On Saturday, April 13, 2013, the Sacramento French Film Festival will bring Gainsbourg-mania to Sacramento for the fourth year in a row, with Serge! a party paying homage to one of France’s most provocative artists, Serge Gainsbourg. Featuring films, music, art and French cocktails, Serge! is one of the most fun and unique parties Sacramento has to offer! Serge Gainsbourg, a major figure in the 1960's, ‘70's, and ‘80's pop-culture, took the world by storm through a fog of Gitanes and alcohol, reinventing himself from Gainsbourg to “Gainsbarre”! Singer-songwriter, director, actor, photographer, provocateur, and iconoclast, Gainsbourg was the lover of sex-symbol Brigitte Bardot and fathered

“On The Road” film review by Gary Chew When Jack Kerouac began scribbling down things in a notepad that found their way into his novel, “On the Road,” he had not a notion about whether what he was creating would make a good screenplay for those flyby moments in the late 1940s of his short life . That’s one reason I found “On the Road,” the stalled and finally available film of the same name, to linger in my head well after seeing it. It’s now showing at the Crest Theatre, downtown near 10th and K streets. “On the Road” is another road movie from the Brazilian filmmaker, Walter Salles, who gave us that memorable two-wheeler rendition, “The Motorcycle Diaries.” Salles’ film of the Kerou

More than one artistic director would appreciate an army of tireless, nimble-fingered scenic-designer elves who emerge at night to tear down old sets, then build and paint new ones. But the reality is it takes many human hands to ready a stage for a company's acting contingent. Recognizing the toll its quick turn-around schedule was taking on its design and technical team – and how the Del Paso Boulevard theater's relatively short-runs might be affecting attendance – Big Idea Theatre company members Brian Harrower and Wade Lucas put their heads together over a few holiday-break drinks. "Our solution was to do fewer main-stage shows, but schedule them for longer runs," said Lucas. "That

In addition to the pair of James McLure comedic one-acts ("Laundry and Bourbon" and "Lone Star") Resurrection Theatre Company is serving up as the main course of its inaugural fundraising event, staff members of the 4-year-old troupe are hoping patrons will take away a never-ending hunger for their house specialty: "challenging and fiscally responsible theater." "Laundry and Bourbon" is a semisweet tale about "discontented and gossiping small-town wives, whose marriages are less than ideal." But with the help of a bit of alcohol and a lot of fabric softener, they manage to dissipate a lot of the static that exists between them. In "Lone Star," three "good ol’ boys" spill their feelings w

“Stoker,” a review by Gary Chew “You have to do something bad before you might do something worse,” is a good way to begin a review of a really well-made film called “Stoker.” It stars Nicole Kidman as Evelyn Stoker, the mother; Mia Wasikowska as India, the 18-year-old daughter; and Matthew Goode as her Uncle Charlie. He's the younger brother of India's father, who has just died in an auto accident as the film begins. One of the early scenes in “Stoker” is the funeral of Richard Stoker, played by Dermot Mulroney. Very “upper middle-class” would be how to best describe the Stokers. At their lovely rural home in Connecticut, Evelyn doesn't do much. She sleeps in every morning, is well-educ

We all love IPAs, but what else out there can ease us into the warm spring afternoons? The answer is the saison. On cool nights, get your last few sips of the beers that are going out – barley wines, porters and sweet stouts. These rich varieties tend to go out of favor after the temperature gets above 80. To be clear, there is no need to get rid of these beers. Strong, dark beers generally age very well. Find a dark, cool place to store them for the summer and they will be even better next fall. Heed the warning on storage though; both light and drastic temperature changes are dangerous for beer of any style. Now on to the saison, a farmhouse ale. Lately, I just haven't been able to st

Logsdon Farmhouse Ales Seizoen Bretta is a specialty organic farmhouse ale from Hood River, Oreg. For a saison, the beer is alcoholically strong (8 percent ABV) and slightly sour, owing to the use of wild Bretta yeast. The yeast that is used results in slightly sour undertones, countered by the ample use of sweet crystal malts. Together, the beer is incredibly complex, at the same time sweet, dry, sour and fruity. The color is a rich and unfiltered golden straw yellow. The large bottle is perfect for sharing; open a bottle with a couple of friends and drink it together while comparing opinions. Seizoen Bretta is so complex that everyone will notice something different, while someone will

As I watched the latest online trailers of soon-to-come-out movies, I dropped into the flow of sequencing from the first trailer onto four or five more. “The online set up for 'trailer-watching' has been given some thought,” I thought. I was able to click ahead to the next coming attraction, if the current trailer was becoming a drag. I can usually make such a decision in no more than 10 to 12 seconds. That happened on the third trailer. I won't say what kind of movie it was because you'll know my bias and form some kind of opinion as to why I don't like a particular kind of motion picture. What I'm writing about in this space is much more important than what kind of movies I like, altho

  “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” film review by Gary Chew   “That Old Burt Magic” would have done nicely for the title of the new film “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.” Much of the magic being performed in the film is done by a guy named Burt, and the 1942 song “That Old Black Magic,” would have done nicely on the soundtrack to make the connection between the “Burt Magic” title and the well-known song itself; maybe even a little Louis Prima and Keely Smith doing their recorded version of the Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer standard.   But even without the suggested re-titling, “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” allows for some good entertainment with a very solid cast of well-knowns wh

Saturday afternoon visitors from all over the region headed to the Capital Beerfest for beer, fun and food trucks. Like last year, there were tons of local breweries pouring, but unlike last year, the locals were the stars this time around. Move over Sierra Nevada. Highly enthused visitors streamed into Cal Expo starting at noon. At 2 p.m. when general admission opened there was a flood of new people and the exhibition hall was soon packed. The first two hours of the festival food was available, but it came with a price – a long line and precious pouring time wasted. Thankfully, there were also more than enough great food trucks, so no one went home hungry. The selection of beers poured

Photographs by Barry Wisdom / The B Street Theatre continues to reinforce its reputation as Sacramento's leading new-works playhouse with its third world premiere of the season: Michael Elyanow's "Robyn Is Happy," opening Sunday, March 3, and running through April 14. Directed by B Street Producing Artistic Director Buck Busfield, and featuring Elisabeth Nunizato, Amy Kelly and Melinda Parrett, "Robyn Is Happy" is "a dark comedy about three women whose lifelong friendship falls apart when one of them embarks on an unusual romance." JUST THE FACTS WHAT: The B Street Theatre production of Michael Elyanow's "Robyn Is Happy" WHEN: Opens at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 3, and runs through April

photographs by Barry Wisdom / Talk about a BFF. For centuries, Shakespeare has proven to be the very best friend a theater troupe could have. With all of the playwrights who have since put pen to parchment, or have ignited the afterburners on their inkjet printers, it’s still Wild Bill Shakespeare who today’s stage companies turn to when looking to balance their sometimes costly, sometimes scatological world premiere programming with established, “classy” classics (many of which are royalty-free). In addition, directors around the world have demonstrated time and again that the Bard’s canon is not a dry, static collection of Dead Sea scrolls, but a treasure chest of ever-relevant human

Pliny the Younger, Russian River Brewing Company's 10.25 percent ABV triple IPA, was featured on another local tap Thursday afternoon. One of the coveted 5-gallon kegs was tapped at Burgers & Brew in Davis on Thursday afternoon. Lines began forming around noon, although at 2 p.m. there were just around 70 people. Burgers & Brew had given Pliny enthusiasts plenty of time to prepare - they had posted the release date and time already on Monday on their Facebook page - so there was plenty of talk of rearranging work schedules. It might come as a surprise, but beer lovers can be quite organized and resourceful when it comes to limited-release brews. Around 4 p.m. it seemed that the keg was ru

  And … the winners ARE ...Jennifer Lawrence for moving up to the stage with such grace – ultimately. ...Seth McFarland for telling his “joke” about President Lincoln being shot in the head reminding me of a jerk record salesman who told me, one day in my office not long after the presidential assassination in Dallas, “That JFK got it through his head that he wasn't welcome in Dallas.” (Presidential assassinations aren't funny, from any century, Seth.) ...Chris Terrio for getting through (sort of) an acceptance speech for a best writing award (“Argo”) while being drunker than anyone ever in Hollywood. Chris' performance would've made Norman Mailer jealous. ...Meryl Streep for really c

Sacramento Beer Week kicked off on Friday, and since then our region has played host to plenty of fun and real social contact in the name of beer. Fests, happy hours, tap takeovers, brunches, dinners and exclusive tastings – it has all been happening and there is more to come. Some great local breweries have been featured and new collaborative brews released. The Knee Deep in Beer Week Track 7 collaboration, a really great Belgian double IPA, was both fresh and rich. Try it at Track 7 while it lasts, at Final Gravity on Thursday or at Capitol Beer and Tap Room on Friday. Remember that author and brewing scientist Dr. Charlie Bamforth of the University of California, Davis, will be at New

photographs by Barry Wisdom /     Writer’s block has stymied everyone at one time or another. Remember those fourth-grade book reports that had us biting our nails and chewing our pencils? It’s no different for those masochistic enough to choose playwriting as a profession. Some may attempt to lubricate their path to inspiration with hot buttered rum (heavy on the butter, even heavier on the rum). A fortunate few, however, are able to navigate the blockade and find their way to an emergency slide. Sometimes said slide is an express ride that leaves them sitting with a good play in less time than it takes to compose a grocery list. Count David Mitchell Robinson, author of “Carapace”

"West of Memphis": film review by Gary Chew Equal justice under the law is the reason for the documentary, “West of Memphis.” Many are familiar with this recently resolved example of shoddy police work and justice in Arkansas. West Memphis is a short drive into Arkansas from Memphis, Tenn. Three teenage boys were arrested in 1994 for the 1993 murder and bodily mutilation of three other 8-year-old boys in West Memphis, Ark. The case, which has no racial aspect to it, was complex and saw no complete resolution - with regard to the young men convicted - until 2011. The film was directed by Amy Berg, who also did the 2006 documentary, “Deliver Us From Evil,” about a pedophile Catholic pries

  In partnership with Target, the Sojourner Truth Multicultural Art Museum, and the Sacramento Observer, the Crocker Art Museum sponsored the Black History Month Family Festival on President's Day 2013. Several thousand were in attendance to take part in activities which included Dance, Art, Music, and History.   Come along with them as I photographed the performances and activities as the people enjoyed the festival.       The youngest of the Dance Group UMOJA at 5 years of age shows her stuff.     UMOJA drummers treated the audience to original African music while the dancers showed off traditional works from around the African continent.         Enjoy this audience par

Matias Bombal managed the Crest Theatre from 1986 to 1991 and was part of the restoration team that put the movie house back in business after several years of darkness. Last week he met with SacTV.com to do a series of video interviews about the theater's history and how the theater business has evolved. He became known in town from appearing on Channel 58 to introduce classic films. Matias went on to help restore the Guild and Colonial theaters and then moved to Oregon for several years to run a theater and co-host a radio show. Now in Sacramento, he is working on a YouTube video series that will offer movie reviews. At age nineteen in 1986, Matias rose to manager of the Crest, working

There is no more exciting time in the Sacramento craft beer scene than right now, a mere five days before Sacramento Beer Week. Starting Friday, SBW will consume bars, restaurants, breweries and tap rooms in the area and bring in new SBW brews, rare treats and more. The fourth annual week of fun will continue until March 3, when the week will conclude with a delicious brunch after a full Saturday at the Capital Beerfest on March 2 at Cal Expo. Come from noon to 5 p.m. for beer and food tasting and 2 to 5 p.m. for beer tasting only. Tickets are $75 and $45, respectively. Like last year, the number of events scheduled on the official SBW calendar is in the hundreds and continuing to grow. W