When I think of the Downtown Plaza I think of a sad abandoned place, a place that quite honestly I try and avoid; it feels heavy like a deep sigh and gray without color. When I discovered that’s where I was headed to interview an artist, I was skeptical yet intrigued. My curiosity peaked when I got to my destination, and enormous perfume and cologne advertisements were all that was there. Then the large glass doors mysteriously open, but the figure that appears is not “the great and powerful Oz”—it is Tre Borden. Although this is the first time we have met, he greets me with a warm hug that I am glad to accept. As he turns around to enter the space, I notice immediately that I am not in

In the Downtown Plaza mall, between the cell phone shops and the two big spaces occupied by Macy's, there's a store for emerging Sacramento artists to sell their wares and get exposure to new audiences. The Flywheel Incubator program, which is run by the Arts & Business Council, is holding a grand opening for its storefront location at the plaza on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. The store is on the first floor, near Lens Crafters. Expect food, drinks, live music, good conversation and lots of local art, clothing, jewelry and other unique creations (even bowties and comics are in the inventory, according to Sacramento365). The suggested donation is $10, which goes to the Arts & Business Counc

Sacramento social media was abuzz on Tuesday with news that local artistic darling Tapigami had secured a place in Downtown Plaza, one previously occupied by a Hyundai dealership. Tapigami is a collaboration between business partners Danny Scheible and Tre Borden – Danny, the artist, creates works of art out of masking tape while business manager Borden brings entrepreneurial acumen to the project. “It’s almost unbelievable how fortunate we are to have this opportunity,” said Borden. “This is just an example of the support we’ve gotten from the community. Danny has been doing this for eight years. He came back to Sacramento from Santa Cruz for the sole purpose of changing things, and to

Wicked 'Wich isn't quite a household name, but if its owners have their way, eventually not only will those in the Sacramento region know the sandwich makers' brand, they won't have to travel far to enjoy the East Coast-style cuisine. "We'd like to see Wicked 'Wich in airport terminals," said co-owner Chris Jarosz. "We feel we have a good brand and better options than some others. We'll keep pounding away and hope that fuel will take us to the next level." What started as a food truck in July 2011 was eventually expanded into a restaurant – Broderick Restaurant & Bar in West Sacramento in Fall 2012 – and is now making its way to a Downtown Plaza near you. Announced last week, Wicked 'Wic

Wicked 'Wich is set to open a brick-and-mortar eatery at Sacramento's Downtown Plaza early this spring. The restaurant, which started as a food truck, will offer gourmet sandwiches and cater to downtown's busy lunch and dinner crowds, according to a news release. "The mall is one of those places that we feel strongly that a product like the ‘Wich could do well,” said co-owner Marvin Maldonado. “We can offer something local, a unique product, something fast and even something healthy — like our BBQ tofu or our vegan selections. Like the food truck, the mall restaurant will continue to serve only locally sourced meats, vegetables, and breads from the Sacramento region.” On top of its sign

In case anyone  has missed the news, the words "Downtown Plaza" no longer have Westfield in front of them. The shopping center was purchased for $22 million on Wednesday JMA Ventures, a San Francisco investment firm. Two days after the sale my camera and I did a tour of the plaza to see what was happening.The most apparent activity was changing the signage. Here are some images: For information about JMA Ventures, please  CLICK HERE>>>

When news broke that San Francisco-based JWA Ventures now owns Downtown Plaza, reaction in the Sacramento business community varied from excitement to skepticism. Downtown Plaza has struggled in the current economic climate, but Sacramento business and development leaders are optimistic that the new owners can turn the tide for a property that is one of the largest tax generators in the city. “They want to take a look at what exists and position the plaza as a traffic generator for the downtown,” Downtown Sacramento Partnership Executive Director Michael Ault said Wednesday. “They seem ready to reinvest in the city and make the center much more relevant than it has been.” Sacramento May

Remember the hoopla when the Green Line was launched? Well, the fireworks have stopped and the speeches are done, and the project seems to have fizzled a bit. As Tony Bizjak reports in the Sacramento Bee, the line doesn’t go far and few people are riding it. As we reported when the Green Line was launched in June, the planned 12.8 mile-long Green Line route will eventually reach through Natomas and out to the airport. It will be years in the making, however, because future project funding is uncertain. The Green Line is funded by a combination of local, state and federal funds that include developer fees, sales tax revenues and federal grants, according to the Regional Transit website. T

River City Brewing Company, located in Westfield Downtown Plaza, is gearing up for spring with two seasonal beers debuting May 1 and the barbecue on the patio set to return April 14, weather permitting. “Our head chef will be out there barbecuing oysters on the half shell, chicken and shrimp, and sometimes artichokes,” said General Manager and co-owner Beth Ayres, 35. The patio barbecues have been held on the patio for about 10 years, and Ayres said Head Chef Ignacio “Nacho” Sanchez enjoys taking the time to socialize with the customers, barbecue and share a beer. Held from 5:30 p.m. to about 8:30 p.m. on Friday nights, the barbecues are popular with the after-work crowd, Ayres said. “

The downtown post office is set to move from its current location at 801 I St. to Westfield Downtown Plaza by mid-May, postal officials said Friday. In the new location, customers will have access to the lobby from 5 a.m. - 9 p.m. seven days per week. There will be no security checkpoint, and those with post office boxes will have access to them every day, said Augustine Ruiz, spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service’s Sacramento district. “It’s going to be 4,000 square feet, and we’re going to be leasing the location,” he said. “One of the added conveniences is better parking.” Postal officials previously told The Sacramento Press that there is no need to expand the post office, but they

The downtown 24 Hour Fitness location reopened Friday after a remodel that added approximately 31,000 square feet of floor space, a basketball court and new exercise machines. “(We have) brand-new cardio (machines), strength training machines and free weights,” said downtown Club Manager Ben Ragsac. He added that  full-size basketball court and expanded kids’ club have been added, and a raquetball court is coming, which will be open by October. The gym was closed from 8 p.m., June 17 until Friday at 6 a.m., when the second floor reopened. The full gym, including a lap pool, steam room, sauna, cycle room and other amenities will reopen around October, and more than 200 strength training

Will Westfield Downtown Plaza be put up for sale? According to the Wall Street Journal, Westfield is testing the market for a buyer for the mall, which has been plagued by empty storefronts. In August, when the mall underwent a remodel, General Manager Russell Dougherty said it was only 65 percent occupied. Westfield officials did not return phone calls for comment on their plans for the mall this week. “The Mayor remains committed to working with Westfield and finding ways to make the plaza a viable entity in Sacramento,” said Joaquin McPeek, press secretary for Mayor Kevin Johnson. “At the end of the day, this is such a critical piece of downtown and we’ve all got to work together to

Spring is here, which means the kids have been hibernating all winter and are ready for some outdoor fun. The Sacramento Press recently posed the question, “Where is the best place to take kids to have fun for less than $20,” to people at Westfield Downtown Plaza. Joseph Enriquez, 22, of Elk Grove is a personal trainer. “(I would take them to) Funderland,” he said. Funderland is a small, outdoor amusement park at 1350 17th Ave. for children ages 2 to 12. There are nine child-sized rides. Admission to Funderland is free and each ride requires one ticket. Funderland offers single tickets for $1.75 on weekdays and $1.95 on weekends and has ticket books, wristbands and season passes. For

Local musician Bryan Nichols, of the reggae band ZuhG, opened an independent music store in the Westfield Downtown Plaza on Nov. 13. The store only stocks local musicians’ albums, the work of other local artists and apparel. Apparel includes styles by 215Grass, Calibis Clothes, Hippy Tree, Dome Apparel and independent craftspeople on consignment. In The back of the store, which is named ZuhG Life after the band, serves as a space for music lessons. “It just kind of happened” Nichols said. He had been booking live music for the mall when management offered him a space to open a music store. “We’re Sacramento’s local music shop” said Aaron Hoberman, a roadie who also operates the store

The former Doubleday bookstore in Downtown Plaza has a new tenant in time for the holiday shopping season – JZ Toys & Gifts, which opened Nov. 12. “We sell toys for kids ages 2 to 3 and everything up to decorative knives and swords,” said Ali Mohammad, who helps his friend, store owner Zeba Alemi, by managing it. Mohammad said this is the first business venture for them, and he hopes it succeeds. In addition to toys and decorative reproduction edged weapons, the store also sells an assortment of ball caps, lamps, dishes and collectible dolls. About one quarter of the store is devoted to handmade Oriental rugs from Pakistan. “A family of two to three people will spend eight or nine mon

Today we are all Rosevillians. Yeah, I know that sounds goofy –  and it's said half in jest. But only half. Surely, the day after the horrific arson fire that shuttered the Roseville Galleria – on the eve of the holiday shopping season – even the most dismissive Midtown hipster can feel for our suburban neighbors. During the last decade, we've come to think about each other as something other than neighbors or fellow citizens – we've become competitors. And the divide has come to have a cultural flavor. Suburbanites dismiss the central city for its liberalism, for its "attitude," for our homeless, for the need to walk a couple of blocks from parking spot to destination, or for being wh

Fashion was the name of the game for this month's Third Saturday event held at the Westfield Galleria at the Downtown Plaza in Sacramento. Sacramento News and Review presented the event with Tais serving as emcee. Tais was there without his shadow Adam Saake but was there with his much lovelier fiancé. Instagon was the only musical guess during the time I was at the event. Fans of their music were able to enjoy an extra long set of their performance. A couple of the same vendors from previous months came back this month to sell their merchandise. Many new vendors occupied spots in the courtyard in front of Macy's. Corey de Roo owner of the French Cuff Consignment was on hand to introdu

Those who have been avoiding Westfield Downtown Plaza might want to take another look. After kicking off a multimillion-dollar remodeling project last October, the shopping center has a new look and upgraded security. New planters, improved lighting and a more open feel mark a noticeable change to the mall. “We are going to continue to make as many positive features to this property as we can,” said General Manager Russell Dougherty, adding that there is no set timeline for when the mall will be “done.” “We think of it as a bunch of small projects,” Dougherty said. “We want to keep it fresh so shoppers will keep coming back.” Much of the remodel work has focused on making the shopping

"Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs," said Kunal Merchant, Mayor Kevin Johnson's chief of staff. "One issue everyone is focused on is jobs." Merchant, speaking to the group of 20 at the new Valley Hi - North Laguna Library Wednesday night, gave an update on the mayor's top four priorities, which included central city revitalization, specifically on K Street; the city's new green initiative; a new sports arena and charter reform of City Hall. Each priority comes with the intention of creating jobs and creating a stronger city, Merchant said. He spoke of the need to make the downtown mall stronger to attract and retain business and help local businesses on K Street thrive. He also explained the holdup

Today's Conservation of Public Art Walkabout showed art in public places that have deteriorated via nature and the elements, as well as actions by humans, over time. Sharon Kilgore, a volunteer with the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, described how the ceramic tiles on a wall art by Peter Vandenberge displayed at  the Downtown Plaza-Westfield Shoppping Mall-shows signs of degradation; cracks, grount missing and colors changing. The untitled art wall of glazed tiles was installed in 1977.   The Clock Tower created by R.M. Fischer from New York was installed in 1993. This towering art piece is a mixed media high-voltage tower adorned with floating planets, a clock forever frozen