Newest articles on The Sacramento Press written by Amy Wong

Third annual Sacramento 9/11 Memorial Climb includes new 5K run

2011-09-02T06:11:10Z

The 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks is coming up, and throughout the country there will be memorials honoring the dead, but Sacramento firefighters ask that locals take the opportunity to come out and run a 5K race for a good cause.

Through a partnership between various Sacramento area Fire Departments, the Sacramento Police Department, the Sheriff’s Department and more than 2,000 local volunteers, a 5K run/walk has been organized as an addition to their third annual 9/11 Memorial Climb, in which 343 firefighters – the number of New York firefighters killed on 9/11 – climb the Renaissance Tower in downtown Sacramento to honor fallen firefighters.

“It’s very personal for the firefighters. You have to be a firefighter to do the climb, and that’s one of the reasons the why the 5K run was developed,” said volunteer Karen Montgomery, a history and geography teacher at Rocklin High School.

“There are so many other people that want to pay tribute to the fallen firefighters and want to be a part of this memorial,” she added, “so it’s a way of preserving the climb just for the firefighters and then having another way of honoring the fallen.”

To take part in the 5K run/walk, it costs $30 to register through Fleet Feet Sports, 2311 J St. Proceeds for the run will go to the Sacramento Area Firefighters Widows and Orphans Fund.

Fleet Feet Sports will coordinate the run/walk. Organizers will provide timers for the racers to carry, and Fleet Feed will track the results of the run.

On Sept. 11 at 8 a.m., 343 Sacramento firefighters dressed in their fire gear will ascend the stairs of the Renaissance Tower, which is 28 stories high.

They will climb the stairs of the building four times in order to match the height of the Twin Towers, which stood at 110 stories high. Each firefighter will carry a name plaque of a fallen firefighter. There will be a Twin Towers memorial at the end of the climb for the firefighters to leave the names of those who perished.

At 9:11 a.m., the 5K run/walk will begin at Capitol Mall between fifth and seventh streets. There will be two waves of participants, according Montgomery. People who want to run will go first. The second wave of participants who want to walk will follow at 9:21 a.m.

Local Celtic band Stout Rebellion will be performing during the run/walk.

For non-firefighters, a pre-climb event will be held Sept. 9 in which Sacramento firefighters have invited Good Day Sacramento to preview their climb at The Renaissance Tower.

The preview will also include a performance by pop singer Anna Nalick. Her song “Breathe (2 a.m.) was a radio hit in 2005. She will be in the Good Day Sacramento studio promoting the run.

Nalick is also set to perform at the Tribute in the Park concert after the 5K run Sept. 11 beginning at 10 a.m. Other acts set to take the stage include the country band 27 Outlaws. The singer and guitarist Joel Van Horne of the indie alternative rock band, Carbon Choir will also perform.

“When you lose a firefighter, it’s obviously a great impact, but when you lose 343 in one day, it’s overwhelming,” said Captain Tony Peck, spokesperson for the Sacramento Fire Department.

“And to think they were doing what we do every day. It’s a stark reminder that although we never want to make that ultimate sacrifice – it’s a reminder that we’re in a line a work where that can happen. It’s very moving for us when 343 are lost in one day and had no idea it was going to happen to them,” Peck said.

At the end of the run, participants will be given a flag, and they will be asked to go to the Capitol and place the flag on the lawn. 2,997 flags will be distributed to symbolize all the Americans who died on Sept. 11.

“As a history teacher and wife of a firefighter, I have a different perspective,” Montgomery said. Historically, it’s important for us to remember these major events and sacrifices that people make. But also, it’s important for our students – our younger generation – to understand what it’s like to live in a post-9/11 world. The events of 9/11 have affected us dramatically. The way we live our everyday lives has really been impacted by security measures that followed 9/11.”

For more information on the 9/11 Memorial Run/Walk, click here.

Fourth Annual Art Bra Show

2011-08-31T06:59:18Z

Breasts have been bared in the name of art for as long as man has been making art. So why not create art in the name of breast health as well? That’s the idea behind the gallery show at 40 Acres Gallery located in Oak Park.

The fourth annual Art Bra Show will run from Sept. 8-17. More than 150 pieces of art from 100 area artists will be featured.

“Every year we increase the amount of art and quality,” said Kelly Siefkin, spokeswoman for Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services. “I think it’s really grown in terms of scope. A lot more people in the community are aware of it. A lot of people love attending it.”

The Art Bra Show will feature sculptures, collages and paintings that are inspired by breast cancer.

“Every piece of art will have a bra or a symbol of a bra. Sometimes they’re hidden, and sometimes they are very visible,” Siefkin said.

This year, contributing artists including post-funk artist Tony Natsoulas, Sandora Nishio and Marjorie Morbitzer of Sacramento will be donating their work.

Natsoulas created two sculpture pieces for the Art Bra Show aimed at eliciting humor amid a serious subject.

“What’s Your Cup Size?” features a pink breast placed in a lime green coffee cup. His other sculptural piece, “Hey, I’m Up Here” features a pair of breasts with glasses on.

Natsoulas said that he has had close friends who have been affected by breast cancer.

“They’ve all survived so far. I haven’t had anyone die on me yet,” he said.

Chico-based artist Sandora Nishio used acrylic paints to create her subject, the star-flower. Her star-flower is poised in the sky and over the ocean. Two petals on her star-flower form a bra. Nishio said that the piece is a dedication to women who have been affected by breast cancer.

“My mother-in-law passed away from breast cancer a couple of years ago and it adds another personal layer of significance to it,” Nishio said. “Any time you can give back and your creativity can benefit in a social way, it’s pretty neat.”

Marjorie Morbitzer, an artist based in Oak Park contributed a ceramic sculptural piece called “Marian the Librarian.”

Morbitzer is a scientist by profession but creates sculptural pieces on the side. She said it took a week and half to make her art bra piece.

Organizers will raise money through a silent auction from 5 - 9 p.m. Sept. 10 during a Second Saturday Art Walk reception for the Art Bra Show. Each of the displayed art bra pieces will be put up for auction. There will be bid sheets next to the artwork.

This year organizers are expecting to raise $10,000 through the silent auction, according to Helen Plenert, Women’s Wisdom art program manager. Women’s Wisdom is a nonprofit organization that provides art resources, including supplies and studio space to women through Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services.

The Sacramento Food Bank and the Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation, which provides free mammograms to women who do not have the resources to get regular breast exams, is sponsoring the art show. Viewing is free to the public.

40 Acres Gallery is located at 3428 Third Ave.

Fourth annual Midtown Cocktail Week

2011-08-12T09:11:26Z

For Sacramentans who have ever pondered the mystery of what makes a cocktail special and want to sample new, classic, exotic and experimental cocktails, then they will have the opportunity beginning Monday.

Midtown Cocktail Week is coming back to Sacramento for the fourth year, and for seven nights, 15 designated Midtown or downtown bars and restaurants will be featuring specialty cocktail events.

For more information and a full list of events, click here.

“It’s good for business, (but) not in the monetary sense,” said Jason Boggs, co-owner of Shady Lady Saloon. “It lets people in Sacramento know they can drink better, and that makes quality of life better for everyone.”

Midtown Cocktail Week was founded by mixologists Erick Castro and Joe Anthony Savala in 2008. Their goal was to elevate cocktail culture in Sacramento and to provide an educational and cultural experience for locals according to Heather Philpott, communications coordinator of the Midtown Business Association.

Accompanying the special cocktail events, there will be bartending classes offered to public as well industry-only classes.

Shady Lady Saloon, located at 1409 R St., will host the opening event, titled “Women and Cocktails.” It will be an evening celebrating female palate and their role in modern-day cocktail making.

Boggs said that Shady Lady Saloon will be bringing in prominent female bartenders from across the country to showcase their skills. Charlotte Vosey and Jaqueline Patterson of William Grant, based in New York will be guest bartenders. Others will include Brooke Arthur and Morgan Young from San Francisco, Summer-Jane Bell - Vice President of the United States Bartender Guild and Delema Aseere of Montanya Distillery.

“There’s definitely a perceived notion that the alcohol industry and the bar as being a man’s realm” said Chris Tucker, bartender at The Golden Bear and Shady Lady Saloon. “But you look throughout history and there are key female figures throughout alcohol (making), tavern, pubs, bars. Women have had a key role in all of those avenues - wine making, brewing, distillation.”

Tucker and Boggs are co-chairing venue development and education for Midtown Cocktail Week.

Boggs, who was the former head chef of Cafe Bernardo and R15 and has spent the last two years behind the bar, is still experimenting and deciding which cocktails to showcase at Midtown Cocktail Week.

He is working on two still-unnamed cocktails. One is made with gin, Cocchi Americano, Maraschino, lemon juice and naturally-sourced rose petals.

The second cocktail is made with fresh muddled black berries, Brazilian Cachaca - made from fresh sugarcane that is distilled and fermented, fresh lemon juice, lemon bitters and topped with Brut.

“These blackberries and roses grew together,” Boggs said. “When I put this in front of (people), they are going to smell Sacramento summer.”

The biggest draw of cocktail week will be at Red Lotus Kitchen and Bar on Tuesday when the restaurant will host a mixology competition said Boggs.

Bartenders and Mixologists from 10 Sacramento bars and restaurants will compete to win $400. The founders of Midtown Cocktail Week, Erick Castro and Joe Anthony Savala, will serve as judges and oversee the competition. Frank Jakubka, a professional taster for Remy Cointreau will serve as the third judge.

The format of the competition will be punchbowl style. Their cocktails will be mixed in a punchbowl for all to see.

Red Lotus Kitchen and Bar is setting up monitors and speakers throughout the restaurant so that it can accommodate patrons.

Mixologist Rene Dominguez, inventor of the White Linen cocktail, will be competing. He said he came up with the White Linen when he was working at Ella Dining Room and Bar. In 2009, Shady Lady Saloon offered the cocktail on its drink menu, and it became a local sensation.

“I think it could become a signature cocktail for Sacramento,” Boggs said.

Though the White Linen is gin-based, Dominguez said he has more of an affinity for rum- and whiskey-based drinks. He also favors cocktails with minimal ingredients like the High Plains Drifter and the Cora Middleton #2 featured on their special menu for Midtown Cocktail Week.

Named after the 1973 western, the High Plains Drifter is a brown cocktail made out of Luxardo Amaro - a herbal liqueur also known to help digest food, lemon verbena, bitter lemon and tonic.

Aside from the High Plains Drifter, Red Lotus will be offering The Countess, Scottish Peche, Picasso’s Daughter, and Cora Middleton #2 each night during Midtown Cocktail Week. These drinks will be $7 each.

Zócalo, 1801 Capitol Ave., will be hosting A Night in Cuba 5 - 9 p.m. Aug. 18. Co-owner Jim Johnson said the Latin theme lends itself well to their menu.

There will be cigar-rolling recreation on the patio, according to Noe Hernandez, general manager at Zocalo. He said they will be serving Old Cuban, the Hemingway Daiquiri, the Cuba Libre, Demerara Punch and the Dark and Stormy. For $20 patrons will be able to sample the cocktails.

Cuban hats will be distributed to customers.

The Citizen Hotel and Grange will presenting be presenting “The Greatest Cocktail on Earth” Aug. 19. The Citizen Hotel Ballroom, 926 J St., will be transformed in a circus-themed party. The Vespertine Circus performers will put on a show beginning at 7 p.m.

Admission is free and upon arrival guests will be served a sample of Carni Punch. Drink tickets can be purchase for $8. There will be circus-inspired cocktails including Ice Monkey, Lion Tamer, Big Top and Bearded Lady.

The Golden Bear 2326 K St., will host the closing of Midtown Cocktail Week . Co-owner Kimio Bazett said he has been overseeing the preparation for the tropical luau-themed party that will be held at The Golden Bear and in the back lot. Admission is free.

Bazett said that they will be featuring six unique cocktails that he and his bartender are in the process of developing. Two will be whiskey-based, two will be tequilia-based and two will be rum-based.

General Manager Jane Gribbon said that local bands Snobs and Prieta are set to perform at the party.

There will be a closing ceremony awarding the winners of the Red Lotus Kitchen and Bar mixology competition. First place winner will be awarded a trophy in addition to the $400 cash prize. Second place and third place winners will receive $200 and $100 respectively.

“The bragging rights are the most important part (of winning),” said Tucker.

Radio host Jeffrey Callison shares interviewing wisdom at workshop

2011-08-11T03:12:46Z

If a man is interviewed for climbing Mount Everest and the reporter fails to ask how and why he set out to climb the mountain, then that reporter has missed the most important part of the interview, said Capital Public Radio personality Jeffrey Callison during a workshop at The Sacramento Press.

Callison taught The Art and Craft of Interviewing to 41 community members Tuesday. It was a workshop intended for journalists, aspiring journalists and people who are interested in learning how to conduct effective interviews.

“You’ll get the meat of the story from ‘the why’ and ‘the how,’” Callison said. “That’s where the story starts to come out. That’s the most important stuff in an interview – the anecdotes, the personal stories, the emotions.”

Callison is the host of the daily Capital Public Radio show “Insight” – a live, one-hour program that looks into issues that affect the Sacramento region. He has interviewed thousands of people during his career, and from his experiences, Callison had lessons about how to get information out of people and how to behave in order to gain respect from interviewees.

“How should you treat the people you are interviewing?” he asked. This was a subject that Callison came back to throughout the course of his workshop.

“When you are interviewing someone, it’s not a conversation. It’s about you getting information out of them. Now, having said that, it doesn’t hurt to have a conversational feel to it,” Callison said.

It is important to get a dialogue going but not lose sight of the objective of interviewing someone. It’s not about you, he said, it’s about extracting information.

“You have to be asking a straightforward and fair question in a respectful way,” he said. “Treating people with respect is treating another person like a human being even if you think they have not treated other people like human beings. That is beside the point. Your job is to find out why they do what they do – how they do what they do.”

As an adept reader of body language, Callison shared his tried-and-true technique for politely communicating to an interviewee that he or she is talking too much. He said that he leans forward slightly and opens his mouth as if to say something. Callison said the person on the receiving end of this gesture usually gets his meaning.

He also explained the difference between being an aggressive reporter and being an assertive reporter in terms of questioning interviewees. Aggressive is imposing your will on someone.

He was critical of CBS correspondent Mike Wallace, whose style of reporting he characterized as “aggressive” and “self-serving.” He said Wallace’s barreling-in style of reporting could put people on the defensive. While Wallace’s methods are effective in his own case, it does not work for all journalists, particularly new journalists.

What happens is you put people on the defensive, Callison said. The point of the interview is to get another individual to share information, and when they feel attacked they will not open up.

Callison defined an assertive interviewer as being respectful and prepared with background research. Cultivating assertiveness will help the interviewer gain the respect of the interviewee.

“Assertiveness is about standing up for yourself and getting what is due to you. That’s the way to approach an interview. If you’re going in as an inexperienced reporter, I think it’s really important to assume a professional persona,” he said. “It’s important to go (to an interview) with self-confidence.”

The way an interviewer can gain self-confidence is by going to an interview prepared. It helps inform the questions an interviewer might ask. It also helps to figure out what is important to take away from the interview.

Callison emphasized the importance of the first question that is asked during an interview. He used the example of a chiropractor who goes overseas to treat soldiers. If he were to interview such a person, the first question shouldn’t be why did you become a chiropractor? A good question to begin with is what does a chiropractor bring to a war zone?

“Ideally it sets the tone and establishes why this person is here. You have to get right at the heart of a topic,” Callison said.

He suggested that an interviewer “surprise the person.” Do a little bit of homework on the intended subject. Find something about them that they wouldn’t expect the interviewer to bring up. It helps get them out of their groove and fleshes out the person to the audience, he said.

“You want to destabilize the interviewee,” Callison said. “You’ll see them warm up. They’ll soften.”

He also suggested that in the research process, interviewers utilize social media. Callison singled out Twitter as a tool for mining anecdotes from subjects. Twitter is revealing because it can be used as a forum to pontificate.

“I think he gave us such a good, common-sense approach to interviewing. I loved the body language tips,” said recent Berkeley graduate Caity Doyle.

Attendee Sherrie Tyler teaches seminars on mental health and came to see Callison speak because she wanted to learn how to interview people.

“I’m not a journalism major but I just love to write. I’ve never done an interview before, but after this workshop I am confident that I can conduct a professional one,” Tyler said. “It was enlightening.”

The Art and Craft of Interviewing with Jeffrey Callison from Sacramento Press on Vimeo.

Video taken by Andrew Nixon

Proposed McDonald's draws criticism from some community members

2011-08-05T06:59:55Z

A review of the proposed McDonald’s site on Second Avenue and Stockton Boulevard by the Community Development Department for the city of Sacramento has found no evidence that the restaurant would significantly impact the environment.

However, some community members argue that the the environmental findings and the traffic study, reported in the Mitigated Negative Declarative released Aug. 1 does not tell the whole story about the health and traffic impact a McDonald’s would have on the Oak Park neighborhood.

“I understand that McDonald’s does provide healthy choices if you choose to go down that route. I don’t think we ought to tell people what they can and cannot eat,” said Sam Allen, co-chair of the Oak Park Neighborhood Land Use Committee. “It’s a personal choice, and so I am hands-off in that sense. But as far as the zoning and the land use, it isn’t compatible with an education health corridor.”

The site of the proposed McDonald’s is directly across the street from the Richard and Annette Cancer Survivor Park and the UC Davis Medical Center where a pediatric endocrinology clinic is located along with a fertility and dentistry clinic.

The area along Stockton Boulevard is also home to other fast food chain restaurants including Jack in the Box, Taco Bell, Burger King and Subway. There are also local restaurants in the area include Boon Boon Cafe, Luigi’s, Loving Hut, Louie’s and Stockton Grill and Burgers.

McDonald’s has proposed a double drive-thru restaurant for Second Avenue and Stockton Boulevard site. According to the California Development Department, the plan includes a 3,897 square-foot restaurant with approximately 90 fixed seats, 30 parking stalls and approximately 11,500 square feet of landscaping.

The project calls for the construction of approximately 80 linear feet of 6 feet high masonry block wall to separate the commercial zone from the residential zone.

The hours of the proposed McDonald’s would run from 5 a.m. - 11 p.m. Monday - Thursday. On Fridays - Sundays, the drive-thru hours would be extended until 1 a.m.

The McDonald’s is also expected to employ 25-30 people, according to the Mitigated Negative Declarative.

“This is what might divide some of the community. It will provide jobs for our high school kids. That’s a big thing that we want in Oak Park,” Allen said.

Dr. Charlene Hauser started the Healthy Development for Oak Park neighborhood group and has been leading the campaign against the proposed McDonald’s on Second Avenue and Stockton Boulevard.

“You can also imagine as a homeowner in the neighborhood that you would be worried about the value of your house plummeting if the view from your living room is suddenly a drive-thru fast-food restaurant,” said Hauser ~~, who owns a home along Second Avenue.~~

“Drive-thru’s in general are not good in a neighborhood like Oak Park because it is an under-served, low-income, ethnically diverse area that is subject to disparities when it comes to health (access). Fast foods just exacerbate the situation for the population of Oak Park,” Hauser said.

The Oak Park Neighborhood Association voted recently to oppose the building of a McDonald’s based strictly on land use issues. Allen has been enlisted to draft the letter of opposition for the project, based on land use criteria. He said it should be released by the end of the week.

The Neighborhood Association and the Land Use Committee put the plan through their land use matrix as a way of evaluating all land use projects that go through Oak Park. A score of 1 is the lowest a project can receive and 4 is the highest score.

The project score card takes into consideration transit orientation, appropriate traffic levels, pedestrian access and amenities, bicycle infrastructure, energy efficiency, water efficiency, potential for providing local jobs and health food production.

For the complete list of the project score card criteria, click here.

“That way there’s no willy-nilly - ‘Oh I like this, and no I don’t like this.’ We wanted a very objective way of looking at projects that were going to be proposed in Oak Park. We put this proposed McDonald’s through this matrix, and it scored a 1.2 out of a possible 4,” Allen said.

Allen said the subject of a possible McDonald’s is a topic of extreme debate in the Oak Park community. The City Planning Commission will take up the issue in September in the City Council chambers downtown.

Editorial Note: Corrections have been made to this story after it was published. The incorrect information has been struck out and the correct information has been added.

'80s Reunion concert brings back friends from the past

2011-08-01T07:03:09Z

In the ‘80s, they were called “kings of the local scene,” but Saturday night, five bands with Sacramento roots, performed a dedication show at Harlow’s for family, friends and fans who have been loyal listeners for some 20 years.

Harlow’s hosted “Lord Beaverbrooks and the Fat Fonzies,” a lively reunion concert that included bands such as The Features, Numonix, Tattooed Love Dogs, The Antics and Rhythm School.

These five bands were a part of the music scene at Lord Beaverbrooks, a happening music venue in Sacramento in the ‘80’s, that was able to showcase punk rock, alternative rock and new wave music. That location on 2384 Fair Oaks Blvd has since become Zinfandel Grille.

Loyal followers, who were nostalgic for the music and party scene that Lord Beaverbrooks produced, came in droves.

Harlow’s, located on 2708 J St. hosted a crowd of over 200 people, many of whom were in their 40s and 50s. These were people who you knew used to be the coolest kids in the class. On Saturday they went to see if the local bands they liked in the ‘80s were still cool.

Fan John Gardiner said he went to see his friend Sethyne White, lead singer of Numonix, perform. He pointed out that a lot of people in the crowd were ex-skaters and fans of alternative rock and new wave in the ‘80s.

If the crowd’s reaction to the music was any indication — in a word, yes — these bands are still cool.

The night kicked off with Rhythm School, a band with pop, ska, rock and reggae influences. The Lead singer Sean O’Callaghan crooned, “I got a love that’s like broken railroad tracks,” as his wife Treacy O’Callahan looked on.

Their music was the kind that someone bops their head to. It’s music that was made to make you move.

They were followed by The Antics, who played a brief but pleasing set. Women stood up and started to dance.

Harry Price of Numonix brought a bit of unexpected humor to Harlow’s. He shared that Numonix once a show for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Price recalled when lead singer Anthony Kiedis taunted Numonix mercilessly, calling them “new wave pussies.”

To get even, Price spit in Kiedis’ beer, unbeknownst to Kiedis.

“Now listen to the radio,” Price said. “Look who’s new wave pussy now.”

During her last song, White sang “you can’t get a boner when you’re dead,” swinging a penis-shaped microphone after she was goaded by fans to sing “the boner song.”

Though all the bands were well received, none brought the house down more than The Features. The concert was at its height when lead vocalist Johny Pride and his band took the stage.

In sunglasses and black Vans skate shoes, Pride oozed charisma but was gracious to share the stage when fans — some barefoot — got on onstage to be near the music.

The night ended with a performance by the seasoned band Tattooed Love Dogs. Markedly different from the other bands that performed that night, the music of Tattooed Love Dogs had touches of folk music mixed with rock.

Local author sheds light on adult Asperger's Syndrome

2011-07-29T07:16:33Z

Martha Schmidtmann Dunne, whose husband Mike Dunne is a local food and wine writer and editor at Sacramento Bee, found that she was also a writer when she began penning a book about her family’s struggle with her youngest son’s Asperger’s Syndrome.

“I never had any intention of writing a book. I was just trying to understand my son,” said Dunne, who wrote her book in the house she shares with her husband and son in Sacramento.

Four years ago, Dunne and her husband came to the realization that their adult son, Dylan Dunne, then 36, had Asperger’s Syndrome.

This led her on a three-year research spree of Asperger’s that eventually culminated with the publishing of her book, “Wait, What do you Mean? Asperger’s Tell and Show.”

Asperger’s Syndrome is a developmental disorder in the Autism spectrum in which individuals have a neurological makeup that is different from the typical population. Individuals with Asperger’s do not have the brain circuitry that would enable them pick up on normal social cues.

After a lifetime of viewing her son’s atypical behaviors: early intelligence, having rote memory (learning by repetition and recalling in great detail), having an awkward gait, speaking in monotone, suffering from sleep abnormalities, lacking of impulse control, the inability to pick up on social cues and to empathize, and his capacity to hone in on specialized interests – Dunne said she had an epiphany.

“These two words explained all these behaviors that we knew were odd – we knew were singular,” Dunne said. “I picked up a book on Autism and read the characteristics (of Asperger’s) and, point after point, that’s him. My thoughts went straight to Dylan.”

Dunne said that, to this day, Dylan Dunne has had no formal diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome. In her research Dunne said she found that it is difficult for adults to be diagnosed with Aspergers. Funding for autism spectrum research and outreach is geared at children.

The American Psychiatric Association did not formally recognized Asperger’s Syndrome as a neurological condition until 1994. Dunne said she believes there are a whole generation of adults with Asperger’s who have had no treatment or acknowledgement of their condition. This can lead individuals with Asperger’s to withdraw, to fall into depression or to become violent.

According to Dunne, Liane Holliday Willey, who wrote a memoir, “Pretending to be Normal,” about her own Asperger’s condition, coined the term “Aspie.” Today, many individuals with Asperger’s self-identify as Aspies, including Dunne’s son.

“Just because it became a diagnosis in a book does not mean that everyone (with Asperger’s) all of a sudden got diagnosed,” Dunne said.

Dunne’s book lays out the case that her son, who growing up exhibited awkward and perplexing behaviors that no one could explain, had Asperger’s.

At 12, Dylan Dunne wrote and illustrated a picture book called “A Collection of Violent Poems.” It was a book filled with weapons and dismembered people. One poem is called “Knife.”

“I wish I were a knife / to go on body raids / and end human life / with my shiny blade.”

Dylan Dunne’s poem is accompanied by a picture of knife that has speared through a distressed man’s head.

“Basically if they don’t pick up on (social boundaries), they don’t know how another person is feeling,” Dunne said. They are accused of not having empathy, but the fact is they just don’t know how someone else is feeling. If they knew, they might care.”

Dunne had her son’s picture book was published in 2010 along with her own book. Dunne said that her son’s inability to recognize that his illustrations crossed the boundaries of what is appropriate is characteristic of someone with Asperger’s. Dunne said he had no idea how another person would feel viewing his art work.

“They don’t know what to expect of other people. They don’t have the social learning because they don’t learn in the way (normal people) learn. Not being able to anticipate another person’s intent can be very limiting.”

Dunne said her family nearly came apart in 1987 when her oldest son, 20-year-old Jason Dunne, committed suicide while away at Cal Poly Pomona. He had taken over-the-counter pills and put himself in front of a train. Jason Dunne left behind a goodbye video, leaving little doubt as to his intent.

“I never stated in the book that Jason was an aspie but I think he probably was. I would have watched him more carefully - been more aware of his social interactions,” she said.

Dunne said that she would tell parents of children diagnosed with Aspergers today to guide their children in the direction of their unique interests as a way of coping with their condition.

“I would say to (parents of children with Asperger’s today) to not focus so much on making their round peg fit into the square hole. It’s an old, worn-out cliché, but it makes the point,” she said. “Stop trying to make them typical when they’re never going to be. Instead, focus on their strengths, which would be roughly defined as their interests, whatever they may be, and to help guide them very literally with the rules that they have to follow in order to get along.”

Dunne said she wrote her book to help people who have Asperger’s but are undiagnosed. She also wrote her book for people who are normal and neural-typical.

“We probably all know someone who is an adult Aspie, and we think of them as weird or odd. Sometimes people think of them as retarded because they don’t quite get it. Hopefully it will promote understanding and tolerance,” she said.

Superheroes combat unhealthy villains

2011-07-27T06:53:25Z

A new league of superheroes will debut on the Sacramento comic book scene this December.

The premise of the comic, “Health-E-Man and the Champions of the Chewniverse,” is a band of heroes will fight against the forces that prevent access to good health.

In an attempt to promote health awareness in South Sacramento and in communities beyond, the nonprofit Building Healthy Communities has embarked on the comic project to create an innovative digital comic book series that will teach young people healthy eating habits.

“We’ve always seen fast food restaurants catering to kids – whether it’s toys, superheroes or happy meals. You’ve seen their heroes promote unhealthy foods,” said Alberto Mercado, project coordinator for BHC. “What if we had a superhero that eats everything that is healthy – that’s fighting for justice and (access to) health? (It’s) teaching kids that there’s a better way than just getting a happy meal.”

The South Sacramento region has been identified as one of the biggest “food deserts” in the state by the California Endowment, a private statewide health foundation that grants money to organizations such as the BHC that seek to expand health access to under-served communities, Mercado said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines “food deserts” as areas that lack access to affordable fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk and other foods that make a healthy lifestyle possible. According to the CDC, a population living in such regions can suffer from bad health.

A marked characteristic of a “food desert” is the lack of supermarkets in what are often minority communities.

“ ‘Health-E-Man and Champions of the Chewniverse’ is the perfect way for us to reach those who don’t get the regular (health) information,” Mercado said. “Nutritional information is kind of boring, and we’re putting (nutritional lessons) into the comic book so that people know that there’s good ways to eat and bad ways.”

The comic project is funded through Asian Resources, a community organization that acts as a fiscal agent for the California Endowment in the Sacramento region. Asian Resources is one of 27 organizations that received grants from the Endowment. Additional fundraising for the project will be done through www.kickstarter.com, a website that accepts donations for art and media projects.

Christine Tien, project manager for the California Endowment, ~~Asian Resources, a community organization that acts as a fiscal agent for the California Endowment in the Sacramento region~~ , gave the green light for the “Champions of the Chewniverse” comic book project.

The target demographic is sixth graders to high school-age youths.

Funding for the comic was granted on the basis that it could spread the vision of community health. If the digital comic can influence the eating patterns of students, Mercado said, he thinks the project could go beyond Sacramento.

Health-E-Man was inspired by the 1980s superhero series “He-Man and Masters of the Universe.”
In order to avoid too many comparisons to He-Man, creators of Health-E-Man have made efforts to differentiate their hero.

“If you’ve ever seen (He-Man), he’s a typical white male – knight-in-shining armor. But if you look at our character, he could resemble any ethnicity that you could think of. He could look Mexican, he could look Native American, he could also look Asian,” Mercado said. “We know Sacramento is a very diverse community, and we want to make sure everyone is captured.”

Creators are also currently working on their first storyline concept. Each issue will be accompanied by a lesson, such as the benefits of exercise.

“Kids can teach their parents about eating. Kids can influence their parents in doing things. If we did it the other way around, it wouldn’t work, and we’ve seen it,” Mercado said. “If you have a youth coming to you and telling you the things that could happen, it makes a bigger impact.”

Two teenagers have been brought on board for storyboard consulting because creators wanted input from youths. In addition, Frank Stone, a comic book illustrator from Stockton, was enlisted to bring their concepts to life.

In order to raise community involvement, Mercado said that creators of Health-E-Man will launch a coloring contest in August in order to decide the color scheme for the comic. The details of the contest are still in development. Mercado said the fusion of colors makes or breaks a comic.

Stone took the concept of “Champions of the Chewniverse” to Comic-Con in San Diego recently in order to debut Health-E-Man to the comic book community. Health-E-Man will also have its own booth at the first He-Man convention beginning Sept. 28 in Los Angeles.

Editorial Note: A correction has been made to this story after it was published. The incorrect information has beeen struck out and the correct information has been added.

Miniskirt-themed fashion show will highlight photography of Alister Oliver

2011-07-20T04:12:10Z

Gallery 2110 will host a fashion show paying tribute to Designer Mary Quant at 7 p.m. July 23, on the first floor of the art complex on 2110 K St. The show is organized by photographer Alister Oliver, a tenant of the art complex for the last two and half years.

Quant popularized miniskirts during the Mod era that took England’s youth by storm in the late 1950s and early 1960s. For that subculture, the miniskirt became a symbol of rebellion.

“Coming up in the 50s, (Mary Quant) thought clothing (of the era) was a little bit stodgy,” Oliver said. “It was not about how a woman wanted to dress.”

Inspired by the music and fashion of Mod subculture, Oliver has chosen the miniskirt as a theme for his show.

The fashion show is free and open to the public. Denim Spot, 1050 20th St. will be providing miniskirts and other articles of clothing for the three models featured in the fashion show.

In order to make the fashion show more interactive, Oliver said he will also be staging a photoshoot for the public to view.

The fashion show is also meant to bring attention to Oliver’s photography exhibit, “Short Enough to Keep Things Interesting.” It is a series of artistic photographs in which iconic men such as Albert Einstein, Charlie Chaplin, René Magritte and Salvador Dalí, are represented or impersonated by women.

The exhibit will serve as the backdrop of the fashion show.

“He takes great strides to be an individual in a medium that is considered commonplace. Photography is a medium that most people feel that can do and can do well. He takes great strides to make very unique pieces,” said Clare Bailey, owner of Gallery 2110.

Oliver, 37, said he picked up on the theme of dressing women as men two years ago during a photoshoot in a factory where other photographers were taking pictures of the interior of the building for historical value. Oliver said that unlike the others there, he was photographing a woman dressed as Charlie Chaplin. He noted that his activity caused a stir on the spot. One of the photographers there was disgusted.

“I thought, ‘There’s something here.’ I think any kind of art, good or bad, that gets people talking is good. It’s about showing people what you think is art and, they may agree or disagree,” Oliver said.

He has done everything from event photography, product photography, wedding photography, cityscapes and portraiture to art photography.

In recent years, he has done a lot of automotive photography, which isn’t pushing any boundaries at all, Oliver said. Bailey said she believes the fashion show will help showcase the versatility of Oliver’s work.

Born in England, Oliver’s family relocated to northern to New Jersey when he was 12. He has spent the last eight years in California.

Oliver said he has been snapping pictures since he was 4. His father came home from a business trip in Canada and lost his camera, so he purchased the Kodak point-and-shoot camera. Oliver was eventually given the Kodak and, he said he took pictures of worms and dirt.

“I would get in trouble because I went through film like Skittles,” he said.

Oliver said he wants to wake people up with his art photography.

“Everything that Alister does has a different take,” Bailey said. He’s always got that twist – something that is uniquely Alister.”

Second annual Bastille Day Waiters' Race

2011-07-15T23:31:19Z

Hundreds of spectators gathered Thursday night to watch waiters and waitresses from Sacramento restaurants as they gave their best definition of speedy service in the second annual Bastille Day Waiters’ Race in the courtyard behind 1801 L Wine Lounge.

Waiters and waitresses from 25 central city restaurants made two laps around the block bounded by 18th and 19th streets and L Street and Capitol Avenue. With one hand, participants were required to balance a tray with a bottle of Perrier mineral water and two champagne glasses filled with water. The race began at 7 p.m.

“From my perspective as the French consul, it’s great, that in a town like Sacramento, we have young waiters and waitresses throughout the region participating in a strictly French event, which is wonderful,” said Jane Wheaton, who represents Consule Honoraire de France and served as one of the judges in the competition.

Anthony Sharrow, a server at L Wine Lounge, came in first in the men’s division, and Marja Magnuson, a server from 33rd Street Bistro, triumphed in the women’s division. They were each awarded $150 and one free night stay in an executive suite at 1801 L Street Apartments

Second-place winners included Carlos Gonzalez of Zócalo and Ali Lazzaretto of Hot Italian, who were awarded $100. Blake Taylor of Sapporo Grill Japanese Steakhouse and Kristi Warren, a server at The Firehouse Restaurant, took third place, winning $50 each.

Sactown Magazine was one of the sponsors of the event, and this year the magazine flew in Head Judge Jim Kahan, who has been overseeing the Bastille Day Waiters’ Race in Portland for the last two years.

“In addition to being fun, this is an international event and is a great showcase for all the great dinning establishments in the area. There’s over 20 restaurants and bars that are participating in this race, from Ella, to Grange to Zócalo to Lounge on 20,” said Steve Childs, publisher of Sactown Magazine.

Amar Dhariwal, a representative for Sactown Magazine, who registered the participants, said that in all, 43 servers took part in the waiters’ race. She said it cost the servers $20 to compete.

“My understanding was that last year it was pretty chaotic. They wanted somebody with some experience,” Kahan said.

This year, the race was more formalized. Participants were required to wear white shirts and black pants or skirts. They were provided bow ties, aprons and a napkin to drape over one arm.

He said the waiters’ race promotes goodwill and culture. Portland hosts the biggest Bastille Day celebration on the west coast, but, he said, Sacramento has the potential to surpass his city. The waiters’ race in Sacramento allowed no more than 50 competitors.

“You have spirit (here) that could be greater than what Portland has,” said Kahan, who noted that Portland has been hosting the waiters’ race for seven years.

“It’s been getting pretty refined each year as we learn better. The winner is not the first person to cross the finish line. It’s the person with the driest tray,” Kahan said. “Three years ago, a man in Portland was last to cross the finish line, but his tray was bone dry, and he won.”

At the end of the race, spectators and racing participants were invited to mingle on the L Wine Lounge courtyard. Sample servings of strawberry and Nutella crepes were provided by Crepeville. Champagne provided by sponsor Perrier-Jouët was also served.

French music from Charles Aznavour, Francis Cabral and the soundtrack of the movie “Amélie” contributed to the French-themed atmosphere.

Spectator Helene Mulligan who is French, and resides in Sacramento, compared France’s Bastille Day to Independence Day in the U.S. Mulligan said July 14 is Bastille Day, the day French citizens stormed the Bastille in Paris, and that event sparked the French Revolution.

Mayor spreads word about the benefits of an entertainment/sports complex

2011-07-13T01:57:27Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson is currently in the process of visiting Sacramento’s six major counties to discuss the benefits of a future entertainment and sports complex along the stretch of what used to be the old Southern Pacific railyards downtown.

At the mayor’s weekly press conference Tuesday, Johnson, who had just visited El Dorado County and the city of Folsom the day before, called his visits “authentic outreach.”

Johnson is going on a bus tour Thursday to visit regions of El Dorado County, Davis, Roseville and Rancho Cordova to seek input from the communities there, he said.

This city-to-city outreach is part of the the mayor’s Think Big Coalition. Johnson said the four guiding principles include putting the taxpayers first, making sure it’s about jobs, acknowledging that having an entertainment/sports complex is bigger than just sports and recognizing the need to win as a region.

“It’s really about us taking the show on the road and talking about the economic impact and benefits of having a new entertainment/sports complex,” Johnson said. “It’s much broader than the city of Sacramento. People of the region love that we’re going to them.”

In order to bolster community participation and support for an entertainment/sports complex, Johnson said there will be a design contest in which citizens will compete to design some part of the space outside of the proposed complex. The details are still being worked out through Citizen Architects, a support group for Think Big Sacramento.

“What makes our region different is the grassroots movement. There’s nowhere else in the country that’s getting the kind of input from its citizens the way we do it in Sacramento.

Johnson said that he is on day 44 of 100 days of their Think Big technical review of examining the old Southern Pacific railyards. Next week, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) will be examining the proposed entertainment/sports complex site.

“The other aspect of the 100 days is the financing,” Johnson said. “We’re looking at the menu of options that would fall into public financing, and we hope to have that done in a 100-day period.”

Other topics discussed included the importance of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Greyhound bus station on Wednesday. The cost for the project was approximately $7 million, Johnson said.

The Community Investment Program (CIP) and share and redevelopment money were used to fund the project, Johnson said.

“We’ve been very frugal and efficient in terms of what we’ve been doing,” Johnson said. The Greyhound station (on L Street) has been something that has been an eyesore for years and we’re excited that we’re finally in a position to relocate the bus station to the new location on Richards Boulevard.”

The new Greyhound bus station was built a year ahead of schedule.

“It will be a state-of-the-art facility and it will be secure. People will feel safe there. Everything we’re doing is green now and we’re going to be a leader in that so it’s a sustainable building,” Johnson said.

Custom Toms: A mode of expression for local artist

2011-07-08T05:16:41Z

What began as a favor to a friend became a breakthrough for local artist Kimberly Webster.

Her friend had purchased a pair of Toms shoes and asked Webster to design a camellia flower as an homage to her name, Cammy.

Webster’s intricate flower design was so popular with friends and family that she unintentionally launched a side business that Webster calls “a hobby with benefits.”

“It’s something I can’t give up,” said Webster, who only started freelancing her custom designs for Toms a year and half ago. “I call it a fortunate accident.”

Toms is a shoe company founded by Blake Mycoskie in 2006, and its mission statement is printed inside the sole of each pair of shoes produced: “With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a new pair of shoes to a child in need. One For One.”

“To me, it definitely gives me more fulfillment in what I buy,” Webster said. “If I buy a pair of heels, it just benefits myself. I can buy a pair of Toms shoes and benefit a child who has never owned a pair of shoes in their life. I can do that and at the same time put art on it.”

According to company’s annual Giving Report, as of 2010, 1 million pairs of shoes have been donated to children throughout the world, including Argentina, Ethiopia and the United States among others, as a result of consumers purchasing Toms.

Webster, 25, and her boyfriend, Justin Delacuesta, 33, a 2-D graphic artist at KlickNation, said they had attended a Toms promotional event in San Francisco in early 2010 and met a representative for the company who was recruiting artists for future promotional events.

Delacuesta, was recruited, and shortly after, Webster was brought on board to design at Toms events in the Sacramento region.

Webster said that the process of customizing the designs on the Toms is a collaborative effort. Most of her customer base is female. Requests have included cupcakes, cherry blossoms, Hello Kitty and My Little Pony. Personalized names and quotes are also high on the request list.

She said that often her male clients will ask for more simple designs that sometimes involve the use of Rasta colors (yellow and green), which Webster said symbolize peace. Her clients usually let her decide how each element will be represented on the shoe.

Nursing student, Alvin Fernando, 26, said that he saw his personality reflected in Webster’s design. He had requested a family-tree motif.

“I’m not a tree hugger but I’ve always been infatuated with trees and branches. I am into family-ties and Kim was able to (convey that) with my Toms. It’s an expression of who I am,” said Fernando who paid $30 to have his shoes customized.

Webster uses paint pens and acrylic paints to customize the canvas shoes. She charges anywhere from $20 - $100 to create one-of-a-kind designs for her customers. The cost depends on the intricacy of the design.

Webster said that typically it takes her three hours to lay out and paint the design on her shoes and sometimes she will spread the work out for two days. Webster said she does not charge by the hour.

“I like the rich colors that acrylics produce. I like feeling the thickness (of the paint) beneath the brush,” she said.

Webster said there are times when she gets attached to her work.

“Personally, I put a lot of emotion and effort into the designs. I feel like I am building a relationship with the shoes I’m painting. There are times when I didn’t want to give the shoes back,” Webster said.

Individualizing shoes is not new. Delacuesta said that he customized designs for Vans and Converse shoes for his friends before he switched to customizing designs for Toms.

“Everyone strives for a sense for uniqueness and individualism,” Webster said. “That’s why people like myself are attracted to shoes that are customized. There’s not one (design) I’ve made that is exactly the same.”

Until two years ago, Webster said she kept her artistic aspirations to herself. Born in the Philippines, Webster’s mother married an American and as a result came to the United States at age 10.

In grade school, she said, her teachers would single out her artwork, but it never clicked that she should pursue art. It was encouragement from her boyfriend that gave Webster the confidence to work on her art on a daily basis.

“When I first met her, I saw that all her art was in her room. It had never been expressed anywhere else," Delacuesta said. "It’s good to send it out into the wild.”

Webster’s custom Toms can can be viewed at coroflot.com/kimberlywebster where she can also be contacted.

Youths will report on South Sacramento community

2011-06-28T06:55:07Z

A group of South Sacramento teens will get the chance this summer to learn the ins and outs of basic news writing and reporting. The goal is to get the youths to become advocates for their community and to give voice to the issues that are particular to South Sacramento.

The Neighborhood News Bureau was established by a partnership between Access Sacramento, a nonprofit organization that provides access cable television, and the La Familia Counseling Center to teach approximately 20 teenagers, ages 14 - 18, grassroots, community-based journalism.

La Familia is one of five community centers that Access Sacramento has partnered with to develop Neighborhood News Bureau sites. Other sites include Asian Resources, Florin Creek, Pannell Center and Valley Hi-North Laguna Library.

“One of the critiques is the only time you hear about South Sacramento is when there’s a murder or a violent assault. There’s a lot of good, and the good far outweighs the negative reception that has been placed around this area,” said Vidal Gonzalez, universal youth specialist at La Familia. “By giving the kids the tools to put those positive issues forth, it’ll help to shape that perception of their neighborhood.”

According to Gonzalez, Access Sacramento is providing the NNB at La Familia with two Flip cameras, a PC with Vegas video editing software and technical support workshops.

Isaac Gonzalez, local writer and community advocate enlisted by Access Sacramento, will serve as a mentor to the 20 core youths participating in the La Familia Neighborhood News Bureau.

“Me and my father didn’t get along so I found myself as an adult aways looking to mentor figures and I feel this the part of me giving back to that. To mentor kids is a huge opportunity for me to do the same favor that other men did for me,” Isaac Gonzalez said. “To help a kid out and to give positive constructive criticism – I owe it.”

During the summer, Isaac Gonzalez will be working with youths at La Familia to help them focus their ideas and to frame the stories for their community. The story concepts and the writing will be provided by the youths, but Gonzalez will be editing the submissions and uploading the stories onto www.accesslocal.tv.

At a June 24 meeting, the NNB convened and was still in the beginning stages of developing story ideas. Each of the youths have been enlisted to develop their own story ideas. One of the youth wanted to write about the death of her 3-year-old cousin who died in an alcohol related crash.

“The inability to think about the consequences on other people when you are having fun can have dire consequences,” Isaac Gonzalez said.

High school senior Ramon Castellanos, 18, is writing a piece about juveniles on death row and he explained that the frontal lobes of young people are not fully developed.

“A lot of these youth have very real experiences in their communities - very harsh experiences and sometimes their minds are more open to things because of what they’ve been through,” said Apolonia Cortez, a youth leadership coordinator at La Familia. “I just believe they have completely different perspectives and they should be heard.”

Despite the dismal job setting for teens this summer,Vidal Gonzalez said he sees opportunities for youths participating in NNB. Statewide, the public school system has reduced summer school course offerings and La Familia has reduced teen job programs.

“I think a lot of youths are upset that there aren’t jobs out there – that there aren’t enough activities and programs for them. The majority of parks have been closed. A lot of pools are on very minimal schedules. The kids don’t have a lot of good, positive things to do and speaking to the youth, they want to express that,” Vidal Gonzalez said.

The Neighborhood News Bureau is part of Youth Voices, a program made possible by funding by the California Endowment.

Art of Toys gallery showcases emerging artform

2011-06-24T05:06:52Z

Not all kids have to tell their friends they can’t play with their mothers’ toys. For Terri Rehg, the gallery owner of Art of Toys in downtown Sacramento, that was exactly the case when her daughter was growing up.

“She understood (some of) the toys in the house weren’t her toys,” Rehg said. “But for her to teach her friends that they weren’t allowed to touch the toys because they were her mother’s – that was always a hard concept.”

Rehg said that her toy art gallery is the only one in Northern California of its kind that sells toys as art.

She specializes in selling one-of-a-kind toy art by artists across the country. The works of 15 artists are featured in Rehg’s gallery, and her criteria of each artist on display is they either make their art in the form of toys or they use toys to make art.

The other half of the gallery space operates as a vintage toy/gift shop, but the pieces are still considered art to Rehg.

Art of Toys currently displays three doll sculptures by Marilyn Radzat, the premier doll sculptor in the country. Her lithe doll figures display the effect of being in motion even though the dolls remain still.

Marble artist Greg Chase, now living in New Orleans, fits entire scenes inside of glass marbles no bigger than golf balls. In one of Chase’s marble pieces, he encapsulated New Orleans’s French Quater in a glass marble globe.

San Francisco-based artist, Emiko Oye, makes jewelry using Legos. Artist Katie Enewold, of San Jose, uses vintage board game pieces such as Monopoly, Rook, and Scrabble to make her charm jewelry. Rehg’s gallery also features kaleidoscope artist Sheryl Koch, who specialize in making one-of-a-kind visions using stained glass when a viewer looks through the optical mirror.

“It’s a leap for people to see toys represented as art. People expect art to be a painting,” Rehg said.

Clare Bailey, owner of the art complex Gallery 2110, said that Rehg’s gallery opened some eyes to the different formats art can come in.

“These (toy art pieces) are not actually things that children should be playing with but they are definitely for the kid in all of us adults,” Bailey said.

Rehg said that some of the vintage toys are no longer up to current toy standards and so the toy artwork is not geared at children under 12.

Unlike so many of her adult peers, Rehg, 54, never stopped surrounding herself with toys. She is the oldest of eight children, and her father, who was a pilot in the Air Force, would send Rehg dolls from overseas.

Since the age of 5, she has been documenting and cataloging her doll collection, an exercise her schoolteacher mother instilled in Rehg and her siblings. This prepared her for her career path, and she said that the toy industry is a hard business to break into, but that did not stop her from pursuing her dreams.

“Toys in general are a fad-run business. One day it’s hot, and the next day it’s knocked off and it’s gone,” Rehg said.

Rehg, who got a degree in textiles and business at Sacramento State, went on to work as a toy wholesaler for Best of Friends, a company she founded in 1982 and later sold in 1996.

She said that the idea for a toy art gallery was seeded in her mind 21 years ago when she served as guest curator for the show “California Doll Artists Making History.” The show was held at the State of California History Museum in Old Sacramento in 1982. She had wanted to launch a toy gallery at that time.

She then went on to work at Walt Disney Art Classics, the company’s short-lived collectible division in 2000 as a sales representative. When the division was downsized in 2003, Rehg went on to sell art and later left the toy industry to work for Brighton Jewelry.

Rehg finally opened the Art of Toys gallery in December 2010 after a lifetime of wanting to open a space that is exclusively dedicated to selling toys as an artform.

“I think as far as what she’s brought to our art complex is a sense of whimsy. She’s brought a playful attitude that art doesn’t have to be serious to be good (art),” Bailey said. “She’s opened our minds in a broader way to how toys have influenced the artists of today.”

Art of Toys is located on the second floor of the art complex Gallery 2110 on 2110 K St.

Man on the street: Is Sacramento a place to live or to leave?

2011-06-23T01:05:44Z

Sacramento has been listed in Time Magazine as one of most diverse cities in America. The city is also known for its trees and for being an hour away from everything including mountains, the ocean, and other major cities. The Sacramento Press took to the streets to ask: Is Sacramento a good place to live or leave?

Dan Kaiser, a retired diesel mechanic who currently lives in Manteca, said Sacramento doesn’t have a bad rap like other major cities.

“It’s a hub of activity. There are problems but (Mayor) Kevin Johnson is doing a good job. Old town Sacramento is an important part of Sacramento too because there’s a lot of fun things to do. It’s a very family oriented-town.”

Kao Xiong is originally from Modesto but lives in Sacramento and said she believes Sactown is a place to leave.

“I say it has its negatives and positives. There aren’t a lot of (economic) opportunities here. For me as a single person living here on my own, it’s a place to leave, it’s not exciting.

“The social scene is good but it’s not like in Berkeley where there’s always something to do at night. You don’t have to worry about being mugged (there). You don’t have to worry about paying for parking,” Xiong said.

“Sacramento is good for families to come to because it’s not as expensive as other places (in California) to live in,” she said.

Brian McGhee, who works in maintenance engineering, noted the different varieties of people that live in Sacramento.

“I don’t mind staying,” he said. “There’s such wide diversity of cultures here. There’s always something going on down here. The Pacific Rim Festival was just last month - there’s Cinco de Mayo. It’s one big melting pot.”

Britt Ellertson is a San Francisco State student, originally from Sacramento.

“I wanted to get away for a while but I’ll probably come back to the area so I can be close to my family,” Ellertson said. "I think it’s a good place to live. I like the Midtown vibe a lot. Sacramento is pretty with a lot of good trees.”

Lakisha Collins works for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in prison health care services.

“I wouldn’t leave because we don’t have a lot of dramatic life changes as far as tornadoes, tsunamis and things like that. I believe if we had anything bad happen to us, it would be a flood.

“It’s more comfortable here I believe than anywhere else in the world. We are the safest but it is kind of boring. There’s nothing to do but it’s home,” Collins said.

What do you think? Is Sacramento a place to live or a place to leave? Share your thoughts and responses in the comment section below.

Sacramento Zoo's 10th annual King of Feasts

2011-06-20T04:49:48Z

If you’re a fan of Hula-Hoops and a variety of local food, wine and beer, then the Sacramento Zoo’s 10th annual King of Feasts Wine and Food Luau – which will be held Saturday at the zoo – is for you.

“The luau is held all over the zoo,” Tonja Swank, public relations coordinator for the Sacramento Zoo, said of the 21-and-over event. “We line the different restaurants, wineries and breweries along different areas of the zoo. Some will be lined along Big Cat Row where the hyenas, snow leopard and where the larger cats are.”

Participating restaurants include local favorites such as Zocalo, Taylor’s Kitchen, Kru and Chops Steakhouse. Swank said attendees can expect to find sample-serving sizes of food since the luau is a tasting event.

John Ruffaine, co-owner of Giovanni’s Old World Pizzeria, said this is the fourth year his restaurant has participated in King of Feasts. He said his business will be providing three pizza options.

Their meat-lover’s option is the Don Giovanni, a pizza topped with homemade Italian sausage and red roasted pepper. Their vegetarian option will be pesto pizza, topped with fresh tomatoes and pine nuts. They will also be serving a traditional cheese pizza. He added that all their pizzas will be topped with extra virgin olive oil.

“We always have a lot left over, and we give it away to people at the end (of the night),” Ruffaine said. “There is no better marketing than being generous,” Ruffaine said.”

Desserts will be provided by Vic’s Ice Cream and Cupcake Craving, among others. Mulvaney’s B&L will be serving a seasonal fruit sorbet, said general manager Andy Kingsbury.

The Hoppy Brewing Company, will be providing beer, including Liquid Sunshine Blonde Ale, Hoppy Face Amber Ale, Stony Face Red Ale and Total Eclipse Black Ale, said marketing manager Scott Patterson.

Amador Cellars Winery will be pouring their 2008 petite sirah, the 2008 syrah and two styles of zinfandel.

Shaun Kelish, tasting room manager of Bogle Vineyards, said their winery will be furnishing four types of wine for the event: the 2010 sauvignon blanc, the 2010 chenin blanc, 2009 merlot and the 2009 cabernet sauvignon.

Kelish said Bogle Vineyards is also donating a 2008 merlot 3-liter, 3-magnum bottle of wine, equivalent to four regular bottles, for silent auction.

The Na Aikane Ukulele Club will be performing, along with the Kaulumele Polynesian Dance Group who will also moderate the adult Hula-Hoop contest, Swank said.

It is the second year in a row that organizers of King of Feasts have gone with a luau theme, Swank said.

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $60. Pre-sale tickets purchased during zoo hours or by phone are $50. Zoo members pay $45 pre-sale.

All proceeds will got to the Sacremento Zoo’s general fund.

Grizzlies take down the River Cats, 3-0

2011-06-19T18:06:02Z

A day after triumphing over the Fresno Grizzlies, the Sacramento River Cats could not score against their rivals Saturday night. The Grizzlies took the win, 3-0, in front of 13,700 fans in the second game of a four-game homestand series.

What was to become a lively game got off to a sleepy start with both teams remaining scoreless for the first three innings.

In the fourth inning, when Grizzlie outfielder Tyler Graham and his teammate infielder Edgar Gonzalez got to home plate after Thomas Neal singled into the middle of the field giving his teammates the chance to score.

In the seventh inning, Grizzlies pitcher Andrew Kohn was relieved after reaching his limit of 100 pitches.

Kohn was relieved by Waldis Joaquin, a rare move and the surprise of the night.

In the ninth inning Neal singled up the middle and Edgar Gonzalez scored another run – the final run of the night for the Grizzles.

Despite the loss, River Cat fans kept up the spirit of the game by following along to the entertainment provided by Raley Field. Employees of of the stadium danced on the ceiling of the River Cat’s dugout to rally the home crowd.

A film reel played before the last inning of the game that featured clips from such underdog movies as Independence Day, Hoosiers and Network. George C. Scott’s famous fighting words, “I mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore,” echoed into the night.

The River Cats will finish their home series against the Grizzlies with two more games – Sunday at 1:05 p.m. and Monday at 12:05 p.m. at Raley Field.

19th and Q streets neighborhood park gets community's input

2011-06-17T03:33:27Z

It’s back to the drawing board for designers from the Department of Parks and Recreation and City Councilman Steven Cohn. Plans for a new park in Midtown need to be refined after a community meeting Wednesday that revealed concerns about the future park’s amenities.

Community members gave their input Wednesday about the proposed neighborhood park site at 19th and Q streets, which sits on contaminated land.

Located across the light rail tracks from Safeway along T and S streets, the 0.9-acre plot of land was acquired by the city of Sacramento in 2008-2009 for approximately $2 million and the property remains gated off according to Mary Debeauvier, a principal planner with the Parks and Recreation Department..

“This particular neighborhood has been identified as needing a park for some time,” Debeauvier said. “We’re able with this site to provide a need in terms of providing an urban plaza in a developed neighborhood.”

According to Morgan Johnson, a Project Manager and consultant of ENGEO, a geotechnical and environmental consulting firm based in Rocklin, the future park site is classified as a “Brownfield,” a term used to describe inner city property contaminated because of past industrial usage.

Deemed a “Brownfield” for the level of contamination in the soil, the parks department was awarded a Brownfield grant from the Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $200,000 to address soil remediation, according Johnson. Soil remediation is the process of handling contamination in soil so that land can be used for redevelopment.

Johnson told a crowd of approximately 30 that soil sample tests revealed there are elevated levels of arsenic and lead and somewhat lower concentrations of chromium and petroleum hydrocarbons that exceed regulatory thresholds of safety. The soil can be dangerous to human health if directly ingested or inhaled. Arsenic and lead are known carcinogens.

“We’re going to virtually remove the 1 foot (of soil) across the whole site.” Johnson said.

The 200 cubic yards of contaminated soil will be trucked to a class 1 landfill,designated for hazardous material, he explained.

The less-contaminated soil beneath the removed soil will be consolidated under a concrete hardscape so people will not be exposed to contaminants. Johnson said it unknown how thick the hardscape will be but ENGEO is working with Sacramento County Environmental Management, the State Regional Water Quality and the Department of Toxic Substances Control to determine the safety conditions of the future park site.

The parks department has only secured funds to deal with contaminated soil, according to Debeauvier. The cost for the design and the implementation of the park will not be covered by the EPA Brownfield grant.

“Despite how bad the state and local budgets are on operating, year to year, there are still bond funds and grants that are still available,” Cohn said. “The point is we don’t know where the money is coming from, but we don’t think it’s pie in the sky. It is within the realm of possibility to fund this in the next few years.”

Associate landscape architect from the Department of Parks and Recreation Tin-Wah Wong presented community members with two possible park concepts.

The first concept includes a formal plaza-style park with a walkway leading to a central water feature, temporary rotating pads to display permanent or temporary art, play structures for children, an oversize chessboard and a community garden with approximately 15 plots.

The second concept takes a more organic and nature-inspired theme. Colored concrete lily pads and a ribbon of blue paint representing water could be implemented on the plaza. The plan calls for interactive water misters with bird and heron figures misting water, native plants and interpretive signage for those plants could be included, a turf area for children’s play and a community garden.

“People just want a little bit of dirt. Even if it’s a small area, it could be the size of a banquet table. It’s just something (the community members) really want,” said resident Delphine Cathcart of her desire to see the site include a community garden.

The top concerns among community members was the lack of shade in the designs and other community members spoke of the lack of dog parks in Midtown.

According to Wong, the parks department did not implement the idea of a dog park in their initial designs because Sacramento County requires dog parks must be at least two acres.

Community members will have another opportunity to give further input on refined park plans at the historic City Hall hearing room Thursday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m.

Piñatas used for cultural exchange

2011-06-08T03:06:14Z

A mainstay at children’s birthday parties, candy-filled pinatas are ornaments made to break, and for people of all ages who delight in Latin-based fanfare, the second annual Piñata Festival is coming back to Midtown Saturday.

The festival will be held from noon - 9 p.m. along 23rd Street between I and J streets.

People who turn out for the event can expect to find vendors serving traditional Mexican food and fusion food. Gourmet Mexican ice cream and other deserts will be made by Doña Coco of Sacramento.

According to Mari Arreola, gallery owner of Spanglish Arte, local artists Chulo Baby, and Rachel Knipping and others will have art for sale. UC Davis Professor of Chicano Students Xico Gonzales and community activists will be selling political silkscreens.

Local artist Gavina Barragan will be leading free piñata-making workshops at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Barragan said that she could only take on 12 students per workshop and that it is important to show up early. The raw materials used to make the pinatas is courtesy of the Washington Neighborhood Center.

At 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., kids will get the opportunity to break piñatas. There are no limits to the number of kids that can participate.

Land Arrows Production will be setting up a beer and wine garden this year. Barragan estimates that it will cost $7 per person to get food and drinks at the festival.

Arreola said that live performances have been lined up. The ska rock group Basura and Ballet Folklorico will perform. Local cagefighter, Wrekn Aztekn will provide martial arts demos for people. The Aztec dance group Bachata Fuego and Maquilli Tonathiu will also be performing.

Last year, 600 people came out to celebrate, but this year, organizers are expecting as many as 3,000 people to show up.

“To be honest, last year we took over the street anarchist style, but this year we actually have all the permits in order, thanks to our sponsors,” said Mari Arreola, owner and art director of Spanglish Arte Gallery who is one of the main organizers of the festival.

Organizers of the art-based event said they hope to strengthen community bonds and raise funds for the Washington Neighborhood Center, a nonprofit organization that has been offering programs to youth and adults since it was founded in 1955. Proceeds from the event will also go to Sacramento Piñateros, a piñata-maker’s club.

The Washington Neighborhood Center serves neighbors along the 10-block radius of its headquarters on 400 16th St., located in one the oldest neighborhoods in Sacramento, according to WNC Chair of the board Chairman Tomas Montoya.

Montoya said that businesses that are sponsoring the event will have piñatas made for them courtesy of the volunteers from WNC. He added that the Piñata Festival is a good opportunity for cultural exchange.

“A lot of them (WNC community memmbers) don’t do the whole Second Saturday (Art Walk) thing,” says Montoya said. “It’s good to take our community out there where they normally wouldn’t go. We’re giving them a different kind of exposure, and people who do the Second Saturday thing can get a look at a different kind of art form.”

“People should always go out to any event being put on in public. It’s how you create strong communities and make people feel safe and trust each other by providing an environment to inspire people to talk to each other and look each other in the eye. Besides that, it will be fun,” said local artist Danny Scheible, who is contributing a Tapigami piñata sculpture for the festival.

Scheible developed a sculpting technique using imported tape as the raw material for his art work.

Arreola is working with Ramona Landeros of Land Arrows Production, a nonprofit events planning organization that also puts on music shows. As a result of this partnership, the festival venue is bigger.

“Our festival was more community -oriented (last year). It was very small, but we saw interest that people in Midtown had, and we decided to do a bigger event in response to business and the public in general,” Arreola said.

Lipstick Tuesdays at Old Ironsides

2010-11-25T22:38:20Z

The local midtown haunt, Old Ironsides hosted Lipstick Nov. 23 - an indie rock, electronic dance party that attracted an eclectic crowd.

Lipstick is held every Tuesday night beginning a 9pm. There is a $5 entrance fee.

It’s the best place to people-watch said Kai Bittore, a Sacramento local who makes war-wrap for UFC fighters.

“Cool girl in red pumps - where can you go wrong?” Bittore said. “This night has been going on for a while - Tuesday nights you can’t go wrong.”

DJ Shaun Slaughter spun music from the likes of Arcade Fire and Temper Trap.

“Midtown is a close-knit community - you say Shaun Slaughter, you know it’s going to be jumping” said Bittore, who admited he hasn’t been to Lipstick for 2 or 3 years.

He characterized the music that night as “hipster, fixed-gear, flannel rock,” pointing out cyclists in the crowd.

Cat Younghans who is visiting from New York, was charmed by the scene.

“In New York anything goes - here the community gets together in one place based on the music. There’s more discovery vs. everyone knows this.”

Younghans who has a head of curly pink hair and wears boots that she got from Nashville, enjoys psych rock, punk rock and the blues. She explained that Lipstick Tuesdays is for people who like to dance.

“Some places want people to dance to Top 40, but you come here for rock n’ roll,” she said.

As Lipstick came to a close, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” could be heard playing in the background as club-goers were ushered out.

Old Ironsides is locate on S and 10th st.

For more information about Lipstick Tuesdays or the live music venues at Old Ironsides, an events calender can be can be found at www.theoldironsides.com