It's hard to find neutrals on Cosmo Garvin. The veteran Sacramento journalist writes the the hard-hitting “Bites” column for the Sacramento News and Review, where he has been covering politics, the school board, environment and anything else he can sink his teeth into for more than a decade. His take-no-prisoners approach has won him admirers and detractors in Sacramento's political scene and, as he seems to indicate in our Q&A below, even within SN&R's offices. He also has asked questions before the mainstream media was willing or able to. His exposé on how Mayor Kevin Johnson's nonprofits created another way for donors to influence the political process was followed shortly there after

As Thanksgiving approaches, we're going to take some time to discuss the problems facing some of Sacramento’s least fortunate and understood citizens: the homeless. Nick Miller from The Sacramento News and Review will be our guest today at noon on Sac Press Live to discuss his cover story from last week, "The real face of homelessness." UPDATE: We have a late add on to the chat today - homeless advocate and blogger Tom Armstrong. We may be a bit delayed as a result but will start shortly.  In the article, Miller tackles what he sees as the popular and often false assumptions the public makes about homelessness in the city. You can and should read the full piece, but here are a few

Lots of news this week from local literary agency Andrea Hurst, local small press publishers Swan Scythe, Rattlesnake and SPC, as well as reviews of books by Judith Horstman and Ulrica Hume, so we'd better get started. Agent News – Andrea Hurst Literary Agency “A Real Emotional Girl,” by Tanya Chernov, is subtitled, “a memoir of grief, depression, and recovery” that deals with family, pain, growing up, love and loss. This book is forthcoming from Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. and was in the hands of local literary agent, Gordon Warnock of the Andrea Hurst literary agency. Warnock is an oft-requested speaker at writing conferences and is currently working with San Francisco writer, Mari Naomi

Saturday morning was warm enough to draw more than 38 people to Martin Luther King Junior Community Garden for seminars and discussions on composting, cover crops, vermicomposting and the benefits of ladybug larvae. More than a dozen people attended the first of two composting seminars, led by Bill Maynard, master gardener and director of community gardens for the city. Sacramento waste reduction coordinator Doug Houston opened the 8 a.m. event by speaking about waste reduction and the cost of green waste. Houston told the group that Sacramento pays for green waste disposal. Bins cost residents less money each month, and they are environmentally friendly because green waste is kept out

The corner of 20th Street between J and K Street usually serves as the unofficial epicenter for Second Saturday in Midtown, a monthly celebration that seems to be slowly losing it's focus on the art and music culture aspect of the event in recent years. This past Saturday, however, something was different. The Sammies, Sacramento's annual music awards show, turned 20 this year, and that afternoon there was no mistaking that music and hometown love reigned supreme over excessive drinking and partying. I sat on my patio just around the corner from the celebration, listening to the sweet sounds of the best of the best in Sacramento, before heading out around 7pm. By the time I had reached th

The 2011 Art Happens, hosted by the Sacramento Artists Council, took place June 4 in Midtown. The venue was held inside the Sacramento Art Complex on 2110 K Street. This was a benefit event to support art in Sacramento. Sutter Middle School and Nevada Union High School students exhibited works of art by their students. Artwork created by the students also helped their school art programs as  one 100 percent of sales was given to the respective school’s art program. The event was sponsored by Sacramento News and Review, Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Press and others. A day full of art, music, food, wine tasting and great music contributed to the fest

A new concert series kicked off in Sacramento on June 2. Fiesta en la Calle, Spanish for Party on the Street, began their set of 9 summer concert series at Cesar Chavez Park. Some of today’s best sounds representative of America’s Latino Music Culture will be performing throughout the summer. Corona helped put on the event and there was no mistaking they were involved as a giant Corona blown up bottle shared the stage. The Corona Beer Garden also took a prominent spot at Cesar Chavez Park. Sacramento News and Review, Life Entertainment, Mi Gente Foundation, D’Chaleco, Mayahuel Tequila Museo and radio station Latino 97.9 served as sponsors of the event. Several vendors were on hand to pr

On Thursday, June 2, Sacramento saw the start of another year of the Hot Lunch Concert Series and a new free music event playing at Cesar Chavez Plaza; “Fiesta en la Calle” (Street Party). The Hot Lunch Concert Series is a collaboration between Hot Italian, Sacramento News and Review and Friends of Fremont Park. Musical guests perform on Thursdays from June 2 to September 1 during the lunch hour (11:30 to 1p.m). Promoter Jerry Perry has put together a great lineup. Fremont Park, located on the corner of 16th and P Streets hosts the event. Musical Charis was the first band scheduled to perform this year. The weather cooperated and made for a delightful lunch concert. People from around t

The North Sacramento Chamber of Commerce is co-sponsoring an evening of networking and fun with the Midtown Business Association on Thursday, May 19th at the new offices of the Sacramento News and Review, located at 1124 Del Paso Boulevard, in the heart of Uptown Sacramento.  SN&R dear leader Jeff Von Kaenel has promised tours of the entire facility every half hour, and added the enticement of having your picture taken and placed on a mock cover of the magazine!  Food and drinks will be provided, with assistance from the Del Paso Partnership.  Many local raffle prizes will be offered, including dinner at Entotria Cafe and Wine Bar, a publicity portrait session from Austin's Uptown Studio

With Concerts in the Park kicking off Friday and the California Music Circus season around the corner, there will be lots of opportunities to review shows, both indoors and outdoors. Looking to share your great or not-so-great experiences with others? The Sacramento Press will hold a panel on review writing at our office from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Thursday, May 12. Three panelists will teach you the do’s and don’ts of review writing and share some of their own experiences. This is a great opportunity to ask the pros how they review concerts, theater, comedy and other performances. The three panelists are Rachel Leibrock, Carla Meyer and Nick Miller. Leibrock writes about arts and culture for t

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

A rock band steps onto a portable stage set up in the old Sacramento News and Review parking lot at 20th and J streets. They tune up and begin to play. This promotion marked beginning of the end of the traditional Second Saturday. Second Saturday was no longer going to be an art walk and about visiting art galleries. Second Saturday was going to be about bringing large numbers of young people to Midtown to stay after the event and continue partying and drinking in the Midtown bars and nightclubs. City officials and the Midtown Business Association (MBA) immediately tried to distance the Midtown Second Saturday Art Walk event and themselves from the unfortunate and preventable death of Vi

July’s Third Saturday event at the Downtown Plaza, courtesy of Sacramento News and Review had a full schedule of music, dance, fashion, comedy, art and most important booths from local vendors selling arts and crafts. Tais and Adam Saake hosted the event. This is the first time I’ve seen both of these guys together and they seemed to have developed an almost stand –up comedy act working off each other. They helped the event go smoothly as they introduced act after act and gave vital information about the vendors and the show. I think Adam and Tais have a good stage presence together. Musical performances for the show were put on by Walking Spanish and Michelle Waugh. I got a chance to wat

Wednesday night, the Urban Hive was packed with people eager to hear what local media outlets had to say about the changes they've made recently in response to the economy, technology and social media. Jim Jakobs, Assignment Manager of KCRA, Jon Schuller and Anne Shulock, Office Manager and Reporter of Sactown Magazine, Jen Picard, Senior Producer of Insight, David Watts Barton, Editor in Chief of Sacramento Press, and Nick Miller, Arts Editor of Sacramento News and Review, had a lively discussion moderated by Janna Santoro. Here is the first part of the video from that night. Nick Miller joined the panel a little late. This first segment is before he arrived.    Media Panel video

The fliers and advertisements promised big things: “Local arts, crafts and fashion vendors will descend upon K Street, transforming downtown Sacramento into a bustling creative district.” On Saturday, Sacramento News and Review hosted the inaugural Third Saturday Creative Block Party and nudged K Street in the right direction. Despite the scorching heat, more than 40 aspiring clothing and jewelry designers, artists and local businesses set up shop along K Street. “I think it’s wonderful of SN&R to have done this…it brings life to the downtown area. We’re so happy to be here,” said Ginger Wong, president of Transformations Makeup Institute, did makeup, hair and glitter tattoos. Both asp

All photos taken by Paula Aguirre   Meshugga Chic Vintage Clothing Insurgent Arts of Paul Imagine Musical Charis performing on main stage on 10th Street Atelier's sidewalk shop Tammy Valles of Transformations Makeup Institute   ICUP Comedy Troupe and audience participant Biodegradable water bottles from Green Sol Juli's Jewels   Palm reader Linda Austin Candy Glass magnets by Christie Vicars Candy Glass tiles by Christie Vicars Sacramento News & Review Newsstand Project Magic Salon Glitter tattoo by Transformations Audience/News 10 watching ICUP's performance Just Beecauze by Erlinda Cobb Hesam Rahmanian's exhibition at Art ten20 gallery