Sacramento Police said Monday that gang violence led to a fatal shooting within a crowd gathered outside a Midtown bar after a Second Saturday Art Walk. Police presence was stepped up Saturday, and for the first time, officers enforced the 10 p.m. curfew for minors, which coincides with the art event's official closing time. But the killing early Sunday has pressed city and business leaders to find additional ways to address growing concerns rather than end the popular event. On Saturday, 20 Sacramento police officers and at least eight undercover officers from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control worked to combat underage drinking and public partying or "tailgating,"

The murder of Victor Hugo Perez Zavala, 24, makes it harder for Sacramento to ignore the elephant in the room. Yet there's a defensive reaction, as media mouthpieces argue over what time Second Saturday is officially over and unofficially continues. It's delusion, but a typical effort to save face and project blame. It is time for an intervention. Sacramento city and business leaders have been addicted for several years to unsustainable city management policies. The "Bring People Downtown" mantra was distilled into "Instant Nightlife, Just Add Alcohol." The Midtown oversaturation of bars and nightclubs-pretending-to-be-restaurants created mayhem magnets near residences. This also attrac

Posted by Shoua Hi Officer Michelle, For the past few months, there have been some neighbor kids playing knock-and-run. We ignored it at first because we’ve been told that they’ll stop if we don’t check who’s at the door. However, a few weeks ago someone threw an egg at our front window. I decided to setup a fake security camera and it has been quiet for a while now until a few days ago. The knock-and-run is happening again. Other than having to dish out some money for some security cameras, what are my options? I’m concerned that things will get worst and I’m trying really hard not to take things into my own hands but it’s just so rude and annoying. Thank you, Shoua Dear Shoua, It s

I got the chance to visit a place I have been curious about for some time now. Celestin’s Island Eats & Cajun Cuisine. This place is everything Caribbean and touches on just about every type of cuisine in those waters. It was nice to see Tostones on the menu which was a childhood favorite growing up in Brooklyn, Tostones are fried and pressed plantains which if made correctly are to die for. As you walk into the restaurant there is a very comfortable feeling as you are surrounded by lots of tropical colors on the walls and Reggae music on the sound system. It was Friday night and the patio was completely packed while the inside was moderately seated. Our server Jack appeared to have tabl

The Sacramento Art Complex has gotten a major makeover. New gallery owner Clare Bailey has transformed the artists' building at 2110 K St. since taking over the master lease with building owner Thomas A. Roth in May. The colorful and eclectic two-story structure, which has always been packed for Second Saturday Art Walks, was reworked to draw more people into the many smaller studios at the heart of the complex. The building now has a sophisticated new look featuring a 1,200-square-foot anchor gallery, a parking lot that doubles as an art courtyard and an alley patio with a giant metal peacock sculpture. Resident artists like sculptor Gary "Garley" Dudley and photographer Alister Oliver

The Smart Cycling group is offering another FREE bike seminar through the League of American Bicyclists. These classes go fast and you must pre-register. The classes will be Tuesday, September 14th from 6-8 p.m., and two Saturdays, September 18 and 25 from 9a.m. to 12 p.m. The location will be held at the Bicycle Chef at 3184 N Street in Midtown. The workshop is described as a fast-paced course which develops self-confident cyclists that ride predictably on the street. The riders will learn about lane positioning, learn skills to avoid crashes and how to blend smoothly into the flow of traffic. The course includes a student manual which you can download prior to the course. The feedback fr

Sacramento will soon become home to a new kind of skate shop, born out of the love between a derby girl and a skater boy. Sandy "Motley" Cruz and Gordon "Gordo" Eckler, both 31, said they expect to open Cruz Skate Shop, a hybrid rollerskating and skateboarding shop, at 16th and U streets on Sept. 15. Cruz got into roller derby in 2005. She opened the first location in San Francisco's Bernal Heights neighborhood in March 2008. Cruz Skate Shop was originally a skate shop for roller girls, focusing on the exploding sport of flat track roller derby. She hadn't skated since she was 10, but was so intrigued with the sport that she helped start a new league in San Francisco called the Bay Area

Posted by tlstay Good Morning, My vehicle was stolen in February from my driveway. It was recovered in perfect condition after only a couple of days one mile from my house. Apparently, standard operating procedure is to have the vehicle towed to a tow yard before we are notified that the vehicle was recovered. We were advised of the recovery at 3pm and couldn’t leave work until 4:30, which was when the tow yard closed. We went to pick it up at 8 am the next morning, and the charge for towing and storage was $245. While I was happy to have the vehicle recovered, this was frustrating, to say the least. While I understand the need to remove stolen vehicles from their location in a timely man

After 20 years in business, the owners of Midtown’s Cafe Marika said they are living their dream – but getting there was no easy task. Lubomir (Louie) and Eva Chruma were living in Karlovy Vary – a spa and resort town in then-Czechoslovakia, but they dreamed of escaping the communist regime and moving to the United States. “We escaped in 1982,” Eva said. “We bought a vacation to Yugoslavia and crossed into Austria.” After seven months in a NATO refugee camp in Austria with others who had fled the Eastern Bloc countries, the Chrumas were able to travel to the United States with permission from the American consulate. Without knowing where they would be living, the two professional chefs

Good Eats has finally opened, and after a whole lotta hoopla I was raring to get over there and try what had caused so much excitement for over two years in developments. Good Eats is attempting to be a coffee shop, prepared foods outlet, and restaurant dining experience. A lot to take on right? That's what I thought too. “Our Good Eats Kitchen is going to be a celebration of good food,” stated Michael Ashker, co-founder and CEO of Good Eats. About two years ago when the location for Good Eats was up in the air, they were looking at the Corti Brothers spot on Folsom Bvld. This was met with public outcry, and a debate over whether the right to keep a Sacramento institution should be overt

An air of sadness hung about Le Petit Paris Wednesday after the owners announced they will close late this month. The boutique and Parisian cafe has brought a bit of France to Midtown for the last five years, but it's been struggling for at least two. Owners Tassina Placencia and her husband Ruben plan to close the family business at 1221 19th St. on Sept. 26. The economy and fewer customers — including state workers making less money because they're furloughed many Fridays — have contributed to the problem, Tassina Placencia said Wednesday afternoon. "It's not what it was," she said during a break from serving customers who lined up at the counter. "No one's buying coffee anymore. You

A popular Midtown breakfast spot, Cornerstone Restaurant, closed Tuesday. Cornerstone's owners Kwang "Joe" Jang and his brother-in-law, Danny Leung, along with family and employees, turned off the stoves and said goodbye to customers before shutting the doors at 1 p.m. They were unable to extend their lease for the corner spot at 2330 J St., where they've operated the restaurant for 16 years. They hope to open a new restaurant location nearby within six months. "We served our last meal," Leung said. "Our customers are sad. Our employees are out of jobs." Four months ago, the property owners agreed in court to give them until Sept. 1 to move out. Jang and Leung recently offered to pay h

A film crew has been shooting footage inside Naked Lounge, The Shady Lady and Clubhouse 56. The film, “Untitled,” is a collaboration between two Ink Eats & Drinks employees. Theater director Anthony D’Juan Shelton directed the film, and Celia Crain, co-wrote and co-produced it. Nanci Zoppi (New Helvetia Theatre’s “It’s Only Life,” “Tick, Tick…BOOM!” and “Hedwig and The Angry Inch” and “Graham-A-Rama”) plays Angelica De Grassi, a rising singer and the film’s main character. Zoppi and Shelton previously worked together for an Actor’s Theatre of Sacramento production of “Othello.” “Untitled” will be both Shelton’s and Zoppi’s film debut. Shleton said he wanted to make a film about a huma

Pedestrian traffic may have appeared somewhat peculiar in Midtown on Saturday. Merry crowds of golfers, and a pirate or two, took to the streets in droves for the first annual Albie Puttin’ Pub and Putt Crawl presented by Go-Girl Energy Drink. Tickets were $25 for walk-ups and $20 for those who preregistered. All proceeds from the event went straight to Albie Aware Inc., a foundation dedicated to supporting women struggling with breast cancer. Executive Director Cindy Love, was a close friend to Albie Carson. The foundation was formed after Carson died of breast cancer in 2002. “We started the foundation because she was not given the proper testing after she was diagnosed, and we would

Applause filled The Crest Theatre Thursday night when a scene from the documentary “The Next American Dream” displayed an enormous tractor claw demolishing a freeway overpass. The scene symbolized an end to urban sprawl, its destructive effects on nature and its seeming lack of forethought in urban planning. No one specific group, organization or political party took responsibility for the showing of the film. Instead, it was communicated to the audience that the film was being brought to the Crest by a group of people who call Sacramento home. Dustin Littrell, a local architect and designer, ambiguously revealed that the idea for showing the film in Sacramento began among “a group of ca

Plans to open a new sports bar and game room called Penalty Box in the state's East End Complex have been put on hold after the owner died Saturday. Jamie Peart was a longtime client of the California Department of Rehabilitation's Business Enterprises Program. Peart, who was 50, owned Tradewinds Cafe in the California Department of Transportation Building at the corner of Alhambra Boulevard and R Street. He died Saturday morning of natural causes, according to the Sacramento County Coroner's Office. The family believes he died of heart failure, but the cause of death is not yet known, said family friend Gary Crocker. Peart had planned to open Penalty Box on Sept. 1 at the California De

Posted by RachelGlenn My father is addicted to oxycontin and methadone. He constantly drives while under the influence of these substances. How can I prevent this and how can I make all local police agencies aware of him and his driving while under the influence. I DO NOT care if he goes to jail. I want him off the road! Dear Rachel, This situation of watching your father with his addiction must be very difficult for you. As hard as this may be, you are being responsible. You father’s judgment is obviously impaired and when talking to him as a daughter has had no effect, he leaves you no choice but to call someone who will stop his behavior. If you live in the city, you could call our

On Friday August 20, the UFL's Sacramento Mountain Lions held a special Meet & Greet event for season ticket holders and fans at the team's facilities on the campus of the California State University, Sacramento. Information provided by the Mountain Lions Ticket Sales staff indicated the event was scheduled to take place from 6-9pm. Initial pictures and autographs for fans were followed by player introductions by Head Coach Dennis Green, and performances by the Mountain Lions cheer and dance squad. Thereafter, players and fans reconvened for more pictures and autographs. By about 7:30pm, a few players needed t leave in order to tend to other commitments. Wide receiver Fred Otis Amey, who