Community

Elizabeth Studebaker to step down from Midtown Business Association

2013-05-06T19:53:35Z

The executive director of the Midtown Business Association will be stepping down to take a job with the City of San Diego.

Elizabeth Studebaker took the helm art the Midtown Business Association at the beginning of last year. She was a constant presence in the neighborhood and at local events. Her most recent initiatives include a project to improve street lighting and the launch of the Midtown Farmers Market, which has drawn large crowds in its first two weeks.

This is a quick update - we're working on a full story with more details now. The full press release is below.

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Press release:

Midtown Business Group Seeking New Executive Director

Current Director Accepts Economic Development Position in San Diego

Sacramento, CA – This week, the Midtown Business Association (MBA) Board of Directors will begin a search for a new Executive Director to serve as community advocate, manager and liaison for Midtown property and business owners. The position is responsible to lead all programs, including management of clean and safe programs; marketing and advocacy; and serve as the primary spokesperson for Midtown’s commercial core. The Executive Director works closely with, and takes direction from a 25-member volunteer Board of Directors as well as a seven-member volunteer Board of Directors for the Midtown PBID Corporation.

Executive Director, Elizabeth Studebaker, is stepping down to pursue an opportunity as the new Business Improvement District (BID) Advocate in the City of San Diego’s Economic Development Department. In her new position, she’ll be responsible for supporting 18 BIDs and 20 micro-districts, as well as advocating for policies to improve the economic environment for all small businesses in the City of San Diego.

“Liz has played an integral role in elevating the MBA to a well-known, respected, and effective organization,” stated Beth Hassett, MBA Board of Directors President (Executive Director of WEAVE, Inc.). “Her ability to work with regional, city and community partners has made a significant contribution to the quality of life in Midtown. Without a doubt, Liz will be missed in Sacramento, but the positive impacts of her work will be felt for years to come. Speaking on behalf of the entire Board of Directors, we wish her much success in her next professional endeavor.”

Councilmember Steve Hansen, whose council district includes Midtown noted, “In a short period of time, Liz has strengthened and transformed MBA with her characteristic energy and sense of purpose. She has forged a stronger community between the business and residents through a shared vision of Midtown an eclectic, vibrant, walkable, and bike friendly neighborhood and business district. The City is grateful for her work, and we look forward to continuing this progress with her eventual successor.”

During her 18 month tenure, Studebaker implemented a number of notable changes to improve the MBA and enhance economic development in Midtown, including:

--Successful renewal of the Property Business Improvement District (PBID) in July 2012,
--Increasing Clean & Safe services, including maintenance, litter & graffiti removal, homeless outreach, and lighting installation efforts,
--Restructuring staff and PBID programs for increased efficiency and positive impacts to the district,
--Focusing on advocacy, including parking policy, transportation, and public safety,
--Cultivating relationships with neighborhood associations, city staff, and regional partners,
Improving transparency for the MBA, specifically regarding finances and decision-making,
--Fine-tuning special events to better align with the mission and vision of the MBA, and
--Launching Midtown’s first Farmers Market, held every Saturday from 8am-1pm at 20th & J Streets.

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A 'stand against violence' – Vigil to be held Monday night in response to Newton shooting

2012-12-17T17:19:39Z

There will be a "Vigil Against Violence" Monday night in response to the Connecticut school killings, and to violence within the Sacramento community in 2012.

The memorial and vigil will be held today, Monday, Dec. 17, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at St. Matthew's Christian Church, 4809 Roosevelt Ave in Sacramento.

Assemblymember Roger Dickinson, Pacific-Fruitridge Fire Protection District Board Director Lawson Stuart and Sacramento Unified School District Board Trustee Patrick Kennedy will be in attendance. More RSVPs are expected Monday morning, according to a press release.

One of the event organizers, Lawson C. Stuart, sent us the following statement when asked what he hopes the event will achieve:

“While I believe that community events are always important, especially when a community needs to be reunited together after being broken down over time, this one is important for one overwhelming reason: We must stand together as a community to ensure that the kind of violence that has plagued us all year is not allowed to repeat itself in 2013.

"We cannot remain on the sidelines hoping that this will not happen to us. It did. It simply did not happen all on one day and in so horrific a manner as the massacre in Connecticut.

The truth is that this kind of event was MORE likely to have happened in this county, this city. That is a fact that we cannot accept. History has shown us that whenever changes that promote the desired goal are to be made, it is through the coming together of the community.

This community needs to stand against violence. I hope to accomplish first an appropriate memorial where those struck by this tragedy may experience healing through the unifying of our hearts and minds with those across the country. We need it. I need it too, as dropping my 1st grader off to class this morning was harder than it should have ever been allowed to become.

Second, we need this to start pulling this community together as one voice against the violence. We need to have people realize that, regardless of where you stand on the gun debate, where you are with the different politics of this, NOTHING can be accomplished without a united community.

I believe we need to visit our local and national policies on weapons. We need to ensure that budgeting is handled in a manner that ensures that Police and Fire and EMS will always be on standby for when we need them. And we need to ensure that our Teachers can focus on being great teachers and not pursuing tactical proficiency as some kind of secondary job requirement.

For the community I represent and the things I feel I can do as a Director on the Fire Board, this starts with reaching across districts and traditional, introverted focus on only my board, and establishing a relationship with those whose jurisdiction does include crime fighting. I promised during the campaign to ensure that public safety was a goal no matter what. I promised this would include Fire and EMS in my role as a Director, and I further promised to represent my community in the other areas they needed it. Safety improvement can be as simple as a speed bump on a street and as major as the removal of weapons from them.

But no matter what is pursued and made possible, I promised to be there doing all I could. Not just because I have children growing up here too. I want to do what is right more than I talk about what is right. That is what the entire country is desiring from their elected officials and it is what they will get from me.”

Public Comment: Sacramento needs a facility for bike polo

2012-12-13T22:49:21Z

In this video from Tuesday's Sacramento City Council meeting, Samuel Cardwell of Capitol Bike Polo speaks to the council members about the need for a multi-use athletic facility that could be used for bike polo, roller hockey and soccer.

"Sacramento is one of the only cities that doesn't have a multi-use court to use." Cardwell said. "we play in parking garages where we're not allowed to, tennis courts where we got kicked out, and Sacramento really needs a resource for this multi-use courts and we don't have them."

The group is currently looking for a temporary place to play, Cardwell said, but eventually hopes to find a home somewhere in the grid.

While he didn't mention any specific details about cost, Cardwell indicated that the city could make make revenue from such a facility via annual bike polo and cricket tournaments – an idea that, whatever its merits, is definitely outside-the-box thinking for reducing the city's deficit.

We've reached to Cardwell to learn more about the bike polo group and their idea for a new facility.

What's bike polo you ask? Hopefully this video helps answer that question:

Bike Polo from Bicykiller on Vimeo.

Do you think one would work in Sacramento? Sound off below.

Cashing out of The Kay: Building holding Pizza Rock, K-Bar and Dive Bar up for sale [Updated]

2012-12-10T17:39:10Z

The area around K Street in downtown Sacramento has done well in recent years, and one group of developers is hoping for a return on their investment. If the price is right, the city could see money headed its way as well.

The building that holds Pizza Rock, K-Bar, and Dive Bar, along with six other establishments, is up for sale. Local developer David S. Taylor, who owns the property along with the CIM Group of Los Angeles, says they are "testing the market" and will only sell with the right offer. They have not listed a price.

The City of Sacramento subsidized the project, called 1000 Kay, with $5.7 million in 2009, and Taylor said the terms of the deal were such that the city would be in line to get the money back if Taylor's company and CIM received an offer that was high enough. The money from any purchase would first go to the investors, and if they made a specified amount of profit, the remaining amount would go to the city. (Taylor wasn't sure what the exact figures were, but we're working to get those from city staff soon.)

They decided to sell because they believed they had "nine high-quality tenants" in the building. The sale shouldn't affect the businesses, Taylor said.

While Taylor said that one of their initial fears when developing the project was that "no one would show up," the area has seen a r esurgence in recent years, with a cluster of restaurants and cafes opening both on K Street and in the surrounding blocks, including K-Bar, Tequila Museo Mayahuel, Blackbird Kitchen & Bar, Estelle’s Patisserie, Plaza Café Lounge and Broadacre Coffee.

The downtown Business Partnership has sought to take advantage of the momentum by rebranding the area between 7th and 13th streets as "The Kay."

In other words, it was a "Field of Dreams" type situation: he built it, and the people did in fact show up.

"It shows that if you provide good entertainment options, people will come," Taylor said. "They will come in droves and they will come consistently."

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.

Running Dead Zombie Mud Run draws a crowd, and some complaints

2012-10-22T15:29:19Z

View the story "Running Dead Zombie Mud Run draws a crowd, and some complaints " on StorifyRunning Dead Zombie Mud Run draws a crowd, and some complaints Storified by Jared Goyette · Mon, Oct 22 2012 08:25:51

Thousands of people attended the Running Dead Zombie Mud Run at Gibson Ranch on Saturday, Oct. 20. The event received mostly positive reviews, but a few issues drew complaints from participants via social media.

Runners in the 5K race wore flag-football belts, and tried to dodge "zombies" aiming to yank the flags off. To be eligible for prizes, participants had to make it through the obstacle- and mud-filled course with at least one of their flags still on.

This was the inaugural Zombie Mud Run, and the large crowd led to long lines and delayed start times. Once the race did begin (I was with the first wave that set out at around 9:20 a.m.), it was mostly smooth sailing, although some issues – like the lack of midcourse water stations – were a surprise to many, especially considering the $75 registration fee.

The overall sentiment was captured well by Facebook users Kelly Liseby and Karen Henry.

There are definitely a lot of bugs to work out with the system here. And yes it was expensive for what we got. But overall my group had a great time and look forward to next years event!Kelly Lisenby We had a blast! Inaugural events are bound to have a few hiccups, but the fun outweighed any inconveniences... Thanks for a fun day!Karen Henry I was in the race and I'm waiting to hear back from organizers for a full story. In the meantime, here's a rundown of some the best images of the day posted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. (An extra thank you goes out to photographers Heather Aguilar and Rommel Mendoza, who posted full galleries on the Running Dead Facebook page.) And then the #zombie #run happened! #getsome #sacramento #zombierun #soulofsacramento #death #scary #hungry #runShanerunshanebarker Is there an #zombie that drink beer!? #deadrun #instagood #iphone #iphonesia #photooftheday #iphoneonly #igers #picoftheday #instagramaddict #igdaily #follow #instafollow #instahub #instamood #food #foodie #foodporn #foodforthought #foodforlife #instafood #instafoodie #foodlover #foodforfoodies #foodart #art #artlover #gym #fitness #halloweenp0rk5rice Peter and santos. #runningdead #bananasuit #gorillasuitizzeling There were start Rommel Mendoza [al-kuh-mist] Photo's Yep.amberlynn76 [al-kuh-mist] Photo's Some of these zombies were on point!! #zombiebride#obstacles#funrunleslie0214 Rommel Mendoza Rommel Mendoza [al-kuh-mist] Photo's [al-kuh-mist] Photo's [al-kuh-mist] Photo's @mmandiee zombie mud runbriguy33 Obstacles! #instagood #iphone #iphonesia #photooftheday #iphoneonly #igers #picoftheday #instagramaddict #igdaily #follow #instafollow #instahub #instamood #food #foodie #foodporn #foodforthought #foodforlife #instafood #instafoodie #foodlover #foodforfoodies #foodart #art #artlover #gym #fitness #deadrun #halloweenp0rk5rice [al-kuh-mist] Photo's Ready to go bath salts on yo ass!!! #zombie #mudrunheatherlent Fucking died. The bottom picture is us resting after we died half way through. #runforyourlifepewpewanthony Zombie mud run #1stplace #zombie #mudrun #mudfightfulks Yay!! On a hangover!!!ekahi Before and After: Zombie Apocalypse 5K Run.chitozyme Successfully completed my second 5k. Good times with the juke master @jessoxoxoholls916 #sacramento #zombiemudrun destroyed my shoe!!! Ughs :(runonnarun All you can do is learn and reveiw. But lookout next year will be better.Brenda Agostini I want to just say that I had so much fun. I'm not saying there are definitely areas that need improvement (everyone here has valid points) but we want to do it again and we've got more people on our team for next year. The slip and slide needs a LOT more water, the waves need to leave on time to avoid backup which means pre-reg has to move faster, no tires, no blood cannon. But the zombies in my wave were great. They were aggressive but didn't grab or touch us, left us alone while waiting or doing obstacles, and some were downright scary (like that freaky farmer by the hay pyramid). My boyfriend walked around to see me race so boredom wasn't an issue for him. Its such a short race anyhow. It was definitely pricey, that's the one thing that bothered me, but I had a blast, even though I had mud/horse poo on my face. If the organizers work on the issues people mentioned, this will be a fantastic race next year. (Nike marathon had plenty of issues when it started too.) Thanks for everyone's hard work!Andrea Martin Zombie clowns need love too! #zombiemudrun4bratz2luv

Reader reaction: Welcome to 'The Kay'

2012-10-10T14:35:10Z

View the story "Reader reaction: Welcome to 'The Kay' " on StorifyReader reaction: Welcome to 'The Kay' A roundup of opinions about a new name for a downtown Sacramento street. Storified by Jared Goyette · Wed, Oct 10 2012 07:44:57 Sacramento Press readers greeted the news that the Downtown Sacramento Partnership is planning to rebrand a stretch of K Street between Seventh and 13th streets as "The Kay" with a wide range of reactions. Some people loved it, others hated it, and a few fell somewhere in between.
We published a story about the partnership's plan on Monday night. The initial response on social media was largely positive. Another step as K St rebuilds. Welcome to 'The Kay': Downtown Sacramento street might be rebranded http://sacpr.es/47b via @sacramentopressJohn Pastor I dig it!Jenny Tighe lookin' goodPhil Tretheway I like it!Stephen Picanço Others were less receptive. icKKurt Marin Fowler Several people thought the name and design were too hokey.
Esther Son, owner of Estelle's Patisserie, said as much in a phone interview.

"The idea is, I think, great, but you don't know how it's going to turn out to be," she said. "It might make it a little cozier and exclusive, but you don't go to downtown San Francisco and see something like that. It might make it look too suburban, too country-like." Marc Ronson expressed a similar view. SacPressComments Another reoccurring critique was that it was too soon to be thinking about a new brand for the area, and that the partnership should be focused on more basic problems. SacPressComments Lisa Martinez with the Downtown Partnership addressed this point directly. SacPressComments A few people just couldn't resist the play on words It's A-o-kay.Nancy Mallory So they want us to call K Street Mall "The Kay" ... mmmkay?Nick Miller SacPressComments Another thread in the conversation focused on the "The" in "The Kay." SacPressComments No "the"--or add "district". "Kay" is historic. I'm okay with that, but "the kay"?Daniel Block SacPressComments Sac Press reader "jhar" reflected on the role of business improvement districts. While he was supportive of the partnership in general, he or she was less keen on "The Kay." SacPressComments Martinez also tried to focus on the big picture. She ended her long comment, the start of which is pictured above, with this: "Active businesses rather than empty storefronts create activity. Pedestrians that see issues and call in help create change. Branding The Kay is one way to take back ownership and we encourage you to help us in defining what you want The Kay to be." It was a sentiment shared by Sac Press reader "RichardRich." SacPressComments On that note of optimism, we leave you with this video, which made the rounds on local social media not too long ago. It's from a time when you could still see "K Street" written as "Kay Street." Life in Sacramento - 1950chrislango1

Welcome to 'The Kay': Downtown Sacramento street might be rebranded

2012-10-09T01:29:12Z

You've been to K Street in Downtown Sacramento, but have you ever been to "The Kay"?

That might be how you start referring to it soon if a rebranding effort for the stretch of K Street between Seventh and 13th streets proposed by The Downtown Partnership is successful.

Lisa Martinez with the Downtown Partnership said the inspiration for the name came from a fact depicted in a recent book on K Street by local historian William Burg: K Street was often spelled as "Kay Street" in old addresses and newspaper articles from the 1800s through the 1960s, when the street was part of a thriving downtown core.

According to Martinez, the name "The Kay" refers to that history and expresses the idea that the street is returning to its roots, but with a new style.

"We wanted to be able to express that nod back to where our roots are as a district and as a city, but also be able to move the conversation forward, because you can't recreate your history, but you can build upon it – that's what we're trying to accomplish with "The Kay," she said.

Burg concurred that the K Street’s new direction is connected to its history.

“Well, what we're seeing now is a return to that neighborhood's traditional role,” he said. “Traditionally that was not just the shopping district but also the entertainment district – where the nightclubs were, but also where the hotels were, and one thing that we've seen in the last couple of years that has been happening is the opening of a new hotel, The Citizen, and then multiple new restaurants and entertainment venues.”

The partnership has applied for a permit to put new street signs with the "The Kay” logo at every intersection from Seventh through 13th street on K Street. The application, along with the designs of the logo, made their way onto Facebook Monday afternoon.

Martinez said that the partnership’s branding committee had developed the idea, which includes business owners from K Street. She is still in the process of reaching out to more business to get additional feedback.

The rebranding will be part of a larger campaign – which is still in development – that will include profiles of business owners and entrepreneurs downtown.

The idea, she said, is to help encourage the district’s revitalization by doing a better job of telling its story.

"It's about creating a really full, vibrant neighborhood, a place where you can experience things, a place where you can meet up with people," Martinez said.

We’ll be following-up on this story as more information becomes available.

What do you think of the name “The Kay” and the proposed logo? Sound off in the conversation below.

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

Jared Goyette is the editor of The Sacramento Press. Find him on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

Forum podcast goes to Poverty Ridge

2012-09-24T15:18:37Z

The Sacramento Old City Association's tour of historic homes in the Poverty Ridge neighborhood drew an impressive crowd on Sept. 16 – including the crew from the Forum podcast.

In this snippet of the show shared with The Sacramento Press, local historian Maryellen Burns talks about the neighborhood's most famous house, where the writer Joan Didion lived for two years when she attended C.K. McClatchy High School.

The podcast is hosted by independent journalist Isaac Gonzalez and school board member Patrick Kennedy, and aims to visit every one of Sacramento's neighborhoods in its first year. Listen to the whole episode and learn more at f orumtownsquare.com.

Jared Goyette is the editor of the Sacramento Press

Follow @JaredGoyette

PSA: Tahoe Park cleanup day Saturday

2012-09-12T15:33:50Z

It is a common complaint in Sacramento that the city doesn't do enough to maintain its parks. The discussion usually centers around city funding and budgets, when we might be better off asking why there are not more neighborhood cleanups, like the one occurring in Tahoe Park this Saturday.

"During the current difficult economic climate, it is important that the residents of Sacramento take steps to ensure that our great shared resource, our city's beautiful parks, don't languish as a result of year-after-year of budget cuts," said organizer and Tahoe Park Neighborhood Association board member Isaac Gonzalez on Tuesday.

The cleanup runs from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. All residents need to do to participate is show up: The TPNA and the Department of Parks and Recreation will provides tools, gloves and assignments to keep the volunteer crews busy, Gonzalez said.

There will be a raffle with raffle prizes, including coffeehouse gift cards and a lunch with City Councilman Kevin McCarty.

For more info, go to tahoe-park.org

Gonzalez wrote about a cleanup last year, which you can read about here.

Do you have a community announcement you want to see on Sacramento Press? You can either publish it yourself (go to our contribute page for more info) or let us know about it by emailing hub[at]SacramentoPress.com. Please include “PSA” in the subject line.

McKinley park playground torched; arson suspected

2012-07-28T15:49:15Z

An arsonist apparently struck McKinley park Saturday, destroying roughly a third of the playground with an early morning blaze.

This video shows the damaged area:

Sac City Fire Battalion Chief Jonathan William told Sacmav.com that someone had set the fire, and that the playground's wooden structure was "fully involved" by the time fire crews arrived. The fire then spread quickly through the plastic and dry wood, he said.

Williams said that the arsonist had ruined the playground for children who would have used it that morning, and destroyed public property.

"All people are doing is destroying city property and the city is going to end up rebuilding it and spending more money where they don't have money to spend," he said.

Councilmember Angelique Ashby reacted to the fire after learning about it through the Facebook page of RanSACkedmedia.com.

"What a sad event for all of the families who enjoy that beautiful park, senseless and disappointing," she wrote, "but we will find a way to replace it - somehow."

Matt Cannaedy lives three blocks away from the park and brings his toddler-aged daughter to the playground five to six times a week. He was there with his daughter Saturday morning, surveying the damage.

"I think this is horrible," he said. "Honestly, I can't understand arson in the first place, but why a children's playground? Why would you do this to the kids? They are innocent. Honestly, I'm speechless on this whole situation. It's really sad."

Latahra Kennedy brings her preschool-aged daughter to the park on a regular basis. She values it for its diversity.

"It has all kinds of nationalities and it's just a wonderful park," she said. "For you to take this away from them, it's hard to find a good playground that you trust."

She had come to the playground on Saturday to let her daughter play and was sadden by what she saw.

"For your children to see the park like that, it's devastating," she said.

Broadacre Coffee finds a hit with breakfast

2012-07-20T18:52:52Z

One of Sacramento's newest coffee bars has hit its stride in the last months by turning its small back area into a mini kitchen – or a "kitchenette."

The change has helped Broadacre Coffee, which opened near 10th and J streets last October in the old Temple Coffee location, draw a new crowd and improve its bottom line.

"We've been trying since October to kind of carve out our niche in downtown, where there are two or three other competing coffee shops, and food definitely hit the mark on that," said Justin Kerr, a barista and co-owner.

For about a month now, Broadacre has been serving a selection of pressed and croissant sandwiches with eggs and cheese that cost $5 to $6, as well as yogurt, bagels, quiche, toast and English muffins.

The most flamboyant item on the menu is the kind of thing you'd expect to get at a food truck, and it's an entirely Sacramento creation. Broadacre used local company Doughbot Donuts’ glazed bacon maple donut and turned into a sandwich by adding cheddar cheese, egg, and, of course, bacon.

The result is called the "Boss Hog," and it costs $6. Kerr referred to it as a "monstrous little invention" and a "delicious mess." For the health conscious out there, don't worry – it comes with a mixed green salad.

Broadacre orders quiche from the downtown French pastry shop Estelle’s Patisserie and gets bread delivered from the Village Bakery in Davis.

Adding food to the menu wasn't as simple as it may sound. First, the owners had to move a fridge and other items to the basement, and then find space for work tables and new equipment including a convection oven, a broiler, a toaster and a panini press.

Kerr said the process was "like a game of Tetris," but ultimately worth it.

"It wasn't the easiest thing to do. We have a pretty small place back here, but we made it work with what we’ve got. It's been great.”

There's one common piece of kitchen cooking equipment that's deliberately left off that list: a microwave.

"Granted, it would all go a lot faster with a microwave, but we don't want to nuke your food. It's not our style,” Kerr said.

The new breakfast has been a hit with state workers, a key constituency for any downtown establishment. There aren't many places that offer breakfast for under $10 near 10th and J streets, and Broadacre has found success in that niche.

“It's been huge with the state worker community, an affordable, warm, delicious hot meal,” Kerr said.

In brief: Gas leak caused by accident downtown, quickly contained

2012-07-19T16:23:59Z

A gas odor that wafted through part of downtown early this morning was caused by an accident involving a delivery truck that hit a gas pipe in the alley between Broadacre Coffee and the Bloem Décor flower shop.

Justin Kerr, a barista at Broadacre, said he arrived at work at 6:45 a.m. to see the shop taped off and a fire truck parked outside. He said the firefighters seemed to have the situation under control, but the gas leak was still ongoing.

"It was a pretty significant hissing sound,” he said. “It was definitely spewing out."

The truck had hit a dumpster, which hit the gas pipe. By 7 a.m., the fire crew had stopped the leak, and at 7:45, a crew from PG&E was conducting an inspection to make sure no further gas could escape. Broadacre opened for business shortly afterward.

Disclosure: The reporter’s original intention was just to get a cup of coffee at said coffee bar.

Photos: Taste of Land Park draws crowd of more than 600

2012-06-11T16:25:32Z

A crowd of about 650 to 750 people took in live music, food and chit-chat with their neighbors Sunday at the annual Taste of Land Park.

For $25 in advance or $30 at the door, attendees sampled items from a slew of local and regional vendors who had set up booths. It was essentially an outdoor, all you-can-eat-and-drink buffet: There was everything from sushi from Miso Japanese Cuisine, to chili dogs from Willie's Burgers and Chiliburgers, to coffee from Espresso Metro Cafe. Also popular: the wine from independent vineyards and the beer that came courtesy of local brewers like Track 7, Rubicon brewery and Pyramid Alehouse .

"It's going beyond even our greatest expectations as far as the turnout today," Land Park Community Association President Mark Abrahams said Sunday. " The weather turned out perfect... People are just excited to be here and so are we."

The event also drew politicians – Steve Hansen and Joe Yee, the two remaining District 4 City Council candidates, were out working the crowd.

The photos posted here come courtesy of Land Park Community Association Board member Jill MacDonell.