One of Sacramento’s original piercing shops is closing down Sunday after almost two decades in business. Sub-Q Piercing and Tattoo owner Scot Rogers said the economy and the shrinking customer base led to the business’ downfall. “Since 2001, we’ve been in steady decline,” he said Wednesday at the shop at 1715 I St., the most recent storefront since opening in 1994 at 2022 N St. At its peak a little more than 10 years ago, the business drew 600 customers per month and had 11 employees. Today, Rogers said he is lucky if he can get 100 customers through the door, and he is the only employee. Unable to pay rent on the building, Rogers said the last day he will have access to the space is S

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 f

In part one of The Sacramento Press' Midtown Tattoo Parlor Directory, we gave you basic industry terms, safety procedures and the first six shops we visited. The following is part two: Relentless Tattoo 1422 28th St. Noon-10 p.m. daily $50 minimum/$100-$120 hourly, depending on artist Opened in 2007, Relentless has been in its current location on 28th Street for about a month. The shop, described by artist Chris Hampton as a "traditional shop overall," Relentless employs four artists who have experience ranging from two to 15 years. "Come in with an open mind," Hampton said. The Relentless artists are willing to work with customers until they are satisfied. "We have a good vibe; we giv

The living dead will wander through Second Saturday crowds in downtown Sacramento this weekend. Zombies of all ages and decomposition will be present for the 2010 Zombie Walk. The Zombie Walk is a commencing event for the 10th annual Trash Film Orgy film festival, which begins this Saturday. TFO runs through Aug. 14 with showings every Saturday at midnight and a special showing on Halloween. "Our first few years were some of our biggest Zombie Walks," TFO Producer Christy Savage said. "And then we stopped doing them for a while. Then there was a big resurgence all over the world, so we started doing them again. This will definitely be our biggest one." Cities including Seattle, Denver a

Monette Flores, 27 Childcare worker Elk Grove resident Outside the All American Tattoo Festival, Monette Flores shows off her style, which she says is called "just plain me." Influenced by Suicide Girls, an online community celebrating alternative beauty and culture, Flores likes to dress in a style that is "crazy and colorful." She accessorizes herself with a "Living Dead Dolls" T-shirt, purple zebra-print pants, rhinestone-encrusted leather boots, a Kool-Aid purse, pink hair dye, pink glasses and pink body jewelry. "I got the rings as gifts," she said of her 10 colorful finger accessories. She has been collecting them since grade school. Flores scours thrift stores for vintage st