacramento Fashion Week noted the following as a guideline to help models understand how BMI is measured giving the following illustration, “As an example, a model who is 5’7’’ will need to weigh at least 118 pounds to achieve the minimum BMI of 18.5, while a 5’10’’ model will need to weigh 129 pounds. We will take weight and height at the casting call using the guidelines posted above to determine BMI.”

Models waited in line both casting days as they filled out an applications and walked for the judges and designers. Another new part of Sacramento Fashion Week this year will include a boutique fashion showcase to go along with two designer showings.

As models were being cast nervousness and excitement were quite evident on their part. Both male and female models were present.

Two models in Sunday's casting were sisters Giselle Colmenares and Naraly Vizcarra both who were trying out for Sacramento Fashion Week for the first time. This was Colmenares first casting and was a little more nervous. The sisters encouraged each other and conducted themselves professionally and stated that, “It was fun to try out together.”

Final selections for models, designers and boutiques participating will be declared at a later time. Sacramento Fashion Week will continue to hold events leading to the showcases. The next event is “Fashion Affair” scheduled for Jan. 17 at the Citizen Hotel.

Editor’s note: Every Thursday we deliver a local event guide straight to your inbox, right on time to make your weekend plans. Sign me up.

SacAnime's growing pains

2013-01-09T11:12:17Z

A new year, a new venue and a new experience were all part of the winter SacAnime held at the Sacramento Convention Center and the Sheraton Grand Hotel Jan. 4-6.

SacAnime has outgrown several venues and the larger venue attracted a bigger audience. A larger crowd than the 7,700 who attended the summer convention held at the Woodlake Hotel was expected.

SacAnime fans from northern California and beyond gathered for the three-day weekend event dressed in their favorite cosplay outfit. Many planned their wardrobe months in advance and some came with three prepared costumes, one for each day of the event.

Alex Martin drove from Alameda with some friends and could not hold his excitement, saying his parents gave him a birthday present that included hotel and admission to SacAnime.

“I've worked on my two Soul Eater and a ninja outfits since Halloween and am stoked to meet others with similar costumes. I was so excited I talked my parents into letting me pre-register and pick up my pass the day before SacAnime opened,” Martin said.

Several fun events were included in the new venue, including the return of the Viewing Room that showed anime and other videos for most of the day during the weekend.

Friday and Saturday included dance workshops that included lessons in salsa, tango, foxtrot and waltzing. The lessons helped guests prepare for another new event: the Starlight Ball. Both the lessons and the ball itself were very popular and the Starlight Ball sold out. The ball gave guests the opportunity to attend a formal attire event.

The rave venue, now known as Late Nite Electronik Dance, was just as popular but was held at a large hall. The hall housed late night dancing on Friday and Saturday night.

Kazha, a Japanese rock band, returned to the SacAnime Concert Series. Kazuha Oda's vocals delighted the audience with songs that included “Wake Up,” “I Still Remember” and others. Band members Hideki Matsushige and Zen Takamura's hard rock sounds were well complemented by new drummer Kazumaru.

Kazha closed their show on Friday night with the popular, “Breath Through Your Dreams,” which highlighted the band's world music fusion and diverse sound. Kazha was available for autographs and held a Q&A panel session.

Besides the new events, SacAnime brought back many guests, vendors and events from previous years. Vendors, artists and featured tables filled the Vendor Hall and the large space was busy during the event.

The J-Fashion Show returned and showcased both professional and amateur designers and models on stage. Prince Noir, winner of the past two J-Fashion events, returned to showcase their wonderful designs. As winner of the last contest, Prince Noir was awarded a vendor table for the winter SacAnime, and because they were previous winners, they were not eligible to compete.

Carlyfornia Love was the gracious and charming host for J-Fashion and introduced an assortment of Asian-inspired fashion.

Several participants also had tables at the larger and much-improved Exhibitor's Hall. One of those tables was occupied by Scattered Comics. Visitors were treated to autographed free limited prints signed by Shadow Hunters characters. The Shadow Hunters 2013 calendar was also available and fans were given the opportunity to pose with their favorite characters for photos.

In appreciation and honor of its anime roots, SacAnime included several special guests from Japan. Mai Aizawa, a Japanese voice actress who might be best known for her role as Natsumi Murakami in the anime series, Mahō Sensei Negima, was one such guest.

Toshio Furukawa, known for his voice acting roles as Ataru of Urusei Yatsura, Inumaru of Gosenzo-sama Banbanzai and Piccolo of Dragonball, was also available for autographs.

Anime designer Tsuyoshi Nonaka held a Q&A session that used a Japanese translator. Nonaka seemed to have some command of the English language but relied on the translator to help things flow. Nonaka has also served as a toy designer and planner for Bandai Co. LTD (Japan) for over 20 years. Nonaka is probably best known for his work in shows from Ultraman Tiga and Kamen Rider.

Artists from Japan have been requested by many fans, and SacAnime heeded their advice by bringing in these artists to give fans a perspective of Japanese style and culture and a fresh look into the roots of the country that created anime as we know it.

Long lines are still a norm for autographs. SacAnime brought artists such as Kevin Conroy, Grey DeLisle, Maile Flanagan, Tony Oliver, Hynden Walch, Liam O'Brien and others to share their experience as voice actors and serve in panels and autograph sessions.

SacAnime staff was very helpful in keeping walking lanes open, helping in registration, checking credentials and providing directions for visitors, among other things. SacAnime is still one of the better-organized events of its size and cordial attendees create a friendly community that has grown over the years.

The convention has something for all anime fans and there is so much to do that attendees, coordinators, staff and vendors appear to be exhausted one day, only to return the next with a bright outlook. That bright outlook is something that SacAnime appears to have claimed as its own, as they continue to attract larger audiences.

Sunday's closing ceremonies allowed remaining fans to view the Anime Music Video (AMV) contest winners and to voice their concerns regarding the event.

Director of Programming Jodon Bellofatto reviewed several factors about the first SacAnime held at the new venue. The theme of the event was “Growing Pains” and Bellofatto shared that 7,500 attendees had been counted as of Saturday. Many estimates indicated that over 10,000 people attended the convention.

Bellofatto talked about the difference in attendance between summer and winter, saying the summer event draws more fans.
“They are still crunching the numbers. I can tell you things that I do know. We ran out of program books; we ran out of weekend badges. We had to run over to Kinko’s and have them print us out some more. We ran out of a whole bunch of different things,” Bellofatto said. “I haven’t gotten Sunday's numbers or the final tally. We'll make an announcement on our website once we have a true number, but our very rough estimate for this weekend, so far not including Sunday, is 7,500 attendees.”

Other findings discussed were how SacAnime would be received by new neighbors. Bellofatto shared that traffic slowed as people tried to drive by the event and marvel at the number and dress style of SacAnime attendees.

Nearby businesses were not expecting the large crowds and wish they had known about the event. Some businesses expressed a desire to partner with SacAnime, keep doors open longer and offer discounts to attendees.

Bellofatto shared comments from the Sacramento Police Department who paid a visit, saying, “This reflects on you, guys; you should be very proud of this, you guys should be very happy to hear that representatives from Sac PD came by all three days and sometimes twice a day to check on us. They were very happy with what they saw at the show. They think you're a great crowd. They think you're very well-behaved; they have no complaints.”

The Sheraton did not know what to expect with SacAnime and its fans, and were very flexible and accommodating. They were caught off guard as to how many would attend and book rooms and will be looking to make more rooms available for the next convention. Nearby Marriott and other hotels accommodated the overflow. SacAnime will be working on getting favorable room rates at the Hyatt as well for the summer convention.

Work for the next con has already begun, and Bellofatto shared that the size of the Exhibitor's Hall will again be increased. The third floor of the Convention Center, which was closed for the winter event, will be made available to SacAnime during the summer.

The Home and Garden Show shared the Convention Center during the weekend and it was discussed that the Greek Food Festival will be sharing the center with SacAnime. A badge for either event will be good for either gathering as well, but the logistics are still being worked on.
Concerns about the event centered around parking, which seems to have caused confusion in some cases. Other concerns about the event were discussed but did not seem to have detracted from the overall effectiveness of the event.

SacAnime returns to the Convention Center Aug. 30 – Sept. 1, Memorial Day weekend. Rooms can now be booked at the Sheraton. Early bookings provide extra perks, but rooms must be booked by January 31 for the initial release of rooms.

SacAnime is an all-ages event that allows a fun weekend for attendees. Follow the SacAnime website for further details on rooms, guests and other events. The webpage also includes a forum where visitors can discuss parking, carpool, cosplay gathering information, concerns and other valuable information.

Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up.

Ricky Berger concert at the Crocker Art Museum

2012-12-26T22:17:15Z

The Crocker Art Museum holds its doors open late during their Thursdays ‘til 9 program series.

This past Thursday, Dec. 20, as part of American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell, local talented musician Ricky Berger held a concert at the Crocker.

The Rockwell exhibit, located on the third floor of the Crocker, celebrates his work with several rarely circulated works from the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass. Several original oil paintings and other work created for The Saturday Evening Post are also part of the exhibit. A grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, American Masterpieces Program, made the exhibition possible.

On the Crocker theater stage, Rika Nelson, Crocker Art Museum manager of public programs, welcomed guests. In her speech Nelson said, “It's been really an exciting time for us to do all this kind of programing. You may all probably already know, or you might not know, that we have a real exciting exhibition located in the third floor, and it’s up until February. It’s called the American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell.”

Nelson also described the concerts being held at the stage, saying, “This concert is a part of a series of concerts that we’ve been doing that we’ve sort of dubbed ‘American Storytelling.’ So we’ve brought in a variety of different performers who in our eyes are really great musicians and who are really fabulous.” Nelson continued, saying as far as storytellers went she immediately thought about bringing in Berger to perform, and she thought it was a perfect match, as Berger indicated Rockwell was her all-time favorite.

Nelson ended by introducing the show, saying, “Please join me in welcoming our opening act tonight. It’s his second time performing at the Crocker, a great performer and a super nice guy, please join me in welcoming Adrian Bourgeois.”

Bourgeois opened for Berger and performed a series of songs that included “Shot in the Dark,” “Here We Go Again” and “My Face in the Dark.”

Bourgeois plays different instruments while on stage, and the stage was full of different instruments, including a grand piano that took the space of about half the stage. He and Berger also performed together on a couple of songs.

Berger stepped onto stage, wearing a stunning glimmering dress. The Sammie award winner brought her Americana folk brand of music to an intimate setting. The theater was full of Berger’s family, friends and fans.

Berger took the stage, welcomed guests and noted the show was a big deal for her. She's been working on her sophomore album and had taken a hiatus from performing. Berger was excited when the Crocker asked her to perform.

Audience members responded with much enthusiasm as Berger performed crowd favorites. Berger began the evening by playing “You're No Good,” and although she had an assortment of musical instruments on stage, she used her mouth to imitate a trumpet sound during the song.

As a true storyteller, Berger's second song, “My Permanent Valentine,” was dedicated to her mom, who was selling Berger merchandise. Each of her songs was introduced by a short reference as to what inspired it or how it evolved. Before “My Permanent Valentine,” the introduction and story behind it was used to introduce Berger's repertoire for the evening. Later, Berger dedicated “The Man of My Dreams” to her dad.

Several songs also included recorded background music, all performed by Berger as well. It was something she had not tried out before, but which I think shows more of her talent.

Berger delighted the audience with original songs, and also performed “I'll Be Home For Christmas.” Later, with Bourgeois, she performed the Simon and Garfunkel classic “The Boxer.” Both Berger and Bourgeois also sang “Baby It's Cold Outside,” their duos showing how well they performed together.

Through the evening Berger showed her musical and writing talent. She ended her show with an emotional introduction to a song about her grandparents, and “Why Be Blue,” a song dedicated to her sister.

After the show, adoring fans remained to talk with her, pose for photos and get autographs.

I was able to sit with Berger and do a short interview, posted below.

Sacramento Press: You're a storyteller in many ways. You tell stories when you introduce a song, as well as when you're singing and in your art. How did you come about, or to what do you attribute, your storytelling talent?

Ricky Berger: I think it all started when I was a kid. I started writing songs when I was about 4 years old. I didn't write them with words, but I started writing songs around that age. I think I was a very lonely child in many ways. I think I had a lot to say, but I didn't know how to say it exactly out loud. I needed a way to express it, and recently I started doing therapy and I started learning how to communicate my feelings better. That has opened me up to a world of possibilities, I encourage that to anybody. Therapy has been amazing for a crazy person like me.

SP: The times I've seen you perform you're surrounded by several musical instruments. Were there any that you did not play tonight?

RB: Oh sure, plenty. A whole scads worth.

SP: When did your love for music begin and what inspired it?

RB: Actually the first memories I have of music was through movies. Cartoons like Bugs Bunny, I think it's 1947, you might want to check that. The very first time I remember hearing music I was about 3, and it was a 1947 episode of Bugs Bunny, and it was called “Gorilla My Dreams,” and there's a song in it called “Someone is Rocking My Dream Boat.” I just remember I saw “The Wizard of Oz”; the impact that it had was so great. It expressed what I was feeling inside so much. I think I was born with the love for music. There's like no difference between me and the music, in a way.

You know, honestly, I feel that if music is going well for me, everything is going well. If it's not going well, then nothing is going well. It's just a part of me like nothing else.

SP: I've noticed you like to collaborate with other artists (like tonight). Have you ever been part of a group or have you, for the most part, been a solo performer?

RB: I've pretty much always been solo. I think the way I share music is not really in a band setting, for myself. I'm going to be going to Eastern Europe to record with an orchestra and a choir. I'm not really interested in playing with a band, I'm more interested in playing with orchestras and choirs, and you know, having a full ensemble like that, which one day I'll have.

I will probably be there for a couple of weeks to visit places like Berlin, Prague and Budapest.

SP: Have you seen the Norman Rockwell exhibit?

RB: I haven't, but I'll be doing that in the next two days. It's been a crazy busy month.

SP: Do you have any current projects you're working on? Any future projects?

RB: Gosh! I guess I'm just working on my second album, that's the biggest thing. That's really the focus of my life at the moment, working on the arrangements. It's a lot of work.

SP: Take us through your process in doing an album. How long did it take to make your first album?

RB: Well, it's really strange because I started recording when I was 14, but I did not put my album out until I was about 20. I actually had it done. I had it done when I was about 18, but I didn't release it because I was so scared. I was so scared; I thought everybody would hate it. My therapist helped talk me through it and told me to put it out.

As far as making an album, for me the process usually goes. I guess I choose my very favorite songs, the ones that make me the happiest to play, and I guess usually I sit at home and I stay in my room for days and days or months and months at a time, arranging the harps, violins and flutes and oboes, bassoons and clarinets and tuba, trumpet, triangle, all of the above and different choir parts, and I do all of that on my little laptop. Then I go in the studio and I go track by track and recreate it in a very nice environment.

I think it's important; people don't take the time anymore. I'm in love with it.

Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up .

The Nutcracker 2012

2012-12-26T21:20:12Z

Pamela Hayes Classical Ballet brought its troupe to Folsom's Three Stages to perform The Nutcracker. Performances took place on Dec. 21 – 23.

Friday's sold out performance of The Nutcracker 2012 brought a large audience to Three Stages to enjoy a beautiful performance. Children, along with their parents and other family members as well as friends enjoyed art in motion as the Pamela Hayes Ballet brought a colorful spectacle to the stage.

The Nutcracker is based on the book by E.T.A. Hoffman "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King."

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was commissioned by choreographer Marius Petipa in 1891 to write the music for the Nutcracker Ballet.

Throughout its history the story of The Nutcracker remains the same. On Christmas Eve the Silberhaus family hosts their annual Christmas party as they welcome the arrival of their guests. Suddenly, Clara's beloved Herr Drosselmeyer appears. Drosselmeyer entertains guests with magical tricks and life-size dolls. Clara embarks on enchanting travels through the Kingdom of Sweets with her Nutcracker Prince.

Since 2000 Artistic Director Pamela Hayes has brought The Nutcracker to the stage and has successfully worked to make the production one of the most entertaining.

The Nutcracker showcased guest artist Michael Onstad in the role of Herr Drosselmeyer. His talents are sought-after to perform this role each year and his performance was splendid.

Another guest artist was George Rusafov who performed the role of the Cavalier. The Bulgaria native joined the National Opera and Ballet Sofia Bulgarta after graduating high school. His masterful dance skills highlighted a wonderful performance.

Allyn Ginns, as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Sarah Beth Kosterman, as Clara and Aly Andersen, as Spanish dancer were other guest artists for The Nutcracker.

Ginns, Kosterman and company dancer Kristoffer Reyes were made available for a quick photo or two by publicist Jan Hurst of Hurst Works. Along with other marvelous Pamela Hayes Ballet company dancers and over 70 ballet performers they delighted the audience from beginning to end.

A graduate of London’s Royal Academy of Dance and an alum of the Royal Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theater, Ballet West and Eugene Ballet, Pamela Hayes brought a delightful cast of dancers to Three Stages.

The audience was in awe during several scenes and oohs and aahs were heard from the audience. One memorable scene began with angels gliding through smoke machine fog looking like angels on clouds brought positive audible comments from the audience (specially from the younger fans).

This year new snow sets graced the stage. As if in a dream, sparkling snow flakes fell to the stage.

The costumes and stage production were beautifully designed. The Pamela Hayes Ballet production created visual spectacles on stage that went wonderfully with magnificent choreography.

The audience, as did I, enjoyed every aspect of the show. Families gathered in the theater lobby to share their experience. Jonathan Laundry and his family was invited by his neighbors and he shared a few words about what he saw. “I loved the scenery and I loved the dancers. I've always enjoyed the music of Tchaikovsky but I've never seen a live showing of The Nutcracker and I think it just might become a Christmas tradition for us.”

The Pamela Hayes Classical Ballet studio is located in El Dorado Hills and offers various ballet training classes and workshops that includes a summer workshop series. The series will feature Peter O'Brien's staging of “Giselle.”

Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up.

Christmas crafts, art, music and grand openings

2012-12-24T06:18:32Z

The last Second Saturday Art Walk of 2012 contained an assortment of events not only in Midtown and downtown but also in Granite Bay and Folsom.

Folsom hosted its 45th Annual Arts and Crafts Fair. Nearly 200 vendors, live entertainment and fun for the entire family was part of the event rescheduled from the week before because of weather.

Christmas craft vendors lined the middle of Folsom's Historic Sutter Street to sell goods suited for children, adults, pets and Christmas gift giving.

Businesses were open along Sutter Street as well and visitors were able to enjoy the pubs, restaurants and shopping areas in Historic Folsom.

The Folsom Historic District Ice Rink which had been closed because of the weather was re-opened for guests to enjoy. The rink will be open until Jan. 21 and is open seven days a week.

One of my favorite places for art, jewelry, and local crafts is Spanglish Arte. Their new location at 2512 J Street has more than double the space than their last site. The store also has a back patio that was available to house several art stations during Second Saturday.

Spanglish hosted a Holiday Bazaar that included holiday food such as pozole, hot chocolate, pan dulce and other items that went well in helping support local artists and vendors.

Artist John Huerta brought recently completed paintings and other items to the event. Huerta offered a large collection of art and had two tables set up, one was at the front of the store and the other at the back patio.

Lately, I’ve noticed new businesses starting up in Midtown, Oak Park as well as in other areas and December’s Second Saturday saw another grand opening event within days and within a block of each other. Muse Makeover held their grand opening on December 5 and Morris & Terry held their grand opening on Second Saturday.

Morris & Terry Athletic is located in an upstairs suite at 2115 J Street.

Many relatives and friends of owners Marisa Minasian and Terry Buccat attended the event. At times it seemed like a high school reunion as several friends indicated they attended high school together.

The J Spot, located next door to Morris & Terry Athletic, served as a gathering place where delicious food and drinks were served during the event. Kombucha Kulture served a variety of their organic and raw drinks for guests.

On the balcony outside the new shop artists and musicians entertained guests. Artist Gabriel Roberts and Samuel Ross Novinger exhibited their work. Martin Purtill and Jay Shaner shared their musical talents with the audience.

Buccat and Minasian were quite busy during the event but they took a few minutes to talk about the grand opening. In describing their business Buccat said, “We are Morris & Terry and we just opened our first women’s boutique which branches out from our women’s yoga active lifestyle line; Morris Terry Sport and we’re soon bridging more into day wear pieces and building a more overall Morris Terry brand and so you’ll see more of that transition in our store.”

Minasian and Buccat have been working together since 2010 and attribute their growth to word of mouth. Buccat shared that they were relying on word of mouth by friends, press outlets like Juniper James, Sister Brother Style, Eat Breathe Fashion, facebook and a segment that morning on Good Day Sacramento would help bring clientele to their grand opening.

Selection of their location was based on several factors. “We did a lot of research and it was good fit for us, for our size. We’re right in the middle of Midtown, it was a real nice space and our neighbors are so sweet we just kind of really love being back here,” Minasian stated.

Buccat and Minasian look forward to introducing new items to their store and holding future events. They also look forward to working with other local businesses saying, “Everything is made here in California we keep it as local as we can, we design everything ourselves here and we do a charity line that benefits foster youth.”

My last stop for December’s Second Saturday for the evening was a Christmas tree lighting event at the Quarry Ponds Shopping Center in Granite Bay. Artists Randy Rivera’s work was on exhibit at Crushed VLVT.

Fashion in the City

2012-12-23T01:51:57Z

Fashion in the City, a fashion, makeup and hair stylist competition was held at the Fusion International Art Center in Sacramento.

The event, held on Saturday, Dec. 15, drew a sizable audience where 15 of the best stylists in northern California competed for $3,000 in prizes.

The Fusion International Arts Center, located at 501 Arden Way has a large main hall that hosted Fashion in the City. A “T” shaped stage served as the catwalk for the fashion show. VIP tables were set around the stage and a DJ station were set up near

Beautiful gowns and dresses were provided by Georgene Originals. Georgene Scott, owner of Georgene Originals, is a fashion designer and pattern maker whose gowns are specially made for proms and weddings.

DJ Nez, DJ Memo Aguilera and DJ Essense shared their talents with the audience as they played music for dancing and listening enjoyment.

Rosa Jimenez and Sebastian Olvera C Bash served as hosts for the evening.

Each Fashion in the City model who walked the runway had their own following in the audience and wild cheering by audience members was loud and constant in an effort to sway the judges.

Solons and stylist participating in the event included Progressive Hair Salon, Expressions Hair Designs, Karina's Makeup, Maquillaje y Peinado by Sorelle, Irma Patiño, Chiklee Hair Studio and Rosario Tijeras Salon.

Also competing was Sandra de la Horta, Andre & Drea Designs, Judy & Anmarie, Beauty of the Art by Artemio Ibarra, Glammedup, Kurlz by Karla and Glamour Touch.

Fashion in the City is the brainchild of Vision Entertainment booking agent Cutberto (Beto) Aguilar. When asked about what inspired the event Aguilar said, “I came up with the concept because I think we need to showcase our local talent and this was the perfect event. This time I partnered with d'primeramano magazine and Borges Media.”

Aguilar indicated he expected an audience of about 400 guests for the evening's event matching last year's attendance.

This was the second year of the Fashion in the City event. Aguilar stated that last year's event was held at Antigua Ultra Lounge.

Aguilar explained why they chose to hold the event at the Fusion International Arts Center saying, “Miguel (Borges) has friends and he works here. I was looking for a good place that was larger and nice to make this a success.”

Aguilar is also CEO of Vision Entertainment a company that acquires and promotes talented entertainment for private and public parties and events. Vision Entertainment presented a well organized Fashion in the City event.

Sergio Romero from CBS TV, Cynthia Moreno of ~~Univision~~ Vida en el Valle and designer Rory Castillo were introduced as the judges for the evening's competition.

Miss Sacramento Latina Erika Vaca was introduced before the fashion show began and remained at the event socializing and posing for photos with guests.

Once the fashion show began models walked the runway and posed to showcase the hair and makeup stylist work as well as the beautiful Georgene Original outfits.

Three teams were selected as finalists; model Tania Cisneros represented Karina's Makeup, Yuri Munguia represented Chiklee Hair Sudio and Nancy Sanchez represented Irma Patiño.

After tabulation the Fashion in the City winner was Cisneros' team. The winning team, as expected, celebrated as their name was announced.

The Fashion in the City event was fun, well organized and showcased regional talent. Next year the event is expected to attract strong competition and local entertainment.

Editor's Note: Paragraph 15 has been edited. Cynthia Moreno is employed by Vida en el Valle.

Three Stages in Folsom hosts Posada Navideña

2012-12-18T08:12:35Z

An enchanting evening full of music and dance came to the Three Stages Performing Arts Center at Folsom Lake College. The Compañia Mazatlán Bellas Artes de Sacramento presented a festive Christmas performance on the main stage.

The “Posada Navideña,” a Christmas processional, was performed by a group of 30 dancers and musicians. They brought traditional live Mexican music and traditional Mexican dance mixed with ballet to the stage.

Executive director Yolanda Ramos-Colosio began teaching traditional Mexican folk dance in Sacramento in 1994. Four years later, as the school grew, she introduced a school (Instituto Mazatlán Bellas Artes) and a professional performing company (Compañia Mazatlán Bellas Artes).

Dynamic dancer and choreographer Steven Valencia became CMBA’s artistic director in 1998, and since 2000 the company has performed locally and internationally.

Under the direction of Valencia, the CMBA has toured throughout California, the Southwest, Mexico and China, and has won national and international competitions.

The Sacramento native announced his resignation as artistic director effective Dec. 31. Valencia's last performance was at Three Stages. The Posada Navideña in Folsom was also his final dance performance for CMBA.

Valencia's credentials as a dancer and choreographer are impressive. The award-winning director has also served as a grant writer for IMBA, and successfully secured several grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council and other organizations. Valencia has also been influential in creating in-school programs in the Sacramento region and partnering with the city's Any Given Child program.

Valencia's work in Sacramento is well-documented, and his work as a peace officer at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has helped him understand other local issues. His work at the CDCR made him see firsthand that many children may not have a positive outlet in life, and may turn to doing negative things.

He's been quoted as saying, “My goal has been to teach kids and young adults about culture, discipline and goal reaching through a positive forum: dance." Valencia's dedication as director, dancer and choreographer will be missed, and Friday's spectacular performance showcased his talent.

Three Stages at Folsom Lake College continues to attract top events and performances and Friday's Posada Navideña performance showcased the theater’s versatility, comfortable seating and magnificent stage.

A live band played in the background and brought life to the performances as regional dances came to the stage. Dancers in magnificent regional costumes began with a set of dances from Veracruz. The initial performance was choreographed by Valencia and guest artist David Lopez-Mancilla.

Wearing typical Veracruz outfits, dancers celebrated Christmas traditions. Several songs, including “La Bamba,” played during the visually enriching dances.

Other traditional dances and songs from Michoacán were highlighted by a whimsical dance in which dancers wore masks and costume to make them look like old men as they performed “Danza de los Viejitos.” The dance had guests laughing, especially the younger members in the audience.

"Yucatan- Fiesta del Pueblo" was a debut choreographed performance by Lopez-Mancilla.

Each dance was well-received by the audience, and regional pieces were welcomed by audience members with ties to those areas.

Christmas, or Navideña, songs and dances were performed, representing the pilgrimage made by Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem for the birth of baby Jesus. This posada celebration was celebrated on stage with classic ballet moves, and included a battle between the devil and the archangel Gabriel. The scene was colorfully performed and was followed by the arrival of the Three Kings at the site of Jesus' birth.

The final pieces performed included a full-blown fandango with traditional renditions of “La Piñata” and “Feliz Navidad” that also had audience members singing along.

The Posada Navideña was very colorful and the brilliant performances were very lively, leaving me with some lasting memories.

Some members of the audience shared that the program made them nostalgic for traditional celebrations. One member was Mona Almanza, who came to see her daughter Becca perform. When asked for her opinion on the show, she said, “Wonderful, it made me cry.”

The event continued in the lobby, as performers shared their experience with audience members who remained after the show.

Log on to Compañia Mazatlán Bellas Artes to find out more about their dance performances and programs. Three Stages' website has a full schedule of events for the rest of the year, as well as a 2013 schedule for visitors to view.

Sweet Dreams Foundation fundraiser

2012-12-16T23:30:32Z

Whole Foods Market in Folsom, in an effort to give back to the community, holds a 5% Community Giving Day. On Wednesday, Dec. 5 Sweet Dreams Foundation was the recipient of the event.

Sweet Dreams is a non-profit organization that seeks to, as their mission states, “improve the quality of life for children who have been diagnosed with a life threatening disease through the creation of their dream bedroom."

This year Sweet Dreams Foundation was able to raise money to create two rooms for two beautiful children.

Each room takes time to complete and it begins by selecting a child who would benefit from a Sweet Dreams room creation. There is an application process that helps in the selection.

This year the Sweet Dreams Foundation created a dream room for Virginia and Malena.

Virginia was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) a month after turning five years old. Chemotherapy and medication helped alleviate her illness by November of last year. Five months later Virginia relapsed needing an immediate blood transfusion and stronger chemotherapy.

Sweet Dreams president and interior decorator Jennifer Richards spent time with Virginia to find out what the little girl liked in order to incorporate those things in creating her room.

A bedroom was conceived and a collection of volunteers proceeded to help create Virginia's dream room.

A smile seems to always grace the little girl's face and her personality radiates warmth to those around her.

Besides volunteers a series of fundraisers are created to help create these rooms. The Sweet Dreams Foundation relies on volunteers, sponsors and a team of board members to help raise funds.

One of the main, and fun, events held during the year to help with the fundraiser efforts is an annual luau where past Sweet Dreams Foundation recipients attend. A dinner, silent and live auctions, live music and entertainment await visitors at the event.

At these events children who have benefited from dream rooms enjoy the company of family and friends. The many people who volunteer, donate or sponsor the room creation enjoy a wonderful evening to celebrate the completion of dream rooms

This was the first time two rooms were created during a year.

The second room was created for Malena who was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2. She has never been able to walk and learned to drive her mechanical wheelchair at the age of two.

Malena wished for an under the sea bedroom with a clam shell bed. The Sweet Dreams team and volunteers helped create a wonderful room with walls painted by Emiliano Campobello a muralist friend of the family.

Seeing the eyes of the little girls as they entered to see their new room for the first time is always such a delight to see. The awe inspiring rooms bring wonderful smiles to their face and the hard work created by a team of volunteers and sponsors lasts not only those first few seconds but it gives the girls a room where they can relax, enjoy and share with their loved ones.

The Wholefoods 5% Day will help with the creation of other rooms for kids with similar ailments. Sweet Dreams Foundation had an information table near one of the entrances to Whole Foods and they were able to answer questions about the foundation and becoming involved.

The 5% Day at Whole Foods Market in Folsom donated 5% of the day's net sales to the Sweet Dreams Foundation.

Whole Foods monthly calendar is full of activities for the community they serve. Besides the 5% Day this month's events include winter beer tasting, wine gifting event, a kid's pizza and movie night, a toy drive with Santa and many other events.

Turnout during the 5% Day was not hampered by the rain and a check in the amount of $2165.45 will be given to Sweet Dreams Foundation.

Richards sent Ciara Glass, Whole Foods Marketing Team Leader in Folsom a thank you letter for their contribution.

Sweet Dreams is very thankful to Whole Foods and all the other businesses that sponsor and hold fundraisers.

The next fund raising event is a Fun Run that will benefit Sweet Dreams Foundation and the Folsom Athletic Association. The run will start at 1 p.m. at Folsom's Lembi Park on Jan. 1, 2013.

Disclosure: I serve as a board member for Sweet Dreams Foundation

Luxe Salon & Spa and Muse Makeover host a holiday mixer

2012-12-14T07:47:45Z

Luxe Salon & Spa together with Muse Makeover collaborated to host a festive evening that included a holiday mixer with music, holiday spirits and a fashion show on Thursday, Dec. 6.

The event also served as Muse Makeover’s grand opening celebration.

Luxe Salon and Muse Makeover are situated in adjoining suites at 2015 J Street. The businesses share a front balcony area that also served as a catwalk for a fashion show.

Guests enjoyed complimentary hor’s de ov’res and drinks at both establishments.

Complimentary mini make-overs and chair massages were provided by Luxe's professional staff.

Hosts Mila Anatiychuk and Tennison Long were on hand to make sure guests were taken care of and many regular Luxe Salon customers also came to enjoy the event.

In the balcony area outside of Luxe Salon and Muse Makeover several boutiques participated in a trunk show. A wonderful selection of outfits from the Denim Spot Clothing Boutique, Krazy Mary's Boutique and BellaVUE Boutique were available for guests to purchase.

Denim Spot, Krazy Mary's and designer Rory Castillo provided fashionable wear for the models. Photography was provided by Tom Huynh and several of his photographers including Leonard Row, Nuriya Safarova-Sahlbach and Yao Saelee.

The balcony was filled with guest and models Anita Spoljar, Hallie Lewis, Alexis Pinkney, Marcus Cortez, Ryan Christopher, Lilya Liliya Karavan (Miss Russia California) and Heather Dominguez-Cuevas. Local singing artist Dinorah Curkendall besides modeling a Castillo outfit serenaded the audience following the fashion show.

Sarah Walker, Vice President of Muse Makeover took the microphone after the fashion show to welcome guests to the grand opening and introduced several representatives from other companies that they have partnered with to professionally attend to their clientele.

Shane McDaid, President of Muse Makeover, took a few minutes from the busy event to talk a little about Muse Makeover.

When asked to give a description of what Muse Makeover is all about, McDaid said, "Muse Makeover is a makeover company that’s also a partnership of small businesses from Sacramento. The idea is to help the customer, or what we call the muse, find the providers that they need in order to reach the goals they’re looking for. They’re in their 30s, 40s and 50s and they’re looking to change the way the world sees them. We give them the tools through our partnership with other small businesses in Sacramento."

McDaid noted that Muse Makeover partners with businesses in the greater Sacramento area including an exclusive cosmetic dentistry with partnerships with professionals like Monica Crooks, DDS,

McDaid shared his inspiration for creating Muse Makeover saying, "I’ve been in marketing for years and I began doing marketing for a plastic surgeon, Dr. Andy Kaczynski, who you saw tonight. In doing that part of my job I try to find out what motivates our clientele. I look for that motivation by interviewing patients and talking about what is it that they’re trying to achieve. I’ve learned that people are just not trying to achieve one little thing they’re trying to achieve a giant transformation and so I created Muse Makeover in order to tend to that entire transformation."

I asked McDaid how he met Walker. “We met a couple of years ago at a gathering like this and hit it off. She has worked as an image consultant in Europe and so when I was trying to create this concept it became a perfect fit and I asked her to jump on board and help me out with it,” said McDaid.

The evening was a lot of fun and McDaid summed it up perfectly when asked to describe the event he said it was “fabulous.”

Sac-Con fans pack Sacramento's Scottish Rite Center

2012-12-12T08:51:21Z

Sac-Con continues to be a popular attraction and the Sunday, Dec. 9 show once again packed the Scottish Rite Center.
The gathering was one of the largest and Sac-Con announced that nearly 2,000 fans attended the event.

Artists, authors, vendors and special guests talked to the many fans who stopped at their booths. In the spirit of the event, actor Ernie Hudson wore his Winston Zeddemore Ghostbusters costume. Long lines formed at Hudson's station as fans waited to obtain autographs and pose for photos with the popular actor.

Occupying the same area was Robin Shelby, who is known for her performance as Slimer in “Ghostbusters II.”

Long lines also formed at Steve Blum's autograph station. Blum might be best known as the voice of Spike Spiegel from “Cowboy Bebop.” Blum also does the voice for Wolverine in animated movies, games and the “Wolverine” and “X-Men” TV series.

Blum also participated in a Q&A session in the Back Panel Room of the Scottish Rite Center. The room full of fans asked questions related to Blum and his career as a voice actor.

Questions about other topics were also posed. One fan asked a question about prank calling people and asked if the actor had ever done that. Blum's answer was quite amusing.

“You know I used to do that before I became a professional voice actor,” he said. “I was always able to do a lot of different voices and what really ended up happening was I did, back when they had tape answering machines.”

Blum had a message recorded in a goofy sounding voice on his answering machine. He continued with the story saying that someone called the wrong number and got his answering machine.

“I heard them laughing in the background saying to someone else, 'you got to hear this,' and then click. Minutes later somebody else called and I could hear them laughing and so I guess they told their friends to call this number because they would call every week. Then this group of people started calling saying, ‘change your message; I want to hear something else.’ So I would change it to something else and so it kind of became a thing and I never thought I would get paid for that. I started doing something where I would aim the messages at different numbers.”

Using voices that sounded like Donald Duck and others, he finished that question saying, “That's as far as it went; I never really made prank calls.”

Someone else asked how many tattoos he had and Blum indicated he had three. One of them, on his left forearm brought forth other questions.

“Oh, yes this tattoo is my voice. That's the last thing that Spike says in the series,” said Blum, drawing oohs and aahs from the audience. The clever voice-inspired tattoo is a snapshot of the last words of the Spike Spiegel character.

Fans enjoyed a nice sunny day which allowed them to mingle with each other outdoors. Many attendees spend countless hours making their own cosplay outfits. Elaborate work showcases talent from cosplay costume makers, and many are worthy of being cinema costumes.

Other artists and vendors returned to showcase their newer creations in art, crafts and fashion. Carlyfornia Love had one of her latest creations on hand. A comic book-print dress attracted customers for a close-up view.

Anthony Leano occupied the space next to his longtime girlfriend, Carlyfornia. Leano, who books and promotes guests for Sac-Con, SacAnime and other events, sold movie poster prints and avant-garde DVDs as well as other items. Leano, like other artists, is more than happy to share expertise and talk about similar events around California.

Many other guests lined the main halls where a Christmas tree offered a festive mood amid the organized chaos. Vendors filled the stage areas and offered comic book-related items that included action figures, posters, swords, clothing and other collectables.
The stage itself served as a place to hold card tournaments that transpired throughout the day.

A room straight across from the main entrance housed the Small Press Zone. The artist-themed zone featured several comic book creators, writers and artists who showcased new works. The zone included amateur and professional artists.

Many of the artists lining the walls of the Small Press Zone have attended other Sac-Con events and understand the importance of meeting with their ever-growing audience. Fans, in turn, are appreciative of being able to talk to these artists about their talent and how they got started.

Jason Dube's Scattered Comics booth included a Shadow Hunters signing session. The Shadow Hunters #2 (Cosplay Edition) premiered at Sac-Con. I had spotted Dube earlier waiting in line to get Hudson's autograph; it was great to witness one artist appreciating the work of another.

Winning cosplayers from a Shadow Hunters contest were also on hand to sign copies of the new edition. Characters included Victoria Augusto as Firewire, Tina Bird as Eileen, Maria Crawdad as Kala and Iris Elvirus as Jessika. The cosplayers posed for photos and signed copies of the Shadow Hunters release.

The Shadow Hunters Cosplay Edition includes photos of the cosplay contest winners as well as a double-page centerfold suitable for decorating any wall.

Comic book writer Peter Quinones hosted a “Writing for Comics” workshop where he shared his expertise on how to develop a storyline and work with other artists to create a comic book.

Quinones' credits include: G.I. Joe, Phantom 2040, Quantum Leap and others. He is also the co-creator of the Epic/Marvel series, Dragon Lines.

Future writers and artists attended the workshop and were treated to valuable insights in creating a superhero comic book story from beginning to end. Quinones covered story development, plot, themes and touching on emotions such as fear, loss, love, laughter and loneliness. Touching on these emotions brings in the reader, as we all have these feelings. Quinones emphasized that loneliness is one aspect that touches most superheroes - as well as villains - and allows the audience to be drawn into and relate to this powerful emotion.

The Sacramento Ghostbusters were quite visible around the convention and their Ghostbusters vehicle was parked in front of the auditorium. The group participated in the Toys for Tots Drive along with the Bay Area Ghostbusters.

Hudson and Shelby co-hosted another Q&A session and many attended. Hudson is a likeable, laid-back guy who enjoyed the session and answered questions about his Ghostbusters experience, how he got started in the movie business and what he's been up to.

One of the recurring questions asked was regarding when and if a third “Ghostbusters” would come out and if he would be in the movie.
“Everybody says they would like to see it happen, but nothing yet,” Hudson said. “When I see the money, then I know it's for real, but until then....” Laughter from the audience erupted as he shared his insight.

When someone asked if he'd heard about what the next “Ghostbusters” movie might be about, Hudson stated, “I've heard Bill Murray is going to be a ghost and things are floating around. There's also a lot of fans who write scripts. My son wrote a script - you'd be amazed and it would be a great fan movie... Do I know anything about seeing a script? No, not really.”

Hudson's insights were quite revealing. He shared, to the amazement of many, that he's not a big movie fan and can not recite his roles line by line like some actors and fans do.

Hudson and Shelby answered many questions and then returned to the autograph tables to continue to talk to fans.

A charity auction was also held to benefit local charities such as Loaves & Fishes and the Mustard Seed School.

The ever-popular Cosplay Costume Contest took placed in a room full of guests, and again, the talent of the fans who attended was quite impressive.

Craftsmanship judging results were announced after cosplayers showed their talent in creating costumes or performing on stage.

Stephanie Rector, organizer of Sacramento Geeks, set the stage and introduced the presentation host for the Best of Geeky Sacramento awards.

The guest host was writer and comedian Robert Berry who announced and presented the winners for each category.

Poll award winners were the Sacramento Ghostbusters for Best Local Geeky Club or Social Organization, Seeker for Best Local Geeky Band or Live Entertainment Group, Chris Wisnia for Best Local Comic Book Writer or Graphic Artist, Best local Weekly or Monthly Event or Meetup went to the Sacramento Comic Creators Group, Best Local Comic Book Store or Anime Shop was won by Empire's Comics Vault, and Best Local Sci-Fi Fantasy or Horror Author was Nicholas Grabowsky.

Evangeline’s took the Best Place to Find Costuming Supplies in the Sacramento Area award, the Best Semi-Regular or Annual Local Event winner was Sac-Con, the Best Local Gaming or Hobby Shop was Great Escape Games, the Best local Maker/Inventor/Techie went to Fred Jeska, and the award for Best Place for a Geeky Date winner were the Sac-Anime and Sac-Con Conventions.

Sunday's Sac-Con was once again a fun-filled family-oriented event. Sac-Con will return to Sacramento's Scottish Rite Center on Sunday, March 3, 2013. Log on to the Sac-Con website to view who the invited special guests will be for the event or to find out more about participating as a vendor or artist.

Several artists from this year’s Sac-Con will also be participating at the Drawing for Toys event on Dec. 15 from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. at Empire's Comics Vault. Artists will create original works of art, as well as commission work, to benefit Toys for Tots. Empire's Comics Vault is located at 1120 Fulton Ave.

Uptown Fashion Night 2012

2012-11-30T00:16:42Z

For the second year in a row The Pink House, Sparkle Bridal Couture and Krazy Mary’s Boutique combined efforts to bring East Sacramento an evening full of music, shopping, socializing and fashion at the Uptown Fashion Night 2012. The event was held on Thursday, Nov. 8 and drew many friends and shoppers to the event.

The three businesses are located next to each other on the corner of 32nd Street and Folsom Blvd.

Peggy Orr, owner of The Pink House, Sandra Gonzalez who owns Sparkle Bridal Couture and Mary Kawano, owner of Krazy Mary’s Boutique opened their shops to customers for the 2012 Uptown Fashion Night.

The event drew hundredths to the event and visitors were able to enjoy sale items being offered at each shop.

Guests were also invited to donate to Sacramento Crisis Nursery. Sacramento Children's Home operates the Crisis Nursery Program whose mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect by providing support to families at times of crisis.

The Pink House offered a selection of fashionable items, hand bags, shoes, jewelry and other accessories.

Delicious appetizers and drinks provided a relaxed setting for visitors to shop and enjoy sale items at The Pink House.

Krazy Mary’s Boutique carried a wide assortment of the newest trends. Kawano and her staff shop for the latest trends and know what customers are looking for. Krazy Mary’s staff is courteous and was very attentive to customers indulging them with a vast inventory suitable for its wide customer base.

Kawano and staff were busy catering to their customers at Uptown Fashion where they also provided visitors with music, appetizers and wine.

Sparkle Bridal Couture’s bridal showroom showcases wedding gowns as well as bridal and special occasion dresses. The bridal showroom is California’s first and only bridal salon solely dedicated to bridal and special occasion outfits sizes 14-30.

Sparkle had several vendors and a DJ on hand. Gonzalez also had several members of her family helping making this event a true family affair.

Sponsors and vendors at the event included Jaime Becker of Lyon Real Estate, Deeda Salon, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, La Trattoria Bohemia, Girls on the Grid, Good Day Sacramento, Rinfrancare, DJ Esef, Thai Basil, DJ Trait, Leslie Andrews Photography, Strands Hair and Spa and others.

All three shops also collaborated to bring a fashion show at Sparkle Bridal Couture.

The fashion show was the highlight of the evening and brought guests and store owners together to enjoy a red carpet fashion walk highlighting various styles and accessories that helped create a delightful Uptown Fashion Night 2012 event.

New Stockton Blvd. business offers elegant fashion

2012-11-13T05:52:48Z

Nor Cal Fashions, a new boutique for the fashion conscious, hosted its grand opening on Oct. 8. The store is located at 3600 Stockton Blvd., near the Colonial Theater.

Angel Basha is the owner of Nor Cal Fashions. Basha previously owned Satin Chic, a boutique on K Street in Downtown Sacramento.

Basha has a passion and love for inspiring women and motivating them to have better self-esteem through fashion and beauty, regardless of their size. This passion was behind the reason for opening the new boutique, which offers fashion for women of all sizes.

Nor Cal Fashions is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

In describing the vision for Nor Cal Fashions, Basha said, “I'd like to become more involved in the community and continue to uplift and inspire women. I am going to start a program where I select a woman in the community who is deserving of having her own special makeover beauty day. Nor Cal Fashions will donate an outfit and reach out to other businesses to have their hair and makeup done. I would like to reach out to organizations such as WEAVE to find deserving candidates.”

Nor Cal Fashions caters to young and older women alike. Colorful outfits suited for everyday wear, as well as business attire, design clothing and outfits for going out on the town, are just a portion of fashionable items that can be found at the boutique. Other fashion accessories, including handbags and shoes, are also available. The day I went to the boutique, a basket near the front also offered men's dress socks on sale.

Since opening up, Basha shared that they've held several special events and plan to continue offering them to their customers. Basha stated, “Nor Cal Fashion offers in-store fashion, shoe and purse parties in our VIP lounge. The first three Saturdays in November and December, we are having vendor events. Many of the vendors are from the Oak Park community. On Nov. 14 we are having a meet-and-greet luncheon for the UC Davis, Shriner Hospital and DMV staff. On Nov. 15 we are having a Diva Night Out and shopping event from 4-7:00 p.m. We are also participating in helping the organization Simply United Together with their toy drive. The toy drive goes from Nov. 21-Dec. 21. Nor Cal Fashion will be a donation center to drop-off point for the unwrapped new toys. Their goal is 1,000 toys. I will give everyone who drops off a new toy a raffle ticket to enter for a $20 gift certificate from Nor Cal Fashions.”

Being part of the Oak Park community and the building itself were the two primary purposes for selecting the current location for Nor Cal Fashions. The location offers plenty of parking and is near the Streetcar Cafe for people wishing to experience another new business in the area.

Nor Cal Fashions also offers men’s and women’s clothing alterations, and has an in-house jewelry and outfit designer.

When asked what she'd like to see in the future for her shop, Basha answered, “Right now I have three departments. The clothing department that also caters to plus-size women, a shoe and purse department, which we call 'Keepin' It Klassy,' which is operated by Christy Kennedy, better known as Chyna, and an alteration department for men and women. My seamstress, Wanda, and Pat Sumpner also have their own clothing line called PatWanna Creations, which is sold at the store and is their ring design clothing. My husband Fred Basha has been very instrumental in helping my vision and dream come true with Nor Cal Fashions.”Nor Cal Fashions offers new, chic and contemporary fashion items on a regular basis, and looks forward to serving its community for a long time to come.

New Stockton Blvd. business offers "Good Food for Good Neighbors" cuisine

2012-11-09T09:09:34Z

New businesses have opened up along Stockton Boulevard during the past few months. Streetcar Cafe, located at 3520 Stockton Blvd., next door to the Colonial Theater, is one of these newer establishments.

With the purpose of providing “good food for good neighbors,” Nina Correia opened the Streetcar Cafe. The cafe offers dine-in, takeout and lunch delivery. Event catering is also one of their specialties, and the restaurant provides free Wi-Fi for its dine-in customers.

Streetcar Cafe prides itself on dishes reminiscent of “Mom's home cooking,” creating food made with fresh and natural ingredients from local suppliers.

Streetcar Cafe opened Aug. 19, and will have another grand opening celebration in December, when they anticipate their liquor license will come through.

Correia knows her neighborhood extremely well, and when asked what used to be at the cafe location, she knew not only the last establishment at the location, but also several other businesses that occupied the space.

Correia noted that Sinaloa Mexican Food Restaurant served food there; before that it was the Colonial Cafe, and prior to that the Cobbler Inn Soul Food Restaurant occupied the space. The stage and bar setup by the Cobbler Inn remains near the entrance. A pool table occupies the main eating area across from the kitchen.

This is Correia's first personal business. Giving some background as to what inspired her to open her restaurant, Correia said, “I have always cooked. I'm also a bartender at Club Raven in Downtown, located on 33rd and J; it's one of the oldest bars in Sacramento. I work there and I've always wanted to own my own business, and I loved to cook. When this space became available, I jumped on it. This neighborhood wants something fresh. Our Yelp page is actually a big reason why we're busy. Yelp is awesome. And we've gotten good reviews; people like our food. We get people from Roseville, and the other day we had a lady from Lincoln who saw our Yelp review. She works downtown, and she came down and ate, and now she's passing the word around.”

Correia continued, “I'm from this neighborhood and I kind of recognize most people who come in, and they know me. If I see somebody new I ask how they know about us, how they heard about us, so we try to improve on what they tell me.”

When asked what inspired her to open the restaurant, Correia said, “I've always wanted to own my own business and I just turned 30 so I think I was like 'The clock is ticking; it's now or never.' I'm young and I have the energy to work a bunch of hours and not care, so I realized it was time to start the business.”

As we talked, some customers sitting at a couple of tables began to leave. Correia turned to the customer to ask how the food was. Customers replied, “Excellent, wonderful.” One of the customers was pregnant and while rubbing and pointing to her belly said, “She liked it.”

The Streetcar Cafe is open for lunch Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and Friday until 9 p.m. Correia indicated that they're looking to expand their hours around the holidays when the liquor license is secured.

Correia is happy with her restaurant location and one of the reasons, besides serving community residents, is that there is a lot of spillover business on the weekends from the Colonial Theater.

The restaurant's goal is “to make it a breakfast, lunch and dinner service restaurant.” Other plans for the cafe include having her artistic and performing friends perform on open mic nights. Plans for art shows are also in the works. Correia said, “I feel like the whole Second Saturday movement is getting closer to this neighborhood, and I think it's a good idea. This neighborhood is becoming what Oak Park used to be; an affluent neighborhood.”

Many framed pictures surround the eating areas as well as the future bar. Correia's knowledge of the community's history is very impressive, and each of the photos has a history behind it that Correia is more than willing to talk about.

The Streetcar Cafe, and the neighborhood in general, has ties and important Sacramento history behind it.

Correia's optimism for the restaurant and serving the neighborhood is very impressive. She feels that we're coming out of a recession and that the restaurant will help the neighborhood return to the era of prosperity it once was a part of. She takes pride in saying, “I'm from this neighborhood, I love this neighborhood, and almost everybody that comes here is from the neighborhood.”

The Streetcar Cafe has opened its doors to neighborhood watch meetings and private non-profit organization meetings as well. The cafe is also open during off days for other similar events.

Correia's selection for the current location is owed to, as she said, timing. “It's all timing; I used to live across the street. I originally was going to do catering, I was going to use this place. I knew the owner here and I was going to ask to rent the kitchen to prepare our food for catering, and it turned out the owner was going out of business. They offered me the spot so I rearranged funds and priorities, and here I am.”

The main goal in opening the restaurant is to provide the neighborhood with something they can be proud of.

The menu is simple and the prices are very reasonable. Daily specials are posted on billboards outside the restaurant. Visit their Streetcar Cafe website, Yelp and Facebook pages for more information and a sample menu.

New Stockton Blvd. business offers Caribbean style cuisine

2012-11-09T08:45:57Z

The Caribbean Breeze Cuisine Restaurant opened its doors to the public Aug. 15. The restaurant is located at 5015 Stockton Blvd., across the street from Kmart and next door to Thrift Town.

The restaurant is owned by Vincent Semper, who hails from the Virgin Islands, and his wife Amelia, a Panama native.

The couple's passion for food preparation and the opportunity to offer authentic Caribbean dishes is at the heart of their business. Caribbean specialties like stew oxtail, brown stew chicken, curry chicken, pork and chicken jerk, and island-style fish are just a few of their menu options.

The decor is very pleasant and the establishment is very clean. While executive chef Vincent prepared meals in the kitchen, which can be seen from inside the restaurant, Amelia talked about the Caribbean Breeze.

The Caribbean Breeze is open Tuesday-Saturday,11 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sundays, noon- 6 p.m. An official grand opening will be announced at a later date.

Owners of the Caribbean Breeze indicate the restaurant caters to individuals, families, churches, businesses and social groups in the area. They also offer reservations for small groups for meetings, luncheons and dinners, and can accommodate a party of 10 or more. Catering services for these same groups are available, with food offerings suited to the individual celebration.

During the upcoming holiday season, the Caribbean Breeze will also offer customized Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner specials. To take advantage of the holiday specials, customers need to order two weeks in advance. More information on these planned specials can be found by email at caribbeanbreezecuisine@gmail.com, or by calling the restaurant.

The owners of this specialty cuisine restaurant welcome the opportunity to serve neighbors in the Sacramento area with the finest in Caribbean (and select American) cuisine, saying, “We are excited and eager to meet and serve the community at large. We believe that once you visit our restaurant, you will return. Our food is very pleasing to the palate, of high quality and prepared with the best care. You will always experience a very friendly and hospitable environment.”

Día de los Muertos celebrated in Midtown

2012-10-30T21:16:43Z

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a day for honoring the life and memory of loved ones was celebrated over the weekend of Oct. 27-28.

The event, known as Panteón de Sacramento (Sacramento Cemetery) was celebrated with dance performances, music and family oriented activities.

Dozens of altars honoring loved ones who have passed away were set up at the Native American Health Center’s parking lot on J Street.

I attended part of Saturday’s event and was captivated by many of the altars I stopped at. Individual and community groups participated in building elaborate altars.

The event is hosted by La Raza Galería Posada and many people and organizations that participated last year and years before returned once again.

One of the many altars was created by Marco Ferrero who returned to celebrate his new book Esperanza & Don Marco. Ferrero also worked on a painting at his altar station showcasing another of his many talents. Ferrero participated last year as he read part of his book on stage.

Other artists returned from last year's event with new altars and several performances were also part of the daily events.

The event included workshop classes offered by La Raza Galería where visitors could create sugar skulls or skull masks.

This year it took two parking lots to handle the many altars and activities offered. Yolanda’s Tamales sold its delicacies and many other eateries around the event benefitted by the many visitors who attended.

The 3rd Annual Día de los Muertos was once again full of activities and intriguing altars honoring the dead. Community information booths on hand disseminated valuable information for visitors who stopped at their booths and many vendors and artists who sold merchandise received exposure as thousands of visitors stopped at their stands.

The laughter of children at the Panteón de Sacramento reminded me that life is to be lived to its fullest and that death is imminent so why not respect and celebrate both.

La Raza Galería Posada’s Día de los Muertos annual celebration continues to bring many visitors to its free event. Follow their website for future events and if you’d like to participate next year, information will be posted as the event draws near.

Shannon McCabe's Vampire Ball

2012-10-30T06:28:35Z

Shannon McCabe’s Vampire Ball made a successful debut at Roseville’s Placer County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Oct. 27. The theme for this year’s event was “The Vampire Chronicles - A tribute to all things Anne Rice."

The evening event brought several hundred visitors to a venue full of live music, tribal dancers, carnival food and a beer garden for guests to enjoy.

Having outgrown previous venues, the Placer County Fairgrounds hosted the Vampire Ball as well as Callson Manor Haunted House.

The Vampire Ball included an area that looked like a graveyard, a plantation, Queen Akasha’s throne room, a VIP cemetery and other scenes inspired by Anne Rice’s Vampire Ball Chronicles, from her books that have been made into movies. The scenes included actors interacting with visitors.

Besides some on-stage dancing, a Queen Akasha character from time to time sat at her throne. The “Queen of the Damned” character gave a great interpretation of the Kemet queen.

Other actors on hand included characters from Rice’s “Interview with the Vampire” and “Vampire Lestat.”

Several vendors sold merchandise in the outdoor area. Because this was an event for the over-21 crowd, some of the vendors showcased merchandise geared to this specific age group. Gothic merchandise, a hookah tent, cigars and other items were also available for visitors.

Some of the vendors and sponsors included Freebird Designs by Berta, Box Boy Boxes, Hook It Up Hookah Lounge, Art of Cigars, Passion Parties, Ms. Macabre’s Alchemy, Pumpkin Geek, Wildfire Promoting and many others.

Live performances by Tribal Fusion Bellydance and rock bands New Pioneers, Restrayned and Vamp Le Stat entertained visitors on the outdoor stage.

DJs David V, Bryan Hawk and Norman Stradley spun popular groves for the indoor crowd.

As the evening continued, guests enjoyed the Vampire Ball inside a large warehouse. A stage had vamps dancing as Skip’s Music played for the audience below. The dance area was a popular spot and the music attracted many monsters and vampires to the dance floor. At one point a monster mosh erupted, but only lasted a few seconds, fun for the participants nonetheless.

Many of the costumes worn by guests were very impressive. I would loved to have seen a best costume contest.

Another highlight of the evening included the 2013 Vampire Queen contests. Eleven contestants battled for the title that was decided half by online voting and half by a judging panel. Contestants with names like Quinn Sin Kitten, Ginger Cleary, Belladonna, Mistress Rue, Kadaver O’Keefe, Jezebel, Scarlet Ardeur, Miss Giselle, Mistress Mina, Bad Penny and Mama Satan Vamp made an impression on visitors and judges.

Toward the end of the evening, I asked McCabe how the Vampire Ball got started. McCabe said, “I was sitting with my friend Carol Gillis and we were talking about what we should do for Halloween, and this was back in 2009, and we were drinking a bottle of Vampire Vineyards wine, and I said, ‘What should we do for Halloween?’ She said, ‘I don’t know, what about a vampire ball?” I said, Oh my god, what a great idea.’ Vampires are so big right now. Twilight was in its infancy and in its prime as well, and it just made sense. So we did it and it was a huge success that was barely promoted and we had 125 people there. The place was packed, and we just kept on moving up and up from there.”

Asked how long the event has been held at the Placer County Fairgrounds, McCabe stated, “This is the very first year for Placer County Fairgrounds, and I think we did pretty well for the first year.”

“We had it at Vega’s the first year in Old Sacramento, and then the following two years we had it at the Crescent Club,” McCabe said.

When asked about what she thought were some of the highlights of the event, McCabe said, “The highlights of the night, for me, were having our actors portray the scenes that were in the movies, and that’s what I want people to walk away with, that they felt like they were in the movie.”

McCabe talked about coming back next year, saying, “We’re definitely going to have it here next year. We’re looking for a long-term deal with the Placer County Fairgrounds, and just to let you know that our sound and lighting guys came from Skip’s Music.”

Skip Maggiora (of Skip’s Music) was one of the judges for the Vampire Pin-up Pageant. McCabe’s outgoing personality has attracted many friends, business partners and volunteers to become involved in the Vampire Ball, making the event a success.

The Vampire Ball was a fun event that brought a large audience to this Halloween weekend venue. Look for updates on their Facebook page to volunteer, or to participate as a vendor, sponsor, actor or vampire queen contestant for next year’s event.

Another zombie attack: Zombie mud run a ' tough' but fun event

2012-10-23T08:44:07Z

We are doomed! The days of George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” are long gone. No more slow-walking zombies trying to get you. You have to be quick, as was shown this Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Running Dead Zombie Mud Run event held at Gibson Ranch.

Thousands upon thousands (no official attendance released as of yet) of runners faced a 5K obstacle-course mud run at various intervals. Many runners came in uniform to compete.

Runners had to maneuver around military-style obstacles. They were given flag-football flags to wear around their waists, and zombies along the course attempted to grab the flags. Not only that, but these zombies were allowed to run to grab those flags.

Runners began running the course at 8 a.m. Saturday, and ran at half-hour intervals.

When I arrived, a long line of vehicles was waiting to enter Gibson Ranch, and parking near the beginning of the course was at a premium.

Lines formed and remained at the registration table throughout the day. Volunteers were recruited to alleviate the line, but to little avail. Lines also formed at makeup stations.

Obstacle courses included a couple of mud pits and other boot-camp-style obstacles. Injuries in this type of run can occur, and being chased by zombies did not make things easy for runners.

Runners who successfully ran and made it to the finish line, or the “Center for Disease Control,” as it was called, officially survived the zombie apocalypse. Participants who made it without at least one flag were considered lost to the world of the undead.

Blake Ottoman, one survivor, said, “Man, this was a tough run. I literally ran into one of the zombies who seemed to have taken his job too seriously. My girlfriend got knocked over by another zombie. It was an exciting run though, and we both made it. I hope they have this again, but maybe it needs more organization. We’re going over and grab some beers with some friends. See you next year.”

Other people also complained, but many more said how much they had enjoyed it. Many supporters sat on grassy areas waiting for their runners or zombies to end their race. Race results were posted at the event and a listing can be viewed online.

On their Facebook Page, the staff at Running Dead noted, “Our apologies for our first year mistakes (first race ever for us) and please understand we are working very hard on fixing them.”

If you attended the event, what are your feelings about the event? What did you like or not like? What, in your opinion, would make this a successful event?

Overall the event appeared to be enjoyable, which was quite evident as runners with glee in their faces ran with friends.

Zombies who volunteered for the event came in costume and makeup. Trash Film Orgy did some professional makeup.

Many sponsors helped make this a fun event, and for zombies, runners and guests, a beer garden was provided.

Most of the participants seemed to have enjoyed the race, meeting new and old friends and enjoying a beer or two as concession stands and the beer garden opened at 9 a.m.

Blood Moon Regale

2012-10-23T05:58:55Z

Free spirits moving under the night sky while music played in the background entertained a standing-room-only audience, as they watched dancers move in fluid motion while using fire as their vehicle to bring light and warmth to the audience.

On Friday-Saturday, Oct. 19-20, Unmata presented the “Blood Moon Regale,” bringing Sacramento 10 magnificent years of Unmata choreographies live on stage.

The Friday night, fire show lit up an outside patio of Hot Italian facing Q Street. The packed area saw fire performances by Arexia, SamiTe, Kamille, Pirotechnics, Vulcan Crew, Obsidian Butterfly and Controlled Burn.

Fire dance performers delighted the audience with their spectacular, fluid dance movements and use of fire with poi, hoops, whips, staffs, torches and other pyrotechnic paraphernalia.

To prevent these amazing dancers and fans from being injured by fire, a safety team worked seamlessly in the background putting out ignited tools used by dancers.

In front of the standing-room-only audience, tribal and modern dancing was fused with great choreographed fire performances.

On both Friday and Saturday nights, an after-party event was planned, giving the audience the opportunity to mingle with the many dancers.

On Saturday the 10-year “Blood Moon Regale” celebration continued. A sold-out Kami Liddle workshop, held at the Hot Pot Studios on K Street, was also part of the day’s showcase.

Later that evening, fans continued to enjoy “Blood Moon Regale” as the dancers graced the stage at the Colonial Theater. The packed theater encouraged the performers, as fans loudly cheered for each act.

Performers for the Saturday show included Ami of Ooh La La, April Rose, Calamity Sam, Cera Byer, Dahlia, Danse Du Ventre, Danagerie, Djeynee, Kami Liddle, Lorraine, Modern Gypsy, Phenomenon Dance Company, Origin, Sam Riggs, Shakra, Suhaila Dance Company, Heather Shoopman, Sooz, Tangerine, Tatseena, Tjarda and Tyra.

Entertainment was nonstop (except for an intermission), and the audience sat in amusement as dancers brought an array of modern and tribal dances to the theater.

In between acts, viewers watched videos showing Unmata members talk about their involvement and experiences during the past 10 years.

Unmata fans were treated to a star-studded cast and amazing performances during the two days of “Blood Moon Regale.”

The performances were superbly choreographed, and the selection of music also added to the wonderful dramatic dances. Unmata continues to awe audiences wherever they go, and this weekend’s presentations showcased many of the best performers Sacramento and Northern California have to offer.

Sacramento Horror Film Festival

2012-10-17T06:48:00Z

For the past six years the Sacramento Horror Film Festival (SHFF) has brought hundreds of short and full-length films to the big screen. This past weekend, films, live music and performances by Amber’s Sweets created a great event for horror film fans at the Colonial Theater.

Mr. Lobo was SHFF host and shared responsibilities with co-host Blake Reigle. Both are walking horror genre encyclopedias who shared their valuable insight and knowledge with the audience.

Mr. Lobo welcomed guests, and as always, made audience participation part of the show. A bowl of candy accompanied him most of the time he was not on stage, making him a popular guest.

The 6th Annual Zom-Bee Beauty Pageant, which has been part of SHFF, was also introduced.

The Miss Zom-Bee Queen 2013 was chosen from a field of seven contestants. Judges for the contests included Reigle, Carlyfornia, Marilyn Ghigliotti and Kevin Tenney.

The Zom-Bee Channel and Cinema Insomnia presented the pageant and fans loudly cheered for their favorite contestant in an effort to influence the judging.

Contestant costumes were very detailed and the judges had a hard choice to make. Nonetheless, a winner was chosen and was given a cleverly created crown made of fingers to go along with a photo shoot for Horror Host Magazine. The winner will also serve as spokesmodel for Zom-Bee TV.

Tim Meunier, producer and founder of SHFF, selected the films shown at the Colonial from those submitted during the 2012 submission period. The selections made by Meunier were truly amazing.

Mr. Lobo introduced the film for Friday evening, the 1988 film, “Night of the Demons.” Tenney, one of the judges, was also the film’s director. Tenney talked about the film when it ended and fans were given the opportunity to be involved in a Q&A session.

Tenney also talked about the type of budget needed to bring a film like “Night of the Demons” to the screen, revealing that he was not the initial director chosen for the movie and had been in negotiations with another film at the time. As he waited for a written contract, negotiations went back and forth and he eventually signed with “Night of the Demons” two days before the other film brought forth a written offer.

Fans were also treated to a revelation by Tenney indicating that a “Night of the Demons” remake was in the works.

The evening was topped off with a screening of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” with Amber’s Sweets performing live on stage.

Did you know that the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” was released in 1975? Most audience members were not born when the movie was released; nonetheless, most fans in attendance knew the lines from the movie. Audience participation started even before the film began and comments from the audience did not stop.

The Amber’s Sweets performance of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” was very entertaining and well performed. The audience was amazing as they followed the dialogue with dialogue of their own and participated in several dance scenes. It was the perfect ending to the first evening of SHFF.

As I walked to my car, off in the distance I could hear voices in the night sky.

“It's just a jump to the left. And then a step to the right. With your hand on your hips. You bring your knees in tight…”

Saturday began with a series of short horror films. Horror, life, end of life, love, special effects, music and comedy were mixed in to, in a manner of speaking, give life to the macabre flicks that were shown.

Cheryl Goodman shared some thoughts on the event. The Davis resident made her way to Sacramento to see the film festival with several friends.

“This will be my third year at the festival and when I heard a production of the Rocky Horror Show was going to take place I was very excited. My friends know how much I love Rocky and they bought me a weekend ticket for my birthday. The show last night was great. It’s one of the best birthdays I’ve ever had.”

“Profesor Brofman,” a short from Spain, kicked off Saturday’s shorts. International short films were part of SHFF and were well-received. Period pieces, love stories, gore, suspense and other topics were covered as several dozen short films by international and local filmmakers were shown.

The titles of several films gave the plot away, but the way the films materialized on the big screen, they were actually wonderfully delivered.

Reigle’s “Damn Love” was followed by a discussion with the director. Reigle shared background on his short film as well as how long it took to film, who the actors were, and the use of the words “damn, love, I love you,” which comprise most of the film’s dialogue.

Reigle also shared tools that help him put his films together. He also spoke on music licensing and how some filmmakers use free sounds and music when finance is an issue.

Anthony Aguiar, director of “Posthumous,” was also on hand to talk about his film. Aguiar shared his use of cameras, angles, sound and location. He also wrote the script and indicated that multiple endings had been shot for the film. This particular film took two days to shoot.

Other writers, directors and actors also shared their experiences, allowing a behind-the-scenes view of what they have to do to create a film. They talked about how important film festivals are in promoting their work and hopefully securing funds for a full-length film.

Independent international and local filmmakers depend on festivals like SHFF for promotion and showcasing their work. This type of venue can expose hidden talent to the film industry.

After the last short film on Saturday a live musical performance by Creature Feature ended the second day of the festival. Sunday’s films and activities capped the horror-fun-filled weekend. Fans who attended the weekend showed great support. Audience participation made this a very entertaining event for both filmmakers and fans.

SHFF was sponsored by Metropolis Comix, Phono Select, Hot Italian and Callson Manor. SHFF will soon be soliciting films for next year’s event. All information is available on their website as well as a listing of several Best in Festival awards given at the festival.

More photos can be found here.

6th Annual Sacramento Horror Film Festival

2012-10-12T21:47:15Z

The Sacramento Horror Film Festival (SHFF) presents a weekend full of live and film entertainment. SHFF runs from Friday, Oct. 12 – 14 at the Colonial Theater.

Zombee Channel and Cinema Insomnia kicks off the Friday event with The Zombie Beauty Pageant. The event is scheduled to be hosted by Mr. Lobo and will feature over 30 short and long films showcasing horror on the big screen.

Opening night features a showing of 1988's "Night of the Demons," with director Kevin Tenney in attendance.

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show," will also be showing on Friday with live performers also taking the stage. The.1975 film will bring many fans to the event and is sure to make fans sing along as the film is shown.

Last month a fundraiser for the 6th Annual Sacramento Horror Film Festival was held at the Greens Hotel located at 1700 Del Paso Blvd., on Sept. 21. The fundraiser, known as Zombiefest, brought dozens of horror film fans to the Greens.

Zombiefest was a fundraiser that included live entertainment and zombie short films. Tim Meunier, Producer and Founder of SHFF and his crew put together an enjoyable show.

As guests mingled they also visited several vendors on hand. Anthony Leano had CDs, DVDs, posters and other horror genre materials on hand. Leano talked to visitors who came to view what he had available and many stayed to hear Leano’s tales about conventions he has attended.

Other vendor boutiques included Side Show Studios, Rain’s Embellishments and others.

A special performance by members of Amber’s Sweets kept the audience entertained underneath the stars at night.

Many fans came in costume and some participated in a costume contest. This was an all ages event but not many kids were in attendance.

The evening ended with a special screening of George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead.”

Like many other independent events the support of fans goes a long way to keep festivals such as the Sacramento Horror Film Festival going. The 6th annual festival includes live events on Friday and Saturday. Log on to the SHFF for further details and for a complete schedule of the films and events planned for this year.

Vibe Urban Lounge's Catwalk on K Street

2012-10-10T20:48:45Z

Catwalk on K Street, a much anticipated event brought close to 200 attendees to the Vibe Urban Lounge fashion show.

The event was held at St. Rose of Lima Park in front of the Antigua Ultra Lounge. The event on the corner of 7th and K Street took place on Sunday, Sept. 23.

One of Vibe Urban Lounge’s goal is to provide its members ways to acquire academic and vocational skills. That goal was clearly met, in part, during the Catwalk on K Street event as community members were able to witness Vibe’s teens come together to not only work on a fashion show but work on other life learning concepts.

With the help of several mentors associated with Sacramento’s fashion industry Vibe teens learned about designing, walking the runway, wearing and taking care of fashionable outfits provided by boutiques.

Besides being involved in the fast growing Sacramento fashion industry Vibe teens were able to see their hard work showcased in front of guests, family and friends giving them a sense of respect and appreciation. Teens worked behind the scenes and helped guests at the event enjoy a fun-filled evening.

Teens have been hard at work learning about the fashion industry and worked as stylists, models and stage production. For many of them this was the first time they have been involved in model casting and organizing, planning, promoting, sales, modeling, stage and lighting production, DJ and other entertaining aspects and duties required to put on a successful fashion show.

This was a learning experience for all involved.

The hard work by Chaez Boswell Interim Executive Director at Vibe Urban Lounge and his team created a successful event. It showcased the type of work Vibe and its members can accomplish in a matter of months.

Radio station 102.5 KSFM had a booth at the event and a sponsor repeat wall was set up for photos.

Mentors helped put the show together. Designers, hair and makeup artists, local boutiques, stylists and professional models lent their expertise to help with this amazing fashion show.

Crimson & Clover, Express, Heart Boutique, Racks, Freestyle Clothing Exchange, Getta Clue, Legacy Boutique and the Salvation Army provided fashion wear and mentoring for Catwalk on K Street.

The Vibe also paraded their own line of clothing showcasing several of their Respect My Fresh shirts.

Kristin Smith, Samuel Parkinson, Ronnee Larae, Nickolas Willrich, Rubie Simonsen, Divina Aramkul and Zarina Dhami served as mentors as they worked with the featured boutiques.

Overall the event was well received and the hard work put into the event was evident as guests enjoyed a great fashion show and production.

After the event I asked Boswell for his thoughts on the event.

Boswell indicated that putting the show together had its challenges but was very rewarding. The planning and execution of the fashion show, Boswell noted, took about two and a half months from beginning to end.

Boswell also said the event brought around 175 people to the show.

When asked how he felt now the Catwalk on K Street was over Boswell said, “Tired but I’m really happy. I can’t wait for us to debrief and just talk about it so that we know what to do better next time and keep it moving.”

Boswell continued, “This being the first time we’ve put the show on we noticed a lot of rough edges but all in all we learned a lot as a team. The teens learned a lot about what they can do; their potential and I think that’s the most important thing. Later we’ll talk about what we can do better, what we can do differently and go from there.”

Positive role models made this a learning event that hopefully will create a lasting collaboration between Vibe and its community.

The Catwalk on K Street showcased the Sacramento fashion industry and also helped teens involved in the project learn lessons on business, entertainment, collaboration and possible career opportunities.

More photos can be found here.

Sac-Con returns to the Scottish Rite Center

2012-10-04T06:10:39Z

The popularity of Sac-Con, Sacramento’s comic, toy and anime show, continues to grow, and this year’s event broke its previous attendance record. Attendance for the show brought over 1,900 fans to the Scottish Rite Center on Sunday, Sept. 30.

The day after the event, Sac-Con director Dan Houck and his team began preparing for the next convention, Dec. 9, 2012.

The comic book convention, which began in July 1986, had a long line waiting to enter the convention when I arrived.

Vendors, artists and fans dressed as comic book characters packed the Scottish Rite Center. Over 100 vendor tables carried everything comic book-related, including comics, and toys, as well as anime, sci-fi, horror and many other pop culture-related items.

Several artists posed for photos and signed items that became instant collector’s items after being autographed.

The growth in attendance was quite noticeable as guests maneuvered between spaces to view vendors’ tables.

The many trees surrounding the center brought great relief for those who wanted to enjoy the outdoors during the hot afternoon.

Groups of guests mingled with new and old friends. Although many visitors wear costumes to Sac-Con, I recognized several who attended the recent summer SacAnime event.

Sac-Con provides guests, panels and other activities for a low entrance fee of $6.

The event strives to provide a fun and safe family-oriented environment, and judging by the number of kids and adults that show up to Sac-Con, they succeed in meeting that goal.

Scheduled artists for Sac-Con included Tone Rodriguez, Jeffrey Combs, Hynden Walch, Liam Sharp, Joshua Ortega, Morrie Turner, Ron Lim, Dan Brereton, Mick Gray, Rafael Navarro, Andrew Yang, Mike Gray, Eben Burgoon, D. Bethel, Tomas Overbai and Brandon Bracamonte. These artists have made important contributions to the comic world, and are much sought-after as presenters.

Video game tournaments, art contests and card tournaments are also part of the event, and are popular gatherings.

Once again, a charity auction was scheduled. The auction proceeds benefit local charities such as Loaves and Fishes’ Mustard Seed School for Children.

Many vendors also return to the event, and I certainly expect to see them at other similar events.

As expected, Miss Carlyfornia, a designer, artist, seamstress and model was present at the event. Her charm and personality bring people coming back to her booth to see what new items her creative mind has come up with.

Most of the time, Miss Carlyfornia’s partner, Anthony Leano, occupies a booth next to or near hers. Leano is involved in programming, bookings and promotions for Sac-Con, SacAnime and other similar gatherings. His booth sells DVDs (music and video), movie posters and similar items.

Vendors like Leano and Carlyfornia also become involved in shows offering classes or information about upcoming conventions in California.

Jason Dube, head of Scattered Comics and Scattered Comics Studios, was on hand promoting his recently released “Shadow Hunters #2, Volume 1.” As always Dube re-directed my focus to celebrate the accomplishments of others.

Dube introduced me to Melissa McCommon who sat at a table next to his. Dube and McCommon had collaborated on the just-released “Caffeine Poisoned #1 Vol. 2,” from Scattered Comics.

Vacaville native McCommon and Dube met at a charity event when Dube noticed her talented work at an art charity event, and soon thereafter brought her into the Scattered Comics Studio.

In addition to the artists on hand showing their talented work, several panels and workshops were available.

I missed the morning events, but caught a couple of the afternoon artist events and part of the Combs Q&A. Combs continues to have a loyal following from the Re-Animator movies, and many came to listen to him speak.

Guests signed up for the Cosplay Costume Contest which is one of the most popular events. Other guests packed the hall to watch the contest performances.

The hospitality offered by the vendors, guests, artists, presenters and Sac-Con promoters created a great atmosphere for those in attendance. Sac-Con returns to the Scottish Rite Center on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012.

Miss Misery's Days of Terror

2012-10-03T07:43:50Z

Days of Terror brought horror, renowned guests and artists, movies and music to the Scottish Rite Center.

Miss Misery hosted the Days of Terror convention, a new event in Sacramento, on Friday and Saturday this past weekend. The convention was the brain child of its producer, Reyna Young, aka Miss Misery, and others.

Actors, writers, artists and vendors filled the hallways and main floor while horror fans walked the hallways and talked to artists, actors and vendors, often standing in line to get autographs from their favorite horror movie stars.

The Sacramento Ghostbusters were on hand to collect costumes for a kids’ costume drive. The Ghostbusters had their vehicle parked in front of the Center to collect costumes as well as a booth inside.

Many actors on hand had banners hanging behind them to help visitors identify some of their favorite personalities. Some of them were easily recognizable while others wore full makeup like Eileen Dietz, who played the demon that possessed the Linda Blair character. Sometimes you could not tell who they portrayed without makeup.

Guest appearances by Ari Lehman, Amy Steel, Lynn Lowry, Jimmy O & April Burril, Bianca Barnett, Jason Dube, Lord Blood Rah, Marlena Midnite, and many others helped the convention attract visitors.

Guests also shared some fascinating stories. Scott L. Schwartz, a 6’10” giant of a man who said he usually plays a bad guy, was unbelievably friendly. Schwartz has been in a variety of movies and television shows, “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Spiderman,” “Star Trek” and many others.

Schwartz hasn’t forgotten his roots and shared his story when he talked about “Killer” Kowalski, a well known wrestler. Schwartz indicated he attended the Killer Kowalski wrestling school in the late 70s, wrestling under the name, Joshua Ben-Gurion, "The Israeli Commando" for a few years.

Schwartz gave me a postcard that included photos of some of his characters. The actor stated that he carries these cards for fans.

“I get approached so many times at airports and I bring that for them,” Schwartz said.

Some fans tell him that their friends will never believe they met and him and Schwartz says, “If you show them one of these they will and I’ll sign it for them.”

In reality most of the invited guests were very courteous and extremely likeable. Their horror roles, however, have a different effect.
Screenings of several movies were also shown in a screening room at the Scottish Rite Center.

Films screened at the convention included: “They Came from the Attic,” “The Good Sisters,” “Frankenstein… Day of the Beast,” “Welcome to my Darkside,” “Bloody Bloody Bible Camp” and “The Black Dahlia Haunting.”

Brandon Slagle, writer and director of “The Black Dahlia Haunting” was on hand for the movie screening along with actors Jessica Cameron, Devanny Pinn and Britt Griffith, who talked after the screening about the movie and their other roles.

The wit, knowledge and down-to-earth personalities of Slagle, Cameron, Pinn and Griffith kept the audience longer than others as they shared their experiences in Hollywood. Each actor took turns talking about their acting careers while touching on the different aspects of creating films. Castings and raising money for producing a movie were also discussed.

A zombie walk, costume contest and a scream competition were also included as part of the show. The winner of the screaming competition won a screaming part in an upcoming film.

An after party on Friday night with live music also took place at the Rite Center. First Jason and Dammit! took the stage with their raw metal punk beats that kept the party going.

There were so many invited guests, activities, artists and screening during the two day event. I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of things to see and do.

Days of Terror show also revealed Jason Dube’s Shadow Hunters #2 comic that debuted during Friday’s show. The comic was delivered at nine that morning, making the artists a little tense in anticipation of the delivery.

The second issue release, which had arrived that same morning from the printers, was also complemented by a contest. Artist Benjamin “Benny” Jordan was on hand for the comic premier and to sign copies of the Shadow Hunters #2 comic.

The love and dedication for their art brings a sense of camaraderie among invited guests at the event.

The Sacramento Horror Film Festival (SHFF) will be held at the Crest Theater Oct. 12-14 and founder and festival director Tim Meunier has been hard at work promoting the event.

SHFF had a station set up promoting the event and selling other products, I was able to ask about the process of submitting films for the festival.

“We take entries year round through our submission site. Entry forms can be found there, where questions are answered. I get anywhere between 400-500 films and I review them all personally and try to select the best of the best,” Meunier responded.

I pointed out the SHFF booth to several vendors who had shown interest in participating at the next festival. Since many of the vendors and guests come from the Bay Area or Los Angeles, the Miss Misery convention helped in networking as well as just meeting and making new friends.

Kaci Hansen has many titles under her belt, but besides being the Miss Misery Costume Contest host she had a slideshow presentation running at her table where you could see several ghouly recipes.

As The Homicidal Homemaker, Hansen creates recipes in a fashion, as she states it, "Where home economics meets horror.” Her site includes some interesting recipes.

“They refer to me as the macabre Martha Stewart,” Hansen said.

She has started several clubs and events dealing with the macabre in the Central Valley and has a monthly horror movie night presenting B-movies and brews.

Two Itasha vehicles were parked at the front of the Scottish Rite Center and representatives from Team LoveHate handed out “Wanted” posters of characters from the Shadow Hunters comic book. Guests could participate in a Scattered Comics Monster Hunt.

Cosplay actors portraying Jessika, Kala, Eileen and Firewire signed the Wanted flyers and guest turned them in after getting all signatures for a chance to win prizes.

The convention also had another surprise, an official announcement of the pre-production for a Shadow Hunters movie.

Actor, casting director and producer Wolfgang Meyer occupied a booth right next to Dube and Jordan. Wolfe is active in several projects and he will be working with Dube in the Shadow Hunters film.

With so much activity going on I was still able to catch up with Miss Misery, who talked about her satisfaction with the convention, the turnout, and the enthusiastic guests in particular.

When asked if there was anything that she could have done but did not get a chance, Miss Misery said, “Yes, actually there is. We tried our best to get a haunted house person to come in and do a good haunted house and we couldn’t get one because it’s so close to October and everybody is getting ready for their own thing. So that’s why we put quickly put together the torture chamber photo op room where you could take pictures in the electric chair, the pillory and so on… if I could have done something different I probably would want to bring in that haunted house.”

Asked if she will bring back the event next year Miss Misery said she’s considering it.

“I’m thinking about it. I have to let the dust settle, I have to relax a little bit - it’s been stressful but great stress because I love doing this; it’s my passion, horror. I’ve had a lot of people asking to come back so that’s awesome.”

Miss Misery also has a couple of things going on, sharing, “We partnered up with Landmark Theaters and Clay Theater in San Francisco where we’ll host a midnight show once a month. During the first Saturday of the month we’re showing horror films, Italian horror films, all kinds of things.”

My last question had to do with the event taking place in Sacramento.

“It used to be the Sac Horror Sci-Fi show and (Dan) Houck who had it decided to change it. He approached me and asked, ‘Hey, you want to change it up, do something different? Miss Misery, do you want to come in and help me revamp it?’ I said, yeah, let’s do this. I’ve always wanted to do a con, you know you only live once, so I partnered up with Dan and here we are.”

The collaboration worked well and brought in many horror fans. Hearing vendors, fans and guests rave about the event, it may be that the Days of Horror will return next year.

Photos from the event can be found here.

Folsom Live

2012-09-25T03:52:47Z

This year’s Folsom Live event had 15 bands performing on five outdoor stages. The event took place in Folsom’s Historic District on Saturday, Sept. 22.

Folsom locals could use shuttle service to get to Sutter Street, and out-of-towners could access free public transportation with their Folsom Live ticket. Extended rail service out of Folsom lasted until 11 p.m.

Lines materialized early to purchase tickets and drink tokens, and to gather other information. Drink tokens were available at many parts of the venue in order to save some time and shorten lines.

Each of the five stages had two or three bands playing, and each band had a lengthy amount of time to play in front of their fans.

East Bay Soul, Journey Unauthorized and Jack Ingram played at the Main Stage.

The new Amphitheater Stage included the Battle of the Bands winner, Maxx Cabello, Jr. and Arden Park Roots. The Battle of the Bands winner was Kattywompus but due to a booking conflict they conceded the Battle of the Bands to first runner up Old Screen Door.

The Hacienda Stage featured the Chris Gardner Band and Inspector 71.

The Balcony Stage scheduled Tom Rigney & Flambeau and the Rhythm Vandals.

Wonderbread 5 and the Atomic Punks performed at the Powerhouse Stage.

It was impossible to see all the bands, so fans had to choose which bands they most wanted to see. Fans who did not allow for enough time to stand in line for food or drinks were disappointed. Some complained that the lines for drinks were too long, and missed most or all of a performance they wanted to see.

Mark Kessler showed up at the event for the third year.

Kessler noted that he liked the two-day event last year, and wondered why it had returned to a one-day event. Kessler compared last year’s and this year’s event, saying, “I liked last year’s lineup that included better-known bands. This year I came to see and support one of my favorites, Arden Park Roots. They’re a Sacramento band that I think has a chance to make it big in the larger markets. Not only that, they have a large following here in Sacramento.”

No matter which band people came to see, each stage was packed and each band provided great entertainment for its audience.

Every year the streets of the Historic Folsom District are packed with people attending this event. Historic Folsom establishments also planned their own activities in an effort to attract their share of visitors from the Folsom Live event. Other businesses took advantage of the evening’s traffic and remained open late.

Art galleries like Gallery Impasto were open during the event, and were able to get some foot traffic. Other new businesses in the 700 block of Sutter Street also had heavier traffic in their shops.

Across the street, the Rainbow Bridge Band played inside the Sutter Street Theatre. The theatre also held an after-Folsom Live practice performance of “Evil Dead: The Musical,” which will run Oct. 11-28. Their whimsical production was done well, and showcased the talent of regular performers at the Sutter Street Theater.

Other after-hours entertainment was also included, and visitors could use their Folsom Live wristband for free entrance at the Powerhouse Pub, Folsom Hotel and other places.

Folsom Live continues to be one of the biggest attractions in Folsom, and the Folsom Chamber of Commerce continues to improve this event.

This year several Sacto MoFo food trucks served food until 11 p.m., and some local restaurants and pubs were also open late.

Once the event was officially over, Folsom Hotel & Saloon, Lockdown Brewery, Samuel Horne’s Tavern and the Powerhouse Pub continued to provide live music and drinks for visitors who were still around.

Folsom Live is organized by the Folsom Chamber of Commerce, and next year will celebrate the venue’s 10th anniversary.

The Folsom Chamber of Commerce requests suggestions for improvement on the Folsom Live Facebook page.

Without the organization by the chamber and its recruitment of the many volunteers that come to the event, Folsom Live would not be as successful in attracting large audiences. The event also allows visitors the opportunity to visit Historic Folsom’s many shops on Sutter Street.

Runway to Health & Beauty Expo 2012

2012-09-20T05:53:14Z

Health and fitness, beauty, dance, fashion, entertainment and fun were all part of the Runway to Health & Beauty Expo held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Northeast.

The expo held on Sept. 8-9 was full of on-going events. Dance and fitness classes were presented and guests were invited to participate. Seminars and workshops also added to the health and fitness experience.

Attendees at the event had the opportunity to participate in fitness sessions led by leading fitness professionals. Fitness sessions were offered throughout the weekend from Macumba Fitness, Hip Hop U, Kick my Abs, Rhythmic Rootz Fitness, Samba Brazil, Salsa Sizzle, Flashback Funk, ZumbAtomic for Kids, Hot Hula, Sumba and others.

Vendors and sponsors occupied areas on the side and facing the stage. These organizations offered the latest products in dance and fitness and had many giveaway prizes for attendees.

The expo also included complimentary 30 minute to 1 hour Master Classes each day. Several fitness professionals, including featured Zumba presenter Raquel Call, came to the event from all over the world and the U.S. to illustrate different fitness dances.

Tanya Hernandez, CEO and Executive Producer of the event was on hand to meet guests and was seen busily working backstage, with designers, vendors, sponsors and making sure things went according to plan.

The busy entrepreneur, dance instructor and mother of two, Hernandez, created an event that not only included top fitness instructors but also involved representatives from the health, dance, beauty and wellness markets.

At a break in between acts on Sunday Hernandez addressed the audience saying, “Good afternoon everybody. My name is Tanya from Teez Backstage Productions and I wanted to say thank you for coming out to our runway show. We have a very special show for you. The models have worked very hard and the designers have been sewing, sewing, sewing, sewing. We’re going to start the show off with a little hip hop number by Jeannie Riley she came to us from Florida she’s going to do a little hip hop number and then we’re going to go straight into our first line of clothing which will be, so you guys ready?

After the Hernandez introduction a series of performances ensued. .

The Paul Mitchell Hair Schools, besides doing hair and makeup for models involved in the fashion show, presented a hair show and competition event.

Other entertainment that followed the hair show and competition event included dancing by the Kundalini Bellydance Troupe.

A performance by the productive Fenix Drum and Dance group delighted the audience with their rhythmic beats, energetic dances and colorful outfits. The group recently performed at Fairytale Town and the Banana Festival as well as at other venues. Their African dances always include beautiful movements and colorful performances.

Fenix Drum and Dance also lead a conga style dance around the room and included audience participation.

Once the fashion show began Amanda Chan showcased an unusual but still dazzling line called “Designing Eden.” Chan also exhibited her “Feelings, Such Strong Feeling” line. Both Zubauen lines were strongly distinct in their own right.

Tonya Felish’s designs followed with several Bijouz outfits that catered to the full figured woman. Felish’s line is always well received as it showcases high fashion outfits available for the plus size woman.

The Camelia Williams line “Cam-Marie” contained a series of elegant gowns. Other outfits showcased included cocktail dresses and colorful wear for going out on the town.

The Zarah’nized Wear line was well put together. The colorful and imaginative outfits were cheered on by guests and a girl’s fashion line went well when they were paired with a similar outfit for women.

The Zarah’nized Wear line is always shown in an effort to entertain as they walk and perform down the walkway. Their performance during the Runway to Health & Beauty Expo was well received with cheers and applause.

Virtuous Designs showcased a colorful and varied range of styles that had something for almost everyone in the audience.

Marrin Costello Designs paired up with Exception Designs to showcase a wonderful collection of outfits that can be worn for the office or an evening out. The detail and color of the designs made this a complimentary fashion showcase and exhibited outfits for every occasion.

Rhythmic Rootz also performed a special fitness fashion show that launched their fashion line. Rhythmic Rootz is principally a dance fitness program created by Hernandez. The fashion line allows Hernandez an outlet to use her fashion design creativity.

Designs by Utsav Gupta showcased some beautiful outfits. A risqué red outfit was particularly stunning. The full length gown exposed the back of model Anjelica Victoria Ishima and exuded glamour as the dress was paraded on the walkway.

The last performance of the evening included a “Miss Rare Bird” fashion challenge. Several teams accepted the challenge that was judged by Sacha Davis, Susan Pimenta and Bridgétt Rex.

Criteria for judging included a runway performance, versatility, innovation, fashion and stage presentation. Contestants were initially given 15 days to design their compositions and hair and makeup was also a factor in the judging.

After the judges tabulated their scores awards were given to Robin’s Nest for third place, Cathy Rieger earned second and Kaddy Saephanh was the winner of the competition.

The winner received a hand-made crown created by Rex.

The Runway to Health & Beauty Expo brought together a team of fitness instructors, international presenters, designers, sponsors, exhibitors, models, fitness presenters, dancers, fashionistas and many performers to provide a fun filled entertainment package for every member of the family.

The event was full of activities and brought the latest products, classes and fitness experts to share their expertise. The two-day event was full of fun and entertaining activities that brought a health, beauty and fitness experience to visitors who attended this weekend event.

Hernandez’ Teez Backstage Productions has created strong foundations for future shows. Volunteers, choreographers, performers and top fitness instructors put their talent and efforts together to produce a fun and balanced event.

Top of Folsom

2012-09-18T06:17:48Z

With a beautiful panorama view of night lights in and around Historic Folsom, guests at “Top of Folsom” enjoyed a festive evening of fine art, food and wine.

On Saturday, Sept. 15, a couple of hundred visitors enjoyed a gathering on the upper deck of the Folsom Historic District parking garage.

The garage is located at the corner of Leidesdorff and Reading streets in Folsom. “Top of Folsom” offered a delightful vista of Historic Folsom, the Lake Natoma Crossing bridge and the Folsom Boulevard area.

Over 20 artists, 15 chefs and 20 Northern California wineries were invited to share some of their creative specialties.

The unusual setting atop a parking garage worked well for this event. Wineries, eateries and artists occupied spaces, and live musical entertainment provided an elegant and joyful atmosphere.

“Top of Folsom” also brought TV personalities from DIY’s “Yardcore” brothers Joel and Jake Moss to create an on-the-spot urban sculpture. Together with licensed contractors Doug Tolson and Terrance Martin, the foursome created an art piece that will be displayed at the Folsom Zoo.

The “Top of Folsom” affair was a benefit for the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary and the Folsom Historic District. Some art pieces created by animals of the zoo were also available for purchase. These creations would look great in any home, not only because they were made by an animal, but also because some of them were quite creative and well-done.

The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary has housed hundreds of animals since it opened in 1963. The zoo is adjacent to Lions Park, Dan Russell Arena, the city library and the Folsom Valley Railway.

Janet Cho and her husband Matt were guests at the event. Janet Cho said, “When I heard this was an event being put on to help the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary, I knew I wanted to attend. It wasn’t hard to convince other friends to attend, especially when they heard wine tasting would be included. We had a great time this evening, and hope the event comes back next year.”

The price of admission included wine, beer and food sampling. The price of the ticket also included entertainment and a commemorative wine glass.

One of the evening’s highlights occurred when Karen Holmes, of Folsom’s Karen’s Bakery Café, demonstrated the art of making a salad. The super-sized salad made was poured into a tarp from the fourth story of the parking garage. Culinary students from American River College caught the salad ingredients on the third level of the garage, as Holmes poured from above.

Pitchforks were used to toss the greens and dressing, and the unique salad-making showcase provided delicious food for the many attendees.

“Top of Folsom” guests sampled delicious treats from local eateries that included Bidwell Street Bistro, Sutter Street Steakhouse, Karen’s Bakery Café, Source Global Tapas, Mulvaney’s B&L, Red Rabbit, Hawks, Matteo’s Pizza & Bistro, Bacon and Butter, Bistro La Petite France, Dry Creek Olive Co. and Snook’s Candies.

Visitors sampled wines from several wineries, including David Girard, Madroña, Boeger, Miraflores, Skinner, Shadow Ranch, Bumgarner, Helwig, Petra, Fiddletown Pruett and Cielo. Samples from the Sonoma and Napa Valley wineries included Schrader, Trefethen, Trattore and Rutherford.

A couple of local breweries, Track 7 Brewing Co. and Lockdown Brewing Company, provided samples for the beer drinkers in the crowd.

“Top of Folsom” was an enjoyable event that offered great entertainment, sips of local and regional wine and beer, delicious food samples and beautiful art.

Henry Rollins' Capitalism tour to visit every capital city in the U.S.

2012-09-15T10:39:24Z

The Henry Rollins “Capitalism” tour bus came into Sacramento on Thursday, Sept. 13. The bus parked at the corner of 11th and J streets while Rollins performed at the Crest Theater.

Rollins’ “Capitalism” spoken word tour brought the outspoken world traveler, author, actor, ex-front man for punk band Black Flag and the Henry Rollins Band, to Sacramento.

Rollins kept the audience entertained with stories about politics, music, traveling, touring and his experiences with people he’s met during his travels.

The “Capitalism” tour kicked off in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Sept. 6, and will hit every state capital in the U.S. and end with a visit to the nation’s capital on the eve of the 2012 presidential election on Nov. 5.

Rollins’ tour bus travelled from Salem, Ore., and made its fifth stop of the tour at the Crest Theater.

Rollins stood in the middle towards the front of the stage as he began his performance. Once he started speaking, he described the Crest as, “The most challenging theater I do in America,” mostly because of its lighting.

Once he got that out of the way, he described what the “Capitalism” tour was all about, and that his performance that evening was his 120th show of the year.

Rollins stated that his agent came to him with the idea for the tour, saying “’How about if you do the capital city of every state in the U.S., and poetically it ends on election eve in Washington D.C., and we’ll call it ‘Capitalism?’” I said, “Damn, man, that’s a great idea, and to get all those dates it will be pretty tricky; you would have to start yesterday.”

That’s how the idea for the new tour started to roll.

Rollins’ command of U.S. and world history is commendable, and this became quite apparent as he talked about the first stop of the tour in Honolulu, Hawaii. He spilled facts and observations about the 50th state to join the union, then noted that Hawaii has given us the first African-American president.

As Rollins spoke, he often chose to sidetrack, and brought in other related issues to clarify a point. His quick, witty and articulate comments always came back to the main topic, and added to the story.

Rollins talked about electing President Obama, saying, “America collectively lost all the gills on its neck and twitching primordial tail, and had a non-partisan ‘Wow, look how far we’ve come’ moment.”

Rollins continued, “When I was a kid — and I’m older than all of you — in 1830, when I was born, you could not have a guy like Barack Obama as president.” Again, as with almost any narrative he brought to the stage, he included supporting facts. Electing Obama, in Rollins’ view, validated that the civil rights movement was not a failure, and allowed this proud moment in American history to occur.

Rollins’ magnificent story telling had the audience clapping, laughing and enjoying the anecdotes he brought to the stage. He constantly reminded the audience that his views are his and his alone, and in no way would he discourage anyone from having or expressing their own views.

Rollins noted that he did not care whom voters vote for, but hoped people would vote and exercise their rights, saying, “Democracy needs you.”

Captivating storytelling is a Rollins forte, and as he moved from one annecdote to the next he covered stories about his own family and upbringing. He also touched on racism, capitalism and the punk music scene that was part of his life in the ‘80s.

The raw sentiments, rock and rage of punk music was a completely transformative scene in Washington D.C. for Rollins and life-long friend Ian.

Rollins talked about going to the up-close-and-personal punk shows, where he heard bands like the Cramps, Ramones, Iggy Pop and the Stooges. He also related stories about his shows with Black Flag.

Rollins shared that he answers all his mail. He has received some extraordinary comments, and talked about some of them on stage.

Rollins feels passionate about many topics, and shared his thoughts on how our wars are affecting those who serve, as well as their families and community.

His interest in international travel was also full of tragic and touching stories. Rollins’ view seemed to be that people are people, no matter what part of the world they live in. Making the effort to get to know them might change an unfounded perception we might have.

The Crest Theater audience delivered a standing ovation as Rollins ended his show.

Rollins’ stories, frequency, passion and method of delivery were delightful, resulting in a very entertaining performance.

Several fans walked from the Crest Theater to the corners of 11th and J streets, where the “Capitalism” tour bus was parked. A couple dozen or more fans waited for Rollins’ autograph by the tour bus.

One fan had several items she was hoping Rollins would sign. When asked how long she’s seen Rollins perform, Alex Morales said, “I actually saw him this year; I think it was in March in San Luis Obispo on his previous tour. I’ve seen him three times, and twice this year.”

Morales said she brought several items to be autographed: “a book of Black Coffee Blues, a State of Alert vinyl album, Black Flag’s ‘Damaged,’ two posters and a couple of T-shirts.”

Morales said, “I came all the way from Fresno. It took three hours to get here, two-and-a-half hours for the show, waiting here, and I have three hours to drive home.”

Morales was the last fan to speak with Rollins and have her items autographed.

Rollins spent much time signing autographs and talking to every single fan. He was genuinely interested in what they had to say, and continued to share stories, showing that he really cares about his fans.

As Rollins signed his last piece for Morales, she said that he told the truth about answering every piece of correspondence he gets. She shared that she has sent Rollins emails, and he has answered.

The very busy “Capitalism” tour continues with a visit to Carson City, Nev., on Sept. 14, then hits the capital cities of Arizona and Utah, performing four shows in four cities.

Catwalk on K Street

2012-09-13T07:01:57Z

The Vibe Foundation Urban Youth Lounge and Career Center is a teen operated center where Sacramento teens acquire academic and vocational skills. Vibe Lounge encourages members to engage in service learning, socialize and network with Sacramento based private, public and nonprofit organizations.

The Vibe Lounge is located at 1725 K Street and teens, with adult supervision, conduct the daily operations of the center. In exchange for running the daily operations teens earn ROP school credit.

Teens that live in the Sacramento region can use the center and its resources that include job search assistance, monthly events for youths in the 14-18 age group and scholastic activities such as preparing for SAT, job fairs, life and skills workshops. Tutoring is available and the VIBE has laptop computers with internet access that can be checked out.

Fun and learning activities are always sought. One of the newest events created by the Vibe is Catwalk on K Street. The event is presented by the Vibe Urban Teen Lounge and will take place on Sunday, September 23.

For the past few weeks Vibe, Chaez Boswell, Interim Executive Director at Vibe Urban Lounge created a team to help make Catwalk on K Street a successful and fun event for teens.

Designers, local boutiques, hair and makeup artists, stylists and other community members involved in the fashion industry have also collaborated by mentoring Vibe teams.

Nayshia Streator helped with registration and shared some thoughts about the casting. When asked about her role at the Vibe she said, “Well I’m an intern here at the Vibe and I’m also an event planner. I came up with this fashion show concept. We’re working hard for the event and have encouraged hairstylists, makeup designers, stylist for teenagers and those that want to be models to become involved.”

Streator has been involved at the Vibe since it first opened. Speaking about the Vibe, she continued, “We heard many kids saying that there’s nothing to do for youth here in Sacramento if you’re under 18, especially downtown.” The center has created a fun and educational atmosphere and continues to look for events to bring teens together.

Teens on hand filled out their paperwork to be involved in the Catwalk on K Street event. Some parents were on hand and signed off on their child’s participation. Teens also noted on their paperwork if they wanted to model and/or be involved as a stylist.

As paperwork was being filled out announcements went over the speakers going over some future events and to help with the paperwork. Teens were advised to ask questions, listen to music and enjoy socializing.

Chaez Boswell also made some announcements and described the fashion show event that will include a red carpet event, food and vendors will also be participating, DJ music will be played and radio 102.5 would also have a booth.

Boswell also made an important announcement regarding how they would be evaluated saying, “Remember that it’s not how you look but your attitude that will get you a spot.”

Some of the boutiques showcasing at the event were announced and Boswell also talked about a t-shirt designed by the Vibe and indicated other designs were being worked on.

Forty modeling spots were open and stylist spots would also be available.

Models, 10 at a time, were called to walk at a hall where several judges would be evaluating them and asking pertinent questions. Boswell tired to encourage the teens telling them to try and show their personality, not to worry and to have a good time.

Models were shown how to walk and each teen walked towards the judges' table and back twice giving judges time to evaluate the walk and ask the modesl questions.

Given a sample walk, ten models lined up. Several models exhibited confidence, good personality traits, courtesy and intelligence when answering questions.

As each set of models were evaluated they made their way back to the main hall and later were told they could go home once they walked. Announcements as to who made the cut would be made at a later time.

In the main hall I recognized one of the models by the name of Elizabeth Green who had performed at the Hair & Fashion Battle as a dancer.

Green shared how she found out about the event saying, “My cousin told me about it. I’ve been modeling since I was 12 and I’ve been looking around to see if there were any other modeling things I could participate in. It’s been kind of hard because I’m short.”

When asked what type of modeling she liked Green stated, “Anything that I can find that’s runway, because I really love runway.”

The Monterrey Trail High School student has many interests sharing that she likes to dance and model and also noted she’d eventually like to be in involved in the medical field or engineering.

Teens selected for the event will now begin rehearsals as they’re paired with boutiques and stylists.

Some of the stores and boutiques participating include Express, Crimson & Clover, Heart Boutique, Racks, Freestyle, Getta Clue, Legacy and Salvation Army.

Vibe hopes this will be the start of a long lasting collaboration with community and business groups. The first annual Catwalk on K Street features a wide variety of clothing styles and entertainment that reflects the interest of Sacramento teens.

Local businesses are encouraged to partner with Vibe and a long-term partnership would help Sacramento youth and give them exposure to different businesses. Sponsorships are also available.

The event will provide a safe and fun event for local area teens, showcase diversity, bring awareness to Vibe and bring local community business together.

Sacramento Ballet auditions for Ron Cunningham's The Nutcracker

2012-09-11T06:57:29Z

Hundreds of Sacramento Ballet fans lined the streets at the corner of 17th and K streets. Parents brought their children for the Sacramento Ballet’s auditions for “The Nutcracker.”

Several tables selling sweets and merchandise to raise funds for the ballet were set up in front of the 17th Street entrance. Parents and other volunteers staffed the tables.

The Sacramento Ballet estimated that over 800 kids and their parents would attend the audition that took place from Sept. 5-9.

Inside the studio, a lot of activity went on in different rooms. Sacramento Ballet dancers rehearsed for upcoming shows, while other rooms housed the many dancers onsite.

Meanwhile, the Sacramento Ballet’s artistic director, Ron Cunningham, and the children’s cast coordinator, Marla Quinn, conducted auditions in another room.

I sat in for part of the “Clara Party and Prologue Girls” audition, in which 23 girls participated. Cunningham showed the group steps to a routine he wanted the girls to perform.

After showing the dancers what to do, they came up, five at a time, to showcase some of their talent.

Once the girls performed their routine, Cunningham and Quinn evaluated their performance, and told the girls that they would be asked to return to continue the audition. If they were not called back, the young participants could audition for another role if they met height and skill requirements.

The little dancers were also told to smile, and the smiles showed off a little bit more of their personality.

Cunningham and Quinn held auditions Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., making for a long day. They followed on Sunday with more auditions that lasted from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Cunningham’s and Quinn’s dedication was just as obvious with the parents that volunteered.

Michelle McKibben and Michelle Martin attended to a food table and other activities inside the studio. “It has become a Christmas tradition,” said McKibben, referring to “The Nutcracker.”

McKibben relayed a brief description of what the audition process entails and how Cunningham makes his selections, saying, “He kind of likes to see what he has to pick from. He has this vision in his head about what he’s looking for, and evaluates the talent of each dancer. So, every year it’s different.”

Martin added, “Cunningham is also looking for the dancers’ personality, manners, behavior and ability. ‘The Nutcracker’ is such a huge production, and he’s looking for children that can cooperate and follow directions.”

When asked how they became involved as volunteers for the ballet, both moms indicated they had daughters who took lessons from and danced for the Sacramento Ballet. McKibben noted that their daughters had been in the ballet for eight to nine years.

They also noted that once children audition for “The Nutcracker,” many return for lessons, having had a good experience in the audition process.

Once callbacks are announced, children who get a role receive a packet with more details about their role, rehearsals and other valuable information.

Children who are not selected are encouraged to return and audition for another part.

Parents sat on garden chairs outside the ballet studios, waiting to see if their children were given a role.

Jennifer Toy shared her experience. “I have one child auditioning today. She’s auditioning for the role of a party child.”

When asked if her daughter Kylie had auditioned before, Toy said, “This will be her sixth time auditioning for ‘The Nutcracker.’ She was a party girl last year.” We laughed at the sound of “party girl.”

Toy arrived at the audition around 10 a.m., and sat with a group of other moms and a couple of other children. When asked how long she was going to be at the audition, Toy stated, “We could be here all day; it depends on whether she gets the part or not.”

Selections for the roles are made the day of the auditions and Toy added, “They’ll release them at 2 p.m., but if she doesn’t get the part she’ll just get back in line and try for the next part.”

Many roles are offered for casting, and more than one person at the audition indicated that Cunningham selects as many dancers as possible. Sometimes roles are expanded, or more soldiers, attendants, party boys and girls, mice, bunnies, cooks and other dancers might be added.

Cunningham’s “The Nutcracker” comes to the Community Center Theater for performances Dec. 7-23. Log on to the Sacramento Ballet website for more information about “The Nutcracker” and other performances.

Fiestas Patrias 2012

2012-09-08T01:51:32Z

The Mexican Cultural Center of Northern California (MCCNC) will present “El Grito” at the Capitol West Steps on September 15.

“El Grito” (the cry for independence) marked the beginning of Mexico’s fight for independence against Spanish rule on September 16, 1810. The MCCNC is a nonprofit cultural arts, education and community service organization that brings the annual event to the Capitol West Steps. Their on-going mission has been to share and preserve the region's unique and special Mexican heritage.

A prelude to this event also took place at the Crest Theater on Saturday, August 25 where the Reina Fiestas Patrias 2012 pageant occurred.

Before the pageant began, a long line formed outside the Crest Theater and many carried billboards and other home made signs with photos supporting their favorite contestant.

The pageant has been celebrated in Sacramento since 1928 and is usually held a few weeks before the Mexican Independence Day celebration in Sacramento.

The pageant also celebrated its 84th anniversary and paid tribute to the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema. A period of history that spanned from 1936 to 1969 and became an economic success for Mexico’s cinema is considered the Golden Age.

The Fiestas Patrias pageant had 13 candidates competing for the 2012 title. Each of the candidates was sponsored by local businesses.

Once inside the theater guests were able to enjoy some delicious food and a no-host bar was also available. Dinorah Curkendall entertained visitors as she sang in the lobby before the event.

Inside the theater seats were quickly filled as guests listened to music over the speakers. Chants arose from the theater as attendees chanted for their favorite contestant.

The candidates introduced themselves and answered questions in Spanish. Most of the commentary was in Spanish and is translated for this article.

An Aztec dance group, Kalpulli Xihuacoatl, performed on stage wearing colorful and traditional Aztec outfits. Groupo Folklórico Los Alteños and Sergio Serrano also performed live on stage.

Alejandro Celorio representing the Consulate General of Mexico in Sacramento welcomed guests. Celorio said, “I want to recognize the effort the participants have put into the pageant and to congratulate them since they’re all already winners as they enthusiastically prepared for the past three months. The 13 candidates are now winners and they’ve also made us winners. What better way to enjoy our Fiestas Patrias and feel proud of being Mexican than to enjoy and recognize the beauty of Mexico through its women. Good Night and thank you for coming.”

Judges selected for the event included Victor Rodriguez Tafoya, Lupe Leyva, Rory Castillo, Gloria Gonzalez, Juan Gonzalez and Melinda Guzman.

Andrea Hinojosa, Lizette Rocha, Maria Lesso, Flor Zolano, Mariza Jaimes, Lizeth Fernandez, Yvette Ramirez, Lizbeth Valdez, Diana Garcia, Viviana Gomez, Claudia Salomon, Andrea Paz and Karla Diaz introduced themselves to the audience at hand.

Candidates also shared something about themselves that included their education, current employment and future dreams.

Several of the candidates noted that they were the first in their family to attend and graduate college. Manly of the candidates are attending Sac State, U.C. Davis and other local schools. Candidates thanked their sponsors, friends and family for their support and inspiration.

As most pageants go some awards were given. The Miss Congeniality selection was Valdez and Miss Photogenic went to Hinojosa. Two other non traditional awards went to Ramirez who was selected as Miss Punctual and Miss Social Media went to Lesso.

Later on the five finalists were selected and included Lesso, Diaz, Salomon, Hinojosa and Garcia.

Vickie Gutierrez who had performed a dance earlier in the show came on stage to crown this year’s winner. Gutierrez was selected as Queen Fiestas Patrias in 2011.

Gutierrez thanked parents, friends, and sponsors and talked about the great experiences she’s enjoyed this past year.

After waiting for the judges choices to be tabulated the 2012 Queen Fiestas Patrias was selected. Lesso was chosen as the new queen and the audience showed its approval by cheering and chanting for Lesso. Fans shouted, “Maria, Maria, Maria.”

“It really felt unreal. I wasn’t ready for it. I was like oh my God it’s really me. I’m so excited to represent my culture and I’m very proud of being a Mexican woman. That’s all I have to say,” said Lesso, in English, when I asked how she felt about being the new queen.

When asked about what her first role as queen of Fiestas Patrias Lesso said, “I will be at the Mexican independence day at the capitol on September 15.” Her enthusiasm, radiant smile and personality could not be contained as thanked her family and supporters.

This year’s event celebrating Mexico’s Independence Day will also include several of Sacramento’s food trucks serving selected items from their delicious menu. Miniburger, Wicked Wich, La Piedad, La Mex, Chando’s, Drewski, CornCake, Mama Kims, VolksWaffle, Emmas Tamales, Pizza Company and Fat Face will bring their food trucks to the event.

Several live performances are also scheduled and guests of all ages are encouraged to attend the September 15 event.

SacAnime Summer 2012

2012-09-05T17:37:08Z

SacAnime Summer 2012, for the last time, was held at the Woodlake Hotel Aug. 31 to Sept. 2.

Competing with several other events in Sacramento Labor Day weekend, SacAnime successfully competed for a large audience. Fans gathered to enjoy a full three days of anime, cosplay, video games, workshops, panels, autograph sessions, karaoke, and many more activities dealing with Asian pop culture.

SacAnime has outgrown its previous venues, including the initial gathering in 2005 at the Sunrise Mall, and attendance continues to grow. In September of last year 4,800 attended the event. Winter 2012 attendance grew to approximately 5,000 and SacAnime reports that over 7,700 fans attended this past weekend.

The event is well-organized and the SacAnime staff takes suggestions to heart and does what it can to fix complaints. At each closing ceremony fans are encouraged to talk about what they liked about the event and what they would like to see at future events, including what SacAnime can do to make the event better. The show is geared to the fan base, which has made the event a successful celebration and gathering.

All things dealing with Japanese pop culture have become very popular and a vendor room full of this type of merchandise was available for SacAnime fans. Over 70 tables were set up throughout the venue for dealers and exhibitors and the vendor room was full throughout the day.

Voice actor guests included Jennifer Hale, Johnny Yong Bosch, Roger Craig Smith, Travis Willingham, Michelle Ruff, Billy Martinez and Laura Bailey. These entertainers held panels that included audience participation and Q&A sessions. They also patiently and eagerly sat at autograph tables where lines stared inside the halls of the Woodlake and made their way outside.

These autograph sessions are very taxing for voice actors, entertainers and fans. SacAnime, however, continues to listen to fan suggestions on helping this become a smoother process.

SacAnime has some of the most loyal followers who are very cordial and attentive. At the heart of the event is the great community of anime fans who plan for the event months in advance. The weekend event allows for fans to attend each day or just one of the dates. The most popular day seems to be Saturday when the majority of attendees come to enjoy cosplay.

Fans make friends at the event that last for years. One demonstration of fan camaraderie was shown by a memorial event held for 21-year-old Harison Randall, who was struck by a hit-and-run as he walked with his girlfriend and her dogs on July 29.

Randall’s family was on hand at several events and fans came together to donate funds to help the family with medical and funeral expenses. Fan support was overwhelming.

A video honoring Randall played at the memorial service. Soon after that, several Randall family members shared their experiences and memories of him. Fans were invited to also share their memories and a long line formed.

Many who came to the microphone to say a few words about Randall noted they hardly knew him but remembered saying hi or meeting him, if only briefly. It was heart touching just to see the SacAnime community come together to honor one of their own.

The weekend’s events also included live outdoor concerts performed by returning musical guests, Eyeshine and akai SKY. Other popular segments included a fashion show, video game tournaments, the artists’ alley, workshops, panels and the Cosplay Masquerade. Yet another event that continues to grow is Café Hoshi, where now several café shows are being hosted throughout the weekend.

There was so much to see, do and experience at SacAnime. The SacAnime staff is to be commended for their organization and the quality of guests they select for each of the events. Director of Programming Jodon Bellofatto, along with Dan Houck, Jason Dube, Chris Costagnetto, Topher Nguyen, Katie Bair, Adreena Smith and Jonas Cassation coordinated a successful event, as shown by the record attendance.

Bellofatto shared that volunteers are also a big part of SacAnime and encouraged those in attendance to continue to take advantage of the many volunteering opportunities.

Obviously this convention would not be possible without the attendees as well.

The Anime Music Video Contest winners were announced and Bellofatto noted that the number of entries has grown to where the next contest will be broken down into categories.

As soon as the 2012 summer event ended on Sunday, Bellofatto announced special guests scheduled to attend in 2013. Bellofatto also noted that SacAnime 2013’s event at the Convention Center will include several events at the Sheraton Hotel, where they have sealed a hotel room package for attendees.

Log on to SacAnime to view program details as they occur. The Sacramento Convention Center and the Sheraton Grand Sacramento will host SacAnime Winter 2013 Jan. 4-6.

(Please note, ,ore photos from the event can be found here.

Preparing for Sacramento Fashion Week 2013

2012-08-29T23:39:33Z

Preparation for Sacramento Fashion Week 2013 has begun. A workshop was presented at Sacramento’s International Academy of Design & Technology on Del Paso Road on Monday, August 27, 2012.

Simone Vianna, Fashion Design Coordinator for Sacramento Fashion Week (SFW), presented the “How to Prepare for Sacramento Fashion Week” free workshop.

Vianna welcomed aspiring and established designers to the workshop and covered several important items to help designers improve their chances for being selected as one of the designers for Sacramento Fashion Week 2013.

The majority of the designers at the workshop made the trip from Stockton. Vianna joked that Stockton could become the new west coast SoHo.

Vianna covered several items to help attendees at the workshop to ready themselves for the premier fashion event by following certain requirements.

Workshop participants were instructed on developing concept boards, selecting colors, fabrics and following business etiquette when using social media. Other helpful hints were shared to better the designers’ chances of being selected.

Participants shared their fashion experience with the group. Designers learned some valuable lessons as they listened to others share their knowledge.

The experience from designers at the workshop ran the gamut from little or no previous experience to others who have already participated in several fashion shows.

Vianna also covered a couple of topics that attracted the attention of the attendees. Participants were encouraged to volunteer at fashion shows to gain valuable fashion show experience. Participation as designers, models and working on set productions is a big plus when writing their biographies and experience.

Guests were also encouraged to look into small business participation by acquiring a small business permit and perhaps acquire a Square Card Reader for financial transactions.

A Sacramento Fashion Week designer was at the workshop to learn about this year’s event and to share her valuable insight. Joycelynn Brown who participated at the last SFW shared her experience.

Brown’s lessons learned included making sure designers begin preparing early and making sure that requirements are met in a timely manner as they continue to plan ahead.

Brown shared that participation in SFW changed her life. Brown said, “My life changed completely and although I had a really hard time making it through the show I was so proud of myself for getting through it. My life did change and now I have so many show offers that I have to turn some down. I have people from the bay area wanting me to come down and do shows. I’m a single mom, just finished college, I have a full time job and if I wasn’t working I would be able to do this full time. “

Organization, preparation and persistence are keys to participating in SFW as a designer. Both Vianna and Brown emphasized the importance of being prepared and not postponing involvement.

The workshop was a great eye opener for those in attendance and was very informational.

Another workshop is planned for September 14. Vianna emphasized the importance of attending these workshops and encouraged those in attendance to pass the word and get designer friends to attend.

Workshops for models are scheduled for October.

Visit the Sacramento Fashion Week f acebook or webpage for further information.

Deadline for submitting required materials must be completed and received by SFW by September 21. Designers will be selected and announced after that date. All requirements have to be completed by the application deadline in order to be considered for selection.

Interview with Henry Rollins

2012-08-28T05:27:20Z

The Henry Rollins 2012 Capitalism tour comes to the Crest Theater on Thursday, Sept. 13.

The spoken-word tour by Rollins, an outspoken world traveler, musical genius and intense speaker and performer, will hit all 50 state capitals. The tour begins Sept. 6 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and ends Nov. 5 in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the 2012 presidential election.

Last Friday, Aug. 24, I was fortunate enough to conduct a phone interview with Rollins before his visit to the Crest Theater.

Rollins, as expected, did not hold back, delivering his thoughts on politics, travels, international experiences and music. His thoughts were refreshing and quite fascinating.

The interview, via phone, with Rollins follows.

Q: Can you tell me a little about this tour?

A: Well, these tours are basically the same in that I’m on stage alone with a microphone, with the basic information being where I’ve been and what I saw and how I feel about it.

I’ve travelled to some fairly interesting points fairly often. I’ve traveled all over Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and so I come back with stories from North Korea, Buton, Mongolia, China, Mali, Haiti, Cuba, Uganda, Sudan and all these places that I’ve been to in the last few years.

Those travel experiences form material that I talk about on stage. Also, I have decades of travel experience to draw upon as far story-telling on stage. The format doesn’t change much year to year, but the material does.

Q: How did you come up with the name for this tour, “Capitalism”?

A: Well, I’m going to be in the capital city of every state. My agent came up with this idea about a year and several months ago in the spring of last year. He said, ‘What do you think about that as an idea for 2012?’ I said that’s a really cool idea, let’s do that.

Q: Do you think there might be a chance of meeting any of the candidates on your tour? Any chance of you being at the same capital or at the same place during the tour as one of these candidates?

A: I don’t know if any candidate would be interested in meeting little ol’ me, but it would be interesting to talk to some of these people; that would be interesting.

Q: If you did get a chance to meet one of the candidates, what would be one question you would ask them?

A: It depends on the politician. Ask someone like Michele Backmann, ‘How do you expect to be elected when you’re so bat-crap crazy?’ That’s a question I’d ask. “How can you live your life being such a hypocrite?’ I’d love to ask her that question. I would be just dying to hear the answer to that one.

There are a lot of questions to be asked of a lot of politicians, even the ones I like.

Q: You’re involved in a lot of things. Every time I hear your name you’re traveling abroad, you bring back some of your experiences, you’re doing things for National Geographic, and it just seems you’re a very busy person. What keeps you going? What drives you?

A: Curiosity and anger, in that I take every day and do a lot of things.

I come from the minimum-wage working world. I come from the world of $3.50 an hour; this is in the late ‘70s, early ‘80s, and what I thought was going to be a life of that for me. I’m not putting that kind of work down, nor am I putting down the people who do that work. As an 18-year-old I told myself, ‘OK, this is my life, this is going to hurt,’ and then I got the opportunity to be in the band Black Flag as a singer. So my life has kind of been like I won the lottery.

So now I go to work like if I’m in a film; to me it’s work in that once you get on the movie set anybody will tell you, you’re working. It’s not easy, it’s fun sometimes, but it’s mostly work.

That work is important and I’ll take it and I’m not trying to say that I approach all of this with some dull utilitarian point of view. I’m damn grateful that anyone cares to allow me to go do some work, and so when Hollywood came calling and they said ‘Hey can you act?’ I said, ‘Yeah can you pay?’

In the ‘80s I realized that if I don’t have plans B, C, D, E, F and G, I’m probably not going to do very well in this environment. Plus I saw really good musicians around me not being able to make ends meet. I said OK, if they’re not able to make ends meet what the hell do I think I’m going to be able to pull off.

So I set about making things better for myself.

Q: Have you done a school tour to share your thoughts and feelings?

A: I’ve spoken at many universities in America, Europe and Australia.

I’ve done commencement speeches and have been on campuses speaking since the ‘80s, actually. I've done that everywhere, Harvard, Yale, Loyola, big schools and small ones. I have an agent who just books university shows, that’s all he does. I do between zero to three proper university shows a year. These are not available to the general public; it’s campus only, student ID to get in, etc.

Q: My kids and I really love your music going back to Black Flag. Are you still involved in creating your own music?

A: No, I stopped doing it a few years ago when I could no longer come up with new song ideas. I realized that would put me in a position where I would have to go out and play old material. Which to me, I can’t put people down, it’s not for me to judge you or anyone, but for myself I don’t want to go and be the weirdo guy on stage playing the hits. To me it’s artistically dull or cowardly. It’s just not facing the present; it’s just forestalling the inevitable, you know, like here comes the guillotine and well, you’re trying to tell jokes on your way up the scaffold stairs to delay the inevitable chop.

That to me is what some musicians do when they’re about my age. They go play the hits, and quite honestly no one give a damn about their new record.

I’d rather play to a smaller audience, or be told, ‘We don’t want you anymore; go away.’

I have to live in the present, so if I’m not feeling the music, well, just stop making it. That’s where I found myself six years ago. I stopped and I said to myself, ‘I’ll give it a year and see if I can still remain busy.’

I like to be working seven days a week. I became incredibly busy doing everything else. It’s been great, I feel nothing but lucky that there was life after music for me.

A lot of my peers can’t make good transitions, don’t want to make a transition, and they’re kind of locked into this perpetual period in their lives which kind of looks depressing to me at points.

Trust me; I’m in no way trying to judge these people. It’s not for me to tell any of these people, ‘Hey, you got it all wrong.’ I mean, who the hell am I? I get to do what I want for myself, and that’s what I choose to do, and I’m just moving on to different stuff, and so far it’s been awesome. I’m having a good time.

Q: How would you describe punk? What does punk mean to you?

A: I think it’s a massive umbrella, and underneath it you can have everyone from me to Einstein, you know, just people who’ve thought differently, who challenged the status quo.

Shakespeare as much as Johnny Rotten, and in a way it’s just a word that if you basically have to ask you’re never going to know. So who was the first punk rock band, was it the Ramones? I don’t know; ask the Ramones what they were listening to. Stooges, Velvet Underground?

The Velvet Underground; to do what they were doing when they were doing it, are you kidding? It was a recipe for amazing starvation; there was definitely an ass-whooping after their show in some towns.

The New York Dolls, a bunch of New York guys in chicks’ clothing on stage doing that in the Midwest? That’s how you lose a finger. I mean, that’s not really the way to get home in one piece. Try it in Missouri, and so that predates the Sex Pistols, and I don’t think any band, genre or year gets real ownership of it, and I tell you this hoping that someone reads or hears these words and it may expand their idea of what they can appreciate.

Some people are very locked-in, musically. ‘Well, I don’t listen to anything past 1977 because they lost the plot.’ Really, there’s lots of wonderful music that came after that wonderful year, and there’s great music that came out this year. I would hope that someone leaves themselves intellectually available to come to the conclusion that there’s too much good music to listen to, and that’s fine.

I buy minimal one record a day, that’s my rule. I must buy a record every day. I don’t care if it’s recorded in 1951; I need new information musically coming to my office daily. I already bought my record for today; I just bought it a couple of hours ago. I’m hoping one or two things pop up on the radar and I’ll pick up those as well. I might never get to hear all that I have in my office, but I’m having a really good time trying. So when someone says ‘Music sucks now,’ I say, ‘Pal, you suck, music is just fine.’

There’s so much great independent music coming out now you do not have time to keep up with it.

The music is fine, it’s always been fine, and there will always be punk music as long as there is one person in the world going, ‘No way, man,’ and they’re doing his or her own thing.

Bob Dylan was very punk in his day; so was John Coltrane. Sun Ra, every damn note that came out of his piano was punk rock, as far as I’m concerned. I would hope that a young person won’t negate all this wonderful music that’s out there that would really blow their minds. Hope they don’t fall so to some negative ideology that precludes them from really grooving to their parents’ record collection. Man, you should have seen my mother’s record collection, everything from Hendrix to Thelonious Monk; she had perfect taste in music.

Q: Any thoughts about Pussy Riot?

A: Yeah, I bet you anything three, at least the three incarcerated, three very intelligent young women who knew, absolutely the wrath, the potential wrath of Vladimir Putin, the president; that guy just doesn’t play around.

They dared to tread on the tiger’s tail.

I do not in any way think the punishment fits the crime; it’s just ridiculous. They really were messing with the wrong guy, and he has to put them in jail because if he doesn’t … , it’s kind of a great insight into the mind of some Russians. I’ve been to Russia five times, it doesn’t make me an expert at all, believe me, but Russian people, some of them at least, really admire their idea of strength.

Putin went after them personally, and was anyone killed in this thing? No, these girls went up and did their punk rock on stage in a church and probably really bummed out the people in that church. Is it worth jail time? I think it’s worth like one hundred hours of community service. You know, go pick up garbage in the park this summer and that’ll learn you. However, Putin cannot just say, ‘OK, you can just go home,’ because his followers will just go, ‘Oh, you’re going soft on us?’

Russia is really tough and so the point I’m making is this: Girls knew what they were getting into. They must have thought before they went into that church that jail time was a definite possibility.

You really have to understand how Putin plays. It’s amazing that it wasn’t more time and it’s amazing one of them didn’t get worked over or accidentally fall down the stairs while handcuffed.

I think they should be out of prison. I don’t want them to do time. I’m just saying they picked the wrong guy to mess with and there’s no way they didn’t know the potential consequences. I’m not saying that they deserve it I’m just saying there’s no way they didn’t see this coming. Trust me on this; there’s no way they went, ‘Really, we’re going to jail?” I mean, they’re too smart for that.

They will get out and they will have, I think, a really successful punk rock life.

They will be able to play two summers from now or thereabouts. They will be playing at the Reading Festival, Roskilde, Pukkelpop and big European festivals. Perry Farrell will put them on Lollapalooza, they will be at Coachella, I mean, if they want to. So a good life waits for them at the private sector.

Q: You have extensive international traveling experience. What would you say is one positive thing about America that non-Americans see?

A: I travel all over the world, pretty much any land mass you can imagine. I go to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, all over Africa, and wherever I go, in villages, slums, bazaars and so on, I ask people, ‘What do you think about America?’ Overwhelmingly, I’ve asked this question in Tehran, in Beirut, in Damascus, in Pyongyang. All over the world I’ve asked this question, and overwhelmingly people love America. They want to come here, they want to meet Americans, want to try the food, and some of them get food-crazy.

Some kind of freak out and get very excited. I was traveling when Bush was president and asked, ‘You like America; we love America. You like Americans; we love Americans. What do you think about Bush?’ They didn’t say they hated him, they said ‘I’m afraid.’

I asked a lot of Iranian people when I was in Iran, ‘What do you think about Bush?’ They would say, ‘We are terrified.’ No hatred. I asked, ‘Do you hate him?’ They replied, ‘No, no, no, we’re afraid.’ I said, ‘What are you afraid of?’ ‘We’re afraid of your military turning our country into a gleaning parking lot of melted sand. We fear it every day you guys talk about it.’ Some politicians do, like (John) McCain. He talked about it; you think these people don’t get the news?

In Tehran they watch the BBC World News every day. You can watch Oprah Winfrey and other things.

These people are proud, they’re Persians. The government of that country is one thing, and the people are quite another. I also ask, ‘What do you think of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? They say, ‘That psycho, are you kidding?’ I say, ‘You don’t like him?’ They say, ‘No one likes him.’

Everyone, well, I mean sure, there’s some people that like him, but the overwhelming majority of people in Iran, they definitely want democracy, in my opinion.

I think democracy is a beautiful model. I mean, it’s the one that I support. I don’t want to live in a communist state and I don’t want to live in a socialist country. I’ve been to those places and it sucks.

I think people like democracy. I think it’s a great idea. Tough to uphold all the time, but I think the world, generally, would rather go in that direction. That’s just my opinion.

Q: It sounds like you don’t have any spare time, but when you have a couple of minutes to reflect, what do you like to do?

A: Any time I have a moment I like to listen to music. I enjoy sitting in front of a stereo with a few records. It’s Friday and that’s what I’ll do after I get off work tonight; I’m going to do a whole lot of music listening.

Q: Thank you so much for your time and I look forward to seeing you at the Crest Theater in September.

A: I absolutely can’t wait, I’ll see you soon.

Prelude to Niello Concours at Serrano

2012-08-25T02:00:28Z

The 2012 Niello Concours at Serrano will take place on October 7, 2012. Automobile enthusiasts throughout northern California and beyond look forward to this annual event.

On Wednesday, August 21 the final Concours Raduno at Sienna, a prelude to the Niello Concours at Serrano, took place in El Dorado Hills.

Sienna Restaurant located at 3909 Park Drive in El Dorado Hills hosted the event where vintage vehicles were showcased around the restaurant.

The 2012 Niello Concours at Serrano will take place on October 7. This elegant event will feature the Marque of Pierce Arrow and will be celebrating 50 Years of the Cobra honoring Carroll Shelby. The gathering at Sienna included several Cobras that sat in front of the restaurant.

The powerful streamline Cobra vehicles at the Sienna grounds attracted the attention of many spectators.

Guests were treated to hors d’oeuvres, wine tasting and DJ music. Several automobile owners form the June 19 Concours at Sienna returned. A comradely has been established among these car owners and many of them will be showcasing their vehicles at the October 7 event.

Hor d’oeuvres were available at the back patio of Sienna. Borjón Winery, a family owned winery located in the Shenandoah Valley of Amador County served wine samples. I sampled the two red wines, a Barbera Reposado and their Sangiovese Reposado; both wines were very tasty.

A flyer near the wine offerings advertised Borjón Winery’s “Revolución De Vino” event. The second annual event will take place on September 1 and will feature live music, sale of select wines and new releases as well as authentic Mexican food by Nora Borjón.

The Concours at Sienna was hosted by Brian and Michele Moore, Premier Concours Promotions. Throughout the evening the hosts mingled with guests and provided information about the October 7 event.

Serrano at Concours will showcase hundreds of vintage vehicles in an elegant and family friendly atmosphere. The Serrano Visitor’s Center, located at 4525 Serrano Parkway will serve as the setting for the event.

The event runs from 10 am – 5 pm., parking is at a premium and shuttle services will be available at Oakridge High School.

Classic vehicles will be on exhibit and several awards will be presented. A fashion showfeaturing Felicia Strati's newests trends will also be included as part of the event. Many vendors from the El Dorado and Sacramento area will have booths at the event.

A portion of the net proceeds from the Niello Concours at Serrano event will benefit The Concours Foundation. The Concours Foundation is a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation.

The Concours Foundation’s mission is to, “Provide education, resources, grants and funding to teenage youth in the areas of safe and sober driving practices. Work to encourage and reward outstanding achievements in automobile restoration, preservation and education.”

The Niello Concours at Serrano is a fun event that will capture your imagination and keep you coming back.

2012 Banana Festival

2012-08-22T08:16:25Z

The Sacramento Banana Festival returned to William Land Park this past weekend for the third time. This year’s theme was Bananarama. Dozens of performances took place during the two-day festival celebrating community involvement, art, music, food, diversity, health, wellness, culture and of course, bananas.

Two acts performed simultaneously throughout both days. In between the two stages, the Children’s Stage and the Main Stage, an open air marketplace housed vendors, informational booths and a food court that offered an assortment of banana and other dishes.

This year’s hosts were poet, Frank Withrow, and former News 10 reporter, Karen Massie. The hosts kept things moving at the main stage and were full of inspirational messages.

Local chef Richard Pannell brought a comedic blend to the show and also presided over the chef challenge and other events. For cooking enthusiasts a chef’s challenge was held featuring several of Sacramento’s finest chefs. The “Smashed Challenge” was very popular and showed several novel ways of cooking or using bananas in flavorful dishes.

The children’s area included rides, jump houses, games, educational exhibits and a children’s stage featuring educational and fun performances. Dance, music, magic, storytelling and other fun activities kept the audience entertained.

The Children’s Stage featured acts like Rappin Ratz, an adorable rap group in rat costumes rapping positive and safety messages for children. As with many of the performers on the Children’s Stage, audience participation made faces light up.

The Banana Slug String Band from Santa Cruz graced the Children’s Stage several times throughout the weekend. The band promotes conservation and the importance of math and science. The Banana Slug String Band also encourages support for music appreciation, building children’s self esteem and other positive community qualities.

In fostering positive attitudes the Banana Slug String Band played wonderful music. Their performances included one of my favorites, “Dirt Made My Lunch.”

The Banana Festival is hosted by the Sojourner Truth Multicultural Art Museum and its founding director, Shonna McDaniels. Event organizers would like for the Banana Festival to be a catalyst to support local non-profit organizations in their efforts to benefit the Sacramento community. In striving to achieve this goal the festival collaborated with several local non-profits to assist them in their fundraising efforts.

The Main Stage had dozens of performers filling the two-day event, bringing the audience to its feet and to the dance floor in a shady area in front of the stage. Acts included the Ras D Reggae Band, Umoja Productions, Tina B. Soul Line Dancers, Fenix Drum, Jodama African Dance, Ital Reggae Band & Urban Fire, the Latin Magic Band, Obsidian Butterfly Silk Dancers and others.

Several groups returned from last year’s festival and delighted the audience with their colorful performances.

Marie Clark has brought her family to the event for the past three years. When asked what keeps her coming back Clark said, “The first year I went because I was helping one of my friends who had a booth. I fell in love with the event and when the festival moved to Land Park, which is closer to home, I brought my kids. We look forward to trying new dishes, learning about other cultures and meeting other people from our community. I love it because we get to see Brazilian, Polynesian, Latin, European, African and other cultural performances. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event.”

A new Banana Festival Queen was also coronated. The two finalists had a very close contest, with Tyniece Hall and Jade Ross vying for the banana crown. Last year’s winner, Marisa Adams, crowned Hall as the 2012 Banana Festival Queen.

Last weekend I attended the Fire Spectacular where I saw several fire dancing groups. The main act at that event was Obsidian Butterfly, who brought another aspect of their performances to the Banana Festival stage. Their daylight spectacular was nonetheless just as entertaining and enjoyable.

The International Academy of Design &Technology (IADT) brought a fashion show to the Main Stage. The IADT student fashion showcase showed designs by Eshonna Trice, Jasmine Sewell, Stephanie Harris, John Thao and others.

Sharon Sutherland provided wonderful jewelry designs for models to wear which accentuated the designer’s work. Several hair and makeup artists applied their stunning art to the models. Overall, more than 30 models, hair and makeup artists, designers, students and mentors participated in the fashion event. An IADT booth offered information about the many programs offered at the academy.

The Banana Festival provided a great community event to celebrate community, culture, health, dance, fashion, music and much more. Besides festive activities and performances, the Banana Festival also provides an educational scholarship for a community youth demonstrating exceptional artistic talent. This year's scholarship winner was Faison Jackson. Jackson is 21 years old and is currently a Senior at Clark Atlanta University studying Biology.

More photos of the 2012 Banana Festival can be found here.

2012 Capitol Indie Collective Fashion Challenge

2012-08-18T06:19:00Z

The Sacramento Film and Music Festival kicked-off on Wednesday night.

As part of the opening night program at the Sacramento Film & Music Festival (SFMF) a Pop-Up event was held at the soon to be Sharif Fine Jewelers. Sharif will occupy the space next door to the Crest Theater on the corner of K and 10th Streets.

Article Consignment Boutique, La Fem Sophistique and Stella & Dot Independent Stylist Sarah Clark had stations set up inside Sharif’s where they showed their fashion, jewelry and other accessories.

The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar, Black Bird Kitchen and Bar and Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters were at the Sharif building as well, handing out delicious samples.

Opening night for the SFMF also included the Capitol Indie Collective Fashion Challenge.

Last year’s challenge was won by Melinda Carrie Dougan who served as one of the judges for the fashion event.

Inside the Crest Theater lobby Dougan’s winning entry was on exhibit next to a Christina Marie, Executive Director at Capitol Indie Collective, design made out of t-shirts from last year’s SFMF.

Musical guests Thomas & Plecker performed inside the Crest lobby. Derek Thomas’ soothing vocals are always a treat. Backed by Sam Plecker on guitar and Nolan Le Vine on drums the trio dished out classics made famous by Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra and others.

While watching Thomas & Plecker perform, Lisa Lee, a guest at SFMF commented, “I heard them from inside the theater and when I came out I couldn’t believe how young these guys are. They’re great.” I have seen Thomas & Plecker play before and they always elicit comments similar to Lee’s.

Fashion Challenge designers, hair and makeup artists and models were at the Crest Theater hours in advance. Makeup and hair styling was done by Allure Salon and Spa.

Last year’s Fashion Challenge theme was “Newspaper Couture,” and designers produced some memorable outfits.

This year’s theme was “Fashion Pairings” and designers produced many original creations. Participating restaurants were paired with designers to create their outfits.

Restaurants participating in the fashion show included Thir13en, Blackbird Kitchen + Bar, Fox & Goose, The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar, Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters and The Shady Lady Saloon. Other sponsors of The Capitol Indie Collective Fashion Challenge included Allure Salon and Spa, Sharif Fine Jewelers and the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission.

Designers were given 13 days to complete a runway ready outfit for the Fashion Challenge. The designs also had to include the restaurant name and one menu item and had to be done with a $50 budget. The outfits created were judged on how well the defined elements were included in the design, construction and visual appeal.

Designers who participated met the requirements and created stylish fashion.

Allure Salon worked their magic and provided hair and makeup for the event and also provided some prizes for some guests.

Panda Express sponsored the food theme event and provided some of their delicious specials for guests to enjoy. I enjoyed their scrumptious chow mein and broccoli beef.

Backstage, designers and models worked on last minute adjustments and if they were lucky enough enjoyed some Panda Express.

Once the fashion show began, Christina Marie gave some information about each of the designs as the models entered stage left did a couple of poses and exited stage right.

A marvelous parade of beautiful designs paraded on stage and it became apparent that choosing a winner would be a difficult task.

Once all designs were shown, the Fashion Challenge took a break for judges to cast their ballots. Nate Schemel and Tony Sheppard, Festival Directors, delivered welcoming remarks to the audience during this break. The 13th annual Sacramento Film & Music Festival officially started.

Laurie Pederson, Executive Director of the Capital Film Arts Alliance was presented the 2012 Film Arts Service Award. Cécile Downs, Executive & Artistic Director – Founder at Sacramento French Film Festival presented Pederson with the award.

The five judges were able to agree on the winner of the fashion challenge.

Spectators also helped select the Audience Choice winner.

Three finalists were chosen to vie for the Audience Choice award and Niv Elliot’s design won. As it turned out the judges also selected Elliot’s design, worn by model Leslie Grace, as the First Place winner.

Once the Capitol Indie Collective Fashion Challenge ended the opening film program at the 13th annual Sacramento Film & Music Festival began with a series of locally produced short films.

The festival runs from Wednesday, August 15, through Sunday, August 19, at the Crest Theatre.

Besides the works of local film pioneers the festival also includes films from many film genres from filmmakers around the world

NOTE: More photos from the event can be found here.

A Fire Spectacular

2012-08-16T20:04:21Z

The fifth annual Fire Spectacular; The Vision Quest brought several premier poi, hoop, belly and fire dance groups to the William Land Park Amphitheatre.

The event was held on Saturday, August 11 at a new venue.

Drumsum, a world music group entertained guests before the Land Park Amphitheatre was taken over by dancers. Drumsum is a regular performer at the annual Fire Spectacular.

This year’s Fire Spectacular attracted a good sized audience who enjoyed a family festival atmosphere.

The first dance performance was a belly dance duo known as ShupaDa. I saw ShupaDa perform earlier in the year at Sacramento Raks. At that time they were performing for the first time as ShupaDa and since then they have appeared a many events and won several awards.

ShupaDa’s dazzling belly dance performance at the Fire Spectacular was very entertaining and set the stage for the many other groups that followed.

Hillbelly, a dance troupe from Big Bend California brought their fire dance techniques to the stage.

The Hillbelly trio describe themselves as “hip mothers, organic gardeners and land lovin’ devotees of Mama Earth!” Their performance was phenomenal and delighted the audience that grew by the minute.

Music selection for Hillbelly and other performers also captured the attention of the audience. Mystic, eastern and rock music selections allowed performers to further express themselves as they moved to the rhythmic beats and sounds of their music selection.

Several vendors were on hand and included Farm Fresh to You, Brenda Maureen Belisama Brennan, Rebecca Mann and Art by Jennifer Young who was also doing henna art.

Arctic Fire is a group from Anchorage and Wasilla in Alaska who have expanded their base to include California.

The trio was truly amazing and their fire dance choreography was very entertaining.

One of the Arctic Fire members surprised the audience as during her performance she spit a magnificent fireball that caught everyone by surprise. Unfortunately I was not expecting it and missed the opportunity to capture it on a photo.

Andrew Sanchez and his wife Hilda, along with two of their children enjoyed the show from a shady bench seat.

When asked about what Sanchez though about the event he said, “This is great! My kids loved the music Arctic Fire used for their act. They kept looking around the stage looking for kids because they heard children laughing when the music started and I had to tell them it was the song selection. I loved the show last year but we did not bring the kids then. This year we had to bring them and they love it.”

A solo hoop dance performer from the foothills Sonya Castoe brought her theatrics to the stage.

Castoe has performed at the Fire Spectacular for three out of the five annual events.

Castoe was one of the few solo acts and her mastery of the hoop was showcased as she maneuvered her fire hoop around the stage and moved with elegance and ease.

A white water rafting trip was included as a raffle prize for audience members who purchased raffle tickets. The raffle prize was to be drawn at the end of the event.

Performers were quick in taking the stage and for the most part the short break in between acts was almost unnoticeable.

Crimson Muse brought a theatrical cabaret dance display to the Amphitheatre. Crimson Muse, like other fire dancers, performs with other fire acts.

Crimson Muse performed at the first two Fire Spectacular events. Crimson Muse is also the founding director, of Healing Pathways Psychological Services.

As Crimson Muse started her performance she took the stage wearing a mask. At first I did not notice anything unusual but soon realized the mask was on the back of her head but to me it appeared as if she was facing the audience. The illusion worked great and Crimson Muse’s performance was magical.

Another performer who returned this year was the artist known as Vikram. When asked what he wanted on his bio Vikram was quoted by the emcee as saying, “Just tell them the disco ball shorts are coming back.” Indeed the disco ball shorts attracted as much attention as his fire dance maneuvers.

Vikram performed at the Fire Spectacular for the third time.

The Unmata Street Team is the “little sister” to Unmata and Verbatim at Hot Pot Studios. Many of the members appeared to have been from a troupe that tried to perform at Hot Pot Studios during July’s Second Saturday but were shut down by Sacramento Police before they could light up their performance.

Street Team demonstrated their fire dance technique and visionary choreography. They delighted the audience with their combination of belly dancing and what they call Improvisational Tribal Style. Selective music and fire dance demonstration awed the audience.

By this time the darkness of night and the feel of a slightly cooler evening manifested upon the stage and fire dancing created a greater spectacle as the fire danced higher and more intense creating for a great visual experience.

Flux has been around since 2007 performing at many public and private events. They have performed at Burning Man, weddings, fundraisers, parties and the annual Fire Spectacular.

Flux’s second appearance at the Fire Spectacular included rapid movement that showcased a wonderful display of dance and fire.

Sacramento based Flux is well known for being the home base for various skilled fire spinners, poi, contact staff, zip and hoop dancers.

Appearing for the first time at the Fire Spectacular was Fire Pixie who brought a wonderful show to Sacramento.

The San Francisco area based group was established by Erin St. Blaine in 2002. Fire Pixie now includes over 20 amazing performers.

Fire Pixie performed at the California State Fair two or three years ago. Their Cal Expo performance caught my attention but at the time I did not know who they were. Their amazing performance at the Fire Spectacular gained new followers.

Fire Pixie has also developed an entertainment package that includes a fashion line; kids show entertainment and their fire dance troupe.

Obsidian Butterfly continues to electrify Sacramento’s night skies at various performances throughout the year. Since forming in 2003 Obsidian Butterfly has developed a loyal following.

Audience participation is part of the Obsidian Butterfly repertoire and at the Fire Spectacular they were able to hypnotize the audience through artistic fire dances. The group used the stage and also had performers moving in front of the stage and walked among the audience. Willing audience participants were allowed to be part of the show as they touched the dancing flames.

The Fire Spectacular was an exceptional event that included many of Sacramento and northern California's premiere fire dance performers. The performers involved in this year’s event provided great family entertainment.

Many of the troupes are also available for private parties and other bookings. The last time I saw Obsidian Butterfly they performed at a Sweet Dreams fundraising event and many in attendance were awestruck and happy as they left the event.

Log on to the performer's webpage to learn more about each of the groups and to find their performance schedules if available. Several of the performers also offer workshops and classes for the public.

The Fire Spectacular was a visual delight that lit up the Land Park Amphitheater as well as the faces of children and adults who witnessed dazzling performances at the event.

Sequoia Jennifer Dawn together with Obsidian Butterfly continues to create a very entertaining annual event that amuses and inspires its audience. Like many of the visitors who attended the Fire Spectacular I look forward to next year's event.

Moonlight Costume Ball at Fairytale Town

2012-08-07T02:13:35Z

King Arthur’s Castle, a pirate ship setting and Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest were a great background for the third annual Moonlight Costume Ball held at Fairytale Town on Friday, Aug. 3. This year’s theme was “Men in Tights.”

The event was held to raise funds to renovate Fairytale Town’s Sherwood Forest playset. Sharlene Lal-Hernandez, education and program manager at Fairytale Town, estimated that over 400 people attended the 21-and-over ball.

The Mother Goose Theater served as a concert stage for the Celtic rock band Tempest. This prolific San Francisco-based group was formed in 1988, and has 15 CDs to their credit. Tempest continues to tour regularly and is currently on a West Coast tour until Nov. 17.

Fusing rock, Irish, Scottish, Norwegian and other world music styles, Tempest entertained its audience, and many took to the dance floor in front of the stage. Their elaborate costumes fit the “Men in Tights” theme.

The Pirates of Sacramento Meetup group attended, having encouraged their members to attend the ball and help with the fundraiser. The group was in character, wore splendid pirate costumes and spoke in “pirate” style.

The next big event for Pirates of Sacramento will be Oct. 20-21, at the Folsom Renaissance Faire.

The weather on Saturday night was pleasantly cool. However, the Sizzling Sirens Burlesque Experience changed that, as their sizzling hot performance lit up the audience when the group took the stage.

The Sizzling Sirens can be seen at many venues in Sacramento, and have performed at the Crocker Art Museum, Dive Bar and regular gigs at Harlow’s.

The talented group was quite entertaining, and had a captive and responsive audience who cheered what they saw on stage. This imaginative group is in the process of bringing the tasteful (and at times, not so refined) art of burlesque back to events in Sacramento and surrounding areas.

The Sizzling Siren Show performs every third Thursday of each month at Harlow's.

Food was available at the Dish & Spoon Café and the Wicked ‘Wich food truck. A no-host bar sold alcoholic beverages to keep the merry men and women in good spirits.

Another highlight of the evening was a costume contest. Several categories were announced, and the audience cheered for its favorite contestants.

Prizes were awarded for best costumes, and dancing followed until the event ended.

Noting that the ball was in its third year, I asked Lal-Hernandez who came up with the event. She told me that Fairytale Town’s executive director Kathy Fleming came up with the idea.

Asked about the concepts of themes for the ball, Lal-Hernandez said, “We change the concept every year. Last year it was ‘Arabian Nights,’ the first one was ‘Once Upon a Night’ and it was a fairytale theme, and last year we had ‘Arabian Nights.’”

Lal-Hernandez also said that it took about six months of planning to do this year’s event.

During the event, DJ Matt from Extreme Productions, who was playing in between acts, continued playing as guests danced the rest of the evening away.

The event was quite a hit, and allowed guests to showcase often homemade elaborate costumes.

Entertainment for the evening was just as intricate, as sizzling performances hit the stage.

As Prince John in “Men in Tights” said, “Tell everyone that when the day is out, we shall have a wedding. Or a hanging. Either way, we're gonna have a lot of fun, huh?” Indeed, although there were no hangings or weddings, the third annual Moonlight Costume Ball was a lot of fun!

More photos from the event can be found here.

Hair & Fashion Battle Fundraiser 2012

2012-08-01T07:29:00Z

The 2012 Hair & Fashion Battle Fundraiser was held at the Sacramento Scottish Rite Masonic Center on Saturday.

The competition serves as a fundraiser for the Roberts Family Development Center. The center provides services to families with children facing challenges in school and to families who have a desire to improve their existing circumstances.

This fundraiser helps set up scholarships for deserving children and allows them to participate in fun, recreational activities year-round and hands-on education.

The annual competition showcases innovative hair and fashion styles and designs and brings them to the runway. Cash and other prizes are awarded to the top salon and designers and raffle prizes, donated by the many sponsors of the show, are given away throughout the show.

The Hair & Fashion Battle Fundraiser was presented by A Berry Special Event. The all-in-one wedding and event planning service provider can supply everything needed for a successful event. Decorations, planning, designs, florist service, equipment rentals and DJ services are just a few of the personalized services they provide.

The Hair & Fashion Battle Fundraiser featured celebrity guest Jackie Christie, also known as the wife of former Sacramento Kings player, Doug Christie. Looking quite ravishing, Jackie Christie was a gracious host, introducing the salons and designers as they took the stage and announcing raffle winners during breaks. Throughout the event Christie’s comments were pleasant and encouraging. Christie will soon be starting her second season in Basketball Wives LA.

A few hours before the Hair Battle a casting call for the Jackie Christie Fashion Line took place. Models selected from the casting, administered by Magnum Opus, will walk in a future Jackie Christie Line runway show.

The 2012 theme of “Past, Present, Future" gave each designer and salon an opportunity to showcase their many talents and visitors to the event waited in anticipation. Fashion was not restricted to the stage as several guests showed up in stylish outfits. Vendors at the event also shared their fashionable goods and services and allowed guests the opportunity to network with each other and the showcased businesses.

Salons, models, vendors, photographers, entertainers and designers were on hand hours before the show. Preparation for the event had started months in advance and continued until the last minute before the competition began. Before the event most of the salons and designers prepared backstage. Others came to the battle ready to go except for a few last minute changes.

I took time to speak with one of the salons that was getting ready for the event. The large group worked on elaborate makeup and practiced their runway walk.

The collaboration of Bernae’s International Academy (BIA) and Transformations Makeup Institute won the Salon 2011 competition. Carnette Burnett, Yolanda Gibson and Ginger Wong talked about their strategy and last year’s event.

“…We’re actually the reigning winners, the champs. We were last year’s champs and we’re back to defend our title,” Burnett said.

BIA and Transformations partnered for the event and worked well together. Last year was the first year of the event and the partnership won Best Hair, Best Makeup and Best Models.

Burnett followed up saying, “We don’t really know who the competition is this year. We just go into these things because it’s a lot of fun for all of us.”

BIA The Salon is owned by Carnette and Maurice Burnett. They are located at 1320 20th Street in Sacramento. Burnett said they have been at their current location for the past 10 years and have been in business for 28 years.

“We were surprised as to how many awards we won last year,” Burnett noted. “We were excited we won but we took nothing for granted. When we do a competition like this we do two to three months planning for the show.”

When asked about this year’s expectations Wong said, “I think we’ve won just by doing this and being involved.”

Burnett followed saying, “We love the camaraderie with Transformations and BIA.”

After winning last year’s event BIA and Transformations were asked by Channel 10 to bring extreme makeup and signed a contract to do hair and make-up for the station for a year. The competition helped bring the teams to the attention of a lot of people.

The first half of this year’s show brought four teams to the stage. Salons and designers took turns taking the stage. Jacks Hair Shop, Hair by Darlene with stylist Darlene Ragan was the first salon to participate. Tailand Designs by Latiya Gholar-Abdullah represented the first designer in the battle. The Cleo Cartel Hair Concept salon with stylist Cleo Cartel and designs by Jewlz by Tonya Felish showcased their wonderful creations as well. An entertaining show by Salons Within with stylists Andrea Avilla and Christa Fisher closed the first half.

A performance by the RTB Dance Group followed the intermission break.

Magnificent designs from Electrik by Eshonna Trice began the second half of the Hair Battle. Stylist Madrid Johnson also brought his Madrid’s International salon to the battle. Madrid International was another salon that thoroughly entertained spectators.

Designer Faatui Toele, last year’s design winner, brought his 2WEE collection to the stage in the second half, and the final contestant for the event was the BIA and Transformations team. The team impressed the audience and judges as they tried to retain their title.

The five judges for the event gave their thoughts at the end of each designer and salon presentation. The judges were at times brutally honest and each judge spoke after each showing.

Judges for the event were makeup artist Eddie Clark; hair stylist and makeup artist Sidney Lee; fashion photographer Tom Huynh; Bay Fashion Magazine, Volo and Haute Couture Magazine publisher Shankha Goswami; and fashion designer Rory Castillo.

After all the performances and fanfare, the BIA and Transformations and 2WEE designs held their titles and were proclaimed the winners of this year’s Hair & Fashion Battle Fundraiser.

After the show I again approached the BIA and Transformations team to get their thoughts on the evening’s event.

“I felt that all the hard work, planning and the partnership of the two teams, BIA and Transformations is always a winning combination whether we win or not, because it’s all about the process,” Wong said.

When asked if they would return to once again defend their title Wong stated, “Absolutely! You know what? I’m really proud of all the talent and I know how hard this industry, the beauty industry is, and I commend everybody for giving their extra time in addition to earning a living to do all the work that it takes to do something like this. Best wishes to everybody.”

A Berry Special Event owner Marlett Berry put together a wonderful show that brought many northern California fashionistas together for an entertaining show. The collaboration between designers, models, style and community vendors, photographers, salons and many other groups provided a great fashion venue.

The Hair & Fashion Battle Fundraiser showcased the marvelous salon and design talents of Sacramento and surrounding areas and benefited the Roberts Family Development Center. The addition of Jackie Christie to this year’s event gave the battle more credence and prominence.

Disclosure: I served as one of the Official Show Photographers for the Hair & Fashion Battle Fundraiser

Third Annual Wine, Cheese & Bread Faire

2012-07-24T06:18:47Z

The Old Sugar Mill hosted the Third Annual Wine, Cheese & Bread Faire on Saturday and Sunday, July 21-22, 2012.

Guests to the event received a thermos tote bag with the Old Sugar Mill logo for keeping purchased items cool. A commemorative wine glass was given to guests 21 and over for sampling the many wines.

The main entrance building housed local wineries that offered free samples, and also offered a larger wine sampling for wine aficionados willing to pay a small extra fee.

Artisan cheese tasting and fresh-baked breads were available at an adjacent building for visitors to enjoy. Guests sampled other regional items such as olive oils, chocolates and other locally made products.

Many of the items available for sampling were perfect pairings for parties, picnics and other similar events. Several people who bought wine, bread and cheese took their purchases and appreciated sharing them outdoors, while enjoying live music from Solsa Entertainment.

To keep guests cool on this hot day, a series of canopy tents were set up, which provided pockets of shade in their courtyard.

A cigar lounge, along with arts and crafts areas, also attracted guests to the outdoors. The historic beauty of the Old Sugar Mill attracts groups that use the facility for various events. Both occupied and abandoned buildings add ambiance to this old site.

Several wineries are housed at the Old Sugar Mill. Heringer Estates, Clarksburg Wine Company, Elevation Ten Winery, R. Merlo Family Vineyards, Todd Taylor Wines, Three Wine Company, Rendez-Vous Winery and Carvalho Family Wines currently occupy the space. These wineries offer wine tasting throughout the year, and an exquisite wine sampling of mostly Clarksburg American Vitcultural Area (AVA) vineyards.

The event was well-attended, and at times lines of people waited for a wine tasting spot to open. The wineries have sitting areas and several patrons enjoyed a bottle of their favorite vintage wine with friends.

Guests were also treated to cheese education seminars, where classes were offered on cheese-making. These classes were offered for a small extra fee. The live-chef demonstrations were quite popular and included chefs from Sacramento restaurants.

I attended a cheese-making class offered by Mulvaney’s at the B&L of Sacramento, in which the chef created a delicious blend of mozzarella cheese and guests were able to enjoy the recently made, and still warm, cheese samplings.

The Old Sugar Mill presentation of the Wine, Cheese & Bread Faire was a lot of fun, and the many samplings available made this a savory experience.

About the only thing missing from the event was a place to lie down and take a nap. The many gourmet food samplings, wine and heat wore down several guests. Event coordinators did include information about discount rates at the Le Rivage Hotel, located about 10 minutes from the Old Sugar Mill.

The Old Sugar Mill offers various events throughout the year, and the wineries on site offer wine tasting from some of the best local vineyards.

The Old Sugar Mill is located in scenic Clarksburg, about 15 minutes from downtown Sacramento. Winery tours, barrel tasting and wine tasting are available daily.

Weddings and special events can also be coordinated with the Old Sugar Mill. Their next public event will be Hot August Whites on Aug. 25-26.

“Art-rageous Cars” at the California Automobile Museum

2012-07-21T07:38:21Z

The California Automobile Museum, located at 2200 Front St., holds a monthly Third Thursday event, with activities for all family members.

On the third Thursday of every month, the museum keeps its doors open until 9 p.m. These events are free to California Automobile Museum members, and for nonmembers admission is half off from 5-7 p.m. Kids under five are admitted for free.

Children’s activities are provided inside the museum, helping make this a family-friendly event.

Live music by the High Strung band also provides entertainment inside the museum.

Exhibits at the museum are always changing. A current exhibit features the “Citroёn: L’icône français” (“Citroen: The French Icon”) that runs until July 29. The exhibit opened on May 26 and showcases several vehicles that are now everyday icons of French culture. Legendary Citroen vehicles include the Traction Avant, 2CV and DS models.

Another current exhibit is “No Job Too Big,” which showcases vehicles used on the job. Police cars, buses and other such vehicles will be on exhibit until Sept. 9. One working vehicle that was not part of the museum exhibit but did a great job was a roadside assistance AAA vehicle. I accidentally locked my keys inside my car and AAA was able to get into my vehicle to retrieve my keys.

“No Job Too Big” displayed various vehicles that keep our communities moving, such as taxis, hauling trucks, tow trucks and utility vehicles. The exhibit was put together to help visitors gain a deeper appreciation for the role these vehicles and their drivers play in our communities.

The mission of the California Automobile Museum is “to preserve, exhibit, and teach the story of the automobile and its influence on our lives.” Docents play a big part in helping to accomplish the museum’s mission, and they are very knowledgeable about almost every vehicle on display.

Docents at the event are very hospitable. The friendly docents I met were able to tell stories going back to the beginning of the museum.

For example, one of the docents told a story about the Towe Ford Museum, which was first conceived when a bunch of car enthusiasts got together for coffee and began talking about their vehicles. Edward Towe at the time had the largest collection of any one make of cars in the world. The Ford vehicles he owned proved to be the impetus for the Towe Ford Museum.

The current California Automobile Museum has gone through many changes and has come to a point where it is reaching out to the community through various new programs. One of their goals is to grow their educational program.

As part of Third Thursday, the museum’s theme for the event was “Art-rageous Cars.” The evening’s event was created as a family fun night at the museum. Hands-on activities for children were provided at a large table near the entrance.

Free guided tours also created a fun learning atmosphere for visitors,

Natalie Minas, a marketing specialist at the museum, talked about the event and exhibits on display. Minas indicated that the museum rotates exhibits throughout the year to attract visitors and tell the history of the automobile.

When asked about the privately owned vehicles in the parking area, Minas said, “The cruise in is held every third Thursday of the month. We open the museum doors until 9 where normally we close at 6 p.m. The idea is to get people in here who love cars. We want to have a family-oriented event with live music and have some type of food here so that people can have dinner at the museum and have a good time. We want to show the community that we’re here and our doors are open.”

Minas stated that their next exhibit will be called “1968.” Minas explained, “The ‘1968’ exhibit is going to tell the story of that year and we’re going to have a lot of cars from that time. It’s going to be something new for us and will be a lot bigger.”

The Third Thursday Cruise is new this year. Minas said, “The cruise is our inaugural for this year. My job here is to help coordinate these kinds of events and I wanted to bring in something fun for everyone. We’re thinking about doing themed car shows in the future, but for now I want to leave it open.”

When asked about the “Art-rageous Cars” theme Minas responded, “We want to boost our education department and that was the whole idea behind this. We wanted to get more parents and kids involved and understand more about what we do here. We want to reach out to that audience, to get them here and work together on projects with each other. The idea is to have them come in, have fun and leave with a souvenir.”

There are about 150 docents at the museum, noted Minas. “They go through a lengthy program and are all very dedicated. They love it here, they love the cars, are super enthusiastic, and they love giving tours they’re one of our biggest assets,” said Minas.

The California Automobile Museum’s next event will be held Aug. 4. Minas said, “The fourth annual CAM cruise will take place on Fulton Avenue. We’re expecting about 500 cars to participate in the cruise and at 4 o’clock they’re going to cruise from Sac State to Fulton and Marconi and will have a big car show there. It’s free for spectators and we’ll have live music, a beer garden, food trucks and huge car show. This will be a fun summer event.”

The museum offers an extensive selection of classes for both children and adults. School tours are also provided and are in line with the California curriculum standards and frameworks.

Visit the California Auto Museum to see a listing of vehicles on exhibit, view photos, read about current and past exhibits, and enjoy a full listing of future events. Membership, volunteer and donation information is also available on their website.

Trash Film Orgy returns to the Crest Theater

2012-07-17T06:09:56Z

Trash Film Orgy returned to the Crest Theatre for the 12th season of its popular film festival on Saturday night.

The film festival began with the midnight showing of “Army of Darkness.” Each subsequent Saturday will feature other cult classics such as “Battle Royale,” “The Terminator,” “Flesh Gordon” (yes, “Flesh” not “Flash”), “Five Deadly Venoms,” and ends with the August 18 showing of “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School.”

Trash Film Orgy Productions has organized the Zombie Walk and the midnight movie festival since 2001.

Coinciding with July’s Midtown Art Walk, several bloody Zombie Walk participants enjoyed the sights and sounds of the Second Saturday events.

The Zombie Walk continues to grow in popularity, and has attracted hundreds of participants over the past few years. This year the crowd appeared to have been the biggest walk to date. No official count was taken, but I would guess over 1,200 participants made the walk.

Fans were encouraged to apply makeup before assembling at Cheap Thrills, located at 1712 L St. Zombies gathered at 9:30 p.m., and the walk to the Crest Theater was scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m.

Kill the Precedent, a Sacramento metal band, played as the zombie gathering brought dead heads, draggers, crawlers and other stiffs together.

KTP played an amazing set that temporarily brought the zombies back to life, as they grunted, shuffled, danced and bounced to the music. Several zombies even attempted to mosh.

A couple of makeup stations applied finishing touches for people that still needed bloody makeup. TFO and David Ainsworth, owner of Alchemy FX, helped to apply zombie makeup for people wanting to participate in the walk.

TFO organized the walk, giving instructions to the zombies. Zombies of all ages walked down L Street in droves and moved as directed by organizers. While following directions the zombies from time to time moved towards spectators who enjoyed their shenanigans.

The Zombie Walk continued to 13th Street before making a left on K Street towards their final destination.

The parade ended at the Crest Theater, where remaining ticket sales for the opening night of Trash Film Orgy 2012 were crisp.

TFO is for an 18-and-over crowd.

As the Crest Theater doors opened to the public, informational tables for TFO, Running Dead Zombie Mud Run and Callson Manor promoted current and future events.

Games were also part of the festivities before the movie, and many guests participated. The Crest Lounge was also open for business, serving wine and beer for guests 21 and over. This gave zombies time to recover before any more walking or staggering was to be done.

As midnight came around most of the guys and ghouls moved inside the theater. The sold-out performance began with the Mighty Tiki making some opening remarks, telling jokes, making other announcements and encouraging audience participation.

A short skit was performed by TFO and got the audience riled up for “Army of Darkness.”

The audience soon became involved, chanting “trash, trash, trash” as the Trash Film Orgy’s featured film began.

“Army of Darkness” fans soon began to cheer for Bruce Campbell’s character Ash (and Evil Ash) when he appeared onscreen. The 1993 film continues to entertain, and many in the audience had already memorized the movie dialogue, repeating meaningful (for the most part) lines as characters delivered them.

TFO Productions is a partnership between Darin Wood, Christy Savage and Amy Slockbower. TFO Productions has been working hard on their next future film, “Badass Monster Killer.” Funding for this feature is being acquired through various fundraisers, and the TFO Film Festival will help with its fundraising.

Next Saturday’s feature is the 2000 film “Battle Royale.” In this movie the Japanese government forces a group of ninth graders to kill each other. Thrilling, edge-of-your-seat plots like this are sure to be popular.

TFO encourages fans to attend wearing crazy and movie-themed costumes each night to enhance the experience. The TFO experience also includes stage shows and game booths for their TFO movies.

Help support the Sacramento-based motion picture production company by attending their fundraising events, as they include many fun activities for supporters. The TFO Film Festival runs from July 14 to August 18.

4th Annual Race for the Ring

2012-07-16T16:26:45Z

The 4th Annual Race for the Ring brought friends, co-workers, mothers and sons, fathers and daughters, and other family teams together at Raley Field on Saturday. About 300 people participated in the annual race, which was sponsored by Bank of America and had teams of two vying to win the race by going from place to place gathering clues at different sites in Sacramento. The teams biked 12-15 miles during the course of the event.

Using mobile phones and riding bicycles, each team received clues via text messages and moved to find the site in the clue. Teams raced to the spot and then picked up more text message clues. Points were awarded for reaching each destination and the time involved. Not all teams used bikes, and at least one team was seen riding scooters.

The winners of the adventurous scavenger hunt and Race for the Ring would eventually be rewarded with a ring that was valued around $5,000. The ring, donated by Rogers Jewelry Co., could be chosen from a selection of nine unique rings offered by Rogers.

Each participant also enjoyed lunch, a t-shirt and entry into the after-party at a Raley Field beer garden.

The Sacramento Press dug into personal stories of several participants as the race date approached. Their stories and interviews leading to the race allowed for sharing human stories regarding The Race for the Ring.

Many volunteers from Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) provided wonderful hospitality to riders, greeting participants and watching over a silent auction table.

The event raised over 12,000 dollars for SFBFS, which offers free educational services along with emergency goods such as food and clothing.

All goods and services provided by SFBFS are free of charge to people in need. Donations from caring community members and companies make SFBFS services possible. Sacramento donors provide a majority of the donations, as SFBFS does not receive government funding.

SFBFS also has many volunteering positions and these volunteers help the organization succeed.

A mass exodus from Raley Field began the race and participants began to decipher the text messages received. I noticed a few puzzled looks and "friendly" disagreements among some teams as the race began. I would have loved to have had a bike of my own to follow a team.

After a couple of hours some teams came into Raley Field to gather other clues, and slowly other teams began to trickle in as they finished the race.

Waiting for the Race for the Ring participants was lunch, a beer garden, a buffet table full of fruit items and entertainment by Unlicensed Therapy.

Several prizes were given out, but the biggest prize was won by Bill and Ashley Ferreirae, a father-daughter team from Rancho Cordova.

Bill allowed his daughter to select the ring of her choice. I’m not sure how well they did in deciphering clues and where to go, but Ashley had a hard time selecting a ring. Her hand shook with excitement as she looked at and tried on rings.

Participants stayed to mingle and many sat at tables sharing their experiences and strategy. This is a fun, annual fundraising event that will continue to grow. Additional support for SFBFS comes from the Run to Feed the Hungry fundraiser.

Donors can participate in these two events or donate directly to SFBFS through their website. Volunteering opportunities are also available. For more information about Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, visit www.sacramentofoodbank.org.

The Perfect Summer 2012 Fashion Show

2012-07-11T23:31:14Z

Couture Press of Sacramento put together another memorable show on July 1 at Roseville’s The Station Bistro and Lounge.

The Perfect Summer 2012 fashion show featured an array of designs by local and Bay area designers. Models from the northern California region were able to showcase their talents as well.

Eddie Clark, Hairstylist and Makeup Artists, provided a staff to provide their specialty services for models at hand. Following designer requirements the Clark team created pieces of art showcased on models as they paraded down the runway.

Several vendors occupied stations in the back patio. On this hot day the vendors were able find shady spots to display their merchandise.

Leticia Vincent, Independent Passion Consultant, from Passion Parties returned as a vendor for the event. Vincent also offered readers of this article a 10% discount during July on products purchased by mentioning “Couture” when they order.

Yah Baby designers of sport tote bags had a display area with an assortment of bags in different styles, sizes and designs. Information requests about the individually made bags can be made by sending an email to mmspmc@pacbell.com.

Another station belonged to BeautiControl (BC) Spas with Mo. BeautiControl is a beauty company that specializes in Spa treatments, Personalized skin care and Advanced Anti-aging products (SPA).

Crystal Marie is a singer in the Sacramento area who recently branched out to create an accessories line crafted out of bottle caps. A table full of Cap’d Out 227 creations were exhibited and appeared to be quite popular.

Inside the lounge television sets ran video from the last Couture Press event.

Entertainment was provided for guests. Comedian Janelle Murphey spent some time doing stand up and entertained the audience before the fashion show began.

The Perfect Summer 2012 show began with Saul Ramirez Latvanen’s Goddess Warrior collection. His collection paid homage to strong women who evoke a hard work ethic.

Latvanen sited his mother as the inspiration for his remarkable collection.

The Goddess Warrior collection included several colorful outfits that made it look as if a mythical goddess walked down the runway.

Latvanen’s dramatic collection included footwear that looked as if wings ala Hermes were part of the shoes making for a theatrical look that had guests admiring the models from head to toe.

I talked to Latvanen and asked him several questions about his collection.

When asked if Latvanen was attending design school he noted that he was currently attending American River College. ARC has a fashion design department and Latvanen was able to participate in a recent fashion show at the school.

Latvanen indicated the Goddess Warrior was a recent collection saying, “This is my latest collection but my first collection was the one I designed for Sacramento Fashion Week.”

I asked Latvanen what other shows he had coming up and he indicated he was thinking about his next step. “I’m trying to figure out if I want to do men’s wear. I’m thinking about trying to showcase a men’s wear collection perhaps in spring of next year. I might show a small preview in a couple of months” said Latvanen."

The Goddess Warrior designer has attended ARC for a year and a half and will be earning a Fashion Design degree. When asked if he was planning on continuing his education after that Latvanen said, “I don’t know yet. I’m debating whether to move to L.A. and maybe go to design school there or move to New York I haven’t yet decided.”

Asked about his inspiration for fashion Latvanen said, “I’ve always seen my mom working in sewing but I wasn’t very interested in it until later when I wanted to help her out. I then fell in love with fashion. This collection is inspired by powerful women like goddess warriors so that’s my main inspiration.”

Latvanen shared some advice for new designers saying, “Apply yourself and go after something you want to do. If fashion design is calling, then they should just go straight into fashion design. That’s what I’m doing right now. I actually wanted to be a hairstylist. However once I started designing I fell in love with the process. Follow your passion and do your best.”

After Latvanen’s collection the audience saw designs by Crafty Creationz who create children’s clothing, accessories and customized wear.

Colorful dresses with matching shoes were also accessorized with beautiful bows on the models’ hair. The little models were not shy and it was obvious they had taken their training seriously as they posed while walking down the runway.

The Ajiale Couture followed showcasing all that is summer fashion.

Starting off by showing one and two piece crochet swimwear Ajiale Couture made a grand entrance.

The cutting edge collections also showed contemporary clothing meant for women from all walks of life and all sizes.

One and two piece outfits also paraded down the runway displaying various custom one of a kind outfits.

Ajiale’s collection showed the intricate handwork required to create this extensive collection.

Dericka Porter, Couture Press CEO and President, introduced Crystal Blue who performed a series of songs. Their set began with a great rendition of “Valerie.” Crystal Blue followed with “The House That Built Me” and continued to entertain the audience.

As visitors mingled they also were invited to visit the vendors in the back patio.

Crystal Blue continued to play other cover songs like “Ain’t no Sunshine” and “Free Falling.”

A raffle also gave guests the opportunity to go home with some prizes. One lucky lady kept going up to the stage as her numbers kept being selected.

As the show resumed guests were treated to Joycelynn Brown’s collection. The Kennie’s Doll collection featured colorful spring and summer outfits.

Several skirts and other outfits had floral prints and also include a 70s look.

Brown also walked down the runway with model Amara Carey wearing a stylish breathtaking sleeveless, floral summer outfit.

Philip Noynosoudachanh had a simple yet astonishing elegant collection. Several sleeveless dresses with exquisite lines varied in length including above the knee, at the knee as well as below.

Noynosoudachanh’s designs have already graced the pages of Sacramento News and Review, Submerge Magazine, ARC Arts Catalog and Helium Magazine.

Lacey Bannister’s Straight-Laced Boutique creations were the last set of outfits paraded down the runway.

Stunning headdresses created a theatrical showing. No less stunning were the outfits themselves.

Visions of futuristic tribal costumes paraded down the runway. The primary color for most of the collection was black. Another outfit brought a vision of a Brazilian Carnaval dancer and two beautiful white outfits completed the collection.

With a flair for the dramatic the Straight Laced Boutique made quite an impression.

Once the show ended I spent a few minutes with model Vanessa Briseño. At most of these fashion events, if time permits, I try to interview a model and designer to get some thoughts about the work they do.

I have seen Briseño at various venues and asked her about the event and about herself. The pleasantly enthusiastic model shared some thoughts.

Briseño stated that she walked the runway for Ajiale Couture and Joycelynn Brown. The model also shared how long she’s modeled saying, “I’ve modeled for two years now, still a newbie.”

Briseño was also the cover model for the flyer advertising the event. I asked about her association with Couture Press. “When I first started modeling they picked me up from a show I was doing for a vintage fashion line and I’ve been with them ever since. That happened within the first two months after I started modeling so I’ve been with them for almost two years.”

When asked about how many signed models Couture Press has Briseño answered, “I think we’re up to four or five models and I believe we have makeup artists now. I think that’s all so far, we’re still growing.”

Briseño also shared how she became interested in fashion. “I always wanted to do it. I’ve always been interested in fashion. I’m the one that everyone gets their outfits approved by in my household. My dad can’t even go out on a trip without me picking out all his outfits for his trips.”

Briseño indicated that she will be enrolled in school full time in the fall. She is hoping to enroll in Fire Technology and an EMT course. “I want to be a firefighter” she stated.

At the moment Briseño hopes to keep up with modeling even after becoming a firefighter saying, “I would definitely keep it up as long as I’m doing what I love and hope modeling will be a part of that.”

The Sacramento model keeps busy working two other jobs and will be doing another Couture Press show in October. Briseño’s future photo shoots for a boutique opening in Paris and New York will also keep her busy.

At the last Couture Press show I met model Noelle Staggers who had participated in Cycle 4 of America’s Top Model.

Since I last spoke with Staggers she related that she’s done a couple of artistic shoots in Reno. Staggers has also booked some photos hoots for a couple of lines that were shown and is looking forward to working with those designers.

Staggers shared that she’s slowly getting back into modeling. “I’m feeling comfortable with the designers I’ve been working with lately who make me want to model,” she said.

When asked about doing acting Staggers said, “I love acting I did a lot of improv stuff in theater when I was in school. Do I look like a theater geek? I’m a total drama geek. I love to do it and I’m very much an opportunist and feel you have to keep all your options open and as things approach you, you have to consider them.” Staggers noted that if an acting opportunity came her way she might just take it.

Staggers is a positive influence on other models and the younger ones really look up to her. Talking about model Alexis Pinkney and how she looks up to her Staggers said, “You know she’s very sweet. She’s been calling me her big sister a lot. The other day she was sick and she had to miss a show. I told her health is very important and you can’t be a good model if you’re throwing up on the runway; it’s not too cute. I have to remind young models, and others, not to forget to love yourself.”

When asked what advice she would give people wanting to become models Staggers stated, “I think I told you this the last time we talked but you have to love yourself. In addition to that, do it because you love it not just to feel pretty. A lot of young women think you have to be a model to be pretty. If you enjoy it and like being in front of the camera enjoy it but the second you stop enjoying it run in the other direction as fast as you can.”

Staggers revealed that during her stint at America’s Next Top Model she learned a lot and appreciated the feedback that kept her going. “An important thing I really learned from the show was networking. Everybody you meet you should be sweet to them, be endearing to them and keep their name because you never know when you might meet that person again.”

Staggers ended by saying, “I want to thank everyone for supporting me. I’ve had a lot of good fans who’ve stopped by to say hi. I want to thank people for looking out for me and wanting to come and see me. I appreciate all their support.”

Staggers’ charm and positive personality serve as a great example for other models. Her confidence on and off the runway is admirable and shows how much she enjoys what she does.

The Perfect Summer 2012 fashion show once again showcased some of northern California’s leading designers.

Couture Press continues to provide a platform for designers, models, hair and makeup artists to promote their work and style.

Independent talent in fashion is represented by Couture Press and during the fashion show their coordinated efforts were in top form. It took a lot of time and effort to coordinate the Perfect Summer 2012 show but the whole production flowed flawlessly.

Going Tribal Fashion Show at Sol Collective

2012-07-10T08:53:19Z

Alias Pink clothing and New Eruh presented a fashionable affair at Sol Collective on Friday, June 30. The “Going Tribal” fashion event showcased a variety of summer wear by designer Alisa Correa.

Entertainment was provided by DJ Mr. Vibe. The Sacramento DJ provided a very impressive collection of melodies that kept guests at the event bopping to the beats.

Appetizers and drinks were provided by Triple “A” Catering. A Delicious sampling of appetizers and drinks were prepared for guests. The many offering were provided by the family owned catering service.

A live performance by The Real Ill and DJ Mr. Vibe by kept the audience moving to their beats. The hip-hop performance by Real Ill was upbeat and entertained the audience.

Backstage hair and makeup was provided by the creative talents of several students from the Paul Mitchell School located at 2100 Arden Way. The school has provided services to many fashion events throughout the Sacramento region.

Paul Mitchell School students provided high quality work and their styling continues to develop and many students get hands-on training via venues such as “Going Tribal.”

Correa is a humble individual who is very talented and looks to her designs as pieces of art.

When asked about inspiration for the evening’s fashion Correa said, “I based the designs on Aztec tribal designs. Tonight’s designs are authentic and genuine designs patterned to reflect modern Mexican and folk art.”

I asked Correa if she had an initial concept for her designs and she said, “I did and I wanted to get in touch with my heritage. I’m half Mexican and half black so I wanted to share my heritage and to express it through my art and my art comes through my fashion.”

Correa has been designing for only a year but says she’s been doing art work since she was in high school.

When asked if she was looking to get a degree in fashion or design Correa stated, “Actually my degree will be in Psychology but fashion is my passion.”

I asked Correa how long has she’s had that passion. “Since I was young it was the one thing that I continually did and worked on. It’s something I was really good at and it allowed me to express myself,” said Correa.

When asked what she wanted the audience to notice when they see her designs Correa said, “I’d like them to see how original they are. They’re one of kind designs just like like a piece of art. I want them to feel like they’re seeing an art piece from a gallery and make them feel like they're wearing a priceless piece of art when they see my clothing.”

At the moment Correa does not have any upcoming shows but shared she’d like to participate at the next Sac State fall fashion show.

The Alias Pink Summer 2012 collection “Aztec Warrior” collection was showcased at the event.

Alias Pink has been growing thanks to the contemporary designs by Correa. The Alias Pink Clothing creator has an eye for young urban fashion and visitors to the event were able to admire a summer collection with influences of tribal patterns and styles.

The day wear collection was a special collaboration with High Standards Clothing.

Day wear outfits contained different style shorts. Some were plain while others had native tribal patterns. Several outfits were accentuated with skull patterns reminiscent of sugar skulls and Dia de los Muertos.

An evening wear collection contained sensual summer tops paired with short skirts. Head tribal band accessories and feathered earrings complemented the outfits.

Another performer, Poetiic, also entertained as the fashion show ended and also came to the stage in between collections and other breaks.

Poetiic is a recent Sac State graduate who shared her creative talents.

After the show guests were invited to stay and talk with designer Correa. Several of the models also remained and guests enjoyed dessert and more DJ music.

The event showcased the creative and expanding talents of Correa. “Going Tribal” allowed family and friends of the designer to support a very talented local designer.

Support for local talent continues to bring out the best in regional artists and Correa’s first fashion show was well received.

Many of the Alias Pink Summer “Aztec Warrior” collection can be viewed and purchased at Alias Pink Clothing.

Fairytale Town hosts International Celebration

2012-07-09T07:26:55Z

Sacramento’s Fairytale Town, located at 3901 Land Park Drive, hosted the colorful and ethnically rich International Celebration on Saturday. A day of international music and dance performances took place around Mother Goose Stage. With its colorful background, the stage provided a great setting for the many local acts showcasing Sacramento’s great cultural diversity.

The Eastern Ways Martial Arts Chinese Lion Dancers and Bhaskar’s Arts Academy kicked off the International Celebration. The families attending were treated to morning performances.

On such a hot day most visitors found shade underneath the many trees around Fairytale Town. The day was a fun outing for local families to come share their own culture and learn about others through music and dance.

Petra Koln Servin spoke about the event and why she brought her family to the park.

“I am German and Scottish and I married a man whose mother is French and father is Mexican. We are culturally diverse and try to attend cultural events like this so that our children are exposed to the many people whose culture makes up America.”

Servin continued, “Today will be the first time my two kids are exposed to Scottish dancing. I think this will be a fun show.”

The Kyla’s School of Highland Dance was represented by three Scottish Highland Dancers. Each dance had a story behind it. Knowing a little about the dances helped visitors enjoy the stories told by dance. Each interpretive dance looked like a fairy tale story coming to life. The Mother Goose Stage added ambiance and the Highland dancers’ dramatic moves created folkloric visions.

Fenix Drum and Dance Company’s African drummers and dancers brought a large group to the stage and warmed up the audience. The African drum beats made the audience move no matter where they were situated. The group included a few children that danced their little hearts out.

The beautiful African outfits were very colorful. As the dancers onstage entertained visitors, Fenix Drum and Dance also got the audience involved in their performance as they passed out various hand held musical instruments. Children in the audience smiled as they played along with the performers. An Afro-Colombian cumbia was also part of the repertoire of songs played by the dance company.

The Folklorico Aztlan de Sacramento made a dramatically beautiful entrance. With their back to the audience, five young girls spread a colorful “robozo” (shawl) above their head. As the music began playing they turned to face the audience, revealing gorgeous outfits.

Most dances were performed by children, who delighted the audience. Wearing black and gold outfits, a couple also performed traditional dances from northern Mexico.

The Minyo Tanoshimi Kai group interpreted several Japanese dances. As dancers were about to perform, the audience was given a short description of the dance. Several of the dances were named after Japanese festivals.

The Minyo dancers also took the time to involve children (and adults) in a dance. After teaching the audience participants dance steps, “A Miner’s Story” was danced by both the audience and the Minyo Tanoshimi Kai group.

A set of Polynesian dances were performed by the Ka Pa Hula O Kalama. As with other groups who had previously performed, the Polynesian dancers were represented by several children.

Dances performed by Ka Pa Hula O Kalama also told stories that were explained as they were brought to the stage. As a Hawaiian dance was being performed by a boy dancer, a couple of children sitting next to me in unison said, “That’s a boy dancing.”

The Polynesian dancers asked for volunteers to come to the stage as they were finishing their performance. As if inspired by seeing a solo dance by a boy, other boys volunteered to take the stage and learn a little hula dance.

The last group to perform was the Maquilli Tonatiuh Aztec Dancers. The dance was also recently performed at the Piñata Festival at Southside Park.

Maria Miranda introduced the group. The Aztec drum beat and a conch announced the beginning of the traditional set of Aztec dances. The dancers began by following tradition and paying homage to nature. As the conch sounded dancers turned to each corner, and after the initial ritual began a series of dances.

The Aztec dance contingency was quite large and used almost every inch of the stage. As they were about to finish their performance they performed a dance and asked for volunteers. The grass area in front of the stage was used for audience participation.

In her closing remarks Miranda invited the public to attend the 36th Annual Xilonen on Aug. 4 at Southside Park.

The International Celebration was a fun family event. Fairytale Town continues to reach out to the community and offer various programs throughout the year.

Fairytale Town will be hosting a concert by Mumbo Gumbo on July 11 and a Very Special Arts Day on July 14. More information on these and other programs can be found at www.fairytaletown.org.

4th of July in Roseville

2012-07-07T10:20:46Z

As our nation celebrates another Independence Day all throughout the United States parades and fireworks are the primary way to celebrate the 4th of July.

Other Sacramento celebrations occurred throughout the area.

The city of Roseville celebrated with a parade that began at the intersection of Riverside Avenue, Vernon Street and Douglas Boulevard.

Roseville Police on motorcycles opened the parade as they rode towards the parade route.

Floats, antique automobiles, boy scouts, girl scouts, brownies and cub scouts took their turn down the parade route and several military groups were also included.

Marching bands, equestrian and long horn riders, political and community organizations and many more groups paraded down Vernon Street, turned right at Lincoln Street and Park Drive and ended up at Royer Park.

2nd Annual Sweet Dreams Luau

2012-07-07T08:55:57Z

The Second Annual Sweet Dreams Luau was well organized and attended by the Sacramento community. The event took place at the Carriage House Gardens in Citrus Heights on June 23.

Sweet Dreams is a local non-profit organization that strives to improve the quality of life for children diagnosed with a life threatening disease by creating a “dream room” for a selected child.

The event was attended by supporters of Sweet Dreams. Along with past "dream room" recipients, family and friends the event helped all enjoy the Luau celebration.

DJ services were provided by Lakeside Sounds and live music was provided by Amy and Jimmy Bagshaw.

Sponsorship packages were sold for the event and most seats were sold. A goal of $20,000 was set for the event. A silent and live auction was also conducted to help in the fundraiser.

An elegant table was set up for guests to enjoy delicious appetizers. Next to the table was a section for guests to enjoy a back massage.

Fine wine and beer was sold and kids enjoyed soft drinks and other goodies.

The Sweet Dreams team who put in months of work in preparing for the event was able to witness the love and support of the community for their efforts.

A buffet style dinner was made available for guests as they continued to bid on the silent auction and enjoyed the company of other supporters.

Fun entertainment was also part of the evening. Dancers dressed in hula outfits provided entertainment as guests enjoyed dinner. Guests were able to enjoy the dances as they ate and soon after several guests were asked to participate in hula dancing.

Jenna Elkington, a poi dancer, also entertained as guests finished their dinner and started on their dessert.

Jimmy and Amy Bagshaw wrote and performed a heart-felt song written for Sweet Dreams. The Bagshaws touching lyrics filled the heart and eyes with emotion.

Obsidian Butterfly one of the premier fire dancer groups around awed the audience as they performed. As darkness came a magical and spontaneous fire dance performance kept the audience at the edge of their seats as they marveled over the show.

Obsidian Butterfly’s owner, Sequoia brought other dances to perform with her. Obsidian Butterfly performs throughout Sacramento and also hold an annual fire showing. Obsidian Butterfly will hold their 5th Annual Fire Spectacular; The Vision Quest on Saturday, August 11 at the Land Park Amphitheatre.

The 2012 Sweet Dreams Luau, besides being well organized, demonstrated the support of our Sacramento community.

The event was held to help create a dream room for two current applicants. Malena is a 6-year-old who was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and soon to be 8-years-old Virginia who was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia.

Both bright and delightful little girls were at the event enjoying the company of family and friends. Sweet Dreams hopes to raise enough money to give both girls their dream room.

Over the past few years Sweet Dreams has created five dream rooms for children.

Each child’s room required different designs and met individual needs.

Past recipients are; Braycen diagnosed with Rubinstein Taybi Syndrome, Claire diagnosed with hypo plastic left heart syndrome, Aimee continues to battle Xeroderma Pigmentosa (XP) and Jackson who was diagnosed with Leukemia.

Although not all kids were able to show for the event they’re all wonderful kids who bring life wherever they are.

Their parent’s tenacious support is an encouragement to those around them. The positive attitude these parents project is an inspiration to us all.

As the Sweet Dreams community continues to grow they continue to give back to the community when they can. Jennifer Richards and Sweet Dreams continue to seek community support to help make dream rooms become reality.

To find out more about past and future dream room recipients and future events log on to the Sweet Dreams website.

Disclosure: I am a volunteer for the Sweet Dreams Foundation

Folsom Pro Rodeo Cattle Drive

2012-07-01T19:04:19Z

The Annual Folsom Pro Rodeo Cattle Drive took place on Thursday, June 28.

Historic Sutter Street was closed off to traffic as cowboys and cowgirls steered cattle down the street as hundreds of spectators watched as other Folsom based businesses and organizations followed the cattle drive path on foot, horse or carriage.

Many observers donned cowboy hats and outfits to relive a Pony Express ride. Entertainment also took place at the new amphitheater as well as other eateries and pubs. Did I say pubs? Make that bars and saloons.

Vendors occupied tables from the rail station up to the amphitheater and family fun events and western style activities kept visitors entertained.

The Folsom Pro Rodeo began on June 29 and runs until July 1 at the Dan Russell Rodeo Arena. A fireworks spectacular follows each rodeo night.

Before the cattle drive began the Folsom Leading Young Professionals (FLYP) staged a drive of their own collecting perishable food items that went to the Twin Lakes Food Bank.

The FLYP drive is called Bulls and Brews Urban Iditerod and teams pushed shopping carts collecting food items placed in the middle of the street. Visitors were also encouraged to bring donated food items and gave them to the shopping cart teams as they passed by.

Folsom continues to host one of the last cattle drives in Northern California. The event is sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank and they also provided the Wells Fargo Stage Coach which along with the long horns is an icon for the annual Folsom cattle drive.

Imagine Design Expo 2012

2012-07-01T09:31:48Z

Months of preparation culminated in a great fashion showcase for International Academy of Design & Technology (IADT). The Imagine Design Expo 2012 was held on Friday, June 22 at the Hilton Arden West Hotel.

An awestruck audience of approximately 250 attended the Imagine Fashion Show and enjoyed an evening of wonderful fashion designs created by IADT students.

The annual event began with an initial model casting in March 31. Magnum Opus producers of Sacramento Fashion Week contributed to the staging of this event.

The casting was followed by two fittings, a rehearsal and the fashion show itself on June 22.

IADT faculty, student body and supporters put their efforts together to create a triumphant Imagine Fashion show.

The Imagine Showcase Fashion Show has several components that allow IADT students to participate in promoting more than just their fashion designing department.

The Design Expo also helped to showcase other IADT areas of study including Building Information Modeling, Fashion Design and Merchandising, Graphic Design and Interior Design.

The Imagine Design Expo also serves as a benefit event for IADT’s Career Education Scholarship Fund, Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern California and Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley and Northern Nevada.

IADT provided the production team that helped put together a smooth flowing and elegant show. This team also helped with set up, lighting, coordinating hair stylists, designers and make up artists, photographers, ticket sales, catering and there was little that they were not involved in.

Displays from each of IADT areas of study were displayed in the hall outside the runway room. Students were busy helping where they could and served as ambassadors to the school as they mingled with guests.

A raffle also helped to raise funds where several art supply packages were put together as prizes.

The featured fashion designs were judged in several categories.

The panel of judges included Lyndsey Kacalek, Director of Fashion Design and Development at Apricot Lane Boutique and Julie Vue, Co-owner at BellaVUE Boutique. Joining them were Simone Vianna, Fashion/Wardrobe Stylist for Sacramento Fashion Week and The Stylist on Line, Dericka Porter, Couture Press Editor in Chief, Mario Lugo, French Cuff Consignment Stylist/Blogger and TV personality Courtney Dempsey of Good Day Sacramento.

Featured designs allowed designers to see their dream creations grace the Imagine Fashion runway.

James Macabago’s designs were outfits that looked like African tribal wear with a fashionable blend of leather giving it a unique style. Brown and black were the primary colors used and leopard or other big cat prints. Each outfit was layered with different accessories.

Rachael Goldmark’s designed colorful outfits with floral accents and as you admired each piece closer you noticed details not seen at first glance. A beautiful bare shoulder floral top with a layered purple bottom added glamour to another outfit. As the model walked back to the start of the runway she revealed an embroidered backing to her top giving the outfit added elegance.

The Mey Saechao and Sharon Sutherland designs were beautifully accented by elegant matching jewelry and accessories. The outfits included a two piece revealing outfit with a floral accented top. The beautiful designs had tropical floral patterns and each had an alluring slit bottom that accented the outfits.

One of the models from the Saechao and Sutherland designs was Leecy Marie who I talked to the previous week during final fitting.

The young model explained how she became involved in the show saying, “Actually a girl who I model with, Zamar (Mcgodman), called me a couple of days ago and was telling me she was supposed to come to this fashion show but she couldn’t make it because she’s introducing two more models to Brigandis so she asked me to fill in for her and I said yes.”

As with several of the models who had been there hours in advance, Leecy went through hair and makeup (with Paul Mitchell staff), final fitting, photography, rehearsal and judging before they took the runway. Leecy also modeled for Alias Pink and continues to work on her modeling at Brandy at Brigandis.

Sabriona Gilliam brought edgy designs to the runway. Reminiscent of Japanese samurai with an edge of royal flair, her black and white outfits were elegantly accented with accessories and different patterns within each fashionable wear.

The Fashion and Marketing student at IADT, Gilliam noted this was her first show. At the final fitting she relayed, “This is actually my very first show so I’m excited. Hopefully I’ll get my message out there.”

When asked if she’s always been interested in fashion design Gilliam replied, “Yes I’ve always been interested in fashion since I was 8 or 9-years-old. I just didn’t know where to start. I couldn’t find myself after high school. I didn’t know what I wanted to do so I looked back to my past and saw that fashion was one of the things I enjoyed but I didn’t take it seriously. Once I gave it a try I have been in love with it ever since.”

When asked what she called the line she was going to show Gilliam said, “My line right now is called SG Royalty. Basically I used the initials of my first and last name to keep it as my main staple to be known for. I came up with the name because the collection has this royalty feel to it and has a lot of history behind it and I was kind of influenced by it and wanted to bring it to the picture because people wear this all the time especially in Japan.”

Gilliam shared what she was looking for at the Imagine Showcase saying, “I just want people to look at my work as something different and to embrace it. It’s just a message I want to send out just don’t be afraid to be different -- embrace it.”

As the show continued Amanda Gazca’s designs included a pants outfit with a lavish top, a striking two piece outfit with a short skirt and a leopard like print dress that went with a black and pink vest. Gazca’s styles showed great diversity in her design and patterns.

Naly Thao showcased an elegant floral dress that was short in front and long in back that accentuated the model’s walk. The floral dress was lined in white and included a black vest. Thao’s designs were also quite different showing a dramatic and artistic range in her designs.

John Thao and Tawnya Jackson’s designs included two male models.

A sleeveless top with parachute pants gave one Thao-Jackson design an exciting debut. Two other outfits were also accessorized with colorful belts and scarves; actually I would describe them more as collar accessories. The outfits worked in combination to give them an exciting and stylish look. Jackson and Thao created a unique line by purposely bringing two different cultures together, Japanese and African.

Erika Diaz’s collection included a stunning brown gown that went over the shoulder and draped gown to the ankle. The dress did not have sides on the top but the body was covered by an embroidered liner. A sensual black and gold pants outfit was quite alluring and was accented with gold jewelry for extra glamour. No less glamorous was an elegant black outfit suited wearing at a Hollywood movie premier.

A live auction was also held where outfits created by AIDT students in response to a challenge to make outfits out of life vests. The challenge was in collaboration with AIDT and local TV channels KOVR/KMAX. Good Day Sacramento’s Courtney Dempsey served as auctioneer.

After the live auction and a raffle Allison Murphy brought her designs to the stage.

Murphy’s abstract creations were quite dazzling, colorful and used symmetrical shapes to bring attention to her designs. What’s Murphy’s Law? “Anything that can possibly go wrong, does.” Well, Allison Murphy’s designs dispelled that theory and I saw nothing wrong with her unique creations. Murphy's designs worked to captivate the imagination of on-lookers.

Murphy’s designs also included what looked like a deliciously stunning black leather two piece outfit, a pants outfit and a full body leather dress, again very symmetrical and dazzling.

Eshonna Watson’s collection “Crazy-Sexy-Cool,” brought more glamour to the stage. Watson’s fashionable wear included a leopard pattern skirt with a simple yet alluring see through yellow top.

Other designs by Watson exhibited exciting creativity in each outfit. Watson has had several shows in the past year in and around Sacramento and each exquisite showing allows her collection to move to different directions that always inspire.

Gabrielle Summers and Carolyn Hearn showcased a simple black dress that was accented by elegant draped patterns on the short in front long in back dress.

Other outfits included a short black dress hung from one shoulder with a fabric flower accenting a shoulder using the same fabric as the garment itself. A free flowing sleeveless silver dress was showed off as the model swaggered down the runway. Another stunning one shoulder sleeveless dress with a draped collar and a full length dress adorned with bell-like layered patterns with a revealing V shaped front that gave it an alluring design.

Ka Lor’s designs included a spaghetti strap red dress and a two piece black pants piece accented by an intriguing skirt like accent. The outfit was also complemented by see through back.

Another red dress with a short free flowing tail and black pant outfit with a skirt draping were also included. The black pant outfit was paired with a silver top with a zipper in front that could be used as a peek-a-boo accented piece. The last piece in the collection was a silver and black short dress with a free flowing sheer chiffon hanging from waist.

The last designer to showcase his line was Michael Vongphakdy who showed an elegant blue and black dress and two pant outfits one with a blue top and another with black. A strapless and elegant blue dress with a black accented top made for an evening out on the town and a strapless evening dress topped his collection.

Raffle prizes and award winners were presented after the show. Awards were given to the various disciplines provided by AIDT and that were on exhibit at the Imagine Design Expo.

Fashion awards were given with the Most Innovative award going to James Macabago and the Most Marketable award going to Gabrielle Summers.

The Best Construction award was given to John Thao and Best of Show was awarded to Michael Vongphakdy.

In the end all designers were winners and all deserve praise for their hard work.

More pictures can be seen here.

Concours Raduno at Sienna Restaurant

2012-06-27T00:56:21Z

Luxurious automobiles at a luxurious setting made for a great gathering at the Concours Raduno held at El Dorado Hills’ Sienna Restaurant.

The event gathering on June 19 and another scheduled for August 21 are a prelude to Niello Concours at Serrano in El Dorado Hills. The Serrano event will take place on Sunday, October 7.

Sienna and Concours Raduno offered hors d’oeuvres, wine tasting, a fashion show, cigar sampling and music for guests to enjoy as they viewed new and vintage automobiles parked around Sienna.

The free event was open for collectible luxury auto owners who were encouraged to bring their vehicles for display.

The event coordinated by Brian and Michele Moore, Premier Concours Promotions, was well planned and promoted. Guests at the event were able to enjoy dinner at Sienna inside the restaurant and at their outdoor patios.

The first Concours Raduno of the season also included a fashion show by Button Up. The Folsom boutique opened in February at the Palladio shopping center.

Carrie Simms, Manager, Buyer and Stylist at Button Up brought a group of models who showcased samples of what Button Up has to offer.

Elegant and casual outfits were showcased and included colorful one and two piece spring and summer dresses, jumpers and other fashionable wear. As each outfit was paraded down the runway Simms elaborated on the outfits giving more information on each outfit and covering different pairing options that could be worn.

Simms noted that Button Up has been at the Palladio shopping center over three months and the shop is a block behind Chicago Fire.

When asked how Button Up became involved with Concours Raduno Simms said, “Sienna opened their doors to us and this is our second year doing a fashion show.” Last year’s fashions came from El Dorado Hills’ Runway Boutique.

Runway Boutique and Button Up are two fashion stores owned by Robin Bernardoni. Both boutiques specialize in unique specialized women’s wear.

Button Up is a great boutique offering great styles for everyone and includes a large inventory of new brands and styles.

Another Concours Raduno at Sienna will take place on August 21. Brian and Michele Moore welcome new and established guests as they look forward to sharing this elegant event.

The 2012 Niello Concours at Serrano will take place on October 7. This elegant event will feature the Marque of Pierce Arrow and will be celebrating 50 Years of the Cobra honoring Carroll Shelby.

Sweet Dreams Foundation fundraiser

2012-06-22T00:07:03Z

Summer time is here! Kids are outside running around as summer break keeps them at home for most of the day. Public pools are full of kids enjoying relief from the heat.

The sound of laughter and joy are heard all around. Parents look forward to family time and running with their kids.

There are other children though that cannot enjoy the sun and who can’t experience the joy of jumping and running. Some children, because of illness, are restricted in what they can and cannot do.

Some children have had a hard and difficult short life and have been diagnosed with a life threatening disease.

There is an organization; Sweet Dreams Foundation whose mission is to “Improve the quality of life of children who have been diagnosed with a life threatening disease through the creation of their Dream Room.”

To meet that goal Jennifer Richards, Founder and President of Sweet Dreams Foundation has put together a team of volunteers and created a governing board for the foundation to move forward.

Two young girls, one diagnosed with ALL (a form of leukemia) and the other diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy applied for the opportunity for their dream room.

Virginia is an 8-year-old diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) a form of leukemia characterized by excess lymphoblasts.

Below is Virginia’s story as told to Sweet Dreams Foundation.

Virgina was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia on July 8, 2009 one month after turning 5 years old. We went through two and a half years of chemo, frequent spinal taps and many pills. We were finally finished with everything in November of 2011. We were free! Five months later on Easter, April 8, 2012 we knew something was extremely wrong. Virginia was not herself for a few weeks. People mentioned she was pale and on Easter morning when she could not even get off the couch to look for Easter eggs we knew we had to get her blood work done at the lab. Our hearts sank when the results we got showed that her counts were almost at zero. We called her oncologist and she thought it was a mistake. Virginia's chance of relapse was only 5 percent more and none of us thought this could happen including her doctors. We were told to check into the hospital and a few hours later our worst nightmare was confirmed. Virginia had relapsed and would need an immediate blood transfusion with intense 10 times stronger chemo over a shorter span of time. A bone marrow would be needed and our lives would be turned upside down with the chance of Virginia surviving at 50 percent. We were all tested in our family to be a marrow match and little sister Rebecca Rose was the match. We were extremely happy.

Virginia was also found to have leukemic optic nerve damage which required optic and brain radiation for 12 days. This is something very rare and this is probably why she relapsed because there were dormant leukemic cells hiding in the optic nerve.

Six-year-old Malena’s story is just as heartbreaking. Her mom Nina gave the following diagnosis.

We live in Sacramento and found out our baby was diagnosed at 15 months old with Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 2. This is the number one genetic killer for kids under 2 years of age. We were shocked.

At age six thankfully Malena is doing much better after two years of setbacks and three hospitalizations at Sutter Memorial in Sacramento. She can be seen driving her purple power chair rolling as fast as it will take her - she's an outside girl with a lot of enthusiasm! Malena loves anything princess but her love of nature and being outside also is a factor....she loves pink of course, but she loves calm environments and the sea - also loves interacting with girls her age. Malena recently got a cockapoo named Hannah, that she adores which is also helping her with the healing process....

We are blessed to have her in our life - she's a very gentle soul with a lot of love to give.

Upon meeting Malena late last month Richards noticed how vibrant and inquisitive the little girl was.

Richards meets each child to find out more about them and learn what they like. Malena obviously enjoys the outdoors and while visiting the little girl she moved around her back yard with speed on the wheelchair she has had her whole life.

Malena adores her little dog, a cockapoo named Hannah. Both Hanna and Malena were full of life the first day Richards met them.

The process of visiting and learning as much as possible about children who can benefit from the Sweet Dreams Foundation requires interest and patience. Richards asks many questions of the child. By asking questions Richards learns what the child likes to do and starts formulating an idea for what that child's dream room should look like.

Malena maneuvers around her home with ease but with some limitations and that will be one of the main considerations as the room becomes a reality. Richards asked as many questions about Malena’s bedroom. Richards’ enthusiasm is beyond comparison she loves children and kids are eager to return the love.

Richards asks about the child's favorite colors, books, videos, music, art and wardrobe. Malena and Richards share their similarities in outfits and shoes.

Enjoying a wonderful emerging relationship the inquisitive little girl asked if Richards was strong. Malena asks, “Are you strong enough to lift me to my bed?” Richards laughingly says, “Of course I am,“ and puts lifts the adorable little girl to her bed.

After a while of talking Malena turns to Richards and says, “Are you just going to leave me here?” Richards turns to me in disbelief and quickly turns to Melena and says, “Of course not Malena.”

Richards at this point has noticed how restricted Malena's movements can be and the little girl’s personality just melts your heart. She is very inquisitive, funny, charming and very adorable. Malena and Richards continue talking and then Richards said she already had an idea about a bed for her room. Richards’ idea could not be kept secret as Malena guessed what Richards had in mind.

Malena finally grew restless and asked Richards to move her back to the wheelchair. Richards amazed Malena by lifting both her and Hanna to the wheelchair.

The initial meeting went wonderfully and it was a wonder to watch Richards work with Malena.

Sweet Dreams tries to raise funds to help create dream rooms for children diagnosed with a life threatening disease or chronic medical conditions by seeking donations from the community. Several events are also planed during the year to help with this effort.

This Saturday, June 23 Sweet Dreams Foundation will hold their 2nd Annual Luau event. The Luau will have an assortment of entertainment, food and drinks. Visitors to the event will also have a chance to meet with families of past dream room recipients.

The event will be held at the Carriage House Gardens located at 6444 Sylvan Road in Citrus Heights.

Log on to the Sweet Dreams website to purchase tickets to the event. Also browse the “Events” page for more information about the event and see past Sweet Dreams events and to learn more about the foundation.

As of Thursday only two more tables of eight seats remained to be sold for the Luau. Tickets can still be purchased on line or by calling (916) 220-3203.

Disclosure: I am a volunteer for Sweet Dreams Foundation

Piñata Festival at Southside Park

2012-06-20T09:22:30Z

The 3rd Annual Piñata Festival was celebrated at Southside Park on a hot Saturday. The heat however was not much of a deterrent as families came to enjoy a day full of art, kids events, music, and of course piñatas.

Nothing says celebration or party more than a piñata. Over 30 large piñatas hung from trees and were displayed throughout the area in front of the amphitheater. Several ornate piñatas also lay on the ground.

Visitors also had the opportunity to make their own as piñata building workshops were offered. A sugar skull making station was also part of the event along with various art activities.

A couple of food trucks sold specialties for visitors to enjoy. The event also included performances by Maquilli Tonatiuh Aztec Dancers, Agua de Beber Capoeira, La Misa Negra,DJ El Indio, and DJ Leydis.

The event initially was begun and hosted by Spanglish Arte. During the first couple of years the festival was held on 23rd Street between I and J where Spanglish is located. Last year the event filled the street with local artisans and performers.

The event has grown and this year it was held at Southside Park. Many more artists, vendors and performers helped draw guests to the event.

The larger venue was coordinated by Spanglish Arte, Sol Collective and Unseen Heroes. These groups worked hard for the event and along with other organizations such as La Raza Galería Posada and others put together a great program for the Sacramento community to enjoy.

Unseen Heroes Events Coordinator, Maritza Davis welcomed guest to the festival. Davis said, “Welcome to the 2012 Piñata Festival. Thank you for coming today, we have a great lineup of music and performances headlining today.” With that announcement the celebration began.

The Maquilli Tonatiuh Aztec Dancers opened the celebration with several dances to honor mother earth. Aztec dancers wearing beautifully adorned costumes danced as they were accompanied by rhythmic percussion beats. Several in the group danced barefoot.

All dancers wore “chachayotes” (shells worn at the ankle making rattle sounds) to keep in rhythm with the drum beats. I felt the powerful rhythmic drum and chachayote sounds and fell into a semi-trance. The heat, bare feet and full sun shining down on the dancers did not seem to affect them as they thoroughly entertained the audience.

One of the dancers took the microphone after they finished. She told a sad story about a nephew who was recently killed. She talked about the meaning not only of their dances they performed but also to say that life is celebrated when families come together and not to loose track of that saying, “We have to celebrate life to the fullest and tell each other how much we love each other. Embrace our children, ourselves and our life. Don’t take things for granted be grateful for them and nature around us.”

Various acts also provided entertainment at the Southside Park Amphitheatre. I had to leave the festival for a while after the Aztec dancers had performed. While I was gone I missed Agua de Beber Capoeira Dancers and DJ El Indio performances.

Several piñateros (piñata makers) showcased their piñatas and talked about what inspired them to create their work.

One of the piñateros was Armando Sierra who took pride on his Los Rakas creation saying, “I made that one with the gold tooth. I made it to honor one of my favorite bands Los Rakas and hope they’ll come back to Sol Collective soon.”

Most of the artisan stations were in the shade, under umbrellas or portable sunshades. Many hand craft items were available for guests to purchase and also included a station that showcased the work of John S. Huerta.

As I returned to the park, La Misa Negra was on stage performing. During their performance several dancers moved to their music as they played

DJ Leydis kept people dancing and her beats were enjoyable and full of bounce.

Several raffle prizes were given away and included art, jewelry, shirts, a bike and other prizes donated by organizations at the event.

As the festival was winding down Mari Arreola, Creative Director of Spanglish Arte in describing the event said, “This year we were looking for artists looking outside the box. We looked for artists and business to work with to promote culture and art making.”

Arreola also gave kudos to Unseen Heroes and Sol Collective for motivating young artisans to become involved in the Piñata Festival. “It’s great to see them working to represent the idea of embracing cultures and collaborating to promote this festival.”

A large piñata full of treats was set up in a shady area to the right of the amphitheater.

To be in accordance with the day permit secured Sol Collective adult volunteers helped break the piñata but the kids enjoyed the treats that came out of it.

Les Guffin helped his two kids Leslie and Ezekiel sort through their candy. Guffin, who lives in Natomas, came to the event to spend time at the park saying, “I just brought my kids to enjoy a nice day out and enjoy some culture.” Guffin found out about the event through social media and was glad he attended.

The event was a lot of fun and hopefully it will return to Southside Park again next year. The larger venue was very enjoyable and allowed for live and DJ music performances to liven up the festival. Park settings are also a great place to bring families to enjoy a day together.

Piñata making workshops were being offered leading up to the event and other similar workshops will continue to be offered. Check the Spanglish Arte and Sol Collective websites to see when these workshops may be offered again or to learn more about other events being planned.

The 3rd Annual Piñata Festival provided a great day full of culture, family and of course piñatas. Sol Collective, Spanglish Arte, Unseen Heroes and all the volunteers on hand put together a great event and helped visitors enjoy a wonderful festival.

Photo Gallery: Capitol Concours d'Elegance

2012-06-14T22:12:08Z

Capitol Concours d'Elegance was held at the Capitol Mall on Sunday, June 10.

A wide assortment of vintage vehicles were displayed for this competition. Three special categories for this year were also judged; Streamliners, Hollywood Cars and Vintage Emergency vehicles.

The number of food trucks in Sacramento has been increasing at a rapid pace and Capitol Concours also held a food truck competition to determine the best vehicle design and food provided by several local trucks.

Proceeds were donated to the Shriners Hospitals for Children and the California Automobile Museum.

Judging began in the morning and also included a Ferrari drive on the Capitol Mall. Guests were given the chance to be a passenger on the powerful Ferraris. Donations were accepted for the ride and many guests took advantage of this opportunity.

Prelude d'Elegance

2012-06-13T23:27:17Z

The annual Capitol Concours d'Elegance 2012 took place at the Capitol Mall on Sunday June 10. The motor classic event was presented by Wells Fargo Bank.

A (pardon my French) Prelude d'Elegance Haute Couture Classic Automobile and fashion show featuring delectable hors d'oeuvres took place the night before.

The Tiana Vega Concours d'Elegance Collection was featured at the Prelude d’Elegance on Saturday, June 9. The haute couture event took place at Sacramento's Shriners Hospital for Children.

Classic cars were paired with the Tiana Vega collection making this an exquisite showing for the audience at Shriners.

Guests were also able to set appointments with designer Vega for custom fittings. Part of the proceeds benefitted the Shriners Hospitals for Children – Northern California and also the Sacramento Automobile Museum.

Vega created an exclusive Concours d’Elegance Collection that was unveiled for the Prelude d’Elegance. Vega’s creations were paired with classic automobiles driven by their owners.

Each outfit was elegantly designed by Vega and showcased her design talents. Several exciting gowns were displayed each created with unique style and design.

Several of the designs had never been seen before and the fabrics selected, style and color created a very elegant collection.

A windy day that changed scheduled plans for the showing also allowed Vega’s designs to flow with nature. Elegant hairdos could have created havoc on the models but hair and make up artists had reason to be proud as their work remained pretty much intact and at times the wind accentuated the models’ hair, makeup and designs.

Inside Shriners Hospital guests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres and were able to enjoy vintage wine, fashion and automobiles. Guests also mingled and learned about Shriners Hospitals and the work they do in our area.

Shriners Hospitals for Children - Northern California is a regional pediatric medical center located at 2425 Stockton Boulevard/ Shriners is supported entirely by private donations.

Shriners Hospitals for Children provides the gift of free care to children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, acute injuries, and specialized plastic surgery. Any child is eligible for care, providing the child’s condition is within the scope of services provided.

Shriners Hospitals also provide a variety of donation opportunities to help them achieve their mission to:

• Provide the highest quality care to children with neuromusculoskeletal conditions, burn injuries and other special healthcare needs within a compassionate, family-centered and collaborative care environment.

• Provide for the education of physicians and other healthcare professionals.

• Conduct research to discover new knowledge that improves the quality of care and quality of life of children and families.

The hosting of the Prelude d’Elegance by Shriners Hospitals allowed guests the opportunity to see the services provided by Shriners.

The Prelude was well received and guests included representatives from the Sacramento fashion scene, classic automobile owners, models and other community dignitaries.

Vega’s creations were elegantly featured along with several hair and make up artists including Sui Mike Crusett, Claudette Bulaclac and other artists. Their hard work is sometimes overlooked but they work hard in the several hours before shows.

One of the featured classic car owners was Land Park resident Peter Steiner. Steiner and his wife Mary attended the event and indicated they also participated in the event two years ago. Steiner said, “The last time I came to Shriners I brought my ’57 Ford Custom which won the Dave Beeman Award and then the year before that I brought my ‘55 Ford Thunderbird. This year, tomorrow, I’m adding my ’56 Nash Ambassador.”

Steiner has been a collector for the past 20-25 years. Steiner’s support also extends to Shriners where he and his wife have been active for four years.

When asked how he initially became involved Steiner indicated that a friend had been involved in putting on the Shriners car show. Steiner said, “My wife and I both worked in the social service transportation industry which servers older people and people with disabilities including Shriners clients.”

Another guest, Jennifer Siopongco, President Sacramento State Student Fashion Association (SFA) attended with Michelle Bates, SFA Charity Chair.

Siopongco a senior at Sac State majoring in Public Relations and Journalism attended the event hoping to get some inspiration as she’s trying to plan the SFA fashion show in the fall.

Siopongco is very involved in the Sacramento fashion community. She hopes to stay with this industry saying, “I really enjoy the subculture that’s fashion in Sacramento. I feel that when I graduate if I can get into it a little bit more I would really like it to make it a career.”

Prominence in the Sacramento fashion community grows with events such as the Prelude d’Elegance. Pairing with organizations such as Shriners Hospitals and the Sacramento Automobile Museum enhances community awareness for all involved and gives back to the community.

The pairings also worked well with Wells Fargo Bank as they presented the 18th Annual Capitol Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, June 10.

The weekend Capitol Concours brought a touch of elegance to the streets of Sacramento and look forward to next year’s event that will take place on Sunday, June 8, 2013.

Fountains at Roseville's First Friday

2012-06-05T07:07:25Z

The Fountains at Roseville hosts a series of First Friday events. This year’s first such event started this year on May 4.

The Fountains at Roseville is located across from the Galleria mall. The Fountains is an outdoor shopping center full of boutique shops, restaurants and other businesses.

June’s event was held during a warm Friday evening. Several dozen vendors and community stations were set up to sell merchandise and provide information on community activities and organizations in the area.

The event is family friendly and had a variety of activities for children.

Several businesses provided discounts for event visitors. The Fountains at Roseville also has many eateries that provide ethnic, specialty and American food. A new Zócalo restaurant that will opening at the end of June or early July provided free tacos and discount cards for visitors to the event.

All Star DJ provided music near Zócalo and soon several dancers moved to the music.

Live music was provided by Cyprus. The band entertained the audience with original tunes and an assortment of cover songs.

The fountains themselves are a great attraction and sitting areas around them provide some comfort for the weary shopper. The fountain located at the center’s Main Street also provides a soothing display of colorful lights that create the illusion of colorful water springing into the air.

An array of musical guests and entertainment are scheduled to appear throughout the summer season.

The next First Friday will be held on July 6 and will feature musical guests Swift Country. Local artisans, crafters, community groups and organizations will be present along with a kid’s zone and other activities.

Sacramento Pride Festival

2012-06-05T05:22:30Z

The Sacramento Pride Festival was celebrated at the Capital Mall, Saturday, June 2, 2012, as thousands of guests attended the annual event.

Entertainment events were scheduled throughout the day.

Two dance tents with several deejays played as visitors enjoyed music and the company of friends and fellow dancers.

Community information and outreach tables lined both sides of the Capitol Mall as visitors lined up to receive information, chat with merchants, play games, and receive giveaway items offered by dozens of organizations.

The day began with a parade that started on 4th and N Streets. Unlike last year’s parade, when it rained, this year the weather was very warm.

After the parade ended, guests formed long lines at the entrances leading into the festival. Once inside, guests were able to enjoy a variety of foods, beverages, arts and crafts, games and a Kids’ Zone that provided activities for children attending the event.

Sacramento represents the sixth largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in the United States. Sacramento continues to show pride in its cultural and ethnic communities with festivals such as this. Sacramento Pride continues to grow and community involvement helps with its growth as it promotes information and entertainment to the whole community.

The Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center hosts the event, and had a tent at the middle of the event to help individuals with information about the organization.

This year Wells Fargo, Hewlett-Packard, Comcast, Nationwide Insurance and other corporations who sponsored the event also had booths at the festival. The number of sponsors continues to also increase, showing the support of businesses that help with this annual celebration.

A hot day in the sun was not to the liking of many spectators and as such many congregated in shady spots throughout the venue. The shady spots provided by nature, buildings and tents allowed visitors to enjoy vendor food, drinks and the company of friends.

Entertainment was also provided at two main stages, and included superb music from artists such as Kim Bock, Small Difference, Women’s Choral Ensemble, Jon Ro and Conflict Minerals at the River City Stage.

The main stage included entertainment from Cheer San Francisco, Cheer Folsom Elite and the Sacramento Sirens Cheer Squad. Tasha Kame, Jovi Radtke, Jeff Timmons, Phi Phi O’Hara, Kenya Michaels, Pollo del Mar and guests also appeared at the Capitol City Stage.

Overall, this festival continues to be a “must-see” annual event for entertainment. It showcases local and national talent and is well organized.

Sacramento Pride allows the community to come together and celebrate the great diversity of our community. It also continues to be a great event for an all-ages audience.

International Kids Festival

2012-05-29T07:59:22Z

The eighth annual International Kids Festival was once again held at William Land Park next to Fairytale Town on Saturday. The festival showcased a magnificent display of international dances and performances, bringing different world cultures to the amphitheater.

Expected rain and thunderstorms stayed away until after the festival was over. Occasional clouds hovered, but it remained warm during the event.

The colorful sounds and beautiful costumes were displayed on stage as various performance and after-school programs showcased the talents of its students.

The largest contingency of performers and visitors were of Russian heritage, and as such co-hosts Marina Filistovich and Oksana Filatov took turns speaking in English and Russian.

Several raffles were held throughout the day for Funderland Amusement Park passes and a kids Huffy bicycle.

Attendants at several booths handed out informational materials about schools programs, insurance, banks and phone companies, and representatives from SMUD, McDonald’s, Russian American Media, Cal Expo and many other organizations were on hand.

The Kids Festival served several purposes. Visitors were able to enjoy their own cultures and those of other countries. School and art programs performed and advertised their summer programs for youngsters. Most importantly, it allowed families to enjoy a delightful day of international culture.

This continues to be a free event, and the popularity of the festival continues to increase. The beautiful setting gave visitors the opportunity to also visit other Land Park attractions.

International performances included the Mor Taiko Japanese drum group and the Mongolian dance group. Several performances by the Malko Dance Studio and Folklorico Calli also enchanted the audience. Magician Valeriy Rotar made a couple appearances between acts.

The Kids Festival moved smoothly from one performance to the next, inspiring pride among the large audience. Children sat at the edge of the stage, mesmerized by the colors, costumes, sounds and performances at the event.

Second Saturday and grand opening of Nicholas Wray Studio

2012-05-17T20:10:24Z

Second Saturday on May 12 saw an increase in the number of people attending art galleries, vendor bazaars, restaurants and various other events in Sacramento.

Warmer weather brought more people outdoors to experience art, music and community.

One event in particular used the whole day to celebrate the addition of 2,000 square feet of studio space to the Nicholas Wray Photography Studio.

Wray is a Sacramento photographer who took the opportunity to thank family and friends for their Kickstarter contributions that helped with the expansion project.

An already existing 1,500 square foot studio was also converted to an artist and small business work space called Sacramento Space. The studio is located at 1011 10th Street.

Contributors and guests were treated to a pop-up coffee shop by Broadacre Coffee and a barbecue lunch.

Kickstarter contributors were also treated to a cocktail preview of the studio and later in the evening doors were open to family and friends.

That was only the beginning as Gypsy Mobile Boutique was brought to the front of the studio on 10 Street between J and K Streets.

Once inside Visao Media provided music for guests as Alex R. Trujillo brought his creative sounds and visual projections to the studio.

Several guests contributed to Wray’s Kickstarter project and the grand opening was a way to thank them.

Kickstarter is considered to be the world's largest funding platform for creative projects. Every Kickstarter project is independently crafted, put to all-or-nothing funding and is supported by friends, fans, and the public in return for rewards.

Complete control and responsibility is given to creators over their own projects. They spend valuable time building their project pages, creating their own videos and brainstorming to complete their endeavor.

Every project creator sets their project's funding goal and deadline. If the project succeeds in reaching its funding goal all backers’ credit cards are charged when time expires. If the project falls short no one is charged.

Wray, in remarkable speed was able to reach his original goal of $2,000 worth of pledges. With 44 backers pledging $4,000 Wray was able to completely raise the funding goal on March 21 with pledges of $1 or more.

Wray’s talents and popularity have grown within the past year and the new studio will allow him to work on larger projects and exhibit his creative talent. The studio will also serve as a showcase for other artists who share the studio and will provide a hub for other Sacramento’s artists.

I chatted with Wray for a few minutes before live entertainment resumed and was able to ask him a few questions about the new studio.

Tell me a little about what this event is about and what’s being celebrated.

My name is Nicholas Wray I’m doing a grand opening for the studio expansion that was just completed and was funded by Kickstarter.

Who’s playing tonight?

I have a couple of bands and a DJ lined up. Cave Women and Goldener will perform as well as DJ and visual artist Alex Trujillo.

How long has the studio been open?

I opened the first studio in December and I’ve converted that to a shared workspace called Sacramento Space and the new studio officially opened today.

Who else shares the studio?

I share the space with other creative individuals; John Horton, Jason Bove and Craig McKinnon.

Other plans to expand?

At this point I could care less if I see another screwdriver or drywall or anything for a long time. My next construction project? No plans in the future at this point.

Any other plans for future Second Saturdays?

We would like to host again as a collective. Sacramento Space would like to host Second Saturday events regularly if possible.

Are you planning on having other artists join Sacramento Space?

I have room for one more person. Sacramento Space can house five people including myself and I’ve got one open spot right now.

Does Sacramento Space have their own website or Facebook page?

Yes. I currently a Facebook page for the Space as well as a website.

By using Kickstarter to fund the project Wray gave back to his contributors by hosting a grand opening for the Sacramento Space studio. Backers were able to see firsthand what their investment accomplished.

A completed time-lapse video was shown on one of the walls showing the entire project. Family, friends and other guests were able to get a behind the scenes view.

Later during the evening Cave Women took the stage to perform their brand of folk, pop and jazz music. I was fortunate to have seen them perform at last year’s Sacramento World Music & Dance Festival.

At the studio the five member group played and showed their diversity by moving from one instrument to another. That was one of things that captivated my attention when I saw them perform at the World Music & Dance Festival.

Their music was very enchanting and at least one of their songs sounded very Parisian to me. It brought back memories of sitting at a café at des Champs-Élysées in Paris and watching life pass by. The arrangement had an accordion and beautiful melody accompanying it.

Cave Women also has a Kickstarter project of their own. Visit their Kickstarter project page to learn more about this wonderful band and their venture.

Goldener was the closing act for the event. The Sacramento based band gave a grand performance to cap off a fun filled evening.

Second Saturday Pop Up Boutique

2012-05-17T01:55:38Z

A Pop Up Boutique drew several hundred visitors to their event during May’s Second Saturday. Luxe Hair Lounge + Day Spa gathered several designers to a showcase celebration at its Midtown location.

POP Boutique celebrated a grand opening for Sacramento’s first Pop Up Boutique. Invited designers included Tiana Vega Collection, Love by Janelle Cardenas, Samuel Parkinson, Nelli Rosh, Maisha Bahati and Haute Baubles.

Musical guests drew many passer-bys to the event with live DJ music by Soul Puncherz. Once visitors were drawn in by the music they stayed to enjoy the designs of local talent.

Luxe Salon & Spa also offered complementary consultations and provided delicious refreshments. The area around the solon was full of visitors and designers were on hand to answer questions about their particular fashion lines.

At a point during the event I sat down with designer Nelli Rosh to ask her about the event and her collection.

Tell me a little about yourself.

Originally I’m from the Ukraine. I’ve been in America for six years and I opened my brand of clothing four years ago. My collection is an evening dress style. My line is more European in style as well. Tiana Vega invited me to tonight’s event.

Will you be in this year’s Designing Dreams?

I would like to be but I don’t know yet.

Have you created any new designs lately?

I do have a new collection and it will also be evening dress style with several beautiful gowns

How would you describe your designs here tonight?

I have dresses from two earlier collections from 2010 and 2011. Tonight I have 10 dresses and four suits.

After the short interview Rosh showed me her evening’s collection.

Another designer at the event was Janelle Cardenas whose designs can be seen at various events in Sacramento. Her Love by Janelle Cardenas collection continues to expand and her designs can be seen at her new website.

I conducted a short interview to ask Cardenas about her fashion line and the Pop Up event.

What have you been up to?

Well I just finished Sacramento Fashion Week in February. Since then I’ve been focusing on my clients, doing custom pieces and now I’ve actually started to design for fall, I’ve started some sketches. They should be released sometime around August.

Are you still finishing up your studies?

I just graduated two weeks ago and received a B.A. in Fashion Design and Merchandising from IADT.

Are you planning to stay in the area now that you’ve graduated?

I think so. I have a family here and that’s important to me.

How many kids do you have?

I have an 11 year old boy and I have a little girl that will be arriving in early October.

Congratulations! Do you have any shows coming up?

I have a show coming up with Juniper James. They’re doing a show in June to raise money for local foster care here in Sacramento.

Will you be involved with Designing Dreams this year?

I’m hoping so but I don’t know if they’ve decided on the designers yet.

I also sat with Tiana Vega and her partner Dave Icarangal to talk about the evening’s event and things they may have in the near future.

What brought you guys together for tonight’s event?

Vega: The whole idea of doing the Pop Up Shop was Mila (Anatlychuk) and Tennison’s (Long) idea. They wanted to basically bring the solon and local designers together. I thought that was very generous of them to open up their space because a lot of us designers don’t have a place to sell clothes unless it’s already in a boutique. So it was a really cool idea of theirs to do the Pop Up show for one night only.

Icarangal: Hopefully the idea will also keep the designers who are showcasing right now to have their collections in the store for the next several weeks until the next Second Saturday event where we’ll rotate to new designers to showcase their clothing.

Do you think you’ll have a common webpage for something like this?

Icarangal: That’s a really good idea. I think for now we’re kind of testing the waters to see where this is going to go. It was awesome for the first trial. We had a lot of people come through; they’re still coming through so we're happy about that.

Are you planning on doing Designing Dreams this year?

Vega: We’re still trying to raise the money so we’re doing the sponsorships first. We have to make sure we can do the sponsorships and then as far as I can tell I think we’re going to do it for sure I prefer to keep it as an annual show.

How many outfits did you put together for tonight’s special collection?

Vega: The collections I brought for tonight are from my past collections and I ended up bringing 21 or 22 pieces.

Who is your model?

Vega: Our model is Julia Maryanov.

How did you guys get together?

Vega: We met so long ago. Julia has been working and modeling for us and she also networks for us. We’ve been working with her for almost three years.

Are you in school?

Maryanov: Yes I am. This is my last year at Sac State studying Finance, International Business. When Tiana goes international that’s where I come in.

Vega: She’ll no longer model she’ll be doing all the CEO work.

Do you have anything else in the works you’d like to share?

Icarangal: We’re doing an event with Shriners. We were hired by Shriners to do a fashion show for them. It’s going to be on June 9. It’s basically a prelude to the Concours d’Elegance.

The fashion show will have Tiana’s designs next to the cars that will be on exhibit so that’s going to be pretty cool. This part of the event will be held in front of the Shriners Hospital.

The Pop Up Boutique event was very popular and the collaborated effort by everyone involved was well coordinated. Although Mila Anatiychuk and Tennison Long did not want to take the spotlight they must be commended for doing great job putting the event together. They did a great job using the space available to bring creative talent to the first Pop Up Boutique.

The Pop Up Boutique shows promise and it’s a unique way of bringing jewelry and fashion designers to one spot and also serves as a way to promote local talent. Live music also worked wonderfully in unison with the event.

IADT Imagine Showcase final fitting

2012-05-16T06:19:14Z

In preparation for Sacramento’s International Academy of Design and Technology (IADT) annual Imagine Fashion Show the school held their final fitting day. Several designers and models attended the fitting on Friday, May 11.

During the final fitting designers put finishing touches on their designs. At this time several models had dropped out of the event because of various reasons and new castings were going through their initial fittings as well.

One of the models at the event was Jereen Diaz who is a Sacramento model and will be modeling for Erika Diaz (no relation). I asked the model a few questionas about her fashion work.

Tell me a little about yourself and your interest in the fashion industry.

I’m a part time model, I go to school full time and I also work at a dental office. Whenever there are events like this and fashion shows that are of interest I try to get involved. If there are photo shoots or things that have to do with modeling and there are designers and photographers who are interested in working with me then I do modeling.

Where do you go to school?

I go to ARC.

How did you hear about this casting?

I found out about this event through Mykha Ram, he sent me a message on Facebook.

Were you here for the initial casting call?

I wasn’t able to make it to the first meeting but Erika talked to me about coming out on another day. I was working out of town that day so they rescheduled.

What type of fashion do you like?

I like runways and I like doing prints as well. I’m not as tall as other models, I’m 5’4” so that’s my disadvantage when it comes to runway fashion. There are times when some designers don’t mind having models my height so I do reach out to those designers and I really love modeling.

How were you chosen to model for Erika?

I was assigned to Erika and so I believe Mykha did choose me.

Do you have any other projects in the works?

Not at the moment since I’ve focused on school. However if I hear from designers, photographers or casting directors who want to talk to me I usually take those projects.

What are you studying at ARC?

As of right now I’m taking Psychology and hopefully then I can go into pre-dental. I am currently a sophomore and hope to attend Sac State.

What’s your main goal in life?

For right now I would like to finish school and hopefully get into the dental field. I’d like to be a dentist.

Any tips on how to get cast when there are height restrictions?

Every casting that I’ve seen on-line or anywhere else I’ve heard they look mostly for models over 5’7” so I mainly respond to people who contact me directly. When they contact me I know they know my height and they’re okay with it. I let them know and it’s in my profile so I mainly respond to them because they probably don’t mind what my height is.

Are you with an agency?

I’m not currently with an agency but would like to have one.

Do you think you’ll keep modeling as a side career?

Yes definitely. School is my primary focus. Since I really haven’t done a whole lot in modeling I focus on my studies. If any modeling jobs pop up I do them.

Designer Erika Diaz is one of the Emerging Designers who will be showcasing three outfits. As it turns out two of her models had to drop out of the fashion show that takes place on June 22. During the final fitting she worked only with Jereen Diaz on a beautiful black dress.

I asked Diaz several questions about her designs. I started by talking about her missing models.

Looking at the list of designers and models it looks like you’ve lost two of your models.

As it turns out one can’t make it because she’s got two jobs and the other can’t make it because of vacation.

What will you do?

I’m waiting to hear from Esther (Amato) to see if any more models are available.

What year are you in at IADT?

This is my last year in Fashion Design and Marketing.

Can you recall when you first developed your passion for fashion?

Yes! When I was little I used to cut old fabric and make dresses for my Barbies.

What are your plans after finishing school?

I’m going to start looking for a job in the industry.

Do you think you’ll remain in Sacramento or look for jobs elsewhere?

I'll remain in Sacramento and maybe when I have more experience I might look elsewhere.

How did you become involved in the Imagine Showcase?

I want to be a designer and I feel this is a good opportunity to learn about different aspects of fashion and become involved. I’m doing three different dresses so I was excited about that.

Are your designs going to be similar?

They’re all different and my theme is “Around the World.” So one outfit will showcase Beijing so it has an Asian look, the other one is Paris and the last one is Greece so it has a little of everything.

How are you feeling about the show?

This is my first show; I’m excited and a little nervous.

The next event before the Imagine Showcase takes place on Friday, June 22 at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West will be a rehearsal scheduled for Saturday June16.

SeaWorld animal exhibit

2012-05-12T09:30:43Z

SeaWorld San Diego brought an array of animals to the capitol on its annual trip to Sacramento on Thursday.

On a busy day at the capitol, hundreds of school kids, teachers, parents, visitors and lawmakers passed by the exhibit to view what SeaWorld had on display. The park visits Sacramento once a year so students can see the new exhibits.

“We come up from SeaWorld San Diego once a year to display animals that we have in all our different parks and to talk about our newest summer attraction,” government relations director Corrine Brindley said. “This year it’s Manta, which a stingray exhibit where you can see, touch and feed them.”

The new attraction sounded thrilling. Brindley described the roller coaster as an exciting ride where visitors will experience marine life. SeaWorld’s San Diego Manta is set to open on Memorial Day weekend.

As visitors wait in line to ride the roller coaster, they will walk through a corridor with sting rays swimming above and alongside you.

Some of the animals were scheduled to be taken inside to the Senate Lounge and the Governor’s Council Room. Other animals scheduled to appear either outside or inside the capitol included a lemur, kangaroo, alligator and penguins. Several of these animals also made media appearances at other outlets.

Animals on display included a bearded dragon, a blue-tongued skink, a Chaco golden-knee tarantula, a California king snake, a Gila monster, a Madagascar hissing cockroach, a Chuckwalal and an African pixie frog (a type of bull frog).

People were more than willing to touch some of the animals, but there were a few notable exceptions. Not many wanted to touch the cockroach or the tarantula.

Some of the animals were rescues, and handlers could not tell specifically how old they were. SeaWorld representatives, however, answered hundreds of questions throughout the day. I was impressed by their demeanor, their enthusiasm and their love of animals.

Dance Dance Davis

2012-05-11T06:30:00Z

Davis residents were invited to participate in a flashmob-style dance with “Dance Dance Davis” on Wednesday evening. The event site was kept secret until the actual event took place at Davis’ Central Park.

The flashmob dance was held during the Davis Farmers Market. Central Park in Davis hosts the weekly Farmers Market and Picnic in the Park every Wednesday in the spring and summer, this year from March 21 to Oct. 24.

Jenny Lynn & Her Real Gone Daddies performed Wednesday for the all-ages crowd. With their brand of rockabilly and bluegrass music, they had several people dancing near the stage.

“Dance Dance Davis,” is a community project presented by the UC Davis Institute for Exploration in Theatre, Dance and Performance. Shelly Gilbride, a UC Davis theatre and dance Ph.D. alumni, organized the flashmob-style dance at the event, delighting those in attendance.

Gilbride recruited about 100 Davis residents to celebrate the joy of dance and perform at Central Park. Dance lessons leading to the event were provided free of charge.

“Dance Dance Davis” is the second of two public dance events produced by Gilbride and Public Dance Acts. Gilbride’s goal for PDA is to increase the presence of art in Davis. After the event on Wednesday, Gilbride feels that such an event will allow Davis residents to enjoy the thrill and risk of dancing in public and have fun dancing together as a community.

“I’m glad my kids were here to see other children their age participate in something like this,” Davis resident Mark Albertson said. “My daughter said she wanted to sign up for lessons after this.”

The dance took many by surprise, and just as quickly as the dance started it ended and dancers moved on.

“The performance was unexpected, spontaneous and very enjoyable,” Albertson said.

One of PDA’s main goals is to build broad public support for the arts in Davis. Judging by the reaction and comments of Davis residents, PDA appears to be succeeding by showing how much fun moving art can be.

“Dance is an expression of the human spirit, and sharing dance together with others is an incredible expression of community,” Gilbride said in a press release, “I want Davis to express itself by dancing. Dance is my art form of choice, but PDA is about building broad public support for the arts, showing that art is what makes life good. Art brings people together in shared experiences.”

Komen Race for the Cure fashion show

2012-05-09T22:43:17Z

Several students from the International Academy of Design & Technology (IADT) participated in a fashion show at the Arden Fair Mall. The fashion show was part of the Susan G. Komen Foundation Race for the Cure in-person registration event held at the Arden Fair Mall.

In-person registration started on the first floor in front of Nordstrom on May 5 and will continue until May 11. Registration will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The 2012 Komen Sacramento Valley Race for the Cure will take place on May 12 at Cal Expo. The event raises critical funds and breast cancer awareness. Race for the Cure will also celebrate survivors and honor those who have lost their battle. Mail in registration has ended but people can sign up at the in-person registration or the morning of the race. Anyone can join as a runner, walker, volunteer, donor or sponsor.

During the opening of the in-person registration several informational and merchandise booths were set up. The registration area was beautifully decorated to showcase the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, its volunteers and participants were able to pick up their t-shirts and bibs.

A pink guitar donated by Charity Guitar and signed by many musicians was available for viewing. The guitar will be raffled off and tickets are still on sale at the Charity Guitar website.

A pink Honda Metropolitan Scooter donated by Carmichael Honda Motorsports will also be raffled off.

In-person registration also held a fashion show that featured IADT student created designs. Outfits were created out of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Survivor and race t-shirts. Jewelry designs made from recycled educational materials such as rubber bracelets and key chains were also featured.

Guests were encouraged to bid on the created fashion wear with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

The fashion wear created showcased talented designers at IADT and the imagination and creative designs of several of its students.

Designers took turns describing their designs and inspiration and their common thread was their passion to help others. Another commonality with several designers was their participation in the Race for the Cure or having had a friend or family member who’s had some type of cancer.

As the designers showed their creations it was apparent that they had taken the time to create some amazing designs. Each designer showed one or more of their creations.

The fashion wear included outfits for children and adults. Active wear was featured on several designs and plus size outfits were also created. There was even an outfit for the cook of the house as well as glamour gowns for a night out on the town.

Seeing the creations made by IADT students gives a view into the possible future of some of these designers and the future looks promising for them and Sacramento fashion. Their creativity and hard work put into the designs was amazing and just as amazing was the fact that they were doing this to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Esther Amato, a fashion design instructor at IADT has been working with her students for this fashion show for a while and was at the event to help things go smoothly. Glowing like a proud mother Amato enthusiastically chatted with guests encouraging them to speak with the designers.

At the end of the fashion show Amato took the microphone and said, “Hi everybody. So what did you guys all think about the designs today?” The audience responded with cheers and applause.

“There’s one person I want to thank and that’s Silvia Ramirez who actually is the event coordinator for Susan Komen Foundation. She approached me and asked if I could participate in a fashion show and I didn’t have any reservations,” said Amato.

As Amato thanked Ramirez she also said, “I also want to thank my students. I’ve been designing for 30 years and now I teach at IADT here in Sacramento on Natomas. I approached my students with this idea and they had no reservations about becoming involved. I instructed them but they’re the ones that came up with these fantastic ideas. This means so much to me, I’ really proud of them.”

Amato thanked everyone for their support and noted that IADT admission advisors were on hand in case anybody had questions about any of their programs.

The Komen Race for the Cure takes place on May 11 at Cal Expo. Besides the race several fun activities are being planned including a tailgate party and a post race expo.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure has been involved in the fight against breast cancer since 1982 and continues to play a critical role in educating people about this disease. This fight has helped turn millions of breast cancer patients into breast cancer survivors.

Many of us know of someone who’s been affected by this type of cancer and you can contribute by participating, volunteering and supporting the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Log on to their website to find more information about the Foundation, understanding breast cancer and becoming involved.

2012 Niello Concours at the Capitol

2012-05-02T04:23:48Z

The Niello Company and Premier Concours Promotions put together an elegant display of classic automobiles that also benefited the 2012 March of Dimes March for Babies walk. The Niello Concours at the Capitol participated in the fundraising event on Saturday, April 28.

The March of Dimes March for Babies event raises funds to give hope to more than half a million babies born prematurely each year. Money raised supports community programs that help mothers have healthy, full-term babies. It also helps research to identify problems that threaten infants.

March for Babies has raised more than $2 billion since 1970. Thousands of walkers, volunteers, community organizations and entertainers showed their enthusiastic support for this worthwhile cause.

Niello Concours at the Capitol encouraged participants to enter their vehicles for this showcase and help with the fundraising efforts. Several awards were given for vehicle entries and the participant who raised the most funds for the walk would receive the Best of Show award.

An elegant display of vehicles was showcased on 10th Street between L and N Streets. Vehicles were paraded as they drove around Memorial Circle and remained on display during the March for Babies walk.

The collectible, exotic and luxury vehicles showcased drew hundreds of enthusiast to view the remarkable exhibition.

Michele Moore, Marketing Director Niello Concours at Serrano, was on hand to talk with vehicle owners and guests.

Moore noted that this year’s participants enthusiastically supported March of Dimes. Moore explained saying, “Participants understood that the person that raised the most money, for March of Dimes, would win the Best of Show Award. All the entrants were given a link to send to their friends to help with fundraising.”

Four awards were to be given at the show. Moore said, “The Best of Show award will be given to the person who raises the most money for March of Dimes. The Hero Award is chosen by the March of Dimes Ambassador Family. The Chairman Award, which my husband Brian and I chose, will also be given at the event.”

At a luncheon later in the day the Participants Choice Award would be selected.

When asked what other events were in the works Moore said, “We have two Raduno events. We have a Raduno in June and another in August and those are held at Sienna in El Dorado Hills. We also have the Niello Concours at Serrano on October 7.”

Once the awards were about to be announced people gathered at a stage constructed at the Capitol West Steps.

Moore began by saying, “Thank you so much for coming we’re so glad to see so many people here today. We’re so glad that our motor car entrants are here. They raised a lot of money for March of Dimes.”

Without wasting much time Moore continued, “I would like to introduce our Hero Award winner John McNamee. He owns the 1973 Detomaso Pantera. John thank you for coming today and the Ambassador Family 2012 for March of Dimes chose your car as their favorite. You are our hero here today.”

McNamee thanked everyone and said, “Thank you very munch I enjoyed this event and look forward to coming back next year.”

The Chairman Choice Award was given to John Clemens who owned a red 1959 Chevrolet Corvette.

Moore addressed the audience saying, “At this point I’d like to invite our 2011 Best of Show winner Geoffrey Horton, who has a 1955 Jaguar XK 140, to give out the next award. He raised the most money for March of Dimes last year and he has kind of an interesting story he’s going to share with you.”

Horton said, “Thank you all for coming to this event. I’m a 1950 March of Dimes Baby. My brother and I were born with polio and if it wasn’t for March of Dimes our lives would be different. Thank you all for coming.”

Horton gave a heart wrenching delivery last year about his fight with polio. Horton is a great living example of what March of Dimes March for Babies can do.

Moore continued, “Thank you so much Geoffrey. At this point I would like to announce the Best of Show winner. This car is absolutely gorgeous. Not only did Winnie Ward raise the most money for March of Dimes but her car is simply stunning. Winnie’s car is a red 1962 Jaguar XKE.”

Ward thanked Moore and said, “Thank you everybody I hope you had a great time. This is the first ever showing for the Jaguar XKE and we’re happy to be part of the March for Babies here today and we look forward to coming back next year.”

Moore ended by inviting the audience to the Niello Concours at Serrano which will be held on October 7 in El Dorado Hills. Over 200 cars will be on display. More information about that event as well as others can be found at their website.

Retro Fashion Show at Sac State

2012-04-19T22:40:30Z

The Sacramento State Fashion Association (SFA) showcased a wonderful array of fashion for the “Retro Reinvention Fashion Show.” The event was held at the University Union Ballroom on Saturday, April 14.

Student designers showcased some beautiful, practical and innovative outfits. Proceeds from the event went to Shriners Hospital for Children. Shriners is one of the largest and busiest hospitals in our health care system. The hospital treats children with burns, as well as a host of orthopaedic and neuromusculoskeletal conditions and spinal cord injuries. Every member of their staff is focused on improving children’s quality of life.

Fashion from 10 talented designers thrilled the audience as models walked down the runway. Each designer and model had their own supporters in the audience who did not hold back in showing their approval as their favorites came to the stage.

Lidia Mendez showed her line called “Mysterious.” Her collection used eco friendly materials in the details of her outfits. Mendez’ use of mostly sleeveless and dark colors was complemented with silver belts and wonderful shoulder designs.

Mendez’ elegant outfits gave her collection a graceful and stylish look. Each of her designs may have appeared similar at first glance but as each model moved toward the front of the runway different details gave each outfit a unique and chic look.

Shoua Khang’s “Cupid’s Bow” collection showcased a delightful line of pink and blue stylish outfits meant for a night out on the town. Khang included elegant bows and ruffles in her collection. The colorful outfits were stylish, well designed and ready to be worn for a night out on the town.

The contemporary one and two piece outfits allowed models to show off their foot wear as most of the outfits stopped above the knee. The fashionable outfits could be described as cocktail dress wear and the elegant outfits were well received by the audience.

The Kelsey Moon collection showcased her “Optical” creations. Outfits worn by the models were mostly black and white and viewers had to look closely to see some subtle and at times not so subtle details such as an elongated collar that covered the shoulders, a see through white top that could be worn to showcase an elegant undergarment.

Moon’s exquisite outfits included a pants outfit, an elaborate pink and black garment and a couple of other alluring black and white fashionable wear.

Elijah Caldwell brought his “Thamani” collection to the runway with exuberance and colorful wear. Caldwell’s fashion wear is created for the young, proud and confident men in today’s society.

Thamani in Swahili means value. The goal of Thamani wear is to ensure every product they produce is of the highest value to the customer. Models showcasing the Thamani wear showed bravado as they took the stage to demonstrate colorful spring and summer wear.

Christen Brown’s line entitled “Create Society via Peace and Love” was enthusiastically received. Brown’s Creation of Society (COS) line has been growing in the past year and he continues to create outer wear for today’s youth.

Brown’s “Peace and Love” line brought several new creative designs to the stage. His fashion is created for both males and females and some of these tops are created to introduce COS’ world perspectives and to spread social consciousness and awareness to their fans. Such bold statements require bold designs and Brown delivers with his positive creations.

Article Consignment styled by Jennifer Siopongco brought the “Edie Sedgwick and Andy Warhol” collection to the Retro Fashion Show. The very classy and retro outfits were pure delight to watch. Each outfit was accessorized with jewelry, belts, bags, foot wear and other accessories making for an elegant and well-designed show.

A photo of Edie Sedgwick graced an oversized bag carried by one of the models and homage was paid to the actress within the collection put together by Siopongco. Other bags included classic Warhol art and photos of the two celebrities. The ‘60s and Warhol look were exemplified by several of the outfits and sun glasses worn by male models ala Andy Warhol.

Allison Mora’s “Classic Hollywood” was inspired by the glamour and style of the 1950s and ‘60s Hollywood actresses. The glamour of the outfits was not subdued and lived up to the Hollywood fashion of acclaimed actresses of the time.

Mora’s outfits solicited images of Hollywood celebrities elegantly walking the red carpet in long elegant skirts, dresses and gowns. Mora’s choice of black and gold outfits gave her collection a classic and stylish flair.

Images of Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn wearing enticing gowns, glimmery gold dresses and classic Hollywood sun glasses came to mind as Mora’s collection was displayed.

Joycelynn Brown owner and designer at Kennie’s Doll introduced her “Summer” ‘70s inspired vacation wear. The “Summer” collection introduced very colorful and elegant styles. Colors ranged from shades of salmon, mustard cream and brown. Floral patters were also very noticeable in Brown’s outfits.

Prominent hairdos were very noticeable in a couple of the models giving them a very Retro look.

One of Brown’s stunning designs, and one of my favorites, was the outfit she wore. When she came on-stage an image of the eternal Josephine Baker came to mind. The blue and white outfit was very attractive and stylish and was capped with a yellow flower on her hair.

Fiona Lau’s “Gaffe Set #1” was a collection inspired by punk and ‘80s glam rock. Lau is not only a designer but she also serves as SFA’s Vice President. Her collection was created using swatch fabric found at her grandma’s sewing room.

Lau tried to inspire fun while maintaining class and edge along the way. Her outfits incited images of early Madonna and Pat Benatar. Some of Lau’s sassy outfits also showed her creative style in the patterns and color she used.

The name Gaffe Set 1, according to Lau, literally means error or mistake. She’s quoted as saying “In doing this collection and researching, I have come to realize that as a designer you grow through your mistakes.”

SFA President and designer Tamika Bellamy was the last presenter of the evening. Bellamy’s collection “Hello Sixties” was inspired by Hello Kitty. Her pre-teen girls’ collection brought bright colors to her outfits and head pieces.

Bellamy used several family members to model her line. The collection included colorful spring and summer outfits from her Tiana Mae Couture line. Bellamy’s children collection was a nice departure from the other lines and showed her creative flair.

The Retro Reinvention Fashion Show showcased wonderful fashion designs and sophistication from the many SFA designers. The talent exhibited through the evening was commendable and showed many colorful, elegant and creative designs.

The Retro collections exhibited during the evening showed that retro styles are always in. SFA has to be commended for putting together a great vintage fashion event that showcased wonderful up and coming talent.

IADT Imagine Showcase fitting

2012-04-19T00:00:57Z

Sacramento’s International Academy of Design and Technology (IADT) will present their fifth annual Imagine Showcase “Design Expo 2012” on Friday June 22 at the Hilton Arden West Hotel.

A model casting call, coordinated by Magnum Opus Events, was held on Saturday, March 31 at IADT located at 2450 Del Paso Road. The casting call was held on a rainy day and designers sat at several tables to select models for the fashion show.

Maverick Photography documented the event.

Several designers were able to select their models but perhaps because of the rain not enough models showed to have a complete selection. Magnum Opus and IADT worked together to recruit available models.

Two fittings and a rehearsal before the Imagine Showcase” fashion show will also take place.

The first Imagine Showcase fitting was held this past Friday, April 13th at the IADT.

Designers on hand measured the models they selected for their designs. Twenty-one designers will participate in the 2012 Imagine Showcase and are separated into three categories; Accessories Collection, Emerging and Full Collection designers.

In between fittings I was able to sit down at different times with designers Noisha Rhoades, Mey Saechao and model Caitlin Holleran and ask them some questions about the fashion industry.

Noisha Rhoades

Can you tell me something about yourself and how you became involved in this year’s Imagine Showcase?

I’m in the BFA program (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design) and I will be receiving a bachelor’s degree. I’m an emerging designer and I’m starting my third year at IADT. I’m a mother of one and I started to go to school because I’ve always had a passion for design. I feel there’s a huge gap in the fashion market for plus size women so it’s been my goal to fill that need. Every paper I write usually centers around plus size fashion. That’s what I’m doing for this event; I’m doing a plus size line.

Where are you from?

I’m from Marysville so I’m about half hour away. I was born in Sacramento but grew up in the foothills.

What got you interested in fashion?

When I was young I used to draw a lot. I used to draw dresses and I really liked historical dresses. I liked medieval and renaissance fashion.

Are your designs for this show leaning towards that type of fashion?

This show is a little bit more vintage but it will be more 50’s style.

How old is your baby?

She’s 16 months old. She’s adorable.

What do you think the fashion show say about you?

This is my first show and for my line I’m using plus size models which is not typical. I became interested in fashion when I was quite young. Through high school I was involved in theater and liked to work on costumes and then when Project Runway came on I started watching it and got addicted to the show. From that point on everything seemed to come together and I realized that maybe that’s what I wanted to do.

Caitlin Holleran

One of the models sat next to her mom waiting to be fitted. As they waited I asked her some questions about herself and the event.

How long have you been modeling?

I started modeling in February of last year and soon after that I was signed by an agency.

Have you done any other fashion shows?

I walked for Yennie Zhou in Designing Dreams and then I walked for her again during Sacramento Fashion Week. During Sacramento Fashion Week I also walked for Amanda Chan.

Who will you be modeling for this time?

I will be modeling for Eshonna (Watson) and James (Macabago).

Are you being fitted by both designers today?

No Eshonna said she didn’t need to fit me and I came to just get fitted by James.

Are you involved with a fashion agency?

I’m signed with Cast Images Talent Agency they’re based out of Sacramento. They’re really cool they’re like my second moms and they just placed me with a Los Angeles agency.

How long have you been interested in fashion?

I don’t really know. I remember always walking around in my Barbie little heels. I don’t know who was an influence but I admire Dakota Fanning’s little sister Elle Fanning. She’s like a fashion icon and I follow all of her stuff, I love the outfits that she wears.

Do you have any school plans and what would you like to do after that?

I’ll be graduating high school in December and I’m planning on traveling right after that. I’d like to go to school and become a child psychologist but I want to take modeling as far as I can.

Mey Saechao

Do you have any fittings today?

I have models coming towards the end of the fitting sometime between 5 and 6 p.m.

How long have you attended IADT?

I’m a senior and I started at IADT almost three years ago.

How long have you had a passion for fashion?

I think it started in high school and it’s been a passion for me ever since.

Have you had other shows in Sacramento?

Let’s see, I did the Banana Festival fashion show last year. The Banana Queen wore my outfit. I was also in a fashion show in 2010 at the State Fair and that was a lot of fun.

How did you become interested in fashion?

It was just a desire I had in my heart. A while back I thought I wanted to do something with my life and I might as well use my skills and learn about fashion and design. When I started I didn’t know too much but I learned it pretty quick and picked it up. So I started just designing and then the passion soon followed. I have all these ideas that come to my head and I just sketch them out.

Do you think designing will be a career or just the next step for you?

I do see myself as a designer. I see myself one day designing for a company and maybe for myself after that. My goals are to learn under a designer and learn the trade. I want to know what they go through so that I’m aware of it once I’m ready for the next step to get my own business.

What do you think is hard about designing?

I guess learning to make an idea come reality and get things done. One of the hardest things is also finding fabrics. When you have a certain fabric in mind you then have to go out and get it while you continue to plan the design. You have to do research while keeping in mind what will be in fashion next year.

What do you find most rewarding about designing?

(Laughing) When the garment is finished! When you finally have a finished piece that’s very rewarding.

Saechao also noted that she was working on a dress for Breast Cancer Awareness in May.

As models, designers and IADT personnel worked on the fittings Esther Amato, who’s a been an instructor at the school for the past four years, talked about a project she’s involved in. Amato spoke about a challenge she started four weeks ago and was open to any student.

On Saturday, May 5 IADT and the Susan G. Komen Race Foundation will have a Sacramento Survivor t-shirt fashion show at the Arden Fair Mall. The show will include IADT student created designs made using the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure t-shirts.

Jewelry designs made from recycled educational materials are also being created. The t-shirts and jewelry will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

The May 5th Survivor t-shirt fashion event will showcase more of IADT’s creative talent and also demonstrate their work with the community. The Imagine Showcase will take place on Friday, June 22 at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West. More information can be found at the IADT website.

Sacramento Fashion Week mixer pictorial

2012-04-17T08:16:33Z

Sacramento Fashion Week held an Appreciation Party and Industry Mixer at Lounge ON20 on Thursday April 12.

The mixer was attended by designers, photographers, models, volunteers and organizers involved with Sacramento Fashion Week. The evening allowed members of the Sacramento fashion industry to mingle and celebrate the success of Sacramento Fashion Week.

The sixth annual Sacramento Fashion Week sold out both designer events held at the Elks Tower Ballroom on February 24 and 25. The mixer gave closure to a successful 2012 Sacramento Fashion Week production.

Scotch and sushi at The Urban Hive

2012-04-10T06:50:36Z

About three dozen guests attended the Clement Charles Events presentation of “Scotch and Sushi - The Sexy Pairing II” on Friday April 6. The event was sponsored and hosted by The Urban Hive to benefit the Sacramento Art History Consortium (SAHC).

Although scotch and sushi sounds like an odd combination it ended being a great and delicious pairing. Guest enjoyed wine and scotch donated by Classic Wines of California.

Music by Clemon Charles further enhanced the sensory experience of the evening. The talented musician provided soothing music for guests to enjoy. The Barbados native provided an acoustic set that included favorite cover songs such as “Can't Help Falling in Love”, “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” and "Red Red Wine.”

Veronica Delgado owner of Vera Icon PR and manager of the event mentioned that this was the third of four scotch and sushi events. “Clem (Clement Charles) came up with this pairing. Tonight we’ll also have a representative from Classic Wines demonstrate how to drink scotch. There’s a whole science to drinking scotch you know,” said Delgado.

Delgado continued, “We’ve been having this event on a monthly basis and a portion of tonight’s proceeds will go to SAHC.” The last installment of the scotch and sushi series will take place in May and will be hosted by Creative Vera Studio.

Delgado has been happy with attendance at each of the events saying, “Attendance has been increasing with new followings. At the first event about 10 people showed up and has doubled each month. The event started as a private event with friends and followers of Clem’s music.”

Several of the guests have businesses in the area and as such have created a community of friends that support each other. Businesses involved included special guest Milton Neshek, General Council and Chairman of Kikkoman Industries.

Sacramento Art History Consortium was the benefactor of the event. SAHC’s Sara Garzon, Executive Director and Raquel Garcia Del Real, Program Director, were present to share information about their organization. SAHC is a non profit organization in Sacramento that was formed in June 2010.

Garzon indicated SAHC is currently working on a project called “Wear the Attitude” an undertaking that addresses the topic of bullying. Garzon said, “The project addresses the issue of bullying and what effect it has on kids. We’ll be conducting a workshop that addresses the issues at John D. Sloat Elementary School.”

Garzon also said that they’re developing a visual statement that will be placed on t-shirts for the “Wear the Attitude” project. Students at John D. Sloat Elementary contacted SAHC about the issue and both parties are putting a lot of effort into the project that they hope will address one of the biggest issues at the school.

The partnership between SAHC and Sloat Elementary will allow students to address bullying by wearing the “Wear the Attitude” t-shirts. They hope the visual proclamation will create a silent fashion statement reminding students about bullying and its consequences thereby creating awareness and sensibility to the issue.

Jim Ghilardi, Territory Sales Representative, of Classic Wines brought two bottles of scotch for guests to sample. Ghilardi poured the first sample of The Black Grouse scotch into glasses for guests to enjoy. He explained that 12 year old scotch is the youngest scotch and went over the process of what it takes to make it.

For those who don’t drink scotch Ghilardi explained some qualities of The Black Grouse as he said, “If you look at the color it’s a little gold. As you smell the drink what you smell is a lot of smoke and peat and those are the flavors you get from your scotch.” Guests commented on the colors, aroma and taste.

Highland Park, the second bottle of scotch was poured for guests to sample. Highland Park was an 18 year old blend of fine scotch whisky. The mature oak appeared smoother but other guests called it “liquid fire” after tasting it. Ghilardi explained Highland Park scotch is made in an area of Scotland where as he put it, “nothing grows and is very windy, it’s a barren windy place.”

For new scotch drinkers Ghilardi suggested pouring the drink into a glass and “let it roll around in your mouth like you do with wine, taste it, breathe it in, breath it through your nose and smell it. You’ll smell a lot of alcohol and a lot of burn. As you drink it can you taste the liquid smoke? Take a piece of your (sushi) rice and watch it enhance the taste of the rice. Scotch is one of the biggest sellers in Japan and it goes very well with sushi.”

Ghilardi’s insight enhanced the experience and most guests enjoyed the drink however the “liquid fire” was too intense for some guests.

Towards the end of the event a raffle was held with door prizes donated by Compliment and Luxe Salon and Spa.

The event was very sensory and gave guests the opportunity to sample various wines, scotch and delicious sushi and share that experience with the company of new and old friends. Live music, food, drink and art capped a delightful evening of sensory awareness.

Marchers celebrate Cesar Chavez Day

2012-04-03T21:23:06Z

Saturday’s rainy day kept many people indoors. Several hundred people however gathered at Southside Park in Sacramento to celebrate Cesar Chavez Day.

Marchers braved the rain as they marched from Southside Park’s to Cesar Chavez Plaza and back.

On Saturday, March 31 marchers of all ages commemorated Cesar Chavez Day a state recognized holiday.

The 12th annual march continues to be held in Sacramento rain or shine. The march began at 10 in the morning with several speakers, entertainers and live music performers on hand to keep the spectators’ spirits alive as rain poured down at Southside Park.

Aztec dancers led the procession and their enthusiasm was not dampened as many marched and danced barefoot along the three mile route.

The Aztecs dancers also served as a symbolic representation of the United Farm Workers struggle. In regards to symbolism Chavez once said, "A symbol is an important thing. That is why we chose an Aztec eagle. It gives pride...When people see it they know it means dignity."

The legacy of Chavez’ work continues to live and many, as they marched, chanted what was once his life motto, “Si se puede!”

"Sí se puede" is often translated as "Yes, we can.” Barack Obama used “Yes we can” as a slogan when he campaigned for the presidency in 2008. On March 23 the White House released a Presidential Proclamation declaring March 31, 2012 as Cesar Chavez Day. The proclamation called for all Americans to observe the day with appropriate service, community and education programs to honor the farm worker’s enduring legacy.

Saturday’s event allowed marchers representing labor, community and student groups to gather and address issues that concern local and national communities.

A small contingency was also on hand to bring attention to Trayvon Martin the teen shot in Florida by a neighborhood watch member. Several of these marchers wore hoodies to show solidarity for Martin.

Cesar Chavez's legacy lives on in all who draw inspiration from the values of service, determination, and community that ignited his movement.

After the marchers returned to Southside Park representatives from several organizations, including event sponsor Labor Council for Latin American Advancement addressed the audience. Senator Darrell Steinberg was also on hand to speak to the crowd that stood in the rain.

Chavez, who died in 1993, would have been 85 years old on Saturday. His birthday became a California state holiday in 2000 and this year 11 states celebrate Cesar Chavez Day as a state holiday.

Cesar Chavez Day has become a day of service to many who draw inspiration from Chavez’ work. Community organization is at the center of a movement that celebrates Chavez’ efforts to organize and call people to non-violent action and fight for injustice.

Mixer in East Sacramento

2012-03-24T02:35:01Z

Salon Cuvée and Day Spa hosted “Joy and Refresh” an evening of indulgence, fashion and fun. The Wednesday, March 21 event was held in partnership with various local East Sacramento businesses including Article Consignment Boutique. Guests were treated to massages, hairstyling, art, music, wine tasting and a fashion show.

Renowned for their talented team, Salon Cuvée offers incredible services at a great location. The salon has been serving its clientele since 1997 and owner Brenna Mekow was on hand to welcome guests and introduced other local merchants.

Abe Sanchez, Owner/Partner at Article Consignment Boutique also addressed the audience after the fashion show. The fashion show included several models showcasing the MTX line with clothes and accessories from Article Consignment Boutique.

DJ Katz played soothing music as some guests enjoyed complimentary 10 minute massages. DJ Katz also played energetic tunes mixed in with some oldies.

Story Winery located in Plymouth was on hand and guests enjoyed some of their delightful wines. Story Winery is located in a breathtaking location in Plymouth and it’s one of my favorite wine tasting stops in Amador County.

Artists Joseph Osborne and Bill Schoenleber brought several pieces of art that were displayed at different spots within Salon Cuvée. Their unique works are curated online and several were available to be seen up-close by the many guests.

There was much to see and do at the mixer event and I did not visit all the stations but did get a chance to spend a few minutes with Abe Sanchez to talk about the event.

Sanchez talked about the evening saying, “We invited and combined several local businesses to create an evening that had style, fashion and art to cater to guests. This was Brenna’s event and we were asked to attend. Article Consignment has worked with Brenna before and she wanted us to be involved in the runway fashion show. I was happy to have been asked to be involved in the show.”

Most of the other merchants at the event were local. Sanchez, referring to other businesses in attendance, stated, “This event was also an East Sacramento Chamber Mixer so we really try to stay local here in East Sacramento.”

Sanchez indicated that the East Sacramento Chamber meets once a month and as Sanchez put it, “We try to incorporate not only the local community but also local businesses to network with, build relationships and get to know each another. It’s a great way to meet with the community and long time customers.”

The event was popular and the place was full of new and returning customers. Many neighbors and clients came to enjoy the pampering offered by the friendly and knowledgeable staff at Salon Cuvée.

The event was refreshing and enjoyable with Salon Cuvée offering services from their highly trained personnel. Guests enjoyed being pampered and were treated to a great mixer full of wine, music, art and fashion.

Where Dreams Begin Fashion Show

2012-03-21T03:37:13Z

Couture Press assembled a team of local and Bay area designers for an afternoon of music, fun and fashion on Sunday, March 18. The show, “Where Dreams Begin 2012,” also included several hair and makeup artists who displayed their magnificent talent in front of a packed house at The Station Bistro and Lounge in Roseville.

The Couture Press event, showcasing spring 2012 collections, did a great job putting the show together. Dericka Porter, Couture Press CEO and President, welcomed guests to the event. Porter also introduced the musical duo of Rich and Crystal, who entertained at various intervals during the show. Crystal Marie walked the runway besides showcasing her vocal talents during the live music performance.

Porter, Davina D'nay Brown and other Couture Press representatives worked hard to bring the event to the stage. Their efforts created a superb atmosphere and an enjoyable show.

Designer Yennie Zhou, who was recently showcased at Sacramento Fashion Week, brought her wonderful designs and Y Couture to the fashion show. Her colorful, somewhat unusual, and always fashionable designs showcased several elegant dresses made out of magazines. Designs such as these allow Zhou to use diverse forms and mediums and bring them to the stage.

Zhou’s designs piqued the audience’s interest. Her elegant gowns help Y Couture fashion bring out the beauty of those who wear her designs.

As the last model for Zhou’s collection returned to the runway, she was met by Zhou, who wore a simple yet elegant outfit that accentuated her pregnant radiance. Zhou will be delivering, as she put it, “Any minute now.” Her joyful personality is always fun to see.

Only Golden Goddess Boutique had several models walk down the runway with a few simple and attractive dresses. The boutique specializes in beautiful Moroccan, Moroccan Cotton, Sustsi, Indonesian, Balinese, artsy, gypsy, hippy, sexy and bohemian clothing.

Only Golden Goddess Boutique shows and sells most outfits via an Ebay online store and sells its fashion wear in sizes small to 5X.

Zarah'Nized Wear has been showcasing many designs around Sacramento at various venues. Her colorful designs are always complemented by Jackhair Bydarlene. The mother-daughter combination put their extraordinary talent together for Sunday’s show.

Zarah’s fashion for the show was inspired by the Tokyo night life with a twist of crazy colors and fun prints. Zarah’s talented models always seem to shine on the runway and Sunday was no exception. Loud cheers were heard at different intervals.

Zarah has been working on her 2012 spring-summer wear and preparing for the fashion show for Couture Press for the last two weeks.

“I wanted to do a little work as I was inspired by Tokyo fashion. I like to put in a lot of prints and colors. I also design event wear so you can wear it to any special event such as weddings,” said Zarah.

Zarah also has an upcoming fashion show on March 27 and is working on a swimwear collection and a line of Tokyo-inspired wear.

“Ever since I was a little girl I’ve liked colors and neon green is my favorite color. That color really pops out at me. A while back I was looking at pictures on the internet and one picture really came through to me. It was a Tokyo night life image that had bright lights and lots of colors. It was that image that grabbed my imagination,” said Zarah, talking about her work for this year.

As guests walked into The Station, an art piece created by Daniel Chimowitz hung from the wall. Reminiscent of pop art from the 60’s, the art piece was a great touch for a fashion event.

Chimowitz’ collection and outside the box thinking allowed his designs to incorporate art and fashion. Vibrant colors jumped out as his wear was donned by models walking the runway. Hair and makeup also went beyond the ordinary, giving great overall ambiance to the Love Profit collection.

Shoes, jeans, belts, t-shirts and colorful tops worn by the models seemed to go “pop, pop, pop” as they walked down the runway. The colors and combination of accessories created flamboyant and colorful art.

Chimowitz collaborated with Victor Tung for at least one of the designs exhibited at the fashion show. Their extraordinary designs and clothing created fulgurate art in motion.

Local designer Edward John Radanovich III showcased a new spring-summer collection. Radanovich is another talented designer that has emerged from the International Academy of Design & Technology of Sacramento.

Radanovich’s designs were quite popular at the event. His attention to detail and quality were manifested in the mostly one-piece outfits that were complemented by neck bows of the same material.

The attire worn by the models not only showcased Radanovich’s talent but accented the models’ figures as they proudly walked down the runway. Radanovich’s designs can be seen and purchased at The House of Edward John Radanovich III, which was founded in 2009. The House of Edward John Radanovich III specializes in providing the contemporary woman with elegant, sophisticated and creative designs. Custom creations are also part of their collection and can be created by request.

Ajiale Couture also brought a wonderful collection to the fashion show. A great blend of colors and fabric caught the attention of the audience. Some of the designs bordered on risqué and those really caught the attention of the audience.

The Ajiale Couture collection caters to women from all walks of life and size doesn’t matter, as the audience was able to see firsthand. The collection was very elegant and elegantly alluring. Many of the stylish and cutting age Ajiale designs and collections are available on their website.

The fashion show featured Lluvy Gomez and Noelle Staggers from America’s Next Top Model (Cycle 4) and many local models.

After the show ended I was able to talk to each of them about their experiences with modeling and the popular television series.

When asked about her experience with America’s Next Top Model Gomez elaborated.

“It was an awesome experience. I was in Cycle 4 of Top Model and it was the first Cycle shot in L.A. It was a surprise when we found out it was going to take place in L.A. because previous segments had been shot in New York.”

Gomez also talked about her modeling experience.

“I’ve been modeling ever since the show ended. I now have two little boys and I’ve done pregnancy modeling as well. I was signed with Expecting Models out of New York and L.A. I think that Top Model is great in helping audiences connect by giving a name to models. Usually when you know a model you remember their face only so Top Model gives personality to the models. It allows audiences the opportunity to know them.”

Gomez considered herself a “full-time mommy” but is now updating her portfolio and noted this was her second show with Couture Press.

Gomez also had some advice for aspiring models.

“There are a lot of good agencies out there and it really doesn’t take much to become involved with one of them. I know many models think they have to go to modeling schools and pay all kinds of money. If an agent really wants you, I suggest you just go to the agency during a casting call. I really like to encourage people to try and get local work and just try to get some experience. Any kind of experience is also good,” said Gomez.

America’s Next Top Model Noelle Staggers also answered some questions regarding her modeling career.

“It was a really good learning experience and it put me in contact with a lot of people. It gave me a really good networking opportunity,” said Staggers, “I modeled a lot after the show and then I took a break to be a mom. He’s nine now so I thought it was a good time to get back and become involved in modeling… I’ve been doing a lot of artsy shoots lately. I’ve done different shoots with different themes and posing for portraits. The portraits are painted somewhat avant-garde and I have not done much runway shows. Lately I’ve been doing mainly artistic posing.”

When asked what type of advice she would give new models Staggers shared her philosophy.

“I would tell them love yourself first. Always love yourself and love your body the way it is and also be confident.”

Couture Press created a great gathering place for designers, models, photographers, vendors, and makeup and hair stylists to get together, network and share their talents. They also conduct fun and exciting workshops for aspiring models.

Couture Press also represents independent talent in the fashion industry and shows like Where Dreams Begin allow them the opportunity to shine. The show was very enjoyable and it helped promote local talent.

Where Dreams Begin 2012 fashion show by Couture Press

2012-03-17T01:03:53Z

Couture Press will present “Where Dreams Begin 2012,” a fashion show at The Station Bistro and Lounge in Roseville on Sunday.

The show will feature Lluvy Gomez and Noelle Staggers from “America’s Next Top Model” (Cycle 4) and other local talent.

Couture Press has organized this fashion show not only to highlight local talent but encourage networking, scouting, media interviews and a fabulous fashion show.

Independent talent in design, modeling, makeup and hair styling will also be represented during the fashion show. As with other Couture Press presentations, this show allows for recognition and networking opportunities for its models and gives fashion industry professionals the opportunity to discover and promote local talent.

Couture Press is one of the fastest growing fashion leaders that recognizes independent talent and artists across the globe to help tell their story and show their work.

St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraiser at de Vere's Irish Pub

2012-03-14T03:49:10Z

In an effort to help children diagnosed with cancer, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation kicked off its 2012 Sacramento St. Baldrick’s fundraising event on Monday.

About 185 people volunteered to have their heads shaven in an effort to raise funds for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. The event, held to raise funds for childhood cancer research, took place at Sacramento’s de Vere’s Irish Pub. Family and friends showed up to support the shavees, de Vere’s and the Foundation.

Over 200 events have already taken place and another 780 events have been scheduled in March. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation indicates there will be over 30,000 registered volunteers who will have their head shaven worldwide.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation indicates over $28.3 million was raised last year and they hope to raise more this year. The Foundation has raised more money for childhood cancer research grants than any organization other than the U.S. government. Here in Sacramento volunteers for this year raised $121,208 at the de Vere’s event.

Children and adults who volunteered to have their heads shaven sat at stations where Supercuts personnel shaved heads one after another for several hours. Many people who participated last year returned. Besides individual volunteers, 24 teams signed up.

One of the co-owners of de Vere’s, Henry de Vere White, was on hand to kick off the event.

“Thank you all for coming here today. Let me start by saying that we’ve already beaten last year’s fundraising event so that’s awesome. We have more people who have signed up to be shaved this year and we have another round in Davis on Thursday so there’s still time to donate. We want to thank all of you who went out and had your friends and family donate and it’s an amazing gift we give by doing this. Thank you from our family.”

Robyn Rafael, from team Rafael Memorial, had two plaques to give out. One went to White and another was given to Jason Alonso, who again donned a green Mohawk. After the plaques were given White said, “Let the shaving begin!”

Team members raised $84,030. With 49 members volunteering to have their heads shaven, the Sactown Baldies raised more than any other team with $33,251.89.

A friendly Battle of the Pubs between the Sacramento and Davis de Vere’s Irish Pubs also helps raise funds. The Davis pub will have their event on March 15 and we will have to wait until then to see which of the two pubs raises the most money.

As teams compete to raise money, it is important to remember the focus, Childhood Cancer Research. Many people have lost loved ones to cancer and the millions raised throughout the world is a reminder of how devastating cancer is and how in one way or another it has affected almost everyone.

Dora Weaver was on hand to support two family members who volunteered their golden locks for the event.

“I was diagnosed with cervical cancer three years ago and my family has never been closer. Medication and operations have helped and although I still have to be checked on a regular basis, things have improved. My family makes a conscious effort to educate themselves on the disease and they volunteer at different organizations and events to share their knowledge and experience, and needless to say I am very proud of them,” said Weaver.

With head-shaving and other fundraising events, this volunteer-driven charity continues to annually raise millions in funds for childhood cancer research. St. Baldrick’s has many volunteer opportunities organizing events, and involving business organizations. Volunteers are also needed to share their childhood cancer stories and becoming advocates.

Many more fundraising events will take place throughout the year and donations can be given year-round. Donations can also be made online or by phone or mail. More information can be found on their website.

(Note: more photos from the event can be found at www.dalvarezphoto.com)

Sac-Con 2012

2012-03-07T20:45:14Z

Sac-Con, Sacramento’s Comic, Toy & Anime Show, continues to grow in reputation and in numbers. Comic books, toys, anime art and merchandise, video games, panels, costumes and other entertainment was provided for guests at the Scottish Rite Center in Sacramento on Sunday. Many guests come for a few events at Sac-Con, but the overwhelming majority attends to meet new and old friends and meet their favorite voice actors.

Over 100 vendor tables, several small press artists, and arts and craft stations were set up throughout the Center. Many original art items were available for sale, and artists created new works of art to sell, posed for pictures and signed autographs.

Sac-Con, besides entertaining local residents, also conducts a silent auction to benefit local charities. Vendors and artists donated items for the auction.

The Scottish Rite Center has several large rooms that house the many artists and vendors who attend. Special guests this year included Richard Horvitz, widely known for being the voice of Invader Zim, Alpha 5 in Power Rangers. Rikki Simons, known for being the voice of GIR in Invader Zim, sat next to Horvitz during one of the panels.

As with many of the guests invited to do panels at Sac-Con and SacAnime, Horvitz and Simmons provided entertaining responses to fan questions and offered advice on how to succeed at voice acting.

At another panel, Mr. Lobo (Erik Lobo), who is known for his nationally syndicated Cinema Insomnia, held his own Q&A panel. Lobo shared his experience in finding and promoting horror movies. He continues to make live appearances throughout Sacramento and his humor was well received.

Lobo gave some interesting details regarding the world of movie licensing. He and others who show “cult” movies, or movies of similar genre, can sometimes just purchase licensing for one day to show the movie and hope they can recoup the fees from ticket sales.

During the panel discussion Lobo also touched on films in the public domain, but noted that certain movies can fall into a gray area and suggested that perhaps clearer guidance by the film industry is needed. Lobo gave some interesting points to consider and in regards to public domain he said, “At a certain point as an artist your work belongs to the world, choosing where that point is is hard.”

Many of the vendors and artisans return often to the Sac-Con and SacAnime conventions and they bring new work to the events. It’s also becoming more common to create requested art at artist stations.

New vendors, such as Holding Aces Online, bring original arts and crafts to the event, while established vendors like artist and designer Carlyfornia Love continue to bring creative, fashionable and imaginative styles to cosplay designs.

Director of Artists Alley-Small Press/Amateur Art Contest, Jason Dube, showcased his much anticipated comic book, “Scattered #3,” that was released the day of the show. Besides the Scattered series Dube has published, “Panda Days,” “Caffeine Poisoned” and “Waiting for Something to Happen.”

The prolific artist has also expanded his Scattered Comics Studios, which provides the talents of other comic book artists for commercial projects. The studio is a one-stop shop that helps talented individuals make their comic book a reality and also helps them publish, print and market a comic book.

Next to Dube’s station, Ceephor Studios showcased some of their creations and writer, artist and designer Yolante Charles exhibited some of her creations. Charles has also done work for the Panda Days comics and has begun working on her own comic. She is also involved in the Scattered Comics Studios, adding another dimension to their collective talent.

One of the most anticipated parts of Sac-Con is the Cosplay and Costume Contest. Contestants are judged in categories such as original design, craftsmanship, presentation and youth costume. The work involved in some of the costumes was very impressive and the contestants were given credit for their talent and work.

Katie Bair, director of Costume and Fashion Events, introduced contestants and presented prizes for various awards. Supportive friends, family and fans cheered for their favorite contestants.

Video game tournaments, art contests and card tournaments also allowed guests to socialize with new and old friends.

Monica Reyes, who came from San Jose with three of her cousins said, “We were here last year for the first time and enjoyed the panels, music, art and costume show… There was so much to do and even though it rained we enjoyed the day very much. So, we came back this year.”

The sunny, warm weather this year also allowed for outdoor activities. One of the outdoor courtyards separating the halls housed a dance area with music provided by DJ's from Club Rave. The group included the skillful spin talents of James Lawrence Sakura, Mike Collepardi, Jacob Maxwell, Okami Wolfe and DJ Cake who switched roles as they played some amazing dance beats.

Dancers enjoyed the warm day and rave music played without interruption until the show began to shut down. Sakura and the other DJ’s were young in age but were greatly experienced and their talents were showcased in the selections they chose for the enjoyment of the audience.

The hospitality of the vendors, guests, artists, presenters and Sac-Con promoters created a great atmosphere for those in attendance. Attendance made this a fun and successful event; Sac-Con reported that it was one of the best shows they’ve had and set attendance records with over 1,500 fans.

Sac-Con continues to delight guests via cosplay, games, fashion and unique entertainment. To experience the next Sac-Con show, coming in June, log on to their website for more information.

Carnaval 2012

2012-02-29T03:11:08Z

The Brazilian Center for Cultural Exchange of Sacramento hosted Carnaval 2012 on Saturday night. The event was held at 1616 I Street amidst a venue full of festive music, dance and traditional Brazilian celebration.

Brazilian food and drinks were available for guests, as well as information about the Brazilian Center and the services that it provides. The Brazilian Center for Cultural Exchange of Sacramento is a local non-profit organization that strives to assist at-risk children and bring the community together through culture, education and social justice.

Several acts were featured on and off stage as they provided an evening of lively entertainment. Fenix Drum and Dance and the Henna and Kohl Bellydance Company delivered some electrifying entertainment early in the evening.

Rebecca Juarez announced the acts as they came on stage and the performances seemed to go by quickly. The Brasil Brazil Show was one of the acts that came to the stage more than once. The singing duo of Ana Gozzola and Sonia Santos entertained the crowd with a repertoire of Portuguese songs that are very popular in Brazil.

The ever popular Água de Beber, as is their pattern, displayed a musical and acrobatic Capoeira performance. Capoeira is a combination of martial arts and West African music and dance. The performance leaves an impression as to how well-choreographed it was. A minor miscue can result in somebody getting kicked or hit as they perform.

Água de Beber ended their performance by parading off the stage onto the floor to dance and play their music in the crowd, making their show an interactive performance as the crowd gathered around them and danced. The large open space made it ideal for dancing and guests couldn’t help but dance to the rhythmic Brazilian beats.

This year introduced a Carnaval King and Queen competition. Although few people entered the competition, it was quite popular and fun. Each competitor performed for the audience and judges.

The competition was judged by Pattie Moreno from Latin Diva on hot 103.5, fashion designer and artist Rory Castillo, and Roxana Reyes, founder of the Raices Cultural Arts Center.

The crowd enjoyed the performances and cheered for their favorite as the competition progressed. Juarez introduced the Director of the Brazilian Center, Saara Burga, who came to the stage to help crown the winner. The energetic director danced on stage as the inaugural Carnaval King and Queen were crowned.

Brittany Akhahon was crowned Carnaval Queen and Alfredo Solis was selected as King of Carnaval 2012.

Although many of the guests left after the coronation, the party continued with music from Brasil Brazil.

The second annual event was well organized and the many fans that attended witnessed a great show. Carnaval is enjoyed by millions in Brazil and other countries and although Sacramento only had a couple hundred people attend the event Saturday night, their enthusiasm was very energetic.

Credit has to be given to the organizers of the event. The Brazilian Center for Cultural Exchange continues to expose the Sacramento community to the traditions of Brazilian culture through large events such as Carnaval 2012. The Brazilian Center also continues to educate the Sacramento community via culture, language and dance classes offered at their site.

2012 Sacramento Fashion Week workshops

2012-02-24T07:24:53Z

The International Academy of Design & Technology, located at 2450 Del Paso Road in Sacramento, hosted a model boot camp and a style workshop for designers, models and fashion industry representatives Wednesday evening as part of Sacramento Fashion Week. Day 2 of the event was well attended with both free workshops filled to capacity.

IADT students were well represented at the workshops, although the public was welcome as well. One of the 2012 Sacramento Fashion Week featured designers is an IADT student, Janelle Cardenas.

Gerry Simpson, who has been a model, fashion choreographer, organizer of model boot camps, merchandising manager and stylist for Nordstrom in Arden Fair and serves on the IADT Advisory Board, conducted the boot camp and gave great modeling and designing advice. Simpson’s demeanor and delivery grasped everyone’s attention and his advice was inspirational.

Simpson’s workshop was standing room-only, following a theme he wrote on the whiteboard at the front of the class: “Do not allow your personal taste to get in the way of your professional growth.” He talked about the walking down the runway and how to present themselves and the designs they wear.

Simpson described his background and noted how much the industry has grown in Sacramento. He asked the audience to look within themselves to find their driving force.

“If there’s something that you love more than this, then you probably should be doing that,” he said to the models and designers. “You have to also believe in yourself. Never give up trusting yourself.”

At times Simpson seemed like a stand-up comedian as he had the audience laughing during a narrative about embarrassing moments while modeling in a fashion show. The anecdote about walking the runway with something hanging out of his shoe served to illustrate that things can happen that are out of your control but to trust that you can prevail and that the show must go on no matter what happens.

“Many folks pay a lot of money to hear what I’m trying to tell you,” he said referring to other model boot camps he conducts.

He talked about the placement of the models hands and stance. Models should look straight ahead and move their hands in a relaxed manner as they walk down the runway, he said. One of the major points was to use a mirror. Simpson said it should be one of their best friends, practicing posture, poses and walking in front of it.

Models were given a chance to practice their walks down a short runway. Simpson used the walk to illustrate movement, poise and delivery. Models were reminded that the show is a tool to sell the fashion created by the designers, and that should be the primary function as they walk the runway, proud to wear their designs.

Sabrina Piatt will be modeling for Casey Sue Douglass on Friday. She was accompanied by her dad and she said she enjoyed the workshop. When asked about her runway experience and what she thought of the workshop she said,

“This is actually my first show,” she said. “I’ve done a couple of salons in the area, most recently the Hair Garage in Folsom, but nothing this big.”

Simpson was once an instructor of Sacramento Fashion Week executive director and producer Duane Ram.

“I met him when all this began for him,” he said, pointing to Ram. “I’m proud to see he’s had a working career in fashion. To see him after all these years still involved and still have a passion for it, then that says all the years I spent with him were not in vain. That makes me feel good.”

“And you made it fun,“ Ram added.

“And that’s what it’s supposed to be,” Simpson replied. “If you can’t make it fun or you’re not having fun, you have to reevaluate. I think tonight the people had fun.”

Amy Brown Wister and Simone Vianna conducted an interactive styling workshop based on personal styling basics from The Stylist Online.

The workshop addressed different body types and how designers can gear their designs and use accessories to accentuate a specific type. Attendees were shown how dress for their particular body type and what to look for, using a “style dial.”

Part of the workshop dealt with five trends that should be in today’s closet as well as tips on personal accessory selections using the latest styles for the season. Some of the trends mentioned included jeans that could be worn with bright colors, navy and/or black blazers, non iron shirts, bright color trends such as yellow accessories, and the use of universal positive colors that can be worn by people of all skin tones. They also discussed integrating the seasons' hot colors and how colors fit different fashion styles.

The workshops were very popular, with knowledgeable, interesting and amusing presenters. IADT hosted a great event, and their presence in the Sacramento fashion industry through their graduates is praiseworthy.

Sacramento Fashion Week continues through Saturday.

Sweet Dreams Foundation fundraiser

2012-02-22T09:17:33Z

Sweet Dreams Foundation has begun its process to find the next sponsor child for their “Dream Room” make-over.

The Sweet Dreams Foundation was founded in 2006 and their stated mission is to “… improve the Quality of Life of Children who have been diagnosed with a life threatening disease through the creation of their Dream Room.”

Children selected for this process must be between the ages of 2 to 17 and have a life threatening disease or chronic medical condition that threatens the life of the child. The recently selected board members of Sweet Dreams Foundation will review all applications and make their next selection after applications are received.

May 1, 2012 is the deadline for submitting an application for the next Sweet Dreams child selection. The selection process and application are available at the Sweet Dreams web site.

This past Saturday a fundraiser was held to raise money necessary to create the next dream room. Jennifer Richards, president of Sweet Dreams Foundation indicates that the organization needs to raise $10,000 to create the next Dream Room.

Hot Yoga at Sunrise hosted the fundraising event. The fundraiser included a yoga class with several of Hot Yoga’s instructors participating in the event including Robin and Bobby Carpenter and Ping Yu.

Guests who joined the class were later rewarded with a Chinese lion dance show. The lion dance was performed by the Eastern Ways Martial Arts School.

Eastern Ways specializes in the Chinese arts of Choy Li Fut Kung Fu, Yang style Tai Chi Chuan and Lion Dancing. Eastern Ways currently has three schools which are located in Folsom, Elk Grove and Fair Oaks. About 15 students and instructors of Eastern Ways performed to the delight of those present.

Jenna Elkington, a poi fire dancer, also performed for guests. Sounds “ooh” and” aah” were heard as Elkington executed some risky moves during her engaging performance.

Lunch was also provided and videos of past dream room recipients were showed. Richards was able to relay information about how she started Sweet Dreams and what it takes to create a room.

Several fundraising donations were part of a silent auction. Some of the auction items included a detox consultation by Stacy Whittingham, a massage certificate from Erin Dickey and an acupuncture certificate from Gail Derin.

Other auction items donated were a chiropractic gift card by A Perfect Curve, a yogitoes towel from Yogitoes and a Safeway gift certificate.

Erik’s Deli Café donated food for the lunch and Ursula and Silvester Uhlir donated the use of the luncheon site.

At the end of the event several people who attended the fundraiser indicated they were interested in volunteering for the foundation. Events such as these have resulted in volunteer support for Sweet Dreams.

The board of directors, Richards and everyone involved with the fundraiser made this an enjoyable event and in the process were able to enlist some new volunteers.

Sweet Dreams continues to work behind the scenes to raise enough donations to give another child, who has a life threatening disease, their dream room. Log on to their website for future events and find out more information about this nonprofit organization.

2012 Sacramento Autorama

2012-02-22T03:49:59Z

The 62nd Sacramento Autorama once again brought the premiere custom car show on the west coast to town. From Friday to Sunday thousands of vehicle enthusiasts visited the Cal Expo Fairgrounds to enjoy a fun-filled weekend of bicycle, motorcycle, motor boat and classic car exhibits.

The theme for this year’s Autorama was "Futuristic" and the Main Hall of Building A housed vehicles that fit the theme.

Some of the finest hot rods, boats, custom vehicles and motorcycles from across the U.S. and around the world made their way to the fairgrounds to compete for awards. Not only were motorized vehicles up for awards but also unicycles, bicycles, mini-bikes and even a stroller or two.

Near the main Cal Expo entrance, a large area was occupied by Ron Sutton's Winner’s Circle (RSWC) group. The group is a race team and professional Driver Development Program that races and trains young racing stars for professional careers in stock car racing.

Jason Houghtaling, modified team manager, indicated that they have a nine car team in operation under one roof. Their race crews are made up of regular employees, veteran and rookie volunteers, as well as interns.

According to their flyer, crew shop tours are currently scheduled for February 21 and 22 at their Sacramento site, 8581 Younger Creek Drive. Houghtaling said the shop tour takes about an hour and a half.

“Those who attend will get to see what we’re all about such as working on with a crew and other possibilities. We have nine full-time teams that run out of our shop. We have six Midget Race Teams and three NASCAR Modified Race Teams,” said Houghtaling.

Houghtaling also noted that once someone is accepted into their shop they’ll work on actual racing cars, not a prototype.

“As a team member you’re going to work on a car that will be racing and we take volunteer crew guys to the track and we actually get to be hands on and they get right in there working for a professional race team.”

Vehicles were exhibited at different buildings throughout Cal Expo. One of the buildings housed non-motorized bikes of different kinds. A Bike-O-Rama, Auto Radio Stereo Room and an ARC Audio Room housed various vehicles with massive sound systems, and bicycles that dated to the beginning of the century.

Gear Head Garage had several vehicles in the making on exhibit. Vintage Race Boats also had their own exhibit as well as other classic cars. Each of these buildings had something for almost every taste.

Paul Michael Glaser of “Starsky & Hutch” fame was on hand to sign autographs and answer questions. The Torino used on the popular television series was showcased behind Glaser.

A pin striping event and charity auction was held at Mezzanine B, where several of the best pin stripers in the nation worked to raise money for the University of California, Davis Children’s Hospital. They also held live pin striping demos. The auction ended up raising $9,240 for the hospital.

O’Reilly Auto Parts was once again the title sponsor of the event. Les Schwab Tires, Sacramento Vintage Ford, ARC Audio and many other companies also helped sponsor the event, which included the 6th Annual Sacramento Autorama Drive-In.

Several shows were also performed by a 1931 Chevy Coupe named Wild Thang. The vehicle is powered by a fully blown and injected 610 cubic inch aluminum Arias Motor. The machine, running on alcohol, roared and spit out fire, shooting up to 20-foot flames from its exhaust system.

(Click here to see YouTube video of Wild Thang)

Other entertainment included live music and DJ’s playing oldies music over the Cal Expo sound system.

Over 500 vehicles vied for awards in various categories and a trophy display area housed the numerous trophies that were awarded. Individual and group display awards were presented to the winners.

The awards ceremony was hosted by George Hague. Just before the awards ceremony took place on Sunday 14-year-old Sydney Claire Slaughter, who is currently Miss Sacramento County Outstanding Teen, sang “God Bless America.”

John Buck, producer of the 2012 Sacramento Autorama, addressed the audience at the awards ceremony and thanked his staff and participants.

“Thank you for making history with us in the Custom Capital of the World, Sacramento. On behalf of myself and the entire staff of Rod Shows we thank you for being here. Please give yourselves a big round of applause for being so involved,” said Buck.

The ceremony awarded recipients with plaques, prizes and trophies for their stunning vehicles and displays.

Hot rods, pickups, bicycles, motorcycles, muscle cars and street machines continue to impress the thousands of annual visitors to the event and its popularity does not seem to have dwindled.

Once again, Rod Shows put together a great weekend of events and entertainment for the entire family. Log on to the Rod Shows website to find out more about Sacramento Autorama and to view other events and information.

2012 Chinese New Year Festival

2012-02-21T05:59:29Z

The Chinese New Year Culture Association celebrated the Year of the Dragon at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center Saturday.

As with many other ethnic and cultural events that take place in Sacramento this Chinese New Year celebration’s popularity has grown since its start 15 years ago. The CNYCA might have to look for a larger venue to accommodate visitors to the next event, since the parking lot was full by the time the event was scheduled to start at noon.

The CNYCA put together a wonderful cultural event package with the help of several Chinese community organizations and individuals. They host the event to introduce and promote Chinese culture to the general public and other ethnic groups.

Local businesses and organizations set up vendor booths outside the main hall to present their services to those who attended the event. Several banks, media, medical, insurance and mortgage organizations from Sacramento were well represented at the event.

Several members of the CNYCA board of directors spoke about the purpose of their board and the many volunteers it relies on to promote and run the event.

Rungfong Hsu served as master of ceremonies, welcoming guests in English and then Chinese. Assembly member Roger Dickinson thanked the CNYCA for hosting the event and presented a California State Assembly resolution, “Recognizing the Year of the Dragon Chinese New Year Celebration.”

Sacramento County Supervisor Jimmie R. Yee reminded the audience about their voting rights, directing them to a registration booth on site.

After the opening remarks, guests enjoyed the colorful sights and sounds of many performances. The talents of our community were showcased with various singers, dancers, martial artists, musical performances, folk stories and performances, comedy and other entertainment. Lion and dragon dances, flag and Shaolin kung fu exhibitions and musical entertainment were performed to the delight of the large audience.

Amy Tong and Jing Yuan served as emcees and introduced the acts throughout the day in English and Chinese.

Another highlight of the event was the unveiling of a U.S. postage stamp commemorating the Year of the Dragon.

The CNYCA continues to organize events that promote Chinese culture to the general public. The Year of the Dragon New Year celebration allowed the Sacramento community to enjoy a day of dance, music and fun for the whole family. Thanks to celebrations such as this the CNYCA allows the Sacramento community, regardless of ethnicity, the opportunity to enjoy Chinese culture, heritage and tradition.

Trash Film Orgy On the Y fundraiser

2012-02-13T06:32:07Z

Trash Film Orgy Productions (TFO) put together an enjoyable evening of games, dance, live music and a special showing of “Monster from Bikini Beach.” The event was held on Friday night as a fundraiser for TFO’s next full length film.

The event, hosted by Sacramento’s On the Y began with a game of Bikini Beach Bingo. The bingo game was played during the showing of “Monster from Bikini Beach” and fans were given simple instructions on how to play the game; every time a bingo item appeared on the screen players checked off the item and took a drink. As soon as they had a bingo combo they could choose a prize.

The game continued but then the game changed to bingo blackout. Some items on the bingo cards did not show up until towards the end of the movie. Being a drinking game, the game got more interesting as the evening wore on but it was a fun way to enjoy not only the game and drinking, but also the movie.

The TFO partnership of Darin Wood, Christy Savage and Amy Slockbower were on hand to make sure the event went ahead as planned.

“This is our first fundraiser and we have at least one more coming up,” said Savage when asked about the fundraiser. “We’re also doing a show at the Crest on April 13. We’ll be showing ‘Planet of the Vampire Women’ and it will be our official DVD release party. We’re also going to do a comic book release at the same time.”

I asked how much TFO would need to get the project going and Savage stated, “Well, we’re good at problem solving and making sure things happen even with no money. We made ‘Vampire Women’ for about $25,000 and we’ll probably need at least that much. On this next movie we will need more money for post production because a lot of it will be CG so that will take time and money but we have already begun work on the film.”

Savage also noted that last week they did their first green screen test. She said that they will probably do a couple more fundraisers and try to get some private investors to raise the funds needed. Savage said that rather than wait until they have all the money together they’ll make the movie as they go along to make sure the movie is completed. Savage noted that this process is unconventional, as most film makers want the money before they start and for those films it may take years.

When asked what keeps TFO going Savage said, “We’re driven. We’re driven to create and make some awesome fun art.”

I couldn’t help but notice her enthusiasm and drive that I’m sure will be instrumental in driving this project to its completion.

Several of the actors from the movie were on hand enjoying the evening. Stephen Vargo, who plays the role of Sammy Payday, sat at a table with me and I was able to ask him a few questions.

I told him that I recognized him from his role in the movie and with a big smile on his face Vargo said, “Yes, I like to consider myself the star of ‘Monster from Bikini Beach.’”

Vargo is originally from Detroit and has been a Sacramento resident since 1984. He’s been acting for 18 years.

Vargo indicated that “Monster from Bikini Beach” was the second major movie he’s made with writer/director Darin Wood. They’ve collaborated on “Curse of the Golden Skull” and “Planet of the Vampire Women.”

Vargo said that he will also be involved in the next TFO film. He indicated that he now uses a walker as a result of having muscular dystrophy and can no longer walk. Acting in the next film will need some planning to accommodate his condition and noted that “Darin was kind to work with this. I feel blessed to have the talent and I’m happy to work with local independent films.”

In describing his background, Vargo said that he left Detroit where he was a drummer and decided to move to L.A. to become a rich and famous rock ‘n’ roll drummer. Later, as he reevaluated his future he decided to move to Sacramento.

“My family moved here. My sister moved to Sacramento and over time I would come here on holidays and then when I decided to leave L.A. I moved to Sacramento,” said Vargo.

The TFO team of Wood, Savage and Slockbower has surrounded themselves with loyal and close friends that speak highly of each other and continue to create events that support Sacramento entertainment and entertainers. Much of their work is created via a community entertainment network that promotes local artists. The fundraiser was a prime example of how TFO, On the Y, the Pyronauts and local actors joined forces to create a great fundraising atmosphere.

A go-go dance contest also took place with a small but quite enjoyable group of dancers showing their go-go skills. The Pyronauts played fast rhythmic surf’s up music in the background as the go-go girls (no guys volunteered) competed for prizes.

The rest of the night belonged to the Pyronauts, who played their surf rock ‘n’ roll type of music. The band is Paul Beatie and Bob Butler, who both play guitar. They have been in the band for 13 years now. Brett Cole and Tim Stephenson later joined the band and the four have been with the Pyronauts for over 10 years.

They play anywhere and everywhere and they’re hoping to release their eighth CD in April. The Pyronauts also play ski resorts and on May 19 they will be performing at the West Coast Brew Fest in Miller Park.

Cole, who at other performances uses a stand up bass, also noted that the Pyronauts are the only Sacramento band that’s been together for over a decade.

“When we stop having fun we’ll stop doing it. We’ve been having fun this whole time, I only wish it paid more,” said Cole.

Beatie talked about their affiliation with TFO and in particular with the bikini beach movie saying, “When we first saw the movie, and we knew we were in it, we thought it was pretty incredible seeing it on the big screen. We’d been in a couple of smaller movies before but this was so rad. The premiere of ‘Monster from Bikini Beach’ was at the Crest and it was full and was pretty neat; it was really entertaining.”

In my opinion the Pyronauts are a hidden gem in the Sacramento music scene. Their brilliant instrumentals shine as they play and perform on stage. They seemed to have put together their own brand of surf music as they blend harder rock into their mix.

Friday night's TFO’s fundraiser was a success. Christy Savage said their goal was to raise $1,000 and they were happy to have met the goal. TFO continues to bring local artists together and showcases some of Sacramento’s growing talent. Log on to their website for future updates. Their films can be purchased there as well.

Trash Film Orgy fundraising event

2012-02-08T07:30:37Z

Sacramento’s Trash Film Orgy Productions (TFO) is preparing to make a new feature film this spring. In an effort to bring the film to the big screen, TFO will hold a kickoff fundraising event this Friday, February 10 at Sacramento’s On the Y.

TFO is a Sacramento-based film production company that specializes in creating high quality, low budget horror films. TFP also produces the annual Trash Film Orgy Midnight Movie Film Festival. The Crest Theatre has been home to the event since 2001.

Friday’s Super-Special Fundraiser Show will feature a special screening of TFO’s hit, “Monster from Bikini Beach.” The film, shot in Sacramento, includes clips of several Sacramento landmarks.

The 2008 film is an entertaining carnage and mayhem B-movie meant for an over 21 crowd. The movie combines B-movie elements of other beach party films such as “Beach Blanket Bingo,” 1950’s monster movies, slasher type elements and some awesome humor to bring a truly amusing local indie film to the screen.

The monster lives in the river banks and caves of Camaroville and comes out in search of bikini-clad beauties. Elsewhere in Camaroville, a nightclub go-go contest takes place, a crooked cop and mobsters try to fix a drug deal gone wrong while a local news team looks into the current crime wave.

TFO Productions continues to bring fun events to various Sacramento sites giving audiences a chance to participate in different contests and entertainment. The TFO team of Darin Wood, Christy Savage and Amy Slockbower understand what local fans want and strive to bring that type of entertainment to town. TFO is also commonly credited with inventing the ever-growing Zombie Walk in 2001.

The Pyronauts were featured in the movie and will be playing live music on Friday night. A go-go dance-a-thon will be part of the evening’s fun events as well. As usual, when a TFO event is brought to the Sacramento stage, audience participation will be encouraged.

The go-go dance-a-thon will give participants a chance to win some exciting prizes and a go-go queen will be crowned.

Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show begins at 9. Tickets are $10 and the event is for the 21 and over crowd. Monster drink specials will be featured and will include live drinking games and Bikini Beach Bingo. Proceeds from the event will go towards TFO’s new movie production.

Come to On the Y, located at 670 Fulton Avenue, and partake in the screening of Monster from Bikini Beach. Enjoy an evening of fun, dance, live music and entertainment while supporting TFO’s next film.

American Heart Association's Start Training 2012

2012-02-01T07:04:33Z

The American Heart Association (AHA) held its 2012 Start Training Team Kickoff on Saturday at the California Family Fitness Center in Folsom. The event included health screenings, nutritional and health information as well as a series of mentor and inspirational speeches.

This year’s run/walk half marathon will be held at the American River Parkway on April 28. Participants are required to raise a minimum of $500 through writing letters, email campaigns and personal fundraising websites.

The goal for this campaign is $100,000. By the kickoff meeting, a little over $6,000 had already been pledged.

Start Training is a team training program for AHA half marathon participants of all levels and abilities. The meeting gave people who attended a chance to meet the AHA, mentors and coaches, and culminated in a one-mile walk/run with the AHA team.

The team takes walkers and runners from the first step to the finish line of a marathon or half marathon event. Weekly group training meetings are scheduled to help participants raise funds for the AHA and the American Stroke Association. Mentor meet-ups are scheduled to be held at McKinley Park on Tuesdays. Practices are also conducted and led by experienced mentors.

Justin Carlino talks about his involvement as AHA mentor.

Team mentor Justin Carlino shared his story of living in a house with a long, steep driveway, which he and his wife walked every day. One day, he had to stop because of a shortness of breath. His doctor referred him to a local cardiologist, who diagnosed him with dilated cardiomyopathy, meaning his heart had continued to grow without subsequent growth of heart muscle.

“There were three possible causes: pregnancy, alcoholism, or poison,” Carlino said. “I’m a male who hardly drank alcohol except for an occasional glass of wine.”

After a few years, Carlino was referred to a Stanford Hospital cardiologist for further treatment. Treatment continued for 13 years.

Carlino had a pacemaker installed and was then put on the heart transplant list. Feeling horrible during a holiday, he called the cardiologist and was advised to come in the next day. His blood pressure at the time was 70 over 50, and he was immediately sent to the hospital. Two days later, a heart was available. After five hours of surgery, Carlino had a new heart.

At the time, the hospital had a transplant age cut-off at 70 but made an exception for this case. Carlino, at 73, became the oldest heart transplant recipient in Stanford’s history. Today there is no age limit for transplants at Stanford.

Carlino soon became a volunteer for the California Transplant Donor Network. It wasn’t until recently, at a presentation at the EMT training facility in Stockton, that he learned his pre-transplant condition was classified 1-A, which meant that at the time he had approximately two weeks to live without the transplant.

He now has a patch installed in his chest to correct a venal hernia, eye lenses after laser surgery for cataract removal, has had laser surgery to correct a prostate problem, surgery on his left hand to correct carpel tunnel syndrome, two lower back surgeries and surgery on his right elbow. He says the only original body parts he has are his legs and feet.

Seven and a half years after transplant, Carlino walks rapidly every day. His goal in supporting the AHA was to walk a half marathon.

“I got to the point of walking five miles a day, every day, and I’ve been doing that as soon as I was able to after the heart transplant,” he said. “So that put me in shape for this half marathon. I’ve never done something like that before.”

His strategy for that half marathon was to intentionally start last, at 567th place, to see how many walkers he could pass. He easily passed the first walker who was on crutches, and at the end of the race he had improved his standing by 318 places. His pace of 16.5 minutes per mile was a new record. This year’s goal is to beat that record.

“At the finish line, somebody tapped me on the shoulder,” he said. “I turned, and they gave me a medal. They also gave me a bottle of water, and I turned forward again and the legs said, ‘OK, are you happy we did it,’ then – boom! – I fell forward on my face.”

“I think the real reason I did it is because I had it in my mind,” he said. “I set my mind to it, and I didn’t veer. No rest stops, fluids were given to me during the walk. No potty stops. I just kept going.”

Pam Clements shares her inspirational story.

Stroke survivor Pam Clements also shared her story at the kickoff.

“One Saturday, six years ago, I was very happy,” she said. “I had saved my money and I was going shoe shopping. While I was shopping, and I had some shoes in my hand, something happened. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, I got this severe, sudden headache. I got really dizzy, and when I got dizzy I got scared, but I did not know what was happening to me.”

She sat down and believed she was going to die.

“I did not know the warning signs to a stroke,” she said, listing sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms, or legs, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, trouble seeing from one or both eyes, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and severe headaches with no known cause. “If you’re having a stroke, you do not need to have all five of those symptoms. I did not have all five of them. I did not get confused, because I never put those shoes down.”

Two months later, a similar thing happened.

“I remember this day so vividly because I was so happy that day,” she said. “I was so happy, and I looked over at my husband and my little yorkie, and I said, ‘God, thank you for giving me such an awesome husband.’ And then moments later that same thing happened again.”

Clements’ husband took her to the emergency room immediately. At the time of the stroke, she was 48 years old, but she said there’s no age limit for a stroke.

“Just imagine waking up one day feeling good and then seconds later your whole life changes,” she said. “When this happened to me, I couldn’t get out of bed by myself, I couldn’t go to the bathroom, I couldn’t walk. I had to learn everything all over again.”

Mentors in AHA half marathon volunteer to help with training and encoruagement.

Each mentor had encouraging words for participants and was a good example of different ages and abilities and how the AHA had become part of their lives.

Participants and guests were then told what donations can do for the community.

“The reason we raise money for AHA is threefold; educate, spread the message you need to be aware of and tell friends and family,” said Erin Harris. Raising awareness and money for research are primary goals. Harris noted that the University of California, Davis had received $900,000 from AHA for research.

“The AHA has funded 12 Nobel Prize Winners for their work directly related to heart and strokes. This is huge and our passion is to make sure that this enthusiasm continues, to make sure we as a community not only know that we need to get health care but that we also have the tools to do that,” said Harris.

Harris said that $50,000 can fund a doctoral student for an entire year and reaching the goal of $100,000, “We can fund two of those just through this fundraising program, so that’s our goal.”

The presentation also included a game where questions were asked and someone in the crowd received a prize for answering correctly. The question of how to reach their goal was discussed during the game. Celia Cortez held a board with the top “5 Ways to Fundraise.” These five ways to raise funding included letter writing, online fundraising, matching gifts, social media and rummage sales.

Coach Raymond Martinez stated that participants were doing something fantastic not only for themselves but were also raising awareness and motivating others.

“We’re all in this together building to participate in that first half marathon,” said Martinez. “We’re going to make it fun for you. We can all go out and run a half marathon today but it just might take us forever. This program will allow us to participate safely and take our time building up to it so that when that day comes it’s more fun, it’s safer, we’re reducing our risk of injury and we’re going to have a good time on that day.”

Martinez said that as participants train it’s important to know that you do your best and stick to it. Participants were encouraged to have fun. He also introduced Daryl Parker, a professor of Exercise Physiology at California State University, Sacramento.

Parker is an exercise physiologist who works at Mercy General Hospital and is also a professor at CSUS. Parker indicated that he loves to come to this type of meeting and listen to speakers and mentors. Parker shared that their speeches motivate him as well. He spoke about the kinds of things people should expect during their training period.

Not all expectations are good, noted Parker. His presentation covered several key items participants of the half marathon should expect.

Parker explained that realistic expectations should be set in order to succeed.

“I have to bring research data otherwise people won’t believe me when I talk. Exercise is good, right? That’s what we came. Chronic exercise is good for you and research backs this. Regular exercise is good for the body. Don’t expect too much too fast as this takes time,” he said. “Keep showing up and success will follow, don’t expect too much too fast.”

Good and bad things follow exercise. Parker suggested setting a threshold and doing exercise. He compared it to a prescription and taking certain doses. A minimum dose should be taken to burn calories and suggested that it could be achieved by taking four to six hourly walks four to six times a week. Another dose could be done by running. You can burn more calories by running three times a week for 20 to 30 minutes. Parker indicated that these doses also serve as disease management.

The training introduction covered many topics and all of the speakers were inspirational. Volunteers at the event helped things go smoothly and they were all more than willing to answer any questions. Mercy General was thanked for their participation and for being a big supporter of the program.

After all the speeches were done, participants were able to do a one mile run/walk to complete the team kickoff meeting. Several runners completed the run quickly, and walkers were able to chat about their experience at the kickoff and talk about their training programs and goals for the April 28 half marathon.

The Art of Fashion

2012-01-26T09:41:55Z

The fashion industry continues to grow in Sacramento. Trunk shows, boutique openings, fashion shows, fashion students exhibiting their designs from San Francisco to Sacramento continue to wet the appetite of fashionistas in northern California. Next month will also bring Sacramento Fashion Week to the Elks Tower Ballroom. These events will make an impact in our local economy.

This past Friday night "The Art of Fashion" was hosted by Lounge ON20. The event included a fashion show and was also a mixer benefit event for Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of the greater Sacramento area.

A new campaign was launched by BBBS “100 Men, $100,000, 100 Days” that seeks to raise critically needed funds. The campaign is looking to put males in the lives of 107 young men waiting for a big brother. BBBS hopes to match a big brother to a kid that can benefit from a relationship with their mentor and create awareness of how BBBS improves our community. Ticket sales and donations during the event went to BBBS. A table was also set up for guests to view more information about becoming a big brother or big sister.

Donations for this worthwhile cause can still be made at their 100 Heroes Wanted donation page.

The Art of Fashion featured three local designers who continue to make an impact on the Sacramento fashion scene. Designs from Electrik Trice, Samuel Parkinson and Faatui Toele were showcased on a red carpet runway.

Electrik Trice was the first designer of the evening and presented her Romance in Paris Collection. The collection showcased the great talent of the designer and the passion and beauty of her impressive designs. Her elaborate designs included several exciting evening dresses. Electrik's designs also included elegant pant suits as well as one and two piece outfits for an evening out on the town.

Several of her outfits solicited shouts of approval and applause from the audience. Part of the Romance in Paris Collection featured glamorous form fitting outfits. Electrik’s designs were accentuated by exquisite accessories.

Electrik’s new 2012 collection was a big hit with the crowd. One member of the audience was very excited about a red outfit saying, “I want that one!” and as she turned to her companion said, “Honey, please get that one for me.” I don’t know if they bought the dress but several of Electrik’s outfits evoked similar comments.

Samuel Parkinson’s Woodsy Scholar line was showcased next. Parkinson’s KingsTribe Clothing has become a popular brand in Sacramento and his talent has been showcased at several fashion shows in the area including last year’s Designing Dreams.

The Woodsy Scholar line was inspired by letterman jackets and were accented with wool and leather. KingsTribe Clothing continues to bring men’s fashion to the runway and the Art of Fashion event showcased the designer’s versatility and sense of fashion.

KingsTribe Clothing continues to emerge in the Sacramento scene and Parkinson’s outfits continue to live up to their motto: “Made with pride to be worn in pride.” Parkinson’s designs will eventually bring Sacramento fashion pride to our area.

A lively performance by singer and songwriter Tia Ferrera was included as part of the show. During this intermission performance Ferrera, along with dancers Divina and Talissa, entertained the crowd and kept things moving. This was the first time I’ve seen or heard Ferrera and her energetic performance impressed the audience.

The last designer of the evening was Faatui Toele whose 2WEE designs have graced many fashion shows in Sacramento. Toele’s Fall in Love 2012 Spring/Summer Collection included various trendy and sexy outfits. The fashions showcased were eye-popping and included some amazing trends for evening wear.

The Fall in Love line showcased several red and black outfits that received loud applause from the audience. Several outfits were very ornate and detailed and were well complemented by accessories worn. Models also wore some very exotic hairdos.

These three designers have collaborated together in other fashion shows and all have attended Sacramento’s Academy of Design and Technology. Their exquisite designs are available for sale and they continue to grace the fashion scene in Sacramento. Don’t be surprised when one or all of them become well known designers in the larger fashion markets of California and the nation.

These types of fashion shows not only help local designers receive recognition and exposure but designers in turn work to give back to the community by partnering with charities and the Sacramento community. These events also showcase the talents of photographers, models, entertainers, clubs, hair and makeup artists and help foster economic growth in the local economy.

Sacramento Raks!

2012-01-25T06:00:37Z

Stunning dance skills were exhibited by 15 belly dance performances on Sunday night. Dancers in gorgeous and very colorful outfits took the stage and delighted a full house at the Fair Oaks Community Clubhouse.

The Sacramento Raks! Belly Dance Gala Show returned to the Clubhouse for a delightful evening of alluring dance performances. Live, authentic Middle Eastern music was provided by Flowers of the Nile. Middle Eastern cuisine was also available for guests to purchase during the show.

Dancers Ayre Briar and J.R. performed an inaugural performance as Shupa Da. The music of Pink Floyd’s “Goodbye Blue Sky” accompanied their first dance. The Shupa Da dancers wore similar outfits and a purple veil covered their face. Their rhythmic dance was captivating from the start. As they finished the first part of their dance, they removed their veils and started to dance to the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” and received loud applause.

Shupa Da’s choreography was created by Briar. Their fusion belly dance performance mixed elements of modern and belly dance along with vintage flair that gave elegance to their act.

Once the dancing started one belly dance troupe after another took their place on stage. Tasha from El Dorado Hills was the second dancer to display her marvelous dancing skills.

Tasha danced to a song that told the story of two lovers who are sad and lost without each other. Wearing all white, Tasha’s flair and dance allowed her to use the whole stage as she performed.

Tatheer was the third performer of the evening. The Auburn based dancer performed two pieces. The first performance was done to the Bollywood dance, “Jai Ho,” from the “Slumdog Millionaire” soundtrack. Tatheer’s second performance encompassed Rachel Brice choreography.

Ayre Briar also came back to the stage to perform a solo act. Briar’s performance was inspired by 1960’s belly dance as portrayed in popular cinema. Briar, dressed in gold attire, performed fluid movements to songs that were reminiscent of James Bond movies of the same era. Indeed it incorporated some music from “Goldfinger” and “You Only Live Twice.”

Sacramento based Badia performed next. Dressed in all black, Badia took the stage. She came to centerstage wearing a black veil covering her face. The only part of her face that could be seen behind her costume was her alluring eyes.

Captivated by her dark mysterious eyes, Badia hypnotized the audience as she began to dance. As she danced, she reminded me of a cobra moving out of a basket, and as she moved around the stage she reminded me of a twister moving in the sands of the Sahara.

Kaira Haneem is from nearby Chico. As she came on stage it was announced that she would perform to an Arabic pop song and then a drum solo that utilized her ballet and jazz influenced style of American cabaret belly dance.

Wearing a red outfit that almost matched her hair, Haneem’s performance was well-received. As with the dancers before her, the audience was able to participate by rhythmically clapping along with the music.

The special guest star of the evening was Aubre Hill, who hails from Los Angeles. Hill has performed internationally and is a much sought after master teacher and choreographer. She has a background in ballet, dance, hip hop, musical theatre, folk dance and other dance styles. Hill has also won several international awards and has hosted her own belly dance fitness show on Fit TV.

Hill is currently the Artistic Director of the Lumina Bellydance Company. Her extensive background was brought to the stage as Koop’s “Strange Love” played. Hill’s exquisite movements were fine tuned to the drums of “Strange Love,” and allowed her to show her unique style.

The Henna and Kohl Bellydance Company of Sacramento performed next. The Sacramento based dance troupe is directed by Adriane and they performed a debut dance.

As the company came on stage they each came up with a tray of lit candles atop of their head. The maneuvers for this dance were deliberate and at times exotic as they danced. They were able to maneuver themselves into sitting and lying down positions on stage while the trays remained on their heads restricting their movements. This allowed them to show their balance and dance skills.

The Henna and Kohl Bellydance performance was divided into two or three different dances and as the first set ended, the audience once again clapped in rhythm as the dancers sped up the tempo of music and dance.

Intermission gave the audience time to stretch and get something to eat or drink from the food court in the back of the community clubhouse. The Flowers of the Nile musicians set up their instruments on stage and from this point forward, live music would accompany the dancers.

Several of the dancers during the second half of the Gala Show returned from last year’s Sacramento Raks event. First to perform after intermission was Edemia from Sacramento, who interacted with the musicians on stage. The addition of Flowers of the Nile on stage, in my opinion, was a welcome addition.

Sacramento’s Janene followed, performing a traditional Egyptian style dance to a traditional Egyptian love song. Besides Janene’s fluid dancing, the audience was able to enjoy Philip Gabriel’s voice as Flowers of the Nile played on.

Another Sacramento native now residing in the Chico area, Mychelle Crown combined her love of Egyptian cabaret belly dance with her American jazz and ballet background to create her unique representation of this art. Sunday night she performed to a classic Egyptian song.

Davis’ Nyla Crystal, who was also at last year’s Sacramento Raks event, brought her precision Egyptian style dance to the stage. Her long red hair waved as she danced wearing a red outfit. To top it off, she used a long red veil to accompany her movements. Her fiery performance was well choreographed and executed.

Crystal will be conducting a workshop on April 29 at the Brazilian Center of Sacramento. The workshop is called Beauty and the Sword, and Crystal will cover balancing techniques and sword choreography.

The next performer was Maria, who hails from Santa Clara. Maria wore a lovely white outfit adorned with colorful flower patterns. The flow of the outfit during her alluring dance moves created the illusion of ballroom dancing. Maria’s exotic moves and choreography, along with the live music, once again had the audience clapping as she performed certain moves.

Maria will also be conducting a workshop on April 29, where participants will learn a solo fun drum choreographed dance as well as little tricks to keep the audience surprised and engaged.

Adriane, producer of the Sacramento Raks Belly Dance Gala Show, took the stage for a solo performance. As soon as Flowers of the Nile began playing, the audience clapped to the rhythm of the percussion and Adriane used the whole stage to dance and charm the audience.

Adriane’s fluid dance movements generated audience participation during several parts of her performance. Her charismatic enthusiasm for dance, performance and teaching are evident on stage and off. Adriane’s performance was quite entertaining from beginning to end.

Hill was the last performer of the evening. The special guest did not disappoint and brought the end to a wonderful evening of belly dancing.

The audience that gathered for this Gala Show seemed to have enjoyed it quite a bit. The show brought beautiful music, dance and culture to Sacramento, allowing people of many ethnicities to enjoy an entertaining evening.

One member of the audience, Edwin Hakimi, summed up the evening saying, “I heard about this event a few months ago from one of my friends who was here in May at the last performance. He’s been talking about this for a long time and everything he said was true. There was great food, great dancers and very beautiful, I have to say. I loved it, I will bring my whole family next time; it brings back memories of home.”

Beautiful costumes, choreography and music made this a very enjoyable show. The producers of the show are to be commended for their hard work and wonderful lineup of entertainers.

Sacramento Fashion Week Press Party

2012-01-23T00:19:17Z

Mayahuel Tequila Museo hosted an elegant evening of fashion on Thursday night. Designers scheduled to participate in the Designer Showcase were on hand to celebrate a Sacramento Fashion Week Press Party.

This year’s Sacramento Fashion Week will take place the week of February 21. Several events are planned for the event including two Designer Showcases with the final show on February 25.

Several Sacramento Fashion Week staff members were on hand to meet and greet guests at the event. Producer and Executive Director, Duane Ram, introduced the event and other staff members. Creative Director, Will Rodriguez, also said a few words to start the sixth year of production for Sacramento Fashion Week.

Designers arrived at Mayahuel and mingled with guests. Models arrived later aboard a stretch limo and posed for photos in front of the Tequila Museo before making a grand entrance.

There are 13 designers scheduled for this year’s runway fashion show. Two nights have been set aside to showcase their creativity in fashion and share their designs with the ever growing Sacramento fashion scene.

The International Academy of Design and Technology (IADT) will host a training workshop at their campus during the second day of Sacramento Fashion Week. The workshop, Model Boot Camp, will be open to the public and will be helpful for aspiring models.

Sacramento State Student Fashion Association (SFA) will host a Fashion Forum on February 23. The forum will be held at the Hinde Auditorium at Sacramento State University. This event will feature industry professionals who will bring their perspective and knowledge in their profession. Different career fields within the fashion industry will be shared with students and others in attendance.

Representatives from Make-A-Wish Foundation of Sacramento and Northeastern California were also on hand. Make-A-Wish will be the beneficiary organization of Sacramento Fashion Week for the second straight year.

Guests were offered delicious appetizers from Mayahuel’s kitchen and a multi media presentation played in the background creating a lively atmosphere.

I was able to talk to two of the designers and their models to ask them about the upcoming fashion show. The designers I spoke to, Julian Gutierrez and Vasily Vein will be featured in the Designer Showcase on February 25.

Julian Gutierrez is originally from Sacramento but now lives in San Francisco attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM).

The Sacramento Press: How did you hear about Sacramento Fashion Week?

Julian Gutierrez: Well I’ve been an intern for Caren Templet for about two years. Sacramento is a tight niche community and word gets around. I did a collection in high school that was well received. I just started college at FIDM this year and this will be my third quarter so I’m really excited that I can participate in this show.

SP: Do you know any of the other designers here from FIDM?

JG: Actually many designers are close and they know and help each other and we’re all trying to help Sacramento perhaps become the fashion capital of California.

SP: When will your fashion line be showcased?

JG: I will be showcasing on Saturday night.

SP: Do you have family in Sacramento?

JG: Yeah my family is here. I have some family in Texas but my immediate family is in Sacramento, I grew up here.

SP: What advice, if you had any, would you give someone who may be trying to get into design?

JG: You need to take every opportunity that’s offered no matter how small. Try to find someone in the industry and network with them and really show your interest and your enthusiasm. Tell them you really want to be where they’re at in the industry. That’s what I did at Templet and I went beyond things I would ever be able to learn in school. As I’m getting older I’m starting to see things that are happening to me that I never thought would happen. I’m very impatient so I thought that this would never happen but it does. I know people that have motivation and really want to do something but at this point they don’t have the skills and are impatient like I was. I would give them advice to follow anything in their life they really want and dedicate themselves to it and follow through to really achieve what they want.

SP: How old where you when you realized you wanted to be a designer?

JG: Maybe when I was in junior high when I was about 13. When I moved to my apartment my mom gave me this mural where I did a fashion sketch when I was about four and I had no idea that I even did it. I used to go in front of the TV and pause it and draw whatever interested me. So in my mind I’ve been designing forever. I find fashion to be beautiful and necessary in my life.

SP: How would you describe your style?

JG: At this point in my life I just really want to make things that are simple, silhouette and basic and that are comfortable but have beautiful detail. I’m inspired by Alexander McQueen and Chanel and the beauty of it is that their clothing is so simple and silhouette and so form fitting in the right places and yet not being vulgar. I find it a lot sexier when a girl or anybody is actually covered up kind of modest and has the sense of formability but still not letting anybody take advantage. I really want to make clothes for people who want change and are always trying to change their life for the better.

Model Danielle Birum wore a Julian Gutierrez design and I asked her a couple of questions to get a model’s perspective on the event and to find out a little more about her.

SP: How long have you been a model?

Danielle Birum: I’ve been a model for a total of five years now in the Sacramento area.

SP: How did you become involved with Sacramento Fashion Week?

DB: I emailed my friend Maria when I heard about Sacramento Fashion Week and asked if I could be in it and at the last minute I was able to get in. I had done a show with Maria before.

SP: Have you done any other runway shows before?

DB: Nothing really big.

SP: Are you from the Sacramento area?

DB: Yes, I’m from Sacramento and right now I go to American River College. I’m transferring in the fall and I will be going to Monterrey Bay to study Marine Biology.

SP: Do you think you’ll also continue to pursue a modeling career?

DB: It just depends, I really would love to have a career in modeling but school comes first. I should mention that Julian’s fabric choices are amazing they feel awesome they’re amazing and gorgeous.

SP: Who is your favorite model?

DB: I like Heidi Klum and Marisa Miller.

A designer who was part of the last Designing Dreams fashion show Vasily Vein was also present and I was able to ask him and his model some questions. We spoke through a Russian interpreter in order to make sure we understood each other.

SP: I notice you do most of your work in San Francisco but how did you become involved with Sacramento Fashion Week?

Vasily Vein: I love their organization system and the Sacramento Fashion Week team. I had a part in the Designing Dreams fashion show last year and I think they’re one of the best fashion teams in the area.

SP: How long have you been a designer?

VV: All my life, since I was 12 years old.

SP: What or who inspired you to get into fashion?

VV: I’ve always wanted to be involved in fashion. As I thought about what career I wanted to pursue I realized that I wanted to be involved in fashion. Fashion has always been my passion.

SP: I read somewhere that you designed for several Russian rock stars can you tell me who?

VV: I was involved in designing outfits for Russian entertainers. I was a designer for Russian pop and rock stars. I worked with Russian singer Linda for about 10 years. Linda is very famous in Russia and Greece.

SP: When did you come to America and why?

VV: I came to the U.S. three years ago. I like risk and love to experiment and America offered a great challenge.

SP: Have you been to Sacramento before for any shows?

VV: I was in Designing Dreams in August of last year.

SP: Do you have any parting words for Sacramentans coming to the show?

VV: Please come and see my designs. I will try to have a fun presentation for the public.

SP: How would you describe your style?

VV: I try to make beautiful outfits and try to make them for everyone. My creations are not just for the runway but are also made for casual and formal wear.

Maria Kondrakhanova wore a gorgeous red dress designed by Vein. Their interpreter indicated that Kondrakhanova is a top model in Russia and hailed from the Russian city of Nizhniy Novgorod.

SP: How long have you been modeling?

Maria Kondrakhanova: I’ve been a model since I was 16 years old. I’ve been a model in Russia but not in U.S.

SP: What inspired you to become a model?
MK: I love beautiful things, outfits, people and other things and fashion makes me like it’s a dream. I enjoy showcasing beautiful designs.

SP: When did you come to America?

MK: I came to America three years ago for the first time

SP: Who is your favorite model and designer?

MK: I love the beautiful designs of Vasily. My favorite model is Natalia Vodianova because we’re both from the same hometown.

The evening provided a great setting for fashion designers, models, advertising and modeling agencies, photographers, make up artists, hair stylists, media and other fashion industry people to enjoy the beginning of this year’s fashion extravaganza. Tickets for Sacramento Fashion Week are now on sale and this year they’re expecting to sell out.

Winter 2012 SacAnime

2012-01-18T07:44:55Z

The Woodlake Hotel, located on 500 Leisure Lane in Sacramento, hosted this weekend’s Winter 2012 SacAnime convention. Formerly known as the Radisson Hotel, the Woodlake Hotel opened its doors to over 5,000 visitors who came to see several of their favorite voice actors and celebrity panels, enjoy Café Hoshi, play games, and attend how-to workshops, music video contests, and live concerts. Most important of all was the time spent enjoying each other’s company.

The event began on Friday morning and had many well organized activities for the thousands of fans that attended.

The multi-talented Vic Mignogna was the first guest to participate in a question-and-answer (Q&A) session with polite fans who waited in anticipation of their voice actor heroes. Mignogna is well-known for his roles as Vega in Street Fighter II, Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemists, Dark in DN Angel, Kurz in Full Metal Panic, Broly in Dragonball Z, Hikaru in Macross, Takanaga in Wallflower and many other roles.

Presently, Mignogna is involved with the new Iron Man and Wolverine series on G4. His impressive résumé in the anime world is well-known. Mignogna is also a music composer, singer and producer. As the SacAnime Concert Series opened on Friday night he was the opening act and sang a few songs to commence the concert.

During his Q&A, a fan gave Mignogna a phaser from Star Trek II and a hand written script modeled from the Real Fans of Genius web series.

In describing the Real Fans of Genius Mignogna said, “Steve Blum and I decided that we were going to make a bunch of parodies about Real Men of Genius similar to the Bud Light commercials. We made a whole bunch of them that were based on the kind of people you would meet at an anime convention. Steve Blum did the narration and I did the singing parts and I even created the music track underneath it. It sounds exactly like the originals, they’re all on YouTube.” Mignogna noted that the fan had written him an email that he had written another parody. After they finished Mignogna said, “That was awesome. Thank you!” and hugged the fan.

Mignogna’s interaction with his fans was quite remarkable and made his fans feel appreciated. Fans asked for suggestions on voice acting, asked questions about his other live and anime works, and other personal questions. He answered them all in kind, patient and encouraging words.

“I never even planned to be a voice actor. I have been acting ever since I can remember and I was involved doing church plays, school plays, Community Theater, drama camps and anything I could do to build up that skill because I loved doing it. I never even thought about voice acting. What’s funny to me, now that I look back on my life, is when I was 15 or 16 years old my friend and I were running around all the time imitating characters from Speed Racer. How surreal that many decades later I would be a voice actor sitting in a chair beside the guy that voiced Speed Racer and be working in the same industry that created Speed Racer and Kimba the White Lion and the things that I loved as a kid. I never planned to be a voice actor that was never my intent. “

Mignogna shared how he became involve in voice acting saying, “I’ll tell you exactly how it happened. I had done all this theater work, my minor in college was theater and I was always acting in something or another and then I was working for a video production in Houston, Texas and a friend of mine that I was working with said, ‘You’ve done a lot of acting haven’t you?’ I said, ‘Yes, a lot.’ ‘You have to go to this place and audition. There’s this company in Houston called ADV films and they buy these Japanese animated shows and they dub them into English and they need actors.’ ‘I was like, you’re kidding, that sounds fun.’ I didn’t ask how much it paid; I didn’t ask anything about that it just sounded like fun. It was another opportunity to act. Voice acting required a different set of skills but it sounded like acting to me. I auditioned and I got cast as Vega in Street Fighter II and that was the first thing I ever did.”

As Mignogna continued to share his voice acting training he said, “For those of you interested in voice acting, acting has 30 percent to do with your voice and 70 percent with acting. Every one of the people you’re going to meet this weekend and 99 percent of the voice actors that I know have huge backgrounds in theater; in acting they’re all actors who got an opportunity to voice act so if you’re interested in voice acting get into acting, drama and theater classes and audition at your schools, universities, community colleges, churches, any place that you can develop those skills.”

Mignogna shared that the markets for voice acting are in Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Vancouver and New York. He also shared that voice over opportunities done mostly for commercials can be found anywhere.

Mignogna does not have an agent and shared that everyone else at the convention has one.

“My understanding is that when an agency takes you as a client they want you to make them money. They’ll send you scripts, radio, commercials, voice over as well as video games, animation. I don’t want to do commercials. I’m afraid, and I know this for a fact, you do what they tell you. Your job is to make money for both.”

Pixar, Simpsons and Family Guy roles are spots Mignogna says he probably won’t get without an agent. Without an agent he knows he’s limiting himself in getting certain roles.

“God has been so good to me that I can hardly stand it.” Mignogna said and continued, “I’m so thankful, I am so profoundly grateful for the opportunities in my life. If nothing else happens I have been more than blessed. I am so grateful for the things I get to do and yeah, I would love to do bigger things but it doesn’t drive me, I’m not obsessed with it.”

According to Mignogna, being rich is overrated.

“I know people who are multi-millionaires who jump out of windows. I know people that hate their lives and they have yachts and houses all over the place; that is not the answer. It’s a lie. It’s cool to have money but at the end of the day when you put your head on your pillow and you’re alone with yourself there is a sense of satisfaction you have and no amount of money can change that.”

Following Mignogna’s Q&A the Gaia Online Variety Hour ensued. Chris Castagnetto, also known as DJ Helsing, hosted the event. During the Variety Hour fans participated in interactive games and it allowed everyone in the audience to participate in at least one event. One of the things that makes SacAnime such a popular event and that keeps fans coming back is the feedback that’s solicited from the audience. In the Gaia Online the host made a point to ask the audience which games they liked in order to bring them back, and which ones to replace.

SacAnime brings people of all ages to the convention. The devotion of fans is tremendous, not only to the characters they dress up as, but also to the celebrities that attend. Many fans stand in line an hour or longer to get autographs. The actors that attend and sit in Q&A sessions and panels are just as devoted to their fans and show their appreciation as they interact with guests.

One of the most apparent things about SacAnime Winter 2012 was the amount of people who attended the panels, Q&A sessions, gaming, workshops, Artist Alley, Sac Café, Sac Club Raves, the Vendor Hall and other gatherings around the hotel. People on hand made up a large all-ages crowd. Many of the attendees were dropped off by parents and I was pleasantly surprised and somewhat astonished as to how well they got along. I think that parents who may worry about dropping off their kids can rest assured that their kids are well behaved and are in good hands with the SacAnime staff.

SacAnime’s Director of Programming, Jodon Bellofatto, hosted the opening ceremonies that were held after several Q&A events in which Vic Mignogna, Quinton Flynn and Tara Strong participated. Bellofatto went over the weekend program and encouraged the audience to visit the gaming rooms and check out the tournaments, attend and participate in the art contest, and view the arts and crafts created by artists.

Bellofatto answered questions and shortly thereafter the AMV contest took place with three categories open for voting: drama, romance and comedy. He noted that winners would be announced on Sunday. One fan asked if they would post the entries online and Bellofatto indicated that they would like to do that if it’s possible.

Friday night’s Sac Anime Concert Series had three acts on hand. Vic Mignogna opened the concert series by singing on the floor with the audience. He never set foot on stage. Mignogna played a couple of songs and introduced Kazha and Lemon Drop Kick.

Kazha is a Japanese band and its spokesperson is Kazuha Oda, who has a history of working with different performers. Earlier in the day I spoke with Oda and asked her a few questions. I learned they are from Tokyo, Japan and it appeared she was the only member of the band who had a command of the English language. Her personality was very pleasant. The other members happily signed autographs and tried to answer questions but relied on Oda to translate.

When asked if they were going to be playing both concerts (Friday and Saturday) she said, “We’re going to be here for the full convention but we’re going to perform tonight and tomorrow night.”

Kazha is made up of four members and has been performing for two years. They have previously performed in the U.S. and have played at other anime conventions but this was their first performance in Sacramento.

With guest drummer Mike Kim, Hideki Matsushige, Shintaro Kasahara and Kazuha Oda took the stage to bring their brand of rock to the concert. They began their set with a melodic pop tune, “Close to You,” that was brought to life by Oda’s smooth vocals. One thing that’s quite noticeable is how well the music moves to the rhythm of Oda’s singing.

Fans were delighted by the Kazha set. After their first song, Oda addressed the audience.

“It’s our first time being in Sacramento and we are so happy. Thank you very much. We are from Tokyo, Japan. Are you guys having fun at SacAnime?”

Fan reaction made Oda smile and she thanked them.

The last act of the night was Lemon Drop Kick. They are based out of Los Angeles and are described as a Japanese rock band influenced by different musical influences and cultures. They energized the crowd and invited several audience members to the stage as they performed.

Lemon Drop Kick had the audience jumping up and down and moving. Their beat included several genres of music including rock, pop, metal and others. They were a great choice to end the evening’s concert series.

A swap meet, a club rave, open gaming and karaoke contests kept the evening alive for guests, who gathered at different spots throughout the hotel to chat about their experiences and share stories.

A designer that I have met before known as Carlyfornia had a station set up to showcase her designs and new items. When asked what new items she was showing at the convention she said, “I brought a lot more steampunk stuff. I brought a lot of fun stuff including furry ears like little kitty stuff, doll clothes and more dolls.”

Carlyfornia will be exhibiting more of her work at the upcoming Animation on Display (AOD) in San Francisco February 18-19. When asked if she had a store front Miss Carlyfornia noted that she doesn’t have one because, as she put it, “I don’t have a storefront because I can’t keep up merchandise because I sell, sell, sell so fast and I’m at a different city almost every weekend. “

One of the last panel events I attended at the convention was “From Fan Art to Creator: How to Make and Publish Your Own Comic.” The panel was hosted by Heather Jaeger and Melissa McCommon.

McCommon and Jaeger were quite enthusiastic about hosting the panel and offered numerous pointers to help the comic publisher want-to-be’s. They covered the various common drawing programs used to create comics as well as the various tablets used to illustrate.

Their passion for comic book creation was quite evident and their knowledge was quite immense, giving audience members a wealth of information to get started and insights into what can make comic publishing a good experience.

Low budget tools, programs and tips were also discussed and they mentioned several programs that are free.

The tips and information passed on by McCommon and Jaeger also included a section called the Language of Panels and what it takes to be successful at sketching, coloring and making story bubbles as well as printing and publishing. The advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing were also discussed and their valuable insight was well received.

The passion for anime comic drawing and illustration as well as passing on their knowledge was priceless. Jaeger and McCommon emphasized the need to draw on a regular basis, motivate yourself, not give up, write, and practice as much as possible.

There is always a lot to do and see at the SacAnime conventions and the staff is to be commended for the topics they choose, the guests they bring in, the panels they put together and the feedback they solicit from attendees. Organization continues to make SacAnime a great event year after year. Fans are the best ambassadors for conventions such as this, and if they continue to follow and attend SacAnime it helps the community grow and flourish.

Bellofatto hosted the closing ceremonies where the AMV winners were announced. Third place went to Yosef Ghiassy for Manly Tears, second place was Erinn Thompson for Say Good-bye to Yesterday and first place went to Shelby Nickles for Oran I’m Sexy and I Know It.
Volunteer positions for the next convention were discussed. Bellofatto also solicited comments from the audience as to what worked and what did not work during the convention and he made note of the comments on a laptop set up on the stage.

One of the final announcements was that because of the large crowds that came to the convention (breaking the 5,000 mark) it was decided that a larger venue was necessary to accommodate the growing crowds and that the 2013 Summer SacAnime was going to be held at the Sacramento Convention Center.

More photos from the SacAnime Winter 2012 convention can be found here.

Trash Film Orgy at the Crest Theatre

2011-12-20T06:07:17Z

Little kids all over look forward with excited anticipation to Santa coming into town. They know he has a list that shows who’s been “naughty” and who’s been “nice.”

Saturday night several hundred “naughty” people attended Trash Film Orgy’s (TFO) showing of “Don’t Open Till Christmas,” a film directed by Edmund Purdom. The film was one of several films featured at the Crest Theater’s “Santa's Cool Holiday Film Festival.”

Doors opened at 10 p.m. for an 18 and older crowd that had been waiting outside the Crest Theater. Audience members dressed in costume were given a discount on admission.

Once inside the Crest Theatre, a Christmas tree was decorated and included gifts that were given to customers. Once the gifts were opened you were given the option of keeping the gift or exchanging it at the Shaggy Elephant Gift Exchange table. In the spirit of the 18 and over crowd, gifts were specifically geared toward that age group and included many naughty, adult in nature gifts.

Several other tables were set up to sell merchandise which included Midikat Boutique, Trash Film Orgy Productions and designer Carlyfornia Love. Trash Film Orgy also had tables set up for Santa’s Trash Workshop that included games and prizes.

A Mrs. Claus Holiday Workshop was also available for film goers to make their own holiday ornaments. Santa himself, with cigarette in mouth, posed for pictures as visitors sat on his lap. Elves dressed in scanty outfits also posed for photos.

The atmosphere of the lobby, although naughty in nature, was very enjoyable and guests appreciated what Trash Film Orgy had to offer. Once the curtain call was signaled guest entered the theater to enjoy a live performance of “Trash Santa.”

The Trash Santa performance was quite enjoyable and was geared for an adult audience. The performance featured a mean Santa who used profanity and featured elves who enjoyed their porn and who created the perfect toy, represented by a tough, gun wielding sexy robot.

The performance was greeted with much enthusiasm and included active participation from the audience. The participation exhibited by the audience from this point forward was very noticeable and it’s this kind of spirit that draws crowds to TFO performances.

Instead of going straight into the feature film after the first TFO performance, the audience sat through a series of bizarre, unexpected and entertaining film clips, cartoons and just plain weird visuals. The audience loved the previews and vociferously commented on what they saw.

I’m not sure how long the previews lasted but it was quite popular with the audience and gave people something to talk about during intermission.

After intermission TFO continued their entertainment by putting on a game of popping balloons by sitting on them. Several audience members participated in the event. Not only did participants enjoy this but audience participation gave everyone a chance to contribute to the enjoyment of the game.

The 1984 feature film, “Don’t Open Till Christmas,” followed. The British film was directed and starred Edmund Purdom and was written by Derek Ford based on a story by Al McGoohan. It’s not your typical Christmas movie and fits into the “Slasher” film category.

The film deals with a London psycho killer who goes on a killing rampage just before Christmas. The victims are people dressed in Santa suits that he encounters. The famous Scotland Yard has several detectives set out to find the killer. The killer must be stopped before the killing becomes another annual holiday tradition.

The morbid killings elicited outlandish remarks from the audience and actually made this an enjoyable movie.

As the audience was making their way out of the theatre I spoke with a couple. Martin George and Angela Stewart said they came to see what K Street looked like now that it was open to car traffic and decided to attend the performance after seeing the line outside the theatre.

“I thought I had outgrown Santa,” said George, “but tonight’s event just goes to show that you never really outgrow that. I thoroughly enjoyed the show and loved the elves, specially the beautiful female elves. Wow, this was great.”

The event for the evening showcased TFO entertainment at its best as audience members were encouraged to interact. Crest Theater and TFO provided a night of fun adult entertainment.

Second Saturday events

2011-12-13T22:30:02Z

Sacramento art galleries hosted small crowds of visitors during the last Second Saturday of the year. Many visitors took advantage of the smaller crowds to do Christmas shopping. Galleries and other businesses sold art, crafts, gift certificates and other items to Christmas shoppers.

Festivities in Sacramento began earlier in the day with the annual Santa Parade. Thousands of children, along with their parents, lined the parade route. The parade started at the corner of 9th and I Streets and an anticipated crowd of over 25 thousand watched.

The annual parade began at 10 a.m. and participants included marching bands, cheer squads, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, several floats, car clubs, horses, community organizations, beauty queens, dancers, actors and other performers. Santa and Mrs. Claus were the most anticipated and popular members of the parade.

Another holiday event also took place later in the day during Second Saturday festivities. La Raza Galería Posada staged a community posada “Las Posaditas” on Saturday and will bring the event to Midtown again on Saturday, December 17.

The posada (lodging) is a re-enactment of the story of Joseph and Mary searching for lodging. Volunteers played the parts of an angel, Joseph and Mary.

The posada started with Galería Posada’s Program Coordinator Roberto Lopez welcoming guests and giving a little history about the posada and where the procession was going to take place.

Posada participants caroled the Midtown area with several songs that included “Jingle Bells,” “El Niño del Tambor,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and other songs.

Following the biblical story of Mary and Joseph seeking lodging and going from inn to inn the posada made a couple of stops. The first destination was Casa de Español located at 2115 J Street.

The number of carolers was around 65 when they began and each of them entered Casa de Español for some chocolate and drink treats after singing several songs.

The second stop of the evening for the posada procession was Gallery 2110 and the Sacramento Art Complex. Several visitors to the Sacramento Art Complex enjoyed the carolers who ended their singing with “Feliz Navidad.”

The procession made one final stop at the MARRS Building on 20th Street. By this time the carolers had grown in size as others joined in. A piñata awaited the carolers where they sang several more holiday songs.

Children took turns as they tried to break a piñata and afterwards tamales were provided for the posada carolers.

The posadas will take place once again at the Galería Posada on Saturday, December 17. I’m not sure if they will follow the same route but visit their website to find more information.

Skates, trains and automobiles

2011-11-16T23:47:35Z

November’s Second Saturday attendance appeared to have decreased this month. Two hot spots however thrived and attracted visitors to the monthly Second Saturday Art Walk. Art galleries and other establishments on 20th Street as well as businesses on K Street attracted large crowds.

Downtown Sacramento’s K Street, in another effort to jump start the commercial area, opened for vehicle traffic on Saturday.

A stage was set up on 12th and K Streets to accommodate an opening ceremony, a car parade, and other entertainment to celebrate the event.

Classic cars paraded down K Street for the first time in over 42 years. Reminiscent of cruising down the boulevards of San Francisco or Los Angeles several dozen cruisers delighted onlookers who gathered for the event.

After the parade Butoh Dancers, courtesy of Rowena & Takashi, took the stage to showcase their hair and makeup talent.

Mariachi Latino, courtesy of Mayahuel, played their brand of music as patrons of the restaurant and guests enjoyed being serenaded.

The Smirkers, courtesy of Marilyn’s on K, also performed for fans and friends.

The Spazmatics were the last act to take the stage at 12th and K and they thoroughly delighted the audience. They started their performance singing “Cars” by Gary Numan. Their performances of 80s rock are very whimsical, energetic, popular choices for dancing, great to listen to and a lot of fun to watch.

The Spazmatics’ performance was a great official ending to the Cars on K event. As the 12th and K Street stage closed down, so did many of the venues and art galleries that participate in the monthly Second Saturday Art Walk events.

Just down the street on K and 11th a skateboard course was set up and several people skated. The course was provided to coincide with Omar Salazar’s Nike SB shoe launch celebration. The shoe launch included a red carpet event hosted by District 30.

As I stopped to watch kids skateboarding on the made up course a skateboard piece of art was being created by Eddie Stein.

Stein’s piece was created using a metal loop and skateboards were attached to it creating art. Stein used skateboards he’s collected over the years. A plaque attached to the artwork indicated that another local artist, Ianna Frisby, helped create the concept.

Mehrad Saidi had been at the skating course early in the day and was on hand to show me around, as we discussed the significance of K Street and skateboarding and how appropriate it was to be there to have an Omar Salazar shoe launch event.

Saidi said, “K Street was a popular spot for skaters back in the 80s” and as he said this, Stein - who was working on his art piece -interjected, saying “I skated it.”

Discussing skating in the 80s, Stein said, “I’m not really an expert but I know they changed K Street Mall and they built all these concrete structures which we called tape barriers because that’s what they looked like. There were also all these fountains and different embankments that we used when we came to skate at night.”

Stein indicated they skated at night because they did not want to get in trouble with the authorities. He indicated it was considered a skate friendly place in the sense that they could meet other skaters and was a place to hang out and learn from others.

As Stein continued to work on his structure, he noted that it was an untitled piece and was going to be using 23 skateboards to complete the work. He noted that a Hobie skateboard used in the display was from the time period we were discussing. Stein also noted that his piece had been exhibited at the California Auto Museum. Stein noted, “In fact it was the very first installation art piece ever allowed in the California Auto Museum.”

People passing by stopped to look at the art piece and asked Stein questions. In the meantime skaters of various generations and ethnicities continued to skate the course. The love of skating was a common link.

District 30 was hosting the Salazar shoe launch later that evening and at their entrance Alma Campos of Forum Boutique had a table of her boutique designs on display. Joaquin Razo, the event planner for the Salazar event took me inside District 30 to reveal the set up for the evening’s red carpet event.

Luke Shawver of District 30 conveyed that several things were going to transpire during the evening in the club and surrounding establishments. He mentioned that DJ Chris Harnett would provide music for the evening and that drink specials were being offered at District 30, Pizza Rock and the Dive Bar.

District 30, along with other surrounding clubs, theaters and eateries on K Street look forward to increased traffic and hopefully increased business.

Legendary skateboarder Curtis Franklin was on hand to help the Salazar crew with the event. Franklin talked about skating in the 80s in Sacramento and said, “We used to come down to Sacramento and that’s how many of us met as kids.” Franklin noted that he skated with Stein saying, “He was a big guy back then and it’s still cool seeing him. Some of those boards are what I was doing when I was a kid.”

Franklin continues to skate and noted he has a skating set up in his back yard. I relayed that a neighbor of some friends had built a ramp in his backyard in Folsom and to my surprise Franklin knew who I was talking about.

Rekindling memories, Franklin stated with much enthusiasm, “Yeah, my buddy Roger, we all know each other. His last name is actually Folsom. When I was a kid, Roger and my buddy Randy Katen and others hung out with each other. Some of the guys you lose track of but everyone just keeps skating, or they stop and start skating as their kids begin.”

When asked why he was at the event, Franklin noted that he was there to support Salazar. Franklin’s passion for skating is quite evident and he noted the skating community is very tight. Franklin said, “Omar has the ability to bring people together, he’s really connected with the kids and he's a down to earth kid as well.”

In regards to the skateboarding community, Franklin explained that he was glad to see Salazar and others giving back to Sacramento. Franklin ended by saying, “It’s good that he’s giving back. If you don’t give back to this community you get kind of excommunicated. You have to know where you came from. I remember Omar skating with me when he was a little kid. He has a good family, good friends and a great foundation. He’s a positive and genuine kid.”

Pablo Salazar and Saidi later presented Franklin with a display board that read, “Their Perseverance Paved the Way for This Generation's Acceptance” and included the names of Sacramento skaters who continue to give back to the community. Names on the board included Matt Rodriguez, John Cardiel, Omar Salazar, Ricky Windsor, Brandon Biebel, Curtis Franklin, Stefan Janoski, Matt Palles and Mako Urabe.

Skaters enjoyed the ramps created by Casey Lindstrom. The Livermore native has lived in Sacramento for the past 14 years. When asked how long it took to build the ramps Lindstrom said, “It took about three days to put together the ramps and course. I build a lot of ramps for 28th and B (Skate Park).”

Lindstrom has been skating for over 25 years and also runs Casey’s Restoration, a construction business. He noted that lately he’s had a lot of free time and donates wood and other materials he may have during times of slow business. His commitment to skateboarding runs deep. “If I’m not working I’m doing something for the B,” Lindstrom said. Skaters keep him going and he explained, “Business has been slow and it’s a dog-eat-dog world. Skateboarding keeps me going and keeps people happy and that’s what it’s all about.”

District 30 celebrated the Cars on K Street after party that included the Nike SB shoe release and birthday party for Omar Salazar. Salazar celebrated with fans, friends and family.

Folsom Veterans Day Parade

2011-11-15T21:56:43Z

Folsom residents saluted its 11th annual Folsom Veterans Day Parade this past Friday. Parade participants gathered at the Target parking lot on Blue Ravine Road and made their way towards City Lions Park.

The theme for this year’s celebration was “Saluting our Newest Generation of Warriors: Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.”

Thousands watched the parade as representatives from the armed forces, the City of Folsom, scout groups, community organizations and residents participated in honoring those who have served our country.

Over 2,000 participants were involved in the parade. Representatives from various JROTC, ROTC, beauty pageants, youth sports and high school marching bands were also included.

People along the route were given small flags and some brought their own to watch the parade. Many large bags of candy and other items were given out to the many spectators along the route.

Floats were created and shown off by several local businesses, schools and military groups.

Many of the scout groups also handed out thank you cards and came up to veterans along the route shaking their hand and thanking them for their service. This gesture made this Veterans Day parade a little bit more personal.

The City Lions Park hosted a reception at the Community Center and served hot dogs and soda after the parade.

Marshalls of the parade, city officials, veterans, military representatives and community members gathered at the Folsom Veterans Memorial for a special service.

Folsom Veterans Day Memorial honors those who have lost their lives serving their country. A plaque on the Veterans Memorial is simple and reads:

In remembrance of all who have served...
especially of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Folsom Veterans Day Parade honors those whose name is inscribed on the memorial and all those who have made an ultimate sacrifice.

Uptown Fashion Night in East Sacramento

2011-11-07T06:20:52Z

What is chic? A long list of customers found out firsthand Thursday night at “Uptown Fashion Night: Celebrating a Piece of East Sac.”

The event was hosted by Sandra Gonzalez, owner of Sparkle Bridal Couture; Mary Kawano, owner of Krazy Mary’s Fashion Boutique; and Peggy Orr, owner of The Pink House Shoe Boutique. All three shops opened their doors to customers, offering special sales during the evening.

The three shops occupy Folsom Boulevard at 33rd Street, and on Thursday night the area was alive with music, shoppers, friends and neighbors. Pure Entertainment provided DJ services. Delicious food and drinks were also served as guests enjoyed an exclusive shopping experience.

Sparkle Bridal specializes in wedding and special occasion gowns for sizes 14-30. The boutique had many elegant, stylish and sophisticated gowns to fit many tastes.

“We opened this year, but our family has been in the bridal business for 20 years, so we know our stuff,” Gonzalez said. “I wanted to open up something new, something different.”

Gonzalez, Kawano and Orr joined forces to put Uptown Fashion Night together and, as Gonzalez put it, “to remind people that we have boutiques on this side of Sacramento.”

“We’re trying to highlight that there’s downtown, Midtown, and here we are in East Sac, which we’re now calling it Uptown,” said Gonzalez, pointing out nearby coffee shops, eateries and other businesses in the area.

For the fashion show, Sparkle Bridal provided cocktail dresses and bridal gowns. Gonzales pointed out Erica Felton of Haus of Mirth, an in-house designer with exclusive lines and several bridal accessories.

“I used to be the head crafter for the opera in San Jose and other theaters, and I’ve done a couple of Disney productions,”Felton said. “I do a lot of crafting, belts, masks and hats for other people, and then I decided to do my own line.”

The models for the show were all local, and some were even clients and friends. Strands Salon and Spa did the hair and makeup. Strands incorporated their spring 2012 look so people could get an idea of what’s coming up from the salon.

Gonzalez’s enthusiasm for her shop and customers manifested itself as she pointed out a couple of young women who came to support Sparkle Bridal.

The two brides-to-be were Faye Bowles, who has a May 5 wedding date, and Naomi Rubenstein, who will be getting married on May 26. They said their wedding gown selections were already done. They seemed like longtime friends, but they had only met each other half an hour before.

At another station, stylist Robyn Groves from Stella & Dot showcased her fashionable accessories. Customers flocked to her tables and as guests sipped on their Sparkletinis and hors d’oeuvres.

“This is like the perfect venue for this,” Groves said. “The lights are right on it, and customers have a lot to choose from.”

The fashion show included 10 looks from Krazy Mary’s Boutique, and Kawano was busy greeting customers at their booth.

“I love it,” Kawano said. “This is the first time I’ve had to talk to people and mingle. We worked so hard for this event. When you do a group event, you can’t slack even if you want to.”

Kawano, who has been in business for 11 years, is quite an enthusiastic person, driven to make sure her customers are taken care of. She seemed to know most customers by name and was always jovial and caring as she talked to them.

“Coming home to East Sac has been enjoyable,” she said. “I feel my customers are getting older and I’m getting older, and so I have to change with my customers. You have to in this economy.”

Her passionate commitment to her boutique and keeping up with current fashion trends keeps her customers coming back. She feels that in her boutique you’ll find something that you might find in a fashion magazine.

“In fashion you have to get excited and bring great things to our customers,” she said. “I ordered winter stuff five months ago. I want my customers to be excited to see what’s going on for fall and the holidays before they’re here.”

Food and drinks were also available at Krazy Mary’s, with a DJ station manned by Roger Carpio.

Peggy Orr purchased The Pink House last September, but the store has been there four years. She said she used to be a customer, which in itself is a great endorsement.

“I was born and raised in East Sacramento,” she said. “ I just think it’s the best place in Sacramento. It’s a unique place to live.”

Elegant, classy and chic shoes, handbags and accessories were displayed throughout the store, which strives to carry merchandise for all ages. In the fashion show, they showcased handbags, scarves and jewelry.

The fashion show capped the night and showcased things available from each of the three shops. Visiting each of these businesses gave new customers a small peek as to what is available in East Sacramento, or Uptown as it may begin to be called.

The three boutiques continued to entertain guests after the fashion show.

Krazy Mary’s, The Pink House and Sparkle Bridal are great representations of businesses in the area, and Uptown Fashion Night appeared to be a great success.

Day of the Dead

2011-11-04T21:55:13Z

La Raza Galería Posada (LRGP) once again gathered 50 organizations, artists and community members at their annual Panteón de Sacramento (Sacramento’s Cemetery). The event is in commemoration of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

La Raza Galería Posada is located at 1022-1024 22nd Street. This year the event moved down the street to 1015 20th Street at J Street.

The event was held on the last Saturday and Sunday of October and had many more hands on activities for visitors. The two day and evening festivities displayed altars dedicated to family members and loved ones who have passed away.

Local not for profit organizations, area artists, families and individuals built colorful altars that were on display and the event attracted several thousand guests.

Roberto Lopez, from LRGP, served as emcee and conducted tours during the event to give more information about the meaning of altars and Día de los Muertos. For readers not familiar with the event Día de los Muertos is a traditional Meso-American holiday dedicated to ancestors honoring both death and life.

In Mexico, and now other parts of the world, neighbors and families gather at graveyards to share food, music, have fun and remember those who have died.

LRGP is also hosting an exhibition honoring Día de los Muertos. The exhibition, funded by the James Irvine Foundation has been on display since October 7 and will close on Saturday November 12.

The gallery exhibit features Danny Correa’s "New Year's Eve at the Rancho Correa." The exhibit celebrates his great grandparents’ ranch near Elk Grove. Personal family heirlooms of the Correa family are part of the exhibit including candelabras, pottery, Correa’s grandfather’s acoustic guitar and life size skeletons dressed in their best New Year’s Eve clothing, jewelry and accessories.

The LRGP’s smaller gallery is hosting an exhibit by Southern California artist Martha Rameriz-Oropez. Original illustrations from the book “The Toltec I-Ching” are featured.

Hands on activities were available at the Panteón de Sacramento for those who attended .Sugar skull decorating workshops, paper marigold flower making, Día de los Muertos mask decoration and face painting were available.

Thirty volunteers from the AmeriCorps were on hand to help with the event. The National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) division of AmeriCorps volunteers spent time helping wherever they could and also enjoyed participating in some of the events.

Assigned spots were given to altar creators who registered up to months in advance. Work started very early as people began constructing their altars beginning at 6 in the morning and NCCC volunteers were there at 7 on Saturday morning.

The Panteón opened for the public at 11:00 a.m. and I noticed that several people who created altars last year returned.

Danza Azteca-Xantotl also returned from last year and conducted the opening ceremony. After several dances they invited the public to perform the Friendship Dance making this a much more delightful experience for those who participated.

Most of the altars were created using the traditional flower of the dead cempazuchitl (marigolds), papel picado, candles, photos of the loved one who have passed away, pan de muerto (Mexican sweet bread), religious artifacts and other items portraying the dead.

There was also a small stage were DJ Larry Rodriguez and DJ Albert Garnica played background music. The stage was also used for a poetry reading by Escritores Del Nuevo Sol. An open mic was also available where other original poetry was read.

The stage was also graced by the presence of Eduardo López Martínez who had flown up from Mexico a couple of days before. Martínez delighted the audience with his stories delivered via song and dramatic performance. His stories touched on many topics as he sang, in Spanish, songs about life, death, politics, family, dance and humor.

Martínez indicated that he had to put his performances together in a hurry. He put a wonderful selection of songs, sayings and stories that would fit the Day of the Dead celebration.

Martínez came up a couple of days before the event at the request of LRGP’s Marie Acosta. He flew in from Cuernavaca Mexico a couple of days before the event. He was planning on spending a week in the area.

As we spoke Martínez said he had not been in the Sacramento area in 15 years. He also noted the altars were very artistic in detail but noted that tradition has been lost on several of the exhibitions. He said, “I believe tradition makes things much simpler. The altars here give the feeling of being more urban and the tradition is more agricultural.” This made me realize that as the tradition moves to the States and other countries that it will change depending on past and present culture.

Martínez also noted that items placed on the altar, he believed, should include food and water for the traveling dead so that they can pass to their next destination and enjoy their brief stay with the living. Photographs, flowers, food, water and things that the deceased enjoyed while living ought to be included while creating altars. He also noted that the marigold flowers or pedals should be put down in a manner that it leads a path to the altar. Candles are also used to light the way to the altars.

Listening to Martinez speak it brought back memories of my childhood. I remember celebrating Día de los Muertos when I was growing up and more distinctively I remember one of my grandmothers had an altar in the corner of a room that remained up all year. Photographs and small memorabilia along with a candle and a fresh flower honored family members who had passed away.

The Panteón also included an altar for the public to place offerings. This altar had many notes to loved ones who had passed away and offered visitors a way to participate.

Marco Ferrero, author/artist/photographer, presented part of his book Hidden Truth - La Viuda de Don Marcos (Don Marcos’ widow).

The story was inspired by factual moments and people in Ferrero’s life. The book will eventually be put to film and his book is only the beginning of a larger project.

Ferrero made a dramatic entrance as he walked around the Panteón with folklorico dancer Julia Wolfe and Trisha Pickerel.

Later their performance began with the magnificent voice of Veronica Esparza P singing several “Ranchera” songs in Spanish. Veronica wore a beautiful golden mariachi style outfit and her face was painted to fit the Día de los Muertos décor.

After a few songs which included Tomas Mendez’ “Una Blanca Palomita” (A Little White Dove) Marco Ferrero took the stage to read a short story included at the end of his book Hidden Truth. The folklore story is included as part of the book he’s been working on for the past 15 years. Ferrero also had an altar devoted to people he’s loved, who have had a great impact in his life and who are no longer with us.

Before Ferrero embarked on his story and in the voice and persona of Don Marco he said, “I was fortunate to run into someone 3 days ago who passed away and she asked me that if my daughter happens to be at the Panteón will you deliver a message to her?”

Ferrero continued to speak as Don Marco, “Even though I’m dead, I still have feelings. My grandmother’s name was Flora and her favorite flower was a lily and the lady that I ran into, her name was Lily and she said can you please deliver a message to my daughter? Tell her I’m okay, I’m at peace now. Now that I can finally move on it’s time for you to move on and it’s okay, it’s time to take care of yourself because you have been taking care of me for many years."

With a compassionate voice Don Marco continued, “I brought with me a lily to give to… I believe her name is Pat Taylor. Is there a Pat Taylor here?” Don Marco gave the flower to the daughter of a dear friend Candice Bima who had passed away.

As Taylor came to the stage to receive the lily tears rolled down her cheeks obviously moved by the offering. Others in the audience felt her emotion and also shed tears as Taylor returned to her seat.

Ferrero went on to read Viuda de Don Marco which told the story of a peasant girl by the name of Esperanza (Hope). As the story continued it told of the girl’s love for a young nobleman by the name of Marco. Esperanza and Marco fell in love and they planned to elope and marry.

Death fell upon Don Marco and no-one knew what caused his death. Ferrero stopped his story at this time and invited Veronica Esparza P to come back to the stage to sing a couple of more songs and he would continue his story after that.

After a couple of songs Ferrero informed the audience that because time had run out he would be unable to continue the story but said the story has a very happy ending.

Ferrero and Wolfe danced on stage as Veronica Esparza P sang "La Llorona."

Close to the stage a young woman dressed as a bride in Día de los Muertos makeup stood by an altar she and her mother had built. Katie said, “My altar is for my dad. I did not have the time to say goodbye to him, this is my way of saying goodbye.”

Bev is a single mother and shared that Leo, Katie’s dad, had passed away on May 25 from advanced liver cancer. Bev said that Leo kept in contact with Katie.

Neighbor Armando Flores told them about the Panteón and Katie said, “This was like the first major loss to me. With the altar we celebrate him and who he was so this way I can still hold on to him even though he’s not here.”

Katie shared that a Sierra Mist and Skittles on the altar was something special for her. She said, “Whenever he came to visit, when he could, he brought Skittles and because my mom said I couldn’t have caffeinated drinks he would bring Sierra Mist or Sprite. That was like our hang out drink and candy.”

The Brown’s touching story was similar to others who had built altars to loved ones. Each altar has a special meaning to those who created them and their stories are in many cases quite emotional and at the same time they seem to bring closure to personal relationships that were cut short.

Cassidy's Sweet Dream

2011-10-19T07:26:27Z

Sweet Dreams Foundation continues to fulfill its organizational mission by helping to change the life for children who have been diagnosed with a life threatening disease through the creation of their dream room.

Their latest project is moving forward as Sweet Dreams moves to create a dream room for Cassidy. Cassidy is a brilliant young lady who seems much wiser for her age. Her lovely demeanor creates a relaxing environment for those around her. In her young life she has endured a lot of physical pain as she battled Glioblastoma Multiforme 4 (GBM4) an aggressive malignant brain tumor.

August's Designing Dreams fashion show was a major event that helped kick off the fund raising campaign for Cassidy Sidhu's dream room. The Tiana Vega and Dave Icarangal production also brought attention to Sweet Dreams and Cassidy.

Cassidy’s ever present smile shows off her delightful personality and is an inspiration to those around her. Cassidy’s Sweet Dreams request is to have a glamorous teen lounge. This Saturday I visited Cassidy and her family to see the progress of the dream room.

Jennifer Richards, President Designing Dreams Foundation, was busy helping with the renovation of a room that will help create Cassidy’s dream of a teen lounge become reality. Daniel Donchenko and Amy Bagshaw were already hard at work moving furniture, painting and finishing up the room.

There are many people in Sacramento like Richards and her organization who do things for people in our community. Richards continues her hard work for children like Cassidy and who's proud to say she receives great satisfaction out of helping others.

Richards has spent time with Cassidy learning things the teenager likes and what she will like to see in the room and as a result a strong friendship between the two has materialized.

The room being renovated was originally an office that was used sparingly. Richards and her team went over Cassidy’s room desires and came up with a plan that included redoing the floor, window treatments, renovating the available closet space, adding shelving and a wall unit, lighting, paneling wall space, providing some furniture and other renovations.

All this work is being aided by sponsorships from companies such as Caviar Crew Construction, Fox40, Tiana Vega Collections, Grainger, Amerimax, Good News Home Improvement, Scandinavian Designs, Folsom Glass and Shower, Sherwin Williams, Law Offices of Frederick J. Sette, Sherman-Loehr Contract Interiors, Provident Credit Union, Silva Electric, Silva Electric, El Dorado Home Theater, Hoshall’s, Mike the Pool Man, Vandemark Enterprises and others who will come on board.

Individuals can also pledge and volunteer to become involved in Sweet Dreams. A 7 year old girl by the name of Kylie Krueger took it upon herself and her parents to become involved with Sweet Dreams.

When asked why she started the campaign to raise funds at her school Kylie said, “I just want to help sick kids”. At 7 years of age this child came to the conclusion that she wants to help others, something that to me seems inconceivable coming from someone her age. Then again good people come in all ages and Kylie’s work will make a difference.

The idea for becoming involved in helping others came to Kylie at a dinner where her parents were celebrating a wedding anniversary. The next day Kylie’s dad went on the computer and began to search for places where Kylie could become involved. Somewhere along their search serendipity prevailed and destiny matched Kylie with the Sweet Dreams Foundation.

Joni Krueger, Kylie’s mom, contacted Richards and they have joined hands in this project. Richards shared the original email from Kylie and I think its sincereness and simplicity are worth sharing, the email read:

Jennifer,

Sometimes I see kids that are sick and I want to help them. I want to raise money at my school by putting a box in each classroom so kids can give money. My mommy did my room and it made me feel happy. And I would like other kids to be happy too. Please call my mommy so you can meet me and tell me when I can help.

Thank you,
Kylie Krueger (7 years old)

The priceless email began Kylie’s (and her family’s) involvement with Sweet Dreams. Second grader Kylie attends Delta Elementary Charter School in Clarksburg. Delta is a K - 6 school and each classroom has a jar where students bring in their change and other donations. With the permission of the school’s principal Kylie went to each classroom and made a presentation to each grade.

Regarding Kylie’s involvement Mrs. Krueger said, “She made flyers and passed them around.” Krueger continued “Her aunt Lindsay made the jars and has a chart for each class that shows how much they’ve raised. As of last week she had raised $1,023.66 and this week it’s almost $1,400. Her first goal was $1,000 and then she changed it to $1,500 because they already surpassed the initial goal. It’s been really interesting to see how it’s really taken off.”

Kylie’s fundraising at the school has been well received. The fundraiser at Delta Elementary has been beneficial for Sweet Dreams and the school. Mrs. Krueger said, “The school wants to do something similar every year now and make it bigger.” A check for the money raised will be presented to Sweet Dreams on October 24 during Delta’s school assembly. The class that raises the most money will get a pizza party and that too will be announced at the assembly.

Work continued on Cassidy’s room as Kylie and Layla, who had become quick friends, along with Daniel Donchenko, Amy Bagshaw and Jennifer Richards worked on the room. Out in the kitchen Cassidy sat and I took the opportunity to ask her some questions.

She talked about her love for painting nails and said she works on that when she gets a chance and relayed a story about doing some nail painting during the Super Bowl. Cassidy said, “So for the Super Bowl my uncle let me paint his big toe ‘cause all the guys were just sitting in the TV room watching the game. When the Colts were on it was like their favorite team and they let me paint them Colt colors blue and white. It was funny.”

When asked how she felt about her room Cassidy said, “I like surprises so I’m really excited now. It’s like at Christmas time; if you’re told what you’re getting it’s just not that much fun.” Her excitement could be seen in her eyes and I asked if she’s been tempted to take a peek. “I feel like I need to but then I talk myself out of it. I want to be surprised.” She indicated she’s really looking forward to seeing a nail salon but said, “It really doesn’t matter I’m really looking forward to see what they’re going to do. I’m really excited.”

Cassidy’s younger brother Cade was at home but had homework to do so he was busy doing that while everyone else worked and socialized. Cade is a delightful and polite young man who as it happens was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes as his sister was undergoing treatment. These two young siblings will have to battle health issues for a while and just knowing them makes you think how unfair that is.

Sham and Lisa Sidhu are blessed with two wonderful children no matter what their situation may be at the moment. The Sidhu’s are an amazing family who touch the lives of those in their community and beyond with their kindness and friendship.

People become involved in Sweet Dreams by helping with time, materials, pledges, sponsorships and word of mouth. The Sweet Dreams community continues to grow as extraordinary people doing extraordinary things become involved with the organization.

A good way to meet some of the people involved with Sweet Dreams Foundation is to attend one of their events.

A benefit concert is scheduled for Sunday November 13 at the Stoney Inn. The concert features the Chris Gardner Band and Cassie Keele. Come meet people involved with Sweet Dreams and enjoy good company, dancing and music.

Sac World Fest

2011-10-05T09:50:40Z

The Sac World Fest was celebrated with various modern and classical dances from around the world in Old Sacramento on Sunday, October 2. Continuous dancing, singing and performances were scheduled throughout the day on five stages on Front Street.

Several dozen vendors and informational stations were set up, as was a children’s craft area. Performances ran from 10 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon and featured music and performances as diverse as the residents that live in Sacramento.

This is the fourth year that Sacramento World Music and Dance Festival has been held and it continues to attract residents and visitors from Northern California. Several thousand visitors were able to enjoy the many sights and sounds of the festival as well as the many dishes served through the streets of Old Sacramento.

The annual multicultural event features performers from across our region and emphasizes the many ethnic traditions the Sacramento community has to showcase. The festival brings the music and cultural world to Sacramento as musicians, dancers and other performers present their culture to Sacramento.

The festival continues to be a free event that can be enjoyed by everyone in the family. Live world-class music, dance and entertainment are brought to Sacramento audiences every year.

This year the festival began on Saturday night. East Indian dance and music was featured at the festival’s main stage in Old Sacramento.

There were too many acts to list but a listing of performers can be found at the Sacramento World Fest website. I did catch the Ballet Folklórico IMBA, JODAMA Drum & Dance and Cave Women on the Passenger Station Stage that was located at Front and I Streets.

A fashion show and several demonstrations took place under the Global Village tent and the Old Eagle Theater. Although I was not able to visit more than a handful of performances, it helped that most of the stages were close together, making it easier to view as many of the acts as possible.

A sample of some of the Global Village performances can be seen in the photos below. The Ohana Dance Group, a fashion show and Bolivia de Corazón performed at the Global Village.

At the Eagle Theater I was able to watch a Romanian performance, music by Clemon Charles as well as the Samba de Terra Brazilian dance group.

Below is a sample of the Henna & Kohl Belly Dance Co. and Samba da Terra who performed at the Waterfront Stage.

The amount and variety of performers filled the streets of Old Sacramento to the delight of thousands. Many of the performers also stayed to enjoy international acts. Families and friends not only enjoyed a diversity of world sounds and sights but they also shared their cultural memories with others.

The event was well attended and it was a great experience for both performers and audience. The Sacramento World Festival had a perfect description of the event.

“Travel to an exotic location without leaving town and feast your eyes, your heart and your mind.”

The event indeed was quite a feast.

Experience the O

2011-09-26T09:40:36Z

Hot Italian hosted “Experience the O,” a Sacramento Opera fundraising event, on Thursday. The free public event, coordinated by Vy Nguyen, brought many opera fans together to enjoy a silent auction, raffle, delicious pizza, a great soprano singer and great company.

Several representatives from the Sacramento Opera helped with the event, including Nina Ankelé and Alan Willendrup, who greeted guests as they arrived, handed out informational materials and sold raffle tickets. Willendrup has been on the Sacramento Opera Board of Directors for about a year, and Ankelé has served for approximately 16 years. Both were great ambassadors for the Sacramento Opera.

Samantha Olson, executive director for Connections for Youth, brought 14 high school students via light rail. Connections is a nonprofit community outreach organization dedicated to helping foster youth experience nature, culture and the arts. This was the first exposure to opera for most of the students.

“I brought them out here to experience a little bit of the arts in Sacramento,” Olson said.

Thursday’s show was a phenomenal way to be introduced to this unique art form, while also being treated to some of the best pizza in town. Hot Italian served several complimentary specialty pizzas throughout the event..

Sacramento Opera general director Rod Gideons served as master of ceremonies and mingled with guests before welcoming guests to Hot Italian.

“Thank you all for coming tonight,” he said. “I specially want to thank Vy Nguyen who has worked very hard to put this together. She’s done an exceptional job, and she’s a great person.”

Gideons said he understood some guests had to leave by 7 p.m., but they would get to hear at least one of the songs.

“If nothing else, you’re getting free pizza, right?” he said.

Soprano Carrie Hennessey was the performer for the evening, accompanied by John Cozza on keyboards. She recently sang the opening and closing songs at the Designing Dreams fashion show.

Gideons introduced the first aria of the evening, “Un Bel Di” from “Madame Butterfly.”

“It’s about a young Japanese woman who’s fallen in love with an American naval officer, and he’s going back to the Unites States,” Gideons said. “She hopes someday he’s going to return and sweep her off her feet.”

Mesmerizing is one word that can be used to describe Hennessey’s singing. Looking around at the audience, it was plain to see the how compelling her voice is. All eyes were fixed on Hennessey as guests experienced opera.

“I brought my children to this, and that way they will get accustomed to it,” said Betheney Urquhart, who has taken her kids to the Sacramento Opera’s Student Night for the past few years. “I’m originally from London and I grew up listening to opera.”

Ann Shimasaki brought her son, Lance, and noted that her son enjoys these types of events. As Hennessey sang, I was able to witness his appreciation for opera.

The selection of Hennessy for the event was as delightful and memorable. I especially enjoyed her rendition of “Italian Street Song” but enjoyed all three of her performances. She also took the time in between sets to talk to members of the audience, including students from Connections for Youth.

Hennessey, along with others, will be performing at Opera at the Cathedral on Oct. 6 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Cozza is scheduled to play piano at the event. The event, hosted by Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra conductor Michael Morgan, will kick off the Sacramento Opera 2011-2012 season.

The Sacramento Opera 2011-2012 season also includes Ruggero Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” on Nov. 19 and 20 and Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto” on Feb. 24 and 26. Both will be sung in Italian with English supertitles at the Sacramento Community Center Theater.

The Sacramento Opera also offers educational and outreach performances. Tickets for performances are now available, and more information can be found at their website. Support local arts by attending Sacramento Opera performances.

Folsom Live 2011

2011-09-25T18:45:32Z

Folsom Live is one of the largest and most anticipated entertainment events in Folsom and surrounding areas. This year the event was billed as “30 Bands, 10 Stages, 2 Nights” and Friday night’s entertainment and attendance was amazing.

This year a large portion of the proceeds from Folsom Live will go to Hope Productions Foundation which is this year’s charity partner.

Hope Productions Foundation is a nonprofit organization in Sacramento that provides support and training for local charities serving children and youth. The Foundation, with support from the community, has distributed over $2.1 million in contributions, resources and in-kind business training to local youth and children nonprofits since 2008. Their work empowers children’s charities and with community support spreads “Hope” throughout the area.

Ancelle Contreras from Hope Productions Foundation noted that many of the volunteers at the Sponsor area were from the Foundation. Friday’s event included a Western Health Advantage VIP Reception. The reception included a dinner provided by Karen’s Bakery of Folsom.

In helping coordinate the Folsom Live Sponsor area Contreras and her volunteer team were very busy and at the same time extremely helpful as they ushered guests to the VIP reception.

The VIP reception also included a wide selection of wine tasting from several Amador vintners. The dinner provided for sponsors was served to over 40 tables with settings for 10. The tables were situated in front of the Main Stage on Trader Lane.

Twelve acts took the outdoor stages on Friday night. The Sutter Street Stage was taken up by O Street Jumps, Nathan Dale, Diego’s Umbrella and The English Beat. Down on the Scott Road Stage the Eleven Band, Eddie Bush Band and Zoo Station played. The Riley Street Stage included the Rhythm Vandals, Lara Johnston with William Champlin and Abbey Sky. The Main Stage on Trader Lane hosted Big Boss Graffiti and Eddie Money.

The Powerhouse Pub hosted Lydia Pense and the Cold Blood as well as Department Rock. Tragically White played at the Folsom Hotel and DJ Party Service entertained guests at the Hacienda Restaurant. These 3 indoor stages had entertainment during and after the outdoor stage performances.

The many bands that occupied the stages each had its followers. The early bands had smaller crowds as some of them played starting at 5 o’clock while many people were still getting off work. As the evening progressed more people filled the stage areas. Folsom Live was expecting about 8,000 people to attend the event.

The 2011 Folsom Live event expanded to 2 days and included musical acts that had something for everyone. Although Pat Benatar had to cancel her scheduled appearance the Friday evening crowd seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed the event.

For those people who came from out of town and used public transportation their Folsom Live ticket provided free Regional Transit and had extended service until 11 p.m. on both nights for trains leaving Folsom.

Shuttle service was provided at the Folsom Wal-Mart, Briggs Ranch Plaza and Folsom Pavilions. Folsom Sports Garage also had a “party bus” available. Taxi service (not connected to Folsom Live) was available as well.

This year beverage tokens could be purchased while waiting for shuttle service. Tokens were required for drinks except at inside bars and restaurants. Restaurants and other shops on Historic Folsom were open during the event. This year the overall planning was quite exceptional and helped things move easier and it also helped showcase the renovations that have been going on in Folsom’s Historic District.

Of the many acts performing on Friday night I was able to enjoy the Rhythm Vandals, Eddie Bush Band, Diego’s Umbrella, Zoo Station, The English Beat and the legendary Eddie Money.

The Folsom Chamber of Commerce has been putting together the event for the past 8 years and provides many of the volunteers. As a volunteer the last couple of years at the Folsom Live event I’ve been able to witness the dedication and hard work the Chamber puts forth every year to organize the event.

Joe Gagliardi, Folsom Chamber of Commerce CEO addressed the crowd at the Main Stage. He thanked everyone and welcomed guests to Folsom. “It’s the 18th year for what started off as Taste of Folsom and moved on to Folsom Live. This is the 8th year of Folsom Live and for those of you who may or may not know, this historic district is being revitalized and it was envisioned as both an art and entertainment district. This is really the marquee event for that niche here in Folsom. Thank you very much for joining us.”

Gagliardi went on to say that hotel rooms for the event last year sold out and indicated that Folsom’s Chamber of Commerce plans to make this a multiple day, city wide, nationally recognized music festival. Gagliardi went on to say that this could not be accomplished without the many sponsors and volunteers that make the event such a success.

In recognizing Hope Foundation Gagliardi said, “We’re proud to have partnered with Hope Productions Foundation as our beneficiary. The great work in our community and those around us made this choice a simple one.“ He went on to say, “Our goal is to help the Folsom community and Hope Foundation and by doing that we were able to upgrade the level of talent in what we have this year. Please enjoy yourselves!”

Debbie Gabelich, Hope Productions Foundation CEO follower Gagliardi’s address. With a glaring spot light on her, Gabelich said, “Good evening, I can’t see you but welcome. On behalf of Hope Productions Foundation, the board and staff we’d like to thank the Folsom Chamber for choosing to partner with us in this great event, we’re thrilled to be here.” Gabelich talked about the Foundation and thanked all those involved.

Gabelich invited one of the Foundation recipients to address attendees and introduced Rhonda Staley-Brooks, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) in the Sacramento area. Stanley-Brooks began by saying, “First of all Hope Productions is helping children charities one at a time through training, support and donations and I’m just one of those lucky charities.” She spoke about BBBS, when she started in 1993 and making her first match for the organization. At that time a boy involved had lost his dad in a car accident and his mom brought him to BBBS to help give her son a positive role model. The boy, Brett, was matched with Ian for 6 years. Stanley-Brooks went on to say, “Brett went on to UC Davis and he graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering.” She said that Hope Productions can help similar things happen as they develop their partnership with BBBS.

A live auction was also conducted at the Main Stage and Kevin O’Callaghan auctioneer extraordinaire served as both auctioneer and Master of Ceremonies. The California State Champion Auctioneer and top 10 ranked in the International Auctioneers Championship also has a great voice for singing and the audience was treated to a couple of his many talents.

The fast talking O’Callaghan, after singing an auctioneer country song, conducted the live auction that included 11 items up for bid. Auction items included an autographed electric guitar by KISS, a Cabo Wabo Getaway that also included a signed bottle of Sammy Hagar tequila. A Bobby Jackson basketball clinic for 12 kids and a St. Patrick’s Day party donated by Mick and Sandy Malaney. Several other auction items were bid on.

As the evening continued fans waited for The English Beat to take the Sutter Street Stage. By this time the whole area was packed with fans waiting in anticipation. Dave Wakeling founder and principal songwriter for The English Beat brought the ska band onstage to a great ovation by the crowd.

Before the English Beat finished their set I headed down to the Main Stage to see Eddie Money. The crowd had grown much larger and since many of the stage areas are fenced off the walking corridors became much smaller as fans stood outside the fenced areas to watch their favorite bands. It almost seemed like a crowded subway system in the heart of New York during rush hour. Things were at a standstill and you had to maneuver by thousands of people and it must have taken me about 15 minutes to walk 150 yards.

Once at the Main Stage I noticed Eddie Money was enjoying performing for Folsom fans. After a few of his songs he sang the new single “One More Soldier Coming Home” which is a tribute to our military personnel who have lost their lives while serving. After the song Money talked about his partnership with the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. The single that went on sale in late May will give 100% of its proceeds to the Fund.

Money played a long set and played most of his hits ending with “Two Tickets to Paradise” or at least everyone thought so. Money however surprised everyone and continued to play and came back for an encore or two.

A very large crowd viewed his performance from outside the fenced areas and up in the balconies of establishments on the Hacienda Restaurant back areas. The lawn areas were packed and as Money played dancing could be seen all around.

The last outdoor act of the evening was nothing less than spectacular.

Friday evening's event created a fantastic atmosphere for performers and guests. Not only that but a great organization will benefit from the event. The Folsom Chamber of Commerce, Hope Productions Foundation and the many sponsors involved did a great job to once again make Folsom Live a popular event.

Masquerade gala at the Artisan

2011-09-20T03:42:08Z

An exquisite celebration full of music, ballroom dance, costumes and a masquerade was enjoyed by many at the Artisan this past Saturday evening. The 2nd Annual Autumn Harvest Masquerade Ball also served to benefit Wind Youth Services.

Masks and formal attire were required for the event. 18th century costumes were recommended and most guests stayed with the theme. Masks were available for purchase at the door. Inspired by Paris, high fashion and ballroom dancing, guests enjoyed a gala evening.

A poker tournament, a raffle and prizes for best costumes were other highlights of the event organized by Susan Purdy and her husband Jamie.

Appetizers and desserts were provided for guests. Wine, beer and specialty coffee drinks were available for purchase. On site child care, which is hardly ever an option at most events, was provided for guests with small children.

DJ Llorens provided musical entertainment and his selections delighted guests and kept many on the dance floor.

The main hall was well decorated to resemble a grand ballroom. Two large sections of tables lined each side of the hall. The tables had great hors d'oeuvres and delicacies and chairs to seat many of the guests. At the back of the hall, across from the stage where the DJ was located, non-alcoholic drinks were available, as was the ever popular chocolate fountain for dipping strawberries and other treats.

Susan Purdy took the microphone to welcome guests to the Artisan and thank them for their support. Proceeds from ticket sales and a poker tournament benefited Wind Youth Services. The Artisan is located at 1901 Del Paso Blvd and Wind Youth Services is located nearby. Wind Youth Services’ main purpose is to help youth experiencing homelessness. The organization gives these youngsters safety from the streets and provides access to many resources.

Counselor guidance and education is provided for each youth to help them develop skills to succeed and make positive lifestyle changes. Wind Youth Services also provides health and many other services for these misplaced individuals. Volunteerism and other services are available and listed on their website. Several items that many of us take for granted are in dire need at Wind Youth Services. These include books, student supplies, personal hygiene items and clothing. Guests were given half off the price of admission if they brought in items for the Wind Youth Services “Wish List” provided on their website.

Purdy also introduced the first dance, introducing a group dance and asking guests to join her and Jamie at the center of the dance floor. Guests, elegantly donned in 18th century fashion and masks, joined in. The Purdys demonstrated the dance and guests, young and not so young, performed it on the dance floor.

After the dance, a game of musical chairs ensued. A little twist to the game was added by the hostess. The person who did not sit when the music stopped had to perform a skit, short dance or song. The game was quite a hit.

A poker tournament in a separate room accommodated about a dozen participants and that too was popular. Games were held in good spirits. The dealers made accommodations for players who did not have high poker skills.

Purdy’s delightful smile and attitude were ever present. She greeted all in attendance and made everyone feel welcome. I sat with Susan Purdy for a couple of minutes after the game of musical chairs.

“I’ve always been a fan of the 18th century; I really don’t know why. I don’t know if it’s a girly thing or what,” said Purdy when asked why a masquerade was chosen.

“The first year was just for fun and was an enjoyable party,” Purdy continued. “This year I wanted to do something with a central purpose and we found an organization that we’re near and close to. The Artisan is very close to Wind Youth Services; they’re just down the street. We wanted to support them in a way that would highlight their organization by doing something out of the ordinary.”

When asked why the site was chosen to host the event Purdy responded saying, “The Artisan is a multi-use facility. Our church, (Capital City Church International), owns the building and we rent out the different spaces depending on who needs or wants it. Since I go to this church and I knew that Wind Youth Services was down the street, I wanted to support them. Many of the volunteers here are part of the same church.”

As we talked about the surrounding area, Purdy noted, “I know the people of Del Paso are working very hard to change the public’s perception of this area. There are a lot of things going on around here. I really want to encourage people from the outlying areas to come and visit because this is a rich neighborhood and things are happening here that I think they’d be excited about.“

When asked where she got her costume, the Sacramento native said that she made it herself.

“I made that, it was the first time working from a pattern. It took a lot of tearing apart and putting it back together over and over because I was not very good at it, but it came together at the end.”

The Artisan also contains a theatre where the 1938 black and white movie “Marie Antoinette” was played. Although not many people were watching the movie, it showcased the available theatre performance venue available at the Artisan. A café is just outside the theatre and an art gallery displayed some work as well. Purdy mentioned that Bryan Cooper is the managing director of the venue.

Dancing continued at the Artisan until midnight. The 2nd Annual Autumn Harvest Masquerade Ball was well planned and was enjoyed by the many guests. Wind Youth was a great choice for the beneficiary of the event. The partnership shows great cooperation between organizations in this community.

After some time to rest, Susan Purdy, will surely embark on organizing next year’s Masquerade ball. She noted that she will continue to hold the event as long as it’s profitable for the beneficiary.

“The economy will not change people’s focus to help other people,” said Purdy, noting today’s economy. “I don’t think the economy or a better economy will ever change people’s hearts.”

Purdy’s observation showed her compassion, positive attitude and dedication which continue to benefit the Annual Autumn Harvest Masquerade Ball and its beneficiaries.

Frida Kahlo play at the Wilkerson Theater

2011-09-17T06:41:35Z

The play “Frida Kahlo” is showing at the Wilkerson Theatre in Midtown until Oct. 9, presented by Teatro Espejo and Teatro Nagual.

The play was written by Rubén Amavizca-Murúa, artistic director of Teatro Sinergia in Los Angeles. It is directed by Dr. Manuel Jose Pickett, a retired professor of theater and dance and head of the Latino Theater program at Sac State. He is also the artistic director of Teatro Espejo and was an original member of El Teatro Campesino.

An intimate setting provides a great experience for those in attendance. The stage is well decorated with images of works by Diego Rivera and a portrait of Frida Kahlo.

The five-member cast includes Diana Mandujano as Kahlo. The Sacramento State graduate depicted Kahlo admirably, and her talents were showcased. During the 2007 presentation of “Frida Kahlo,” Mandujano played Judas, a character depicted as a devil, and was awarded an Elly Award for best supporting actress.

John Dryden plays Judas this time around and is great as his movements, comments and narrative are delivered with great precision. Dryden is also a Sac State graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in theater arts.

Mariana Seda portrays Kahlo’s younger sister, Cristina. Seda recently collaborated with the Green Valley Theatre company and appeared in “Personals.”

Valentina Portela plays the role of Paula in her first professional theater experience. Portela is currently attending Natomas Charter School Performing and Fine Arts Academy.

Richard Falcón plays the role of Diego Rivera. Falcón’s vast theater experience clearly shows through his depiction of the great artist. Falcón is a founder of Teatro Nagual.

Before the Thursday’s showing began, Pickett welcomed those in attendance. He said plans have been made to bring “Zoot Suit” and “Let the Eagle Fly” to the stage next year. Teatro Nagual and Teatro Espejo will collaborate to present the two plays and bring other events to Sacramento.

The play begins with Kahlo describing herself, her anguish and her pain. She speaks about the trials and tribulations that affected her life, such as her battle with polio at age 6.

As if speaking in poetry, we hear what the great Mexican artist feels and thinks. We hear the pain that some say helped her create her beautiful works of art. Mandujano’s delivery through Kahlo’s narratives brings the audience to thoughtfully and emotionally participate in the play.

Meanwhile Kahlo’s alter ego, Judas, sits like a vulture on the head of her bed. Judas’ initial dialogue mimicks what Kahlo says.

Kahlo ends her initial narrative saying, with pride and vigor, “My name is Frida Kahlo.”

As a child afflicted with polio, her mobility was curtailed. She was teased by her classmates, while her father encouraged her artistic development. Her childhood story gives great insight to the pain Kahlo endured, not only physically but mentally as well.

Later on, the audience witnesses Kahlo meeting Rivera. She first approaches him at Mexico’s Ministry of Public Education, where he is painting a mural, and asks him to critique her work. It is believed from that point forward one of the most celebrated love stories began.

We witness their love affair, as well as their extramarital affairs, including Rivera’s affair with Cristina. Kahlo’s bisexuality is briefly touched on during the play. The lively romance between the two artists is at the core of the story and was well acted and received.

The play also covers the two artists’ ardent political views and their international fame. Rivera was commissioned to create several murals in the United States and, as the play mentions, Kahlo was the first Mexican artist to exhibit work at the Louvre Museum.

Over a third of her paintings are self-portraits, and most are said to depict symbolic portrayals of physical and mental wounds. A bad traffic accident in her teen years caused several serious injuries, and Kahlo forever lived with pain as a result.

“I paint portraits because I am alone most of the time, because I am the person I know best,” Kahlo once said.

The play wonderfully portrays Kahlo’s deep insight to her art, political views, feminism, feelings and troubled — and joyful — love affair with Rivera. Under the direction of Pickett, the small yet strong cast puts on a commanding performance.

“Frida Kahlo” shows Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. until Oct. 9. Reservations can be made by calling (916) 548-4435. The Wilkerson Theatre is located at 1723 25th St.

2011 Diversity Wedding Show

2011-09-14T07:42:42Z

The Citrus Heights Community Center, located at 6300 Fountain Square Drive, was once again the site for the Diversity Wedding and Special Events Show. The event celebrates all wedding traditions and caters to the cultural diversity of Sacramento.

The one of a kind wedding event brought dozens of vendors. Event planners for all occasions were available; birthdays, quinceañeras and prom included. Hundreds of visitors came to the event to view the fashion show and get ideas for planning their own wedding.

Providers of wedding attire, bartender and catering services and equipment rentals were on hand to showcase their goods and services as well as florists, jewelers and limo services. Photographer and video and photo booth representatives brought samples of their work, and event venues and media publications completed the list of vendors on hand. Several raffles with generous prizes were provided for lucky guests.

Linda Marquez and her mom came to the event looking for catering services.

“We have too many guests and I’m hoping my mom enjoys the wedding instead of cooking, which is what she wanted to do.”

I later ran into them again and the bride to be said that they had found far more than what they were looking for.

“I have some homework to do,” said Marquez.

Big Al, DJ from KSFM radio, once again served as MC for the show. When Big Al was not at the microphone, music was provided by J Berry Entertainment who also provides a full service wedding and event DJ service.

DJ and entertainment booths were also available on site. Several of the vendors had also attended the Party and Wedding Faire held in August. One of those vendors was the popular Rocket Photo Booths who provides an actual photo booth so guests can take home mementos of the event.

Big Al welcomed guests to the event and asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of 9/11. He thanked the Citrus Heights Community Center for allowing the event to be held there. He mentioned that they had representatives on hand to answer questions and perhaps help plan an event at the site. Big Al let it be known that raffle prizes would include a free rental of the Community Center.

After thanking several of the sponsors and vendors, a raffle drawing was held for a Citrus Heights Community Center rental for the winner’s wedding, reception or other event. Other prizes donated by vendors in attendance were given away throughout the show.

Marlett Berry, producer of the Diversity Wedding Show and owner of Diversity Publishing Group, worked feverously to bring the event back to Citrus Heights.

The Citrus Heights Community Center provides an inviting atmosphere for a wide range of community activities and is available to rent for private parties, weddings, birthdays, dances, banquets, business events, fundraisers, memorials, meetings and many other functions.

Hair and makeup, models and designers worked out of sight to put on a wedding and gala gown event. The back room was a busy scene with models, designers, and hair and makeup artists getting ready for the fashion show.

Before the fashion show began, Big Al introduced AMPED Entertainment, who performed a Brazilian dance. Ana Maria Perales danced in a colorful Brazilian outfit. Perales and her group also just recently performed at the Rock Away Labor Day Autism Awareness event.

Visitors made their way to the runway stage to view multicultural wedding styles. Traditional and cultural outfits modeled the diversity that many of the vendors, clothing boutiques and designers had to offer.

The Diversity Wedding Fashion Show included fashion by Traditional Bridal Wear, Bridal Party/Special Occasion Wear, Cultural Bridal, Alexandria Formal Wear, VioGemini, House of Tasie, Miss Asia Sacramento, South Asian Bridal Wear and Men’s Formal Wear by Tuxedo Den.

As the fashion show ended I found Violetta Vieux who was one of the Designing Dreams Fashion Show designers. I talked to her about her wedding line.

“Since Designing Dreams, I was involved in San Francisco Fashion Week and I’ve been working on finalizing my website. I’ve also been working on more designs and getting ready to receive orders,” said Vieux when asked what she has been up to since the Sacramento fashion show.

At Designing Dreams, Vieux’s wedding collection was showcased and she indicated that several of her outfits were made for brides to go from the wedding ceremony to the celebration by removing the lower part of the gown to make it shorter. At the Diversity Wedding show, Vieux removed the lower part of the wedding dress while the model was still on the runway. The process showed the design diversity that allows the bride to transform her wedding gown in seconds.

It wasn’t until I talked to Vieux that I learned she had indeed removed the lower part of the dress at the Designing Dreams Fashion Show as well. Since it was done backstage, not many people knew about it. Showing the transformation in public and how quickly it can be done showed the versatility in Vieux’s designs.

Seeing the crowd’s reaction to her designs was priceless.

“This will give brides ideas on how to surprise their guests,” said Vieux. “Even on how to surprise the groom since he might not know. I have to think of an idea as to how the bride can remove the lower part by herself, giving it a more dramatic change. Maybe it can be done during the garter removal and perhaps even give further ideas to photographers as well.”

Violetta Vieux always speaks with much passion as she talks about her designs. One can easily tell how much she enjoys what she does.

Back in the ballroom, Big Al called numbers and the odds got better for those people who remained.

Big Al thanked Bia Salon for doing hair and the Transformations Makeup Institute, as well as Traci Lynn for providing jewelry for the models. He also thanked Priscilla Wheeler who coordinated the fashion show. Last but not least, Big Al also thanked Marlett Berry for putting everything together.

For most of the day Berry, worked behind the scenes. I was finally able to talk to her later in the event.

Berry said that it was a fun event but noted, “No more 9/11 shows for me… It was an okay turnout but I was still expecting more people. We really couldn’t change the date once it was set.”

This was the second year the Diversity Wedding Show has been put on.

“I hope to continue it every year, I just have to make sure I pick the right dates,” she said and laughed. She talked about maybe even having it twice a year. Berry said this was a good learning experience.

The Citrus Heights Community Center was a good site for the event.

“I plan to keep the show here,” said Berry. “This is a good location.”

When asked how designers and models are chosen for the show, Berry explained the process.

“Since there are already several traditional wedding shows out there, I’m looking for diversity and cultural designers that show many aspects of as many cultures as possible. Models are selected via casting and we try to make sure they’re also diverse and have unique looks. We also look for models that are plus size and we’d like to include everybody.”

Berry was also involved in the Hair and Fashion Battle at the Masonic Temple on July 23. She said that show was a big success with a large crowd on hand.

As the last guests started to head out, Berry was already preparing for next year’s event.

“Engagement season is January,” said Berry.

February 5, 2012 is the date of the next Diversity Wedding Show. The show will play an important role in planning the many June weddings.

Music, culture and beauty pageant at the Crest Theater

2011-09-13T07:26:13Z

The Crest Theater hosted the 2011 Reina Fiestas Patrias. The event was presented by the Mexican Cultural Center of Northern California (MCCNC). Ten contestants vied to win the beauty and talent competition and become the Patriot Queen of Festivities for the Mexican Independence holidays.

The gala event brought hundreds of supporters to the Crest Theatre to witness an evening full of music, dance, tradition, folklore and a lively beauty competition.

Each year the committee puts on this event to celebrate the beauty of Mexico and to showcase its culture, art and traditions.

The emcees for the evening were Angelica Marquez and Luis Enrique Garcia. Garcia started off the event by welcoming those in attendance.

“Good evening and thank you for joining us… This weekend we have something that we cannot ignore and a day that we should all remember. Before we start tonight’s event, please stand and join us in taking a minute to remember the events of a decade ago. Please stand as we take a moment of silence to remember the events that took place on September 11, 2001. Let us bring to mind those that lost their lives and how we came together following the event. We all have been impacted by that event in one way or another.”

Five judges from Sacramento and surrounding areas were introduced to the audience. The evening’s judges were Arturo Venegas; Gregorio Jimenez; Danitza Alvízar and Betty Garcia-Contreras, two past Reina Fiestas Patrias winners, and Eddie Guerra.

Garcia thanked the MCCNC and introduced Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez. Gutierrez is currently serving as the Consul General in Sacramento. He went on to say that the evening’s event celebrates Mexican Independence in Sacramento. These celebrations consist of three main events that incorporate the Reina de las Fiestas Patrias. It also includes a Mexican Independence celebration on Thursday, September 15 at the Capitol’s West Steps. Gutierrez indicated that over 7,000 will attend the celebration. This year’s celebration will also have a dozen mobile food vendors selling their specialties along with other food vendors.

The last festivity that makes up the Fiestas Patrias celebrations is a gala dinner put on by the Mexican Cultural Center on September 24 at the Hyatt Hotel.

Last year, the Mexican Consulate opened a new office in Natomas. A photo display located in the building shows a photo taken in 1821 celebrating Mexico’s 100th anniversary. Another photo shows the first Reina Fiestas Patrias, Sabina Angulo, the queen in 1928.

Pageant participants were judged on posture, confidence, charisma, presence and the cultural theme of their chose, as well as the composition and presentation of their topic.

Candidates paraded on stage dressed in traditional Mexican costumes as they were introduced. Each candidate wore a sash that showed their sponsor.

After the candidates were introduced, they danced a traditional Mexican dance called Baile de la Piña (Pineapple Dance).

Live musical entertainment was presented by Rocio Valdez and accompanied by Cruz Ramirez on guitar. Valdez started the set with “Amorcito Corazon” and invited everyone to sing or whistle along. Many in the audience knew the words and sang along.

Pageant participants were asked to come up with a cultural theme that embodied the area or region from which the participant or her family originally came. They were judged on topic, content and delivery. Each candidate spoke about the region they, or their family, came from and spoke about their region’s culture. The presentations almost seemed like an educational lecture. Cultural awareness, tradition, costume and way of life were topics covered.

After a short intermission, a colorful performance by a traditional Chinelos dance group showcased their dance skills and their beautiful and ornate costumes. One of their handmade outfits was on display in the lobby for visitors to take a closer look.

On stage, the Chinelos dancers moved gracefully and were in motion from start to finish. The dancers were a hit and received loud applause.

Alma's Bridal Boutique of Lincoln supplied formal gowns worn by the contestants as they returned to the stage. During this part of the contest, as the candidates walked on stage, a recording made by each candidate was heard over the speakers. They spoke about their studies, interests and why they decided to enter the contest. Their sponsor was also thanked, as were families and people who have influenced them.

Two contest winners were announced; Miss Congeniality was Elizabeth Talavera and Lorena Robles was chosen as Miss Photogenic.

Yesenia Diaz was the first name called to be one of the five finalists. Vicky Gutierrez, Carmen Leon, Saira Padilla and Stephanya Selem rounded off the final five.

The five finalists were asked a final question. The questions asked dealt with 9/11 and how it changed their life or that of their families. Questions also dealt with immigration, social network usage, the Dream Act and minority representation in the media.

The answers given were eloquent and to the point. As one or two of the contestants ran into a little trouble answering their question, the audience clapped to show their support and gave those participants time to recoup and continue.

2010 Reina Fiestas Patrias winner Laura Ortega came to the stage to crown the winner. Ortega gave thanks to everyone and said that her reign was an unforgettable experience in which she learned a lot. She also indicated it was a great honor for her to serve.

Heidi Ramirez, the 2010 Princess also came on stage to crown the two runners-up.

As votes were tallied, several sponsor acknowledgement awards were given to sponsors who participated the past three years.

Once the votes were counted, the top three winners were announced.

Second runner-up, Princesa 2, was Carmen Leon and first runner-up, or Princesa 1, was Stephanya Selem.

As the anticipation mounted, the remaining three contestants held hands in support of one another. Vicky Gutierrez was selected as the 2011 Reina Fiestas Patrias and her fans showed their appreciation.

“The Mexican Consulate has created a tribute to the Reina Fiestas Patrias that goes back to 1928,” indicated Aida Perez. She also explained the event’s organization. “The Comité Fiestas Patrias puts on the event. I am this year’s director and we link together with the Mexican Cultural Center as well as with the Mexican Consulate. The three entities organize and put the event together.”

Wanting to learn more about the event, I asked what the main purpose of the event was.

“I think the main purpose is to keep tradition going, this may be happening in Sacramento but it also happens throughout Mexico. For us, it’s a great honor to have it here and it also gives these young ladies a chance to go through a lengthy interview process, selection, training- that can help them become a good model for the community,” said Perez.

The first community activity Vicky Gutierrez and her court will be participating in is the Independence celebration that will be taking place at the Capitol West Steps on Thursday evening, Sept. 15 where the pageant winners will be introduced to the community. From then on, Gutierrez will participate in other events and be a spokesperson and role model representing her community.

Chalk It Up on the sidewalks of Midtown

2011-09-07T03:32:04Z

This year’s Chalk It Up! event appeared to have outgrown its venue at Fremont Park. Thousands of visitors came to enjoy the three day annual event. As usual, the event was held during the Labor Day weekend.

Talented and creative artists of all ages participated using just chalk and the sidewalk around Fremont Park to create some magnificent pieces of art.

Music has always been a centerpiece of the event and once again Jerry Perry Presents put together a great lineup. Close to three dozen local musicians and bands participated to create another memorable Chalk It Up.

Children’s activities, a beer garden, food and numerous vendors shared the grounds at Fremont Park. Chalk It Up! helps to raise money to benefit children’s art education. The event continues to be one of the best free events in Sacramento.

Saturday, opening day, artists had already been working when I arrived around noon. Many artists from last year returned to draw for new and established sponsors, and just as many new artists were able to work on their masterpieces.

As you walked around the four main areas surrounding the park, you could see many smaller squares purchased for children to use. Some of the children looked very intense as they worked on their chalk creations and the concentration in their eyes, in some cases, showed a keen interest in the activity. You wonder how many children will continue to pursue this type of activity and become involved in the arts.

Eleven bands were scheduled to appear on Saturday alone. Island of Black and White was an act I had not seen before, although I have seen Chris Haislet perform several times as a member of Walking Spanish. Island of Black and White started off their set with a great rendition of Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason.” A few other cover songs were performed including an old time favorite, “The House of the Rising Sun.”

As the bands played, guests were able to walk around. Several artists answered questions from passers-by as they continued to work on their art. The subject matter created on the concrete canvas spanned a range of topics. A woman’s chalk drawing of her baby son was very realistic. A mother and daughter created separate spots but worked side by side on their individual projects. Dozens of children created their own little masterpieces and some were quite impressive.

I’m sure several artists who worked side by side created some new friendships. It was also a great experience for artists to hear compliments on their work. Their hard work lasts a day or two until heavy foot traffic, bikes and sprinklers begin to fade away the art.

A crowd favorite, Adrian Bourgeois, also took the stage during the event. Bourgeois performed a mix of cover favorites which included, U2’s “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For” and the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun.”

As each musician took the stage, they all took a few minutes to tune up. Single musicians took the least amount of time on sound check, setting up and moving off the stage. Jerry Perry introduced each act and had a unique story to tell the audience about each of the performers.

One of several teen bands, SIMPL3JACK, brought a healthy trio to the stage. At last year’s event, Cole, the lead singer, lost his voice while performing. This year they blasted the audience with a heavy blend of vocals and music, making new fans from those who had not heard them before. The 13-14 year olds that make up SIMPL3JACK wowed the crowd. Also performing were Early States and Todd Morgan & the Emblems.

The next few musical acts had been touring together in Europe after a local performance at the Hot Italian lunch concert series and at the Friday Night Concerts in the Park. Dog Party and Kepi Ghoulie provided wonderful sets of music.

Kepi Ghoulie, as always, entertained the audience with his humor and antics as he performed. At one point he pointed to Hot Italian, ordered a pizza over the microphone and said he wanted it delivered five minutes before the end of his set. The funny thing was that Hot Italian must have heard him. They delivered just before he played his last song.

The artwork for this year’s Chalk It Up! posters and t-shirts were created by the talented and inspirational Kepi Ghoulie.

Dog Party accompanied Kepi on stage. Kepi is one of the best role models in the rock world and his talent is as large as his heart.

Random Abiladeze closed out the set for the first evening of music. The group played hip-hop with a soulful, jazzy world beat.

The mixture of music, art and community continues to impress during the Chalk It Up! festival. Sunday’s lineup included a number of great acts as well, including Failed to Resolve, Parie Wood and ReggieG inn. I’m not sure how long ago the event started to headline local musical artists, but it has added much to the growth of the event.

SacAnime celebrates seven years of fun

2011-09-06T22:02:11Z

A weekend full of live concerts, music video contest, open mike karaoke, a rave, a fashion show, a sushi demo, children’s origami, oriental tea ceremonies, electronic games and tournaments, art showings and contests, sumo wrestling, how-to workshops, celebrity panels, over 60 vendors and many other activities took place in Sacramento. Actually it all happened in one place; at the Radisson Hotel during 2011 Sac Anime.

The event spans over 3 days from 11:00 o’clock to 2 in the morning on Friday and Saturday and the closing ceremonies end at 3:30 on Sunday afternoon.

Everything is well organized and this year the clever people at Sac Anime put in place a phone application where you can download the weekend guide to all activities. The program book could be downloaded to a smart phone.

The guidebook download allowed access to programming details which in turn allowed one to schedule an individual guide via mobile alerts suited for the user. Speaker information, a description of each event, the time and how long it would last as well as room number information was provided.

I attended the opening day which started with an opening ceremony at noon. Sac Anime staff welcomed guests to the con. Jodon Bellofatto, Director of Sac Anime Programming, welcomed guests and described how Sac Anime was going to progress.

Bellofatto started by saying, “I’m very excited to welcome you to our con this weekend. We have all sorts of great things going on. A lot of new things, some of the same things and a lot of great guests for you to enjoy so I hope you’re planning to have a great weekend.”

Bellofatto went through program changes, which were minor, and introduced the smart phone application that could be downloaded by scanning the printed guided book QR code and create your own custom schedules.

New things for Sac Anime were AMV (Sacramento Music Video) and a Matsuri at the hotel courtyard. Bellofatto described the “End of Summer” Matsuri as, “This is like taking a little of Japan and bringing it here. Traditionally End of Summer is designates the end of the year, the end of the season (usually related to the rice harvest)."

Bellofatto mentioned a few special of the demonstrations that would take place at the event such as sword demonstrations, martial arts, traditional tea ceremony, how-to-make sushi, a chop stick challenge and a kimono class showing you how to wear a kimono.

The last main event he mentioned was the Café Hoshi a Sac Anime maid café. Meals were prepared and brought to your table by the staff of Café Hoshi. Entertainment along with lunch was provided for a charge.

A short humorous video showcasing what Café Hoshi had to offer was shown. The last item mentioned was the closing ceremonies and Bellofatto indicated Sac Anime staff has been listening to attendee feedback and creating, upgrading or changing what’s included in the shows especially with the tremendous growth of the event.

Yuri Lowenthal, an award winning author, actor and producer was introduced during the opening ceremonies. Lowenthal welcomed guests and said, “I’ve never been to Sacramento before and it’s already awesome. I’ll be here all weekend talking about voice acting and the shows.” He encourages guests to stop and say hi.

Lowenthal went on to say a few things about the great guests at Sac Anime. Lowenthal is a fine example of the voice actors that are brought to the event to talk about the work they have a great passion about and answer questions from their adoring fans.

Voice actors are a unique breed who, I’ve noticed, love to feed off of the tremendous following they have. I’ve found the voice actors at this event to be very eloquent, dynamic, extremely humorous and very entertaining.

Tara Platt was also introduced and she said, "Like Yuri said we’re very excited to be in Sacramento and neither of us has been here before.” Speakers and other performers usually sign autographs and Platt mentioned they were going to be autographing the book she and Lowenthal co-authored.

Johnny Yong Bosch was the last speaker who spoke at the opening ceremonies. He too welcomed guests. Bosch also plays rhythm guitar and is lead singer for his band Eyeshine. Bosch is very well known for being part of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers where he played the Black Ranger. Bosch is also widely known for his voice acting on anime shows as well as in video games.

Bosch started by talking about his band saying, “We’re playing tonight and tomorrow night so please come check us out.” Bosch also introduced the other members from his band; Maurice Salmin on drums and vocals, Crystal Mesina on bass and Eddie Colmenares on guitar.

Rob Miles reminded attendees to take care of themselves and each other and to try not to let things get out of hand. That has not been an issue at Sac Anime but Miles wanted to get the point of safety across and to let the audience know how much time and effort staff puts into the event.

As always the event was well planned and organization was a main theme. Thousands of guests enjoyed being there one day and many spent the weekend at the Radisson enjoying its amenities and the shows. Many end up creating lasting friendships and enjoy the company of fellow anime enthusiasts.

Most of the people attending wore costume and stayed in character as they met with new and old friends.

A good size crowd was already at the Matsuri event and many activities were taking place. One of the most popular events was the sumo wrestling as friends went against each other as they wore a protective suit emulating sumo wrestlers.

Other children activities delighted the young and young at heart and included chopstick challenges, children’s origami, fan dancing, sword demonstrations, tea ceremonies, a Kurenai concert, a kimono demo and a sushi basics workshop.

Again, things were well organized and volunteers helped with every aspect making this a popular addition to the event.

Past the Matsuri, on the Courtyard Area of the hotel a few hotel rooms were used for an art show, artist alley, video gaming Collectable Card Gaming (CCG) and the Sac Café. During lunch Sac Café became Café Hoshi which hosted a wonderful Maid Café experience.

The video game rooms had several tournaments taking place. There was so much to do, see and experience that it’s hard to take everything in and maybe that’s why many guests return to each Sac Anime held.

One of the first panels included Johnny Yong Bosch and Tara Platt talking about their voice acting experiences. Both are very personable, intelligent and funny and neither has any problems communicating and is very well loved by their fans.

Rob Miles served as moderator and kept the conversation and questions going.

It was interesting to hear Bosch say that his dream was to be an action star and wanted to be like Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee. “Since I was a little kid that was my dream,” Bosch said. He said, “I was training one day and my instructor was reading the paper and he called me over and showed me the article that said; ‘Looking for new Rangers’ and it had a picture of all the Power Rangers standing there. It advertised for a casting call.”

Bosch’s instructor helped him put together a routine which included some jumps, hits and kicks and went to the audition. Competing against thousands of others who in some cases were doing some outstanding martial arts stunts. Bosch said he made the first cut and thought that it was because of his looks and during the second call they were asked to showcase a dance, gymnastics or martial arts. Later they read a monologue and he thought that was it and was ready to go back home.

Bosch said he put on his skinny jeans, which at the time were quite the trend, instead of sweats and was ready to go home when the casting director called several people back and they wanted to see martial arts performed. Wearing his skinny jeans he did a routine and again thought that was the end of it. Bosch told himself, “I guess that’s that. I’m going to college.” Laughter from the room followed. He registered for college and after about a week there he was asked to fly back to California. As they showcased their talents once again the final picks were made and Bosch was given a role.

As the Power Rangers once again selected new actors for the roles Bosch looked for another project to concentrate on and had a guitar that he promised himself he would learn to play. After hitting bock bottom he taught himself to play the guitar and channeled his feelings or emotions through music. The rest, as they say, is history and Eyeshine was formed.

Tara Platt who is best known for the voice of Wonder Woman (DC vs. MK), Dream Girl (legion of Superheroes) and other characters sat at the table with Bosch and Miles. She is also a film, TV, animation and theater performer. Platt spoke about her projects and then a question and answer ensued giving the audience more insight into the voice actors.

After the panel discussion Platt and Bosch signed autographs outside the Main Events stage. Some questions and answers were intriguing while others questions were asked just to find out more about their experiences as voice actors.

A Sushi Basic workshop with Chef Cropper was another treat new for this event. The Davis chef talked about traditional sushi and ways to prepare it. Cropper also talked about places that have fresh fish and vegetables used for sushi. He discussed ways to cook rice and handed out Japanese cooking materials that included sushi recipes.

Cropper has visited Japan and learned some of their cooking hints, tricks, styles, techniques and recipes. He talked about the best fish to use which included salmon, eel, octopus, crab and other marine life delicacies. The trick of using a wet knife to cut California rice sushi was shared and some freshly prepared sushi was passed out to the audience. The sushi samples were delicious.

The Vendor Hall was packed with vendors and visitors. On several occasions fire code capacity may have been at capacity and sometimes you had to walk sideways to get through the humanity at the hall.

One of the Vendor Hall booths featured Carly Breslin’s work. The design, modeling and cosplay artist is better known as Miss Carlyfornia. Her booth contained many of her creations including full outfits. Carlyfornia Love’s station contained handmade jewelry and a rack full of outfits including some for dolls. Everything on display was hand made by the artist whose work is nothing less than extraordinary created with much detail.

Carlyfornia Love’s enthusiasm for her work is really great to see. She’s always willing to talk to guests and her winning personality came across as guests stopped to look at her work and chat.

The Scattered Comics station was manned by Jason Dube as he debuted his newest Panda Days comic book. When asked about his newest book and how long it took to complete he said, “This particular work took a little longer than normal. I just had a baby; well my wife had the baby, so it took a little bit longer.” Dube indicated it took him about 6 months to complete. “I have a couple of other books that are coming out this month too,” Dube said. He’s a very busy person who thoroughly enjoys his job. He is also the Director of Artist Alley for Sac Anime which celebrated its 7th year.

Scattered number 3 and Shadow Hunter’s premier issue will be his next pieces of work that will be on sale for fans to enjoy later this month. Jason Dube has been doing comics full time for 4 years and puts in long hours to promote his business which is his passion. Dube concluded by saying, “I’ve been self publishing comic books, off and on as a part time job, for 11 years,” and his work as a full time author and illustrator continues to grow.

The J-Fashion show brought local designers to display their creations. Carlyfornia Love, Prince Noir and others showcased their best Asian fashion inspired designs. A fashionable group with Synchro MG was on hand to help promote their work as well.

Sac Anime fashion was highlighted not only during the fashion show but all throughout the weekend as attendees showed off their costume creation abilities as they walked from one side of the venue to the other or stay around waiting for workshops, panels and various events. Many attendees stayed true to their character and posed to showcase their work.

The Sac Anime Concert Series included three live bands on Friday night. The akai SKY foursome kicked of the live music performances and they provided raw energy to the stage and the floor. They are a San Francisco based band that had many on the floor dancing.

Johnny Yong Bosch brought his band Eyeshine to the stage and they provided quite an animated show but they must have overloaded the system as the power went out.

Once the lights came back on their powerful performance continued and as true professionals they did not let the power outage slow them down as they finished their set.

The Slants ended the night’s live events as the hard hitting group put their best foot forward providing a great performance.

The evening’s activities ended with the Sac Club Rave that was scheduled to end at 2 in the morning.

The three day event continues to grow every year and has continued to be successful due to the dedication of the Sac Anime staff and volunteers. Organization is instrumental to their success and Sac Anime has provided a safe, fun and relaxed atmosphere for fans that attend the event. Log on to the Sac Anime site to view upcoming events and read up on comments from celebrities and fans.

Staff is already preparing for the next Sac Anime event scheduled for January 2012.

(Note: please click on this link for other pictures.)

Laumua Youth Fashion

2011-09-01T21:07:10Z

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions."

There are people who can live up to King’s words and they make a deep impact in our community. Faatui Toele is one of those who lead by example and this past Saturday he put together an event to help the First Samoan Congregational Christian Church (FSCCC) raise funds to help build their church.

Toele is a well known Sacramento fashion designer who put a lot of time an effort to put together the FSCCC Laumua Youth Fashion Show. Proceeds from the fundraiser were expected to help build their church.

The church is being built with much donated labor from the congregation. The youth group, family and church community look forward to having a place to meet and have made this building a priority.

Toele invited fellow designers to participate in the fashion show and FSCCC members participated in the event as well. A delicious dinner was provided for guests and a raffle was held for various prizes. Guests lined up to feast on barbecue and other Samoan specialties. VIP guests were brought their food by Laumua Youth and were also given basket gifts as a sign of thanks.

Before the show began Toele gave me a quick tour of the building site. At this point the parking lot has been completed and the foundation has been worked on. It’s exciting to see a project grow as a dream begins to take form and will soon become a reality.

The FSCCC was established in July of 1989 and Salesa Fatu Fa’alau is the founding reverend. He has been married for over 30 years to his wife Temukisa and they have six children. The reverend has a fatherly persona and has powerful leadership qualities. Reverend Salesa Fatu Fa’alau started with a prayer and thanked guests for coming to the event.

The Laumua Youth started the performance with a Samoan dance. The dancers wore beautiful traditional Samoan costumes and entertained the guests. As tradition dictates some audience members tossed dollar bills on the stage to show their appreciation.

Five designers participated in the event and they all had beautiful fashion to showcase at the event.

Bernadette Lopa showed her “Little Girls’ Dresses”. Eshonna Trice showed her Electrik Trice line of clothing; “Couture and Ready to Wear Line.”

Samuel Parkinson was not at the event, still had his King’s Tribe clothing “Men’s Ready to Wear Line” paraded down the runway. Faletua Temukisa Faalau and Sapina Tofi exhibited their “Samoan Wear for Men and Women” collection.

Faatui Toele’s 2WEE ended the show demonstrating his “Couture and Ready to Wear Line.”

During the event a slideshow highlighting how far church construction has come was shown to guests. The slideshow featured the work done by congregation members and how everyone seems to be involved in this process at one point or another. It’s amazing and praiseworthy to see how much sweat equity is being put in by congregation members. The slideshow demonstrated the importance of the church to the Samoan community in Sacramento.

Another great dance by the Laumua Youth ended the show.

Toele came to the stage to thank everyone for coming and gave special thanks to the makeup and hair artists who assisted with the show. The designers, of course, received a great ovation and they all took the stage with Toele. His special thanks were overwhelming and showed how much of a fantastic individual Toele is.

Toele also encouraged the youth in the audience to follow their dreams and said that if they put their heart into it they will achieve success. Toele’s remarks and attitude were inspiring and received loud applause.

Reverend Salesa Fatu Fa’alau thanked Toele for his hard work and dedication. The reverend ended the event with a prayer.

Since I started with a quote I will end with another as I think about the work of Toele, the Laumua Youth and FSCCC’s community. Harold S Geneen once said, “"Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions."

Members and friends of the FSCCC have shown their leadership by the labor they’ve put into the church and raising nearly $6,000 via the fashion show. The FSCCC has built a powerful foundation. Toele’s leadership in putting on a successful show is quite commendable.

Party and Wedding Faire at the Sheraton

2011-08-31T07:30:01Z

Weddings take a long time to plan, organize and prepare. Flowers, invitations, photographers, cakes, caterers, limos, carriages, ministers, wedding planners; so many things go into a wedding. As soon as the bride and groom become engaged and set a date, the clock starts ticking, and although a wedding date is planned well in advance, the date always arrives quickly.

A Party and Wedding Faire took place at the Sheraton Grand Hotel on 1230 J Street this past Sunday. Organized by Julia Costanza of Trade Secrets, the event brought together many wedding day vendors and planners under one roof for those seeking help with planning their special date.

The Party and Wedding Faire was held on the Ballroom level of the Sheraton. People who attended the event registered as they entered the ballroom and it was there that I met Julia Costanza, owner of Trade Secrets. Costanza was busy with guests and making sure the event ran smoothly.

Once inside, vendors occupied several stations on the left hand side of the hall. On the right side of the ballroom, a stage was set up for various entertainment and showcase activities. A deejay, along with a few other vendors, was situated alongside.

On stage, Angie Zimmerman talked about flowers and flower arrangements. The stage had a runway and chairs were lined up on three sides. Zimmerman operates Heavenly Flowers and Events. Her demonstration showed how to use roses to decorate a wedding and had several items for sale including a Do It Yourself Wedding Flower Guide that included a workbook and five DVDs. Zimmerman also teaches flower arranging classes via her own internet TV channel, Flower Arranging 101. She brought her extensive experience to the stage and received positive comments from the audience.

Services offered ranged from catering to wedding favors and everything else that you could think of including wedding entertainment by belly dancers. Some vendors, such as ENTICE Weddings and Events, offered numerous services under one roof, from invitations to honeymoon travel arrangements. Others, such as Capital City Catering, offered services from established vendors.

Places such as the Firehouse Restaurant and the Sheraton host weddings and provide a venue that offers catering and other services. The Sheraton and other hotels can provide many things other venues are not equipped to do, especially for out of town guests attending a wedding in Sacramento.

Reservations for many of the venues extend into the future, in some cases even a year or two away. Frank Carney, Special Events Director for the Firehouse Restaurant indicated that as an established business, they have more to offer.

“With the Firehouse being there for over 50 years, we’re now marrying children of people who already had weddings there, it’s really unique.”

The Firehouse and Sheraton have been around and have an established reputation. Their situation gives them the ability to book wedding events far into the future.

During the event, the Camellia String Quartet performed soothing classical music onstage. The group has been performing since 1980 and provides music for weddings and other occasions.

Costanza moved from one station to the next throughout the event, making sure things ran smoothly. She also directed a camera crew that was recording the event for future showings. Costanza gave me rundown on the event and some of the more unique aspects of the Party and Wedding Faire.

“We’re doing a new thing that’s never been done in bridal shows before. Normally, in wedding media, wedding businesses like these have one of three ways to find their customers. They use this type of trade show style where everybody sets up booths and the bride comes and they get to interview each vendor and meet them in person.”

Costanza noted that bridal shows in their traditional sense are in decline right now. Attendance is dropping because people just don’t want to leave the house and instead rely on websites via search engines. Doing so makes things easier, but at the same time, it cannot account for integrity.

“Sometimes you don’t know what you’re getting. Online advertising is great but it removes the personal aspect. You want to meet the vendor, shake their hand, get the personal feel and look at their work, their portfolios. On the internet you don’t get that face to face interaction.”

Wedding magazines are yet another venue for advertising.

“Magazines still sell,” said Costanza, “they still have an audience but again you don’t have that personal relationship. It’s one step above the internet but it’s still not solid.”

By this point, Costanza became a little more passionate about the event.

“What we’re doing here today is that we’ve set this up just like a regular bridal fair. We have actual brides, these are real brides attending today who are interviewing, you know, deciding if they want to hire these vendors. What we’re doing today is we have this film crew filming everything that’s going on at this event and we’re actually going to make television episodes and an actual online experience of this show, so that the bride who doesn’t want to leave the house can still access this in-person experience over the internet or through television. No one else is doing this. No other shows are doing this.”

Costanza noted that somebody has to step out and be the leader in using technology to promote the new age of wedding media. This is the goal for the event.

While working as a wedding planner, Costanza got the opportunity to purchase a business from the owner of Party and Wedding Faire. Later, she bought a wedding magazine business and a website. Putting these three media forms together has allowed her to move to the next step. She can offer customers what they want to see in the convenience of their own place.

Costanza explained that a limited number of vendors were chosen in each category.

“We try to have a really good selection so we have all different forms of entertainment, bar services, decorations and so forth, and we’re very selective. The people in this room are the cream of the crop in Sacramento. These people in this room have the highest reputation and proven quality in this market.”

Nearby, several models in wedding dresses posed for photos near the Bella’s Bridal Shop booth. Models Tilly Lewis, Ellen George and Michelle Parker each wore elegant bridal dresses and also conducted a small fashion show. Parker’s mom was on hand and proudly noted that her daughter was Miss Sacramento Teen 2012.

For those who wanted to learn how to dance, the Arthur Murray Dance Studios brought a couple of dancers to the stage. The couple from Arthur Murray showcased the foxtrot and other dances and looked quite elegant on the stage.

Nyla Crystal, a belly dance performer and instructor also had a booth and it was interesting to see something a little different than traditional wedding entertainment. Unique entertainment at a wedding will probably make the event a little more special and leave a longer lasting memory. Crystal performed several dances at the event and thoroughly entertained guests sitting around the stage area.

Music To Go had a spot near the entrance and I stopped to chat with Greg and Lauren Dills. The organization has been providing music for weddings, dances and parties since 1973. Their professional demeanor and experience have brought them many challenges and just as many rewards. Looking at their station, I couldn’t help but notice their state of the art equipment and how personable they both were. Lauren indicated they had made a couple of bookings during the event and looked forward to getting more.

“We go with the mindset of saying to ourselves, ‘If this was our wedding on that day or our event, how would we want it to be for us?’ We bring their style out with our experience and put it all together.”

They have more experience than most, having done 4 - 5,000 weddings over the years.

“We’ve seen everything and it’s not like we say let’s try this and see what happens; we say let’s do this because we know what’s going to happen.”

Jeanne Felix, a travel agent for Hearts on the Go! a division of Cordially Yours Travel, had a booth that provided information on honeymoon destinations. Felix said that they had travel packages that can be given as gifts for the bride and groom. The packages could be split into smaller gift certificates and together could be a large honeymoon package, making it more affordable to complete a package for the newlyweds.

Many brides-to-be took advantage of onsite vendors, talking to as many as they could and making decisions when they could.

Holly Winckel was one of the future brides who came to the event with several friends and her mom. Winckel will be getting married in June.

“I’m recently engaged and I got an email to the event, so this gave the girls and I a chance to get together and check it out.”

They were all having a great time at the event and indicated one of their favorite stations was the photo booth. Winckel’s mom said pictures from the photo booth would make for great favors.

This will be one of the first ever televised bridal events with internet availability. Once editing is complete, information will be posted on the Party and Wedding website. There, you can also view all participating vendors and the services they offer.

Second Annual Banana Festival

2011-08-17T09:45:24Z

William Land Park hosted this year’s banana festival. Thousands attended the event that promoted health and community awareness.

The festival celebrated everything having to do with bananas and it was a great family event. Cultures that traditionally use bananas were also celebrated. These included Central and Eastern Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America, the Pacific Islands and other countries.

Vendors sold delicious international food specializing in banana recipes. Two stages were set up to accommodate all the acts performing on August 13 and 14. One of the stages was the children’s corner and a large play area with carnival rides and games was available for children.

Superhero Banana Splitacular also roamed the grounds and acted on many distress calls, mostly by emcees asking for his help. Banana Splitacular entertained and posed for photos with small children.

Several activities were organized to entertain kids and for the most part, they entertained themselves with hula hoops, paper mache activities, limbo and dance, as well as banana and ice cream eating contests.

When I arrived at the banana festival, I made my way over to the food court and looked for some banana treats. Banana chips and lumpias are my favorite and I found them to be quite delicious. I sat down and watched Samoria Lamuse imitate the "Creole Goddess," Josephine Baker. Lamuse made crowd participation part of her act and was able to get volunteers when she needed them.

After a little limbering up, the Beatles’, “Rock and Roll Music,” played as everyone danced onstage. Many others on the grounds began to dance as well.

Lamuse gave away, besides straw hats for volunteers, gifts for the participants. As she gave out the last one, Lamuse explained that she gives back in the spirit of Josephine Baker, who “gave back by adopting 12 children.”

Next to the stage, a banana split eating contest produced several contestants who enjoyed every bite of that treat.

The Filipino Dance group Sinag-tala brought several colorful and ethnic dances to the stage. Dancers of all ages entertained onlookers as they wore traditional Filipino costumes and shared their culture with the audience. The group also had crowd participation as part of their act.

A butterfly dance initiated their entertainment. Sinag-tala played, “Paru-parong Bukid,” a Filipino folk song and dancers danced to the traditional song. A fiesta performance followed with colorfully dressed dancers on stage.

The “Itik-itik” (duck) song and dance was performed with several young members of the duck family moving to the stage. The little ducklings, several older sisters and mama duck, all dressed in yellow, performed the dance. Several traditional Filipino musical instruments were used along with the dances.

The Sinag-tala music and dance entertainment concluded with “tinikling” dancing. They began by asking for volunteers to come up and learn the “bamboo dance,” and once again the dancing banana volunteered.

Sinag-tala has several performances scheduled for December 2 to December 4 at the Luther Burbank Auditorium.

Several trips were given away in a raffle and the lucky winners were able to select from several trips provided by Cuisine Noir Magazine and Sky Resort. Laura Scott was one of those winners and you could hear her screams of joy coming from the vendor area.

The Patrick Reilly Band played several songs on the main stage and attracted a crowd as well.

I walked around the food vendors once again and noticed many banana items for sale; fresh bananas, fried plantains, banana crepes, cotton candy, green banana ice tea, snow cones, smoothies, taffy, banana splits, pies, cookies, pudding, tempura, popcorn and many other edibles that used bananas as the main ingredient. The banana burger was a hit but I did not get a chance to try one.

A 1951 banana taxi, banana hats, merchandise and other things banana were also available. There was even a Banana Queen. Marisa Adams was the 2011 Festival Queen.

Next to the main stage, renowned chef Tyler Stone created some wonderful treats and a line was always present. Chef Stone gave many samples of his frozen banana mousse pop treats that were dipped in chocolate.

Later in the day, One Leg Chuck from Manteca took the stage to perform a few songs after another raffle winner was announced.

Over on the children’s stage, parents were able to sign up their kids to participate in a banana festival pageant. Contestants were eligible for awards in several categories.

To the delight of youngsters sitting around the stage, several stories were brought to life as volunteers acted out readings as part of the Angela James Fenix Dance Storytelling.

A seven day vacation to Belize was the last raffle of the event and it looks like I will be going to Belize. I will have to go after I save some money because, sadly, I did not win the drawing.

Princess Sanders was one of the last scheduled performers to take the children’s stage. Before Sanders' performance, a hip-hop dance recital was performed by a talented young lady. An even younger child then took the stage and did an outstanding job with her own solo dance. The child had moves and danced like a seasoned veteran, like a baby Beyoncé. As Princess Sanders took the stage, her stage presence and voice were superb.

Back at the main stage, the Brazilian dance and drum group Samba Da Terra performed and had many people onstage dancing with them. The colorful outfits attracted as much attention as the dancers.

The Sacramento grown hip-hop group, Project, was the last performer of the day. The four member group performed several songs and announced that their first EP was available for download.

As the Second Annual Banana Festival came to an end, the 1000 pounds of fruit that had been behind the stage was given away. Attendees lined up to get bananas and other tropical fruit to take home.

The fun was not over, however; People that purchased tickets to the festival could go over to Fairytale Town and receive a 50 percent discount to the park.

The festival was once again a great success. Over 100 volunteers and organizers made this a very enjoyable event.

Designing Dreams 2011

2011-08-17T08:37:29Z

It’s been a year since the first Designing Dreams fashion show at the Memorial Auditorium took place. This Saturday night, high fashion returned to Sacramento as over a thousand fashion aficionados arrived to view the work of 11 local and northern California designers.

The much anticipated event brought further acclaim to local designers, models and producers of the event. Many people involved in the fashion industry were brought together for a splendid evening of fashion, socializing and of course, to benefit the Sweet Dreams Foundation.

This year, Cassidy, a child diagnosed with an aggressive malignant brain tumor called Glioblastoma Multiforme 4 (GBM4) was selected to have her dream bedroom designed by the Sweet Dreams Foundation.

On January 8, Cassidy had a craniotomy to help her condition and doctors removed as much of the tumor as they could. A pathology report came back with the same GBM4 diagnosis. Soon after, Cassidy endured six weeks of brain radiation and also went through three types of chemotherapy.

Treatment has remained constant for Cassidy. Besides having her blood drawn every two weeks, chemo treatments were done on a regular basis. Cassidy also had MRI's every two months to make sure the tumor is not growing. Through all of this her condition has remained stable. Chemotherapy treatments ended this past April.

Minutes before doors were opened to the general public, I spoke with Tiana Vega, producer of the show. Vega said that she was both excited and nervous for the event.

“I was just talking about how we made Cassidy, the beneficiary, a dress and now I’m scared it may not fit. Besides Cassidy's dress for some reason this show seems smoother than it was last year."

Last minute details were still being taken care of by designers and models. After hair and makeup were done, models waited for their outfits while designers continued to sew, stitch and make sure everything was complete.

I moved to Samuel Parkinson’s area where he was on his sewing machine working on final alterations. Parkinson indicated he was seventh in the fashion lineup. Things may have seemed in disorder, but for Parkinson and his models, this was organized chaos that created the right atmosphere for his urban apparel.

Parkinson was the winner of a Design Vendetta held in June. Later, I ran into Rodrigo Trujillo, another contestant from that event that was on hand to support Yennie Zhou.

Ling Chan, who had done hair for the fashion flashmob, had a few minutes for me as well. Chan indicated she had done Vy Nguyen’s hair earlier and said that some people had been working since 9 o’clock that morning. Clement Charles Event Technology was one of the contributors to the event that had started their work early in the day to ensure things would be ready for rehearsals and the big event.

As guests began to arrive, radio personality Dave Thompson from MIX 96 and Bethany Crouch from FOX40 introduced themselves as emcees for the evening.

As the fashion show was about to start, Bethany Crouch reminded the audience what the event was for.

“This is going to be a fantastic evening. It’s the biggest fashion show that Sacramento has and you are lucky enough to be a part of it. We are expecting a large crowd. This event will be benefitting 13 year old Cassidy as her dream bedroom is created by the Sweet Dreams Foundation.”

Something in the distance brought images of an angel singing nearby. I turned towards the sound and found it was coming from Sacramento Op era singer Carrie Hennessey, who sang a heavenly aria that captivated the audience.

Hennessey’s singing showcased some of the best that Sacramento has to offer, the Sacramento Opera. The opera will kick off the 2011-2012 season with “Opera at the Cathedral” on October 6. Throughout the event, Rod Gideons, general director of the Sacramento Opera, was at a table distributing information about this year’s season.

Thompson and Crouch took the stage and welcomed guests for the evening.

“I’ve never been to one of these things and I’m blown away,” said Crouch. “The designers and models are fantastic and look gorgeous. Let’s not forget that all this work that Designing Dreams has put together also benefits the Sweet Dreams Foundation.”

The much anticipated fashion show began with an array of marvelous outfits. The first designer to exhibit her designs was Tiana Vega. Vega’s collections have been a craze in Sacramento and have landed Vega and her team spots in both Boston Fashion Week and the prestigious New York Fashion Week.

The Vega collection elicited sighs from spectators as her models donned one and two piece outfits. Several solid and checkered tops and bottoms were elegantly matched with accessories accenting Vega’s creations.

Besides being a top designer, Vega and her team did a great job coordinating and producing the event. The audience welcomed the new collection and showed their appreciation.

Yennie Zhou brought her Y Couture Dream Collection to the stage next. Zhou’s free flowing styles looked simple at first but upon closer observation, one could see the meticulous work put into many of her outfits.

The collection was well received and elicited positive comments from audience members. Zhou’s belief that art exists in various forms and mediums was brought to the runway as models showed off her creations. Her models donned creative head gear and superb makeup.

Shirali Singh brought her very first collection under the label ShiRa to Sacramento. Singh’s elegant collection showcased rich fabrics and delicate hand work.

Singh showcased her San Francisco contemporary, classy and chic designs and they were well received. Each colorful outfit was classic in its simple form yet elegant in its integrated fabric and hand work, creating outfits meant to be seen at upscale outings and events.

Melissa Kay’s designs are inspired by diverse cultures, different eras, music, art and everyday life. Her inspirations and uses of fabric for each of her pieces make each of her creations purely unique.

Kay’s designs for the show varied from two piece outfits to elegant frills. The elegant and sexy outfit that started her collection seemed to be meant for an evening out on the town but with an undershirt, it could be worn to the office. The Kay collection also showcased other stylish dresses that could be worn to formal events.

As the show continued, a stunningly colorful outfit from the Vasily Vein collection was worn by a model with a colorful Mohawk that matched, in color, the outfits exhibited. The look gave the appearance of a rock star. Indeed, the collection created by the Russian born designer has rock star influences.

The second outfit in particular showed his Russian heritage. The classic Russian heritage inspired dress was given a very contemporary look. The colorful rock-inspired attire was followed by several classic black and white garments. The collection also showed other stunning fashion and showcased Vasily Vein’s versatility and great talent.

Janelle Cardenas’ inspiration comes from such fashion icons as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Twiggy. Cardenas is currently studying at IADT. The West Sacramento resident’s designs are meant to inspire you with classic lines combined with feminine fabrics, texture and contrast.

Cardenas continues to participate in fashion shows around Sacramento and her designs are being produced under the Love by Janelle Cardenas line. The collection began with a glamorous black outfit with a see-through sleeveless top and a collar adorned by black rose trim.

Black was the primary color in Cardenas’ designs for the show that included several pieces adorned with heart embroidery and patterns suited for her “heartache” collection. Each model also had a red rose on their cheek to accent the Janelle Cardenas designs.

After a short breatk, this year’s Sweet Dreams Foundation beneficiary was introduced to the audience. Cassidy came out wearing a dress made especially for her by Tiana Vega.

Richards and Cassidy did a short walk on the runway and both wore a large smile on their face. You could see the happiness in Cassidy’s face as she strolled down the runway hand in hand with Richards. This was one of those days in a child’s life that will remain with them. Being together with family and friends at the event made this a happy and memorable building day in Cassidy’s life. The healing process in this child’s life will be helped knowing how many people are behind her.

As Richards and Cassidy finished their short runway walk, Crouch commented.

“I think we have a future model in our hands.”

Cassidy’s smile spoke volumes as to how happy and excited she was. Presenting the child benefiting from the Designing Dreams show to the audience is a morale boost that works wonders. If the child and their parents could also walk, I believe, it would show how much people really care.

Cassidy’s dream is to have a glamorous teen lounge, black and white with splashes of bright colors. Cassidy has also asked for bright lighting for her dream room and her very own nail station. For this young girl who has already endured so much, it’s doubtful that she’s asking for too much.

The second round began with Design Vendetta winner Samuel Parkinson. Design Vendetta was a juried and time restricted competition that allowed the winning student designer to showcase their talents at Designing Dreams.

The only designer to take his fashion to the Designing Dreams runway via competition, Parkinson showed that he belongs. His urban apparel designs included tops, pants, shorts, hoodies, jackets and duffel bags that can be combined with almost any outfit to bring fashion to the urban scene. His designs were the only ones exhibited for both men and women.

Parkinson’s urban designs are sure to make a statement in Sacramento’s fashion scene and beyond. Inspired by everyone and everything around him, his urban apparel designs in turn inspire the fashion scene. Sam Parkinson is a designer whose time has come; his designs are ready to become a trend.

Maisha Bahati creates eye catching designs with a 70’s flare. Her designs started off with a beautiful blue one piece outfit that covered the model from the top of her head to her feet. All models donned black hair extensions that went well with wraparound tops and long, colorful evening wear.

Her MaishaDahati designs also showcased black outfits with a bare shoulder look that offered sophisticated designs for women of all sizes. Her designs are ready to wear with stylish and simplistic fabrics, giving an elegant look to many of her outfits.

The Nelli Rosh collection showcased the creations of European stylist Nelli Rosh. Rosh is a graduate of IADT and currently works with the famous “Cool Style “design studio.

Rosh's elegant designs graced the runway. Guests were able to take advantage of the 90 foot runway to admire her elegant and elaborate designs. All eyes were fixed on her designs from the start of the runway to the end and stayed focused on the models as they returned to the curtain. Her selection of “Ave Maria” was a perfect musical choice for her designs.

Bringing images of Marie Antoinette and French fashion, her designs were breathtaking and elaborate. Several of Rosh’s designs for the show could have inspired a quinceñera, an extreme sweet sixteen, an evening or a prom gown.

Two designers collaborated to bring Far East Fashion to the runway. Hong Kong native Aya Yoruha’s designs fused Chinese and Japanese styles and mixed it with a Western feel. Diane O, an East Bay native, brought her passion for working in performance theatre art to capture a design that mixed different styles together.

Both designers brought a line of clothing that began with a short dress outfit. The two piece outfit consisted of a black mini-skirt with white trim on the bottom front of the skirt. The top partly showed the bare upper back of the model and it appeared that a tail was attached to the skirt.

The last collection of the evening belonged to Violetta Vieux. The Moldova born designer brought a bridal collection to the runway. Her elegant outfits were exquisitely made with much attention to detail.

Vieux and her twin sister Viorikka learned crocheting from their grandmother. Since that time, Violetta has had a passion for fashion. Vieux studied at the ESMOD fashion school in Paris. She is currently an instructor at FIDM in San Francisco and is also ownsf the French Couture Design Studio.

Ornate detail exuded Parisian influence in several of the VioGemini bridal designs. The long bridal gowns exhibited at the beginning of the Vieux collection were very elegant and one could admire the many details as the models walked slowly to the front of the runway and back. Short gowns were also showcased, their detail just as beautiful.

A Sacramento Opera performance provided a fashionable ending to the 2011 Designing Dreams fashion show. Hennessey’s soprano voice carried an angelic range and her performance was nothing less than a spectacular and truly enjoyable performance.

Although the press room was full of designers, models and guests, I was able to talk to Violetta Vieux, whose designs closed the fashion show.

Vieux’s lovely demeanor and personality made it easy to ask her a few questions about her designs and how she became involved in the show.

“Two of the designers who participated in tonight’s event were my students at FIDM, one day I heard them talking about the show and since I was getting ready to have a show of my own, I said why not? I liked the idea of the charity as well and what it was trying to do for Cassidy. I jumped at the opportunity.”

Vieux talked a little about her home. She indicated she has lived in the U.S. for three years and lives in Fremont. She also talked a little about her design background.

“I lived in Paris where I studied fashion for five years and then I came to the United States. I have had a passion for design since childhood. At an early age, I enjoyed crochet and knitting. I was then lucky enough to go to Paris where I learned to draft and how to do draping and other sewing techniques. I have been involved in fashion from an early age.”

I asked about her inspiration for her Designing Dreams collection as well.

“For this collection it was winter. You can see the dresses are like snowflakes and you can see feathers that are like snow flurries and rhinestones that are like sparkles shining and you can also see snowflake shapes adorning many of the garments. In one outfit, if you look and study it, you can see the Eiffel Tower and how it was crocheted with each piece looking like a snowflake crystal.”

“I have a show tomorrow in San Francisco for their fashion week. Actually, the goal of all of this is that I’m launching a new commerce website where I will be selling outfits from my collection. Many of the outfits are customized and you can see some dresses can have removable segments where ladies can remove a piece and wear a shorter dress after the wedding ceremony for the party.”

Vieux ended by describing her collection.

“VioGemini comes from twins. I have a twin sister and we were born under the zodiac sign of Gemini. We work together and have come up with several ideas.”

An after party was scheduled after the show to celebrate the successful ending of the second annual Designing Dreams fashion show.

Summer Sundays at Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa

2011-08-09T02:24:53Z

Off in the distance I could hear voices of little children playing. As I opened my eyes, I looked up at the palm trees gently swaying as they moved in the slight tropical breeze. I heard the sound of palms leaves and in the background, “Brown Eyed Girl.” As I listened to the lyrics, I thought to myself, “What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday.”

Soothing sounds, sun and live music are all part of the Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa’s “Summer Sundays,” which runs Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. until the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. This weekend, the relaxing event included a live band playing for guests, a barbecue and a poolside bar.

I met with Jamie Ireland, Resort Communications Manager, to ask her a few questions about the event. Ireland indicated that Summer Sundays is in its fourth year and is open to members and to the public for a fee. Ireland has been with the Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa for a year now and her enthusiasm and pride for the club shows.

“Summer Sundays allows member and guest families a chance to get to know each other and enjoy a great day full of many amenities,” said Ireland.

She also described why Summer Sundays have become so popular.

“It’s a great place for everyone to get together. It’s a family oriented event and it comes with the use of our pools, a bar, complimentary snacks and a live band or DJ. It creates great atmosphere for all our guests.”

As guests made their way to the children’s pool, they passed by The Remnantz, who performed songs from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and beyond. They played songs such as “No Matter What” by Badfinger, the Beatles’ "Oh! Darling” and “Got My Mojo Working," popularized by Muddy Waters.

The Remnantz repertoire was quite impressive, mixing their song selection to suit the occasion. They played classic rock, blues, old soul, pop and funk. The Remnantz include Carey Catanzariti on guitar; Tim Cornell on drums; Randy Catanzariti, also on guitar, as well as congas; Greg Jones on keyboards and Thomas Engberg on bass. Most of the band helped out on vocals.

Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa offers many amenities to its members. One of their main principles is sound nutrition and they make every effort to promote their wellness philosophy. During this summer Sunday, a barbecue was part of the event. Succulent ribs, deliciously prepared chicken and an assortment of side dishes were available as part of their barbecue meal.

The Arden Hills culinary staff created a delicious assortment of dishes with health and good nutrition at the heart of the meal.

Summer Sundays are a great way to spend a day with family and friends. Arden Hills Resort & Spa provides a great setting for a day of fun, music and sun. The club is open to everyone and you can join as a member or get a daily resort pass that gives you full access to the wellness resort and the many amenities it has to offer.

I was told that advance reservations are not required, just show up on Sundays with your swimsuit and enjoy a great day to wind down before the start of another work week.

Arden Hills offers three membership levels, each offering different amenities. Guests of Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa can join as a Resort Guest. Signature and Premier Memberships are also available and offer more access to additional benefits and activities.

To find out more information about the Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa, call 916-482-6111 or log on to their website. Their Calendar of Events has something for every member of the family.

Zombie outbreak in Roseville

2011-07-28T23:50:16Z

Several hundred zombie enthusiasts gathered at Roseville’s Royer Park to get makeup done and receive instructions before invading Vernon Street.

This was Roseville’s first ever Zombie Walk. Dozens of people who participated in July’s Second Saturday Zombie Walk made their way to Roseville.

Joshua Cox arranged the event via Facebook and was on hand to help apply makeup to participants. Several gallons off “blood” were used to help zombies ready themselves for the walk.

Besides corn syrup and red food coloring, used to emulate blood, several zombies brought items to help with makeup including sponges, cotton balls, food coloring, liquid latex, white school glue and other materials.

Several babies accompanied their parents as they too were made to look like little zombies.

After meeting at the gazebo at Royer Park the zombies made their way towards Vernon Street where the weekly Downtown Tuesday was being held. Zombies were asked not to show up at Vernon Street beforehand in order to make a more dramatic appearance.

Cox directed zombies where to walk as they were divided when they walked over a bridge from Royer Park towards Vernon Street. Half the zombies went to the left and the other half to the right and moved towards the Downtown Tuesday crowd.

Zombies made quite an appearance and were for the most part well received and guests at Roseville’s Downtown Tuesday were treated to wonderful show.

Zombies made a triumphant walk up and down Vernon Street and were very respectful of their surroundings. Several zombies were overcome with heat and fatigue and indulged in some food and drink made for humans.

The Roseville Zombie Walk was well planned and Roseville citizens enjoyed an unexpected treat. This first time Zombie Walk in Roseville was epic and brought life to the streets of Roseville.

Joshua Cox and his group of organizers and volunteers are to be commended for their work. The Zombie Walk was a hit and hopefully it will make a return next year.

More photos will be posted at www.dalvarezphoto.com

Fashion and music at Folsom's Hair Garage

2011-07-27T07:08:41Z

The Hair Garage salon in Folsom hosted a fashion show to showcase Nini’s Boutique summer collection. The Hair Garage is located at 990 Riley Street in Folsom and it opened in 2008.

In addition to the fashion show on Friday night, two live bands entertained guests. A barbecue and drinks were provided free of charge.

Designer tops, jeans and handbags were available for purchase and many of Nini’s Boutique items were available for special prices.

The salon was packed as many came to see the fashion show and stayed to listen to Rise From Within and Silence of the Grimm. Both are local bands and both were quite entertaining.

Christina Mercadel, advance stylist, provided me with information on the event and also served as emcee of the event. Mercadel also called out winning raffle ticket winners as part of the night’s activities.

The fashion show showed several items from Nini’s Boutique collection of summer wear. The collection included designer tank tops and denim shorts. One and two piece summer outfits were also showcased as well as floral dresses and colorful wear. Many of the outfits hanging on several racks were priced at $15 and below.

Homa Bandani owns Nini’s Boutique. Bandani has been involved in fashion since she was 16 years old. She has a degree in business studies from Pune University in India. Bandani’s boutique offers high quality designer clothing at affordable prices.

The Hair Garage is owned by Kamran Mashadimirza who has over 20 years of experience in the industry. Homa and Kamran were at the salon with their son Imon. Both are very friendly and happy with their Folsom salon.

I asked Mercadel how often they hold these fashion and music shows, “This is the second one since I’ve been here. The owner has done about 5 or six of these events and they’re fun. It opens up the salon and boutique allowing people the opportunity to get to know us and check out our services. We enjoy getting models in here and they have a great time getting make-up and hair done,” said Mercadel.

As we talked, the first band was setting up in the background and customers were coming up to the register to pay for bought items. The salon was busy with things going on inside and outside. The barbecue items were delicious and also free. It was almost like going out to the State Fair and trying some new foods. The chefs provided hotdogs wrapped in bacon, succulent barbecue chicken and other finger licking food.

Rise From Within provided the first set of live musical entertainment. The Sacramento band includes Michael Hidalgo, vocals, Matt Tullgren, guitar, Rick Moore, bass and Marcos Silva, drums. Rise From Within plays metal/alternative/rock and played a hard sounding set.

Mike Hidalgo welcomed the crowd saying, “How are you guys doing? We’re Rise From Within, we like to thank you for letting us come and play at the Hair Garage, thanks.” After setting up their equipment and getting a quick sound check they launched into “Take for Granted” a heavy duty song showcasing the band’s sound.

Rise From Within played several more songs including their rendition of “Feel Like Making Love.”

During part of their set I went outside to talk to the owners. We talked a little about the fashion show and Bandani said the models were basically volunteers. This will give them some good experience that can help them get their foot into the world of fashion.

Andrew Fowler, lead vocals for Silence of the Grimm took the microphone to introduce the band. “Hi everybody we’re Silence of the Grimm. We want to thank Erika and the rest of the people at Hair Garage for letting us come out to this foray. I want everybody who is here right now listening to me to give it up. I want everyone clapping for Erika; she did a lot of work putting this together.” The audience obliged.

Silence was a misnomer for the band they were quite the opposite; they were very loud, they were quite raw and they were entirely excellent. Andrew Fowler, vocals, Josh Swanberg, guitar, Mike Silva, guitar, Clayton Grossman, bass and Dan Capps, drums make up this Rancho Cordova band.

They had a mix of songs doing covers and doing their own compositions. A really well done rendition of “Ambivalent” showed how talented they are. As they hang-banged and played they interacted with the audience as well as with members of Rise who stayed to listen.

Their rendition of Drowning Pool’s “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor” was just awesome. Metal at its best, Silence of the Grimm, thoroughly entertained the audience.

Head turning fashion by Nini’s Boutique and head-banging music by Rise From Within and Silence of the Grimm was a great release for a Friday Night in Folsom.

Greens Hotel Hosts Launch 2011

2011-07-26T05:01:27Z

A great evening was had by all who attended Launch 2011 at the Greens Hotel. Dozens of artists, vendors, musicians, architects, designers, photographers and fashionistas contributed to this grand event.

Launch 2011 began at 5 o’clock on Saturday, July 23 and continued well into the early morning.

As guests entered the hotel, the pool area was used as the main entrance. DJs Mike Diamond, My Cousin Vinny and Jon Droll provided some great sounds for pool party guests.

Architectural and furniture designers showcased their products and many of the hotel rooms exhibited their work. Other rooms were occupied by fashion, photography, art, music and Launch guests.

Other DJs played on stage in between acts, with Sam I Jam, Adam J and Taylor Cho taking turns.

The first live act of the evening was Evrika. I had not heard them play before, but audio and visual images quickly made people take notice. Evrika is made up of Carlos Ramirez and Ariana Vanderburg. The duo played a set, featuring songs such as, “Wake the Nurse.”

I was intrigued by the band and went to ask them a couple of questions after their set. They have been together for about a year.

“We’ve known each other for a very long time and we decided a few years ago to start producing her music and about a year ago we began collaborating together,” said Ramirez. Both he and Vanderburg are from the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles.

I asked if they had been touring and they indicated Launch was their first show.

“We’re very excited about it,” said Vandenburg. The artist sang in high school, plays keyboard and has learned much from Ramirez when it comes to mixing and engineering music.

Ramirez called their music, “Electronic Funk.”

“We’re very influenced by bands like Radiohead and people tell us we sound like Massive Attack,” said Ramirez, “We’re hoping this opportunity kind of opens up other windows of opportunity.”

When asked how they became involved in Launch, Ramirez explained the connection.

“I’ve been friends with Michael Hargis for a long time and he’s one of the people I’ve been sharing our music with for the past year or so. He liked what we had and invited us to be part of the line-up.”

Ramirez mentioned they would be going back on stage to play a song for Reject Clothing later in the evening.

The Dreaded Diamond, another two member band, took the stage as Evrika ended. Siblings Juli and Tyler Lydell formed Dreaded Diamond in early 2008. Their music is a mixture of jazz, experimental, soul, rock and folk elements. They started their set with, “High Horse.”

Acts from the Main Stage could be heard throughout the hotel and as such, you could enjoy both the musical acts and view what artists and vendors had to offer. The collective artists showcased some of the best talent in Sacramento all under one roof.

I took turns going from one room to the next while I listened to Dreaded Diamond and came back to watch them play. The Sacramento based band played for about half an hour. The Lydells performed in full sun yet kept an upbeat tempo throughout.

A bar and a food truck by Mama Kim Cooks provided refreshments and various dishes for guests. Hot Italian provided pizza in the VIP area.

I caught up to Kamtin Mohager from The Chain Gang of 1974 and asked him a couple of questions.

“The band has been going on for a little over four years now,” said Mohager when asked how long they’ve been together.

I also asked him how he came up with the band name.

“It came up from a mix of two ideas. There’s a musician named Ryan Adams that I’m a big fan of and his birth year is 1974. He did a song named ‘1974.’ Then there’s a band called The Raveonettes and they had a record called ‘Chain Gang of Love.’ I just put them together and came up with The Chain Gang of 1974.”

Mohager moved to Los Angeles about eight months ago when he moved out of Denver. When asked what brought him to L.A. he quickly replied, “The weather,” and smiled as he said it.

“We’ve been touring a lot. My official debut record just came out exactly a month ago. We’ve been basically on the road supporting that. We have a lot of touring coming up - we have Lollapalooza in Chicago and then we’ll tour with Big Audio Dynamite.”

It seems like The Chain Gang of 1974 will be busy for most of the year. Mohager was quite enthusiastic about upcoming events and performing at Launch.

The Chain Gang of 1974 also played at Harlow’s about a month ago. August will take the group touring in and around California. Listen to some samples and learn more about upcoming tours on their website.

Favors, whom I had recently watched at the Concerts in the Park series on July 1, also took the stage. As soon as one band ended a set, the next band quickly set up their equipment. Favors began their set with, “Animals,” a crowd favorite with whimsical lyrics.

Their performances are enjoyable and their electronica/dance rhythms are very catchy. You really can’t stand still when you hear them play. The same could be said of the Ganglians, ReSA and Exquisite Corps, who followed. Their raw energy carried each set and more people inched closer and closer to the stage.

At around 9:30 p.m., the first fashion exhibit featured Miss Chief of California showcasing their newest trends. The models moved down the runway a little too fast, but by this time, live entertainment had fallen behind on the schedule.

Sister Crayon gathered more steam and fans began to increase in number around the stage and runway. Sister Crayon, as always, delighted the audience and dancers moved to their beats.

Reject Clothing by Adrienne Cheng followed and by this time, the acts on the Main Stage moved faster. As one band moved their equipment away from the stage, the next band continued to set up.

Little Foxes played as many songs as time allowed and the Van der Neer fashion collection followed with their spectacular outfits. As it got closer to midnight, the Chain Gang of 1974 came on stage and dancers began to take over the runway.

The whole evening was quite a spectacular event and those that were lucky enough to attend and participate appeared to have a great time.

An After Party continued with Free the Robots, DJ Whores, Shaun Slaughter and Super Human Youth.

Kudos to Michael Hargis and his amazing group of volunteers, artists and performers for a full night of fun. Launch 2011 was a wonderful multidisciplinary cultural experience. Next year, a bigger show is expected and fans of art, music and design are sure to enjoy the sights and sounds of this historic Launch movement.

Thursday Night Fun in Folsom

2011-07-25T18:43:34Z

Folsom’s Thursday Night Marketplace and Street Fair, for 2011, will end on the last week of July. Every Thursday from June 9 through July 28 the streets of Folsom’s Historic District are packed with visitors, musicians, performers and vendors.

Except for Thursday, June 30, when the Folsom Cattle Run took place, Sutter Street has seen thousands of visitors each Thursday as they visit and enjoy various performances.

For the past two weeks a trio of young musicians have occupied the 600 block of Sutter Street. Derek Thomas, singer, Sam Plecker, guitarist and Nolan Le Vine, drummer, make up the group called Thomas and Plecker. The Roseville band has entertained visitors for the last two weeks and will also be on hand this upcoming Thursday, July 28.

The trio attends Woodcreek High School in Roseville and has known each other a long time. I spoke to Russell Le Vine who told me a little about the boys. Le Vine is the drummer’s (Nolan) dad who does a lot of the driving for the band.

The Thomas and Plecker band was put together about six months ago but the boys have grown up together and attend the same high school now. Russell Le Vine said the boys have been having putting together about three gigs a week. During the time I’ve been attending the Thursday Night Marketplace I haven’t seen the same band play two weeks in a row and the teenage trio will be making their third appearance next week.

They’re not your typical teen band playing contemporary songs. Thomas and Plecker play wonderful renditions of songs like “That’s Life” written by Dean Kay and Kelly Gordon for Frank Sinatra or “Fever” an Eddie Cooley and John Davenport originally recorded by Little Willie John and made famous by Peggy Lee.

Besides Sinatra and Peggy Lee the trio site Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin, Michael Bublé, Harry Connick Jr., Johnny Mathis and Nat King Cole as influences in their music. As they performed on Sutter Street these personable young men played in front of many admirers in front of Chicago Fire and Planet Earth Rising.

As well as playing at the last Thursday Night Marketplace, Thomas and Plecker will perform at Karma Goods in Auburn on July 26 and Gelayo’s in Granite Bay on July 27 before coming back to Sutter Street Marketplace this Thursday July 28.

Another classic, that I really enjoyed, was their rendition of "Always on My Mind.” Afterwards Thomas introduced one of their more contemporary cover songs saying, “This next song, we kind of made it our own. It’s not our style but we’ve made it into our style it’s a song called ‘I Will Follow You Into the Dark.’” The Death Cab for Cutie cover song was one that the younger audience could relate to but still had a “Rat Pack” tribute sound.

As they took a break I chatted with band members for a few minutes. They gave me the location for the next couple of outdoor shows in Auburn and Granite Bay. Thomas, who is also an actor, will be performing in “Spring Awakening” at the Alternative Arts Collective Theatre.

“We met in fifth grade,” Thomas said pointing to Plecker when I asked how long they’ve known each other. He continued “Nolan and I have been long time friends going back to pre-school.” I knew they were in high school and Thomas said “We’re seniors and Nolan is a junior, so we have a couple of more years before college. “

Thomas and Plecker have discussed their future as musicians and have talked about perhaps exploring the L.A. music scene as they move on to college and beyond. Their friendship appears solid and it would be interesting to follow their career as they get older.

As the Thomas and Plecker band took their break I moved on to see what else was available at the Marketplace.

In front of the Hacienda Del Rio Restaurant, the Jahari Sai Quartet played for visitors on the 700 block of Sutter Street. People passing by were captivated by the easy sounds of the quartet. I stayed and listened to their rendition of "Baby It's You" by Burt Bacharach, Luther Dixon (credited as Barney Williams) and Mack David.

A little girl and her dad stood nearby listening to the quartet and they dedicated a song entitled “You Are My Butterfly” to the little girl.

The week before, Marcelle graced the stage area as they entertained new and old fans. Their Rhythm and Blues sound allowed passersby to enjoy some time away from the busy street to enjoy their contemporary easy listening sounds.

I watched them perform one of my favorite Sade’s songs “The Sweetest Taboo” during their set. Marcelle has been together as a band for about 8 years and appear at many venues around Sacramento and northern California.

At the corner of Wool and Sutter Street is another stage area for different acts. Perfect Sounds with DJ Ray occupy that area every week. DJ Ray plays music from the ‘70s to contemporary sounds. He also plays background music as acts perform.

Acts such as Gina’s Belly Fitness Studio performed there a couple of weeks ago and brought several dancers as they performed several dances. Gina Beck, belly dance instructor, has a dance studio in Orangevale and classes are conducted on a regular basis.

Gina Belley Dancing will join Fatima and Friends at the California Stage Fair on July 31.

The Folsom Thursday Night Marketplace has made it a point to bring entertainment that involves physical education to the Wool and Sutter Street stage. Rancho Cordova’s Technique Gymnastics has had a booth on the 600 block of Sutter Street and two weeks ago they showcased some of their tumbling acts.

Technique Gymnastics conducts kinder gym and recreational classes as well as tumbling, cheer, fitness, trampoline and other gymnastic type classes for boys and girls.

In competition, team members from Technique Gymnastics have succeeded in several competitions in the area. Several of the gymnasts performed cartwheels with two hands as well as with only one hand. Power hurdle round-offs and other drills were executed with precision as guests watched in amazement.

This last Thursday CrossFit Anywhere conducted some hard-core physical fitness workouts in front of an all age audience. You could probably work up a sweat just watching these guys. To see the type of workout drills they conducted please follow the attached video link.

Folsom’s Thursday Night Marketplace returns this Thursday for the year’s finale. If you have not seen the completed Sutter Street Revitalization with all its new and established shops it will be a great opportunity to jump on some special pricing during the event.

I highly recommend you come and enjoy the sounds of Thomas and Plecker as they perform this Thursday. Other musical and special performers will be showcasing their talents as well. Over 80 vendors will join the established merchants on Sutter Street as they continue to offer great promotions to shoppers.

Building Memories at the California State Fair

2011-07-21T03:22:01Z

The California State Fair at Cal Expo runs until July 31, and if this past weekend is any indication of its popularity, the fair will be well attended.

There is so much to see and do that you either have to start early and spend the whole day or make more than one trip to the annual fair. The State Fair offers a season pass that includes unlimited admission to the fair and the Raging Waters park.

Summer concerts, special events, featured attractions, activities just for kids, competitions, agricultural exhibits, food, wine, beer, shopping, rides, slides and “big fun” are many of the activities visitors can experience.

For over a century and a half, the California State Fair has brought delight to hundreds of thousands of guests. Fairgoers can enjoy the urban and rural diversity California has to offer.

After walking around and viewing some exhibits around the Expo Center, I made my way toward the Promenade Stage and the food court.

At the Promenade Stage, the Bambini dancers took the stage to perform several colorful Italian dances. Once they finished, I set out to find the infamous Maggot Melt. I actually did not look very hard, mainly because I told myself I was going to try one if I found the place where it was sold. I ended having some catfish and a nice cold drink.

I was told that the Clydesdales had returned to the fair, and I found the magnificent horses by the Livestock Pavilion where they had attracted a crowd of people trying to pet them. The massive horses were well mannered and stood still as kids and adults petted them and asked their handler questions.

The Cavalcade of Horses Arena included a kids’ horse play area, with a wooden horse, cowboy and cowgirl hats for photo posing, and a couple of miniature horses. The arena also had equestrian events all through the day. The stables had full grown and miniature horses, which was a popular draw.

I returned to the PG&E Center Stage for some dance, music and fashion. Several hip-hop acts performed, including Juana Blaze who attracted many fans. During Blaze’s performance, several models from Brandy At Brigandis showcased some Robin's Nest Boutique outfits.

Blaze’s performance was very animated, ending with one of her most recognizable songs, “Heart of a Woman.”

Following Blaze’s magnificent performance, West Sacramento’s River Dance Academy performed several lively dances. The dancers ranged from preschool-age to young teens, with styles ranging from hip-hop and modern dance to tap and ballet.

One of the most popular shows at the Center Stage for the last couple of years has been the Suzy Haner Hypnosis Show. Several volunteers performed some outrageous acts while under hypnosis, and Suzy Haner’s “suggestions” were very funny as those under her spell followed every instruction. The willing volunteers danced, karaoked in a made-up language and performed other quite entertaining tasks.

The Blues and Brews Stage featured Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers performing with his band. Martin is scheduled to perform Fridays through Sundays at the same stage.

The Aquaculture Exhibit featured displays from California’s Aquaculture Industry. Many of the state’s most profitable fish, such as sturgeon, catfish, bass, carp and koi, were held in tanks for guests to view. Visitors also had the opportunity to touch the aquatic creatures.

Just below the Blues and Brew Stage was a mechanical bull-riding area. Both adults and kids tried staying atop the bull for as long as they could, with the operators using wise judgment in controlling the speeds and levels. Several riders returned more than once.

My favorite events were the animal shows and exhibits. Kangaroo Joey’s Big Adventure featured Australian marsupials, including two fairly newborn kangaroos, one of which is a rare albino. The handlers were very helpful and understanding with children as they asked many questions.

The farm area brings the fair back to its roots. Kids could enjoy feeding farmyard babies and posing for the Hitching Post Pony Photos. A pedal tractor runabout allowed kids to drive a tractor and ride broom-handle horses.

I returned to the Cavalcade of Horses to view the Nu Balance Vaulters perform. They rode two beautiful horses while standing up, lying down and performing breathtaking tricks.

An annual favorite, Dianne Olds Rossi’s Magical World of Dancing Horses, also performed at the arena. The world-renowned equine celebrity showcased her horse-training abilities as her horse danced.

The last stop I made was back at the Promenade Stage for The Cheeseballs, playing classic covers from the ‘70s through contemporary hits. The dance floor filled as people got up and boogied to their favorites.

Fireworks end each night of fun at the fair. The event is fun for all ages, and there is something for everyone. It’s a great time to establish fond memories of family outings.

Launch 2011

2011-07-20T02:57:39Z

Launch 2011, a design, music and fashion festival, will take place at the Greens Hotel on Del Paso Boulevard on July 23, 2011.

Launch is a multidisciplinary audio and visual festival. The event aims to create an experience that allows Sacramento artists to join forces in producing a creative community that works for art and the community. Launch brings together artistic individuals to Sacramento to showcase local and national works of art, music and design in one place.

The event will include live music by Little Foxes, D.A.M.B., Exquisite Corps, ReSA, The Dreaded Diamond and Chain Gang of 1974, as well as many others scheduled to appear. Artists, DJs, fashion designers, architects and many other Sacramento trendsetters will be there to showcase their talents.

Artists scheduled to be on hand are Aaron Kraten, Brady Tuazon, Chelsea Greene Lewyta, Jeff Dojillo, Jeff Felker, Joel Lee, John Horton, Keith Telfeyan, Kristina Collantes, Micah Crandall-Bear, Nicholas Wray Wilson and Raoul Ortega. Fashion designers Van der Neer, Miss Chief of California and Adrienne Cheng are also expected to be on hand.

Architecture exhibits are on the menu as well. The Launch Festival is a sensory experience that’s sure to delight visitors.

I was able to get a few minutes with event founder Michael Hargis and conducted a short interview.

Sacramento Press: Can you tell me what your role in the event entails?

Michael Hargis: I’m the event coordinator and organizer of Launch.

SP: How was the name Launch derived?

MH: I’ll try to give you a little history. I’m an architectural designer, so I think that from a designer perspective approaching the city of Sacramento I saw it as a blank canvas. The ideology behind the word Launch was that if we could get enough creative people together, in one place, and rally behind a similar vision, we could take Sacramento to another place, in essence elevating Sacramento. Promoting the feel and culture of the city was a main goal and that’s kind of how Launch came about.

SP: How long has Launch been going on?

MH: This is the third year under the name Launch. We actually did another show that was very similar to this four years ago called The Movement of Design and it was the first show we did that included runway fashion. A fashion inspired art show, live music and vending gave us a little formula that worked but we wanted to take it into another level so we came together with a new group of people and called it Launch.

SP: Has Launch always been held at the Greens Hotel?

MH: We held it the first year at the Greens Hotel. The second year we went to the Artisan which is also in Del Paso. We have a little bit of affection for that vicinity. There’s actually a history of art in the Del Paso area. It was the original site for the Second Saturday Art Walk. There’s a little bit of history we wanted to tap into by doing events there. It will be the second time the event will be held at the Greens and we’re even more excited to hold the event there once again this year.

SP: I was out there taking some pictures of sculptures last month. It seems to be growing.

MH: It’s unfortunate that the economy and everything else that’s happening today has made an impact there. That area really hasn’t been revitalized yet. A couple of years ago there were a lot of developers that were starting to pour some money into that area. Dan Friedlander, who actually owns the Greens building and also owns Limn Furniture, has been a big proponent of revitalizing the area and he actually has a history of doing the same thing in San Francisco. He moved his furniture, Limn Furniture, into the old meat packing district in San Francisco and totally turned the whole area around. Friedlander also being a creative guy and being a designer saw a similar opportunity in Del Paso. I think it has potential to get there but it’s not quite there. I feel like we’re trying to help support his vision as well.

SP: What do you do to get everything together for the event?

MH: There’s a group of us and I think one of the most endearing things about Launch is that many of us are like a family. What we’re doing is more like trying to create a movement rather than trying to create an event. We’re trying to develop another little piece of history. About five years ago, a buddy of mine told me about a music scene in Tennessee and they were so engaged in their music culture and community they sort of branded themselves with the same tattoo. They rallied together and they really believed in this music scene. He was just telling me how close the community was and when I heard that it inspired me to want to do something like that in Sacramento. What I did know was design; I myself am an architectural designer so my sphere kind of went into graphic design and art. So the event itself and how it all came together came from the input from many people who are in charge of those art areas. I’m kind of like the overseer of the event. It’s a team of people who put this together.

SP: Where do you see this going three to five years from now?

MH: Our goal is to be somewhere between a mix of a Coachella Music Festival and a South by Southwest. We’d like to have an event that’s a city based event, something that potentially becomes a national attraction for Sacramento. Something that boosts the economy and really puts us on the map as far as music and design.

SP: Those are some hefty goals.

MH: I’m actually talking to the Crocker Art Museum about doing the event there next year. That’s an exciting opportunity; we feel it’s just a natural progression of where we’re heading. It’s kind of moving or making bigger leaps every year.

SP: If Launch was to leave a legacy behind, what would you like it to be?

MH: Bringing awareness to what we have to offer here locally as far as creativity, and building a community of people so we’re not so disjointed. I think building a community of people who believe in something bigger than themselves, who believe in this city and want to see amazing things happen in Sacramento. I think that if we can look back, in let’s say 10 years and say wow, this was the start of something great for this city, then that would be awesome.

SP: What do you want the Sacramento audience to know about this program or event? What can people expect?

MH: Well I don’t know if you saw our website, we had a recent cancellation of one of our headlining acts, Neon Indian, which is a bit of a disappointment. However, we have come back and in a matter of two days came back with one of the more stellar music acts that we can imagine. We’ve actually replaced one act with five new acts and one of the music acts I just can’t say enough about. They’re one of my favorites, it’s just a God thing, and it just had to be. This music act just fell into our hands; they’re the Chain Gang of 1974. They’re an indie pop group that’s so much fun and they’re one of my personal favorite bands. I’ve been listening to them while I drive in my car and actually I had been thinking about booking them next year for Launch, then this turned out and they were available. So even though it’s a little disappointment in not having Neon Indian, to me the music is just great. Another thing that’s kind of special is that Scott Hansen, who goes under the name iso50 or Tycho, has decided to do a live video mixing session for the Little Foxes set. This guy travels all over the world speaking on design and interactive and graphic design. He’s iconic, so to have him come in at the last minute and say, “okay yeah, I’ll do visuals,” that’s very special.

SP: Can you tell me just a little bit more about yourself?

MH: Well let’s see from ’95 to the first part of ’99 I created events for San Francisco. I took a small event that went from around 700 people to a crowd of about 15,000 in our third year. I enjoy gathering people. I have a desire to see people come together and build things. Other than doing the events and doing architecture, I also love being a part of bringing some creative retail concepts to Sacramento. I’m working with a group of guys trying to do some other cool and creative things.

SP: That’s all the questions I have. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

MH: One thing I’d like to make sure that gets out there is that even though I’m kind of the head guy, this is definitely a team event. It doesn’t happen without everybody coming together and there are so many selfless people involved in the project and they do it just because they believe in it and they love it. It’s a humbling experience to work with so many people who are so giving and so charitable with their time, money and their lives. I would love to give a shout out to the team, everybody involved. So many amazing people - talented, creative and amazing people - are just inspirational to see so many involved in the event.

With that I ended my interview. Hargis and his team have been working tirelessly to put this event together and I’m sure the work will continue until the last minute.

The Greens hotel, located at 1700 Del Paso Boulevard, will host Launch 2011 on Saturday, July 23 at 5 p.m. Many live acts, arts and fashion, as well as other creative individuals will be on hand to celebrate the event. Tickets can be purchased by going to Ticket Leap.

Sacramento Mermaid Parade

2011-07-19T08:39:19Z

Old Sacramento was the site for Sacramento’s first Mermaid Parade. Saturday afternoon, dozens of people of all ages dressed as mermaids, pirates, vikings, walruses, squids, octopus, sea gods and goddesses as they paraded down the streets of Old Sacramento.

Modeled after the famous 29 year old Coney Island Mermaid Parade, Sacramento held its first Mermaid Parade. Debora Iyall from Romeo Void served as Grand Marshall. The parade began at Rio City Café. Participants marched up the boardwalk, back down Front Street and ended back at the boardwalk. Besides the parade on the streets of Old Sacramento, Laughs Unlimited and the Crest Theatre (amongst others) had specials after the parade for those in costumes.

The sea creatures and those that sail the seas began to gather in front of the Rio City Café. Some people made final hair, makeup and costume changes as they waited for the parade to begin. Many who participated found out about the parade at the last minute and put together their costume that same day.

Registration had been held in the days before the event and those that registered in advance were eligible for prizes. Prizes were to be awarded for best costume in both the adult’s and children’s categories.

Shaun Slaughter participated in the parade dressed as King Neptune and Queen Mermaid was Heidi Ho.

Several mermaids had to be pushed on wheeled vehicles, as their fins would not allow them to walk on solid ground. Many of the participants had obviously spent much time thinking about their costume and putting it together with makeup. Although not everyone could spent as much time putting their outfits together, the main point of the event was to have fun, and in that aspect, it was atremendously successful event.

Magic Salon, Phono Select Record Shop, Dimond Makeup Artistry and Strut Threads were the sponsors for the event. Other groups that joined the parade included a pirate meet-up group and Louisiana Sue promoting a pirate festival scheduled in September.

As the parade moved around Old Sacramento, it drew an audience. Many were not aware the event was taking place. Several people indicated they would look for the event next year and perhaps participate.

Once the parade came back to the boardwalk, it was time to gather and announce the winners for best costumes.

The children’s best costume award was presented first.

“Thank you all for your participation,” said Iyall as the children stood in front of her, “I will now confer with the Grand Marshall’s court.”

As the court talked things over, the girls who were registered waited in anticipation.

“Second prize goes to Miss Beautiful Pink Princess, and that leaves our first prize winner. All were deserving,” said Iyall. The audience cheered as the little mermaid made her way back to her family.

The next prize was in the “teens” category. Only two teen registered participants were up for this prize.

“In this category we have best and runner up. It was a very difficult decision. Our runner up in the beautiful green and lavender outfit. Our Best Teen is number 34.” Again the enthusiasm exhibited by the audience was magnificent, bringing smiles to participants and the audience.

“I wish you a life of fin!” said Iyall.

Most of the registered participants were adults and as such, posed a dilemma as the adults came forward in front of the Grand Marshall and her court. Two categories for the adult category were Best and Runner Up.

“The Best prize goes to number 59!” Iyall announced. The mermaid was pushed in a cart by a pirate as they paraded around Old Sacramento and again now, as they took the Best Costume prize in the adult’s category.

“The Runner Up is Ariel,” Iyall announced. Many Ariels participated in the parade and the whole process of selecting winners was difficult for Grand Marshall, Iyall and her court.

The judging was the end of the parade, but festivities continued as adult guests were invited to move on to Laughs Unlimited for music and drink specials. Anyone in costume would also receive free admission to the comedy act scheduled for 8 o’clock.

The first place children’s winner was Xochil Pasillas’ niece Corina. Her daughter Bella won fourth place. Diana, who is Pasillas’ daughter as well, won Best Costume in the teen category.

“We all got together,” said Pasillas, “we have cousins here and since we all love mermaids, we came here. It was a lot of fun.”

Pasillas also noted that they made all of their costumes. The costumes they created were created by putting together different outfits and by using their imagination.

“We loved it,” Pasias said and joined her family as they celebrated their prizes and showed off their costumes.

Debora Iyall was a great selection for Grand Marshall. After everything was over Iyall stayed to pose for photographs with guests.

The Crest Theater showed “Humanoids from the Deep” at midnight, which kept the mermaid and mermen fun going. The film is a classic b-horror movie complete with aquatic horror scenes.

The first annual Sacramento Mermaid Parade was a great event and was enjoyed by all who attended. Next year should be twice as big as word gets around.

Art and Zombie Walk

2011-07-14T20:21:21Z

July’s Second Saturday was the place to be for music, art, socializing, fashion and a zombie walk. During summer more people take to the Streets of Midtown to enjoy Second Saturday events.

Vendors and artists move their venues each month. Many artists move their work from one Art Walk exhibit to the next looking for places to hang their artwork for a month. Other artists have established studios or areas where they exhibit on a regular basis. Local musicians find a street corner to play and then have a show at night clubs as Second Saturday begins to wind down.

Law enforcement presence is reassuring and helps to know they’re patrolling the area.

This month I walked the streets waiting for the Zombie Walk that was to begin at 9 p.m., at the Sub Q Piercing and Tattoo shop on 1715 I Street.

Walking down Capitol Avenue I stopped to listen to DJ Esef who was in front of Urban Hound Properties. Esef was spinning some groves as people stopped and passed by when Second Saturday was beginning to pick up steam. Move visitors were either getting out of cars or looking for prime parking space to enjoy the sights and sounds of July’s Art Walk.

Down on 20th Street, between J and K, I made another stop as I heard Christopher Poulos playing the accordion. If you happen to see Chris during next month’s Second Saturday or elsewhere you can probably make any request and he’ll play it for you. Most requests are obliged including metal. Requests can either be accordion or non-accordion tunes.

I later passed by the Garlic Shack which opened recently and noticed quite a few people patronizing the restaurant. Garlic Shack’s patio had a DJ and artists Lila Solórzano and Randy Rivera creating art. Solórzano and Rivera were in front of Yogurtagogo during last month’s Second Saturday creating other art work.

Last month I heard Clark Reese play and made it a point to go back and listen to a couple of his compositions. Reese was at the Second Saturday Art Show at 1927 L Street.

Reese is a very talented musician who played the acoustic guitar, harmonica and tambourine as he performed. I later found that he also plays the drums, bass, accordion, flute, mandolin, banjo, kazoo and piano at different skill levels. His voice and lyrics are his strong points and as his exposure grows, I’m sure, his following will also grow.

Clark Reese played on the back deck area at the Revel Second Saturday Art Show. As he played his tunes his winning smile, attitude and great song lyrics filled the air. Reese looks for songs that are fun and soul searching.

As Reese played the title track from Machine Undone, a song by the same name from his latest CD, you can feel and hear some deep thoughts and feelings from within as he sang to the audience that gathered.

Reese’s next song “I Feel It Coming On” was another fine example of putting inner most feelings down on paper and creating a song that certain people can relate to with lyrics such as the following:

Come on down to the lair
It’s were we have all the fun
Do you feel the sting of the sword on you now?
Do you feel the wound opening?

Find yourself a matching soul, that will bind to you
When you’re down, and in a hole, that’s when your lover will do, anything for you

That song from his Machine Undone CD exemplifies some of the lyrics that create a great song and is part of his latest 7 song CD.

As other people came to listen to Reese I heard many compliments and after one of his songs I asked for a shot of him and any new fans who wanted to pose by his side.

Down on the L Street I ran into a couple of members of the River City Sisters. Sister LeVita Kiss and Sister Coco Demure stood on L Street posing for photos and talking to visitors as they passed by. By this time the evening was becoming a bit more populated and some artists were still setting up.

Further down L Street I stopped at a table set up by Tiana Vega and Dave Icarangal and Jennifer Richards who were promoting the Designing Dreams Fashion Show (scheduled for August 13) and the Sweet Dreams Foundation.

Some people walked by and stopped for information and were also able to sign up for a mailing list in order to receive more information about the fashion show or the Sweet Dreams Foundation.

After a while one of the River City Sisters, Novice Sister Carey joined the group and helped recruit people who had not heard of Designing Dreams or the Sweet Dreams Foundation.

As the Second Saturday Art Walk was coming to a close Sister Carey had helped spread the word about Sacramento’s growing fashion industry and also helped pass the word regarding the Sweet Dreams Foundation. Tiana Vega and Dave Icarangal were recently selected to be part of the next New York Fashion Week with their Tiana Vega Collection.

Tickets for the 2nd Annual Designing Dreams Fashion Show that will be held August 13 at the Memorial Auditorium are now on sale. Visit the Designing Dreams website for more information on this gala event and tickets.

My final destination for July’s Second Saturday was the Zombie Walk.

A few blocks before I got to Sub Q I noticed many zombies making their way to the starting point. A few stations were set up for zombie makeup and artists from Callson Manor were already at work creating zombie works of art.

A Zombie Walk was scheduled to move from Sub Q to the Crest Theatre where the Trash Film Orgy was going to start off by showing the 1985 horror cult film “Return of the Living Dead.”

The Zombie Walk gathering was much bigger than previous years. I’m not sure how many attended but it looked like over 2,000 zombies made the walk a success this year.

Most of the zombies I talked to had the same comments whenever I posed a question. When I asked Lara Johnson what she thought about this year’s zombie walk she fixed her electrified hair and straightened out her bloody dress and she said, “Aarg!” Once the walk started most zombies stayed in true zombie form. I asked Johnson what she had for dinner and she said, “Braaaiiiiiinnnnnnssss!” I posed the same question to one of her friends who was a vegan and he said "Graaaaaiiiiins!"

I think the hundreds of zombies that claimed several of Midtown’s streets had a great time as did people who watched them pass by. As the zombies arrived at the Crest Theater many roamed K Street waiting for zombie parents to come by and pick them up. Several other hundred zombies were able to enjoy the beginning of the Trash Film Orgy.

As I watched zombies walk up and down K Street I couldn’t help but think of the song “House Of 1000 Corpses” by one of the patron saints of zombie hood; Rob Zombie.

Ending with the Zombie Walk, in my opinion, made this one of the most enjoyable Second Saturdays of the year.

(Note; more Zombie Walk photos can be found here)