S 2014 03 06

ElEction 2014 in East sac see news, page 7

Geeks inherit downtown see arts&culture, page 18

slicE california into six piEcEs? see capitol lowdown, page 10 see Editorial, page 13

SN&R’s MOOC report card: Are the online courses just hype, or will they transform the future of education?

BY MELINDA WELSH PAGE 14

this is your art on druGs see second saturday, page 20

crEEpy stEpfathErs see ask Joey, page 31

Sacramento’S newS & entertainment weekly

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Volume 25, iSSue 47

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thurSday, march 6, 2014

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Full-time work The 2014 midterm election officially arrives in Sacramento this Friday at 5 p.m., the city’s deadline for candidates to file paperwork. Of course, the game started months—even years—ago, what with the moneygrubbing (er, fundraising) scrambles, endorsement power lunches and campaign shenanigans requisite of most long-game electoral scheming. This week, Cosmo Garvin heads over to District 3 to look at six candidates competing to succeed Councilman Steve Cohn. Garvin’s news feature (see “East bound and not downtown,” page 7) is a smart roundup of what’s at stake going into June’s primary. But there’s one thing that makes little sense when I look at that, or any, district: Why aren’t council members fulltime employees? District 3’s constituents—who live in the River District, south Natomas and East Sacramento, miles apart not just geographically, but also in needs and priorities—are lumped under the same council member’s purview. And there’s the rail yards. That’s a lot for one council member to juggle, let alone a part-timer. I’m not advocating for another redistricting romp. But it’s time to explore making council members full-time. This discussion last occurred in 2009 and was roundly dismissed by the council (or at least by members who conveniently held higher-paying side jobs). Today, council members earn $58,477 as part-timers, but most say they’re doing city work full-time anyway. San Jose and San Diego have full-time councils. We’ll be voting on “strong mayor” in November: What better time to explore making the city council full-timers? This would involve tweaks to the city charter, however, so if 2014’s the year to go for a stronger council, too, the time is now.

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STREETALK LETTERS NEWS OPINION + bites FEATuRE STORy ARTS&CuLTuRE SECOND SATuRDAy NIgHT&DAy DISH ASK JOEy STAgE FILM MuSIC + sound Advice THE 420 15 MINuTES COVER dEsign BY BRiAn BREnEMAn

35 Kel Munger, Kate Paloy, Jessica Rine, Patti Roberts, Ann Martin Rolke, Steph Rodriguez Creative Director Priscilla Garcia Art Director Hayley Doshay Junior Art Director Brian Breneman Designers Serene Lusano, Marianne Mancina, Skyler Smith Contributing Photographers Lisa Baetz, Steven Chea, Wes Davis, Ryan Donahue, Taras Garcia, Lovelle Harris, Shoka Director of Advertising and Sales Rick Brown Senior Advertising Consultants Rosemarie Messina, Joy Webber Advertising Consultants Joseph Barcelon, Meghan Bingen, Teri Gorman, Dusty Hamilton, Dave Nettles, Lee Roberts, Julie Sherry, Stephen Swanson, Mark vanHudson, Kelsi White Senior Inside Sales Consultant Olla Ubay Ad Services Specialist Melissa Bernard Director of Et Cetera Will Niespodzinski Client Publications Editor Michelle Carl Client Publications Managing Editor Shannon Springmeyer Our Mission To publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. To create a quality work environment that encourages employees to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare. To have a positive impact on our communities and make them better places to live. Co-editors Rachel Leibrock, Nick Miller Staff Writers Janelle Bitker, Raheem F. Hosseini Copy Editor Shoka Shafiee Entertainment Editor Jonathan Mendick Editorial Coordinator Becca Costello Contributing Editor Cosmo Garvin Editor-at-large Melinda Welsh Contributors Ngaio Bealum, Daniel Barnes, Rob Brezsny, Cody Drabble, Joey Garcia, Blake Gillespie, Becky Grunewald, Mark Halverson, Jeff Hudson, Jim Lane, Greg Lucas, Garrett McCord, Client Publications Writer/Copy Editor Mike Blount Client Publications Staff Writer Meredith Graham Executive Coordinator Jessica Takehara Directors of First Impressions Alicia Brimhall, Matt Kjar Distribution Director Greg Erwin Distribution Services Assistant Larry Schubert Distribution Drivers Mansour Aghdam, Daniel Bowen, Russell Brown, Nina Castro, Jack Clifford, Lydia Comer, John Cunningham, Lob Dunnica, Chris Fong, Ron Forsberg, Joanna Gonzalez-Brown, Aaron Harvey, Wayne Hopkins, Brenda Hundley, Greg Meyers, Kenneth Powell, Wendell Powell, Lloyd Rongley, Duane Secco, Lolu Sholotan, Jack Thorne President/CEO Jeff vonKaenel Chief Operations Officer Deborah Redmond Human Resources Manager Tanja Poley Human Resources Intern Courtney DeShields Business Manager Grant Rosenquist Accounting Specialists Renee Briscoe, Tami Sandoval Accounts Receivable Specialist Nicole Jackson Business Intern Allison Hill Lead Technology Synthesist Jonathan Schultz Senior Support Tech Joe Kakacek

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“The class is fun if you don’t have a question.”

How do you feel about online classes?

Asked at Sacramento City College:

Gabriela Galindo social-science major

Devan Pingreu nutritional-science major

Jerry Jiang computer technician

Michael Edwards sociology major

Dewayne Ewing music major

Elizabeth Cady business major

Taking online classes with tests online and homework online was a struggle for me, since it was my first year out of high school. I did it because I heard it was fast and easy. I tried to contact my professor, and he or she would not contact me back until the day the assignment was due. Crunch time!

I took a hybrid class last semester in Math 100. It went pretty well. It helped me understand the concepts better. Most of the homework was online, so it helped me manage my time better. I liked the split with some of the work in class and some online.

I am in CISN 303, which is [an online] Linux class. The class is fun if you don’t have a question. My professor doesn’t have any office hours; he doesn’t have an office on campus. It makes it harder to communicate or ask questions. I spend time in the computer lab and ask the tutors.

I have taken hybrid classes. I find them convenient because the teachers use the online work to give the test. It is convenient to do it in your own time. It fits in my busy schedule. I am not a working student, but I am highly involved in my community.

I like more hands-on classes. I don’t see anything wrong with them. I am taking music theory next semester. I am just focusing on technical engineering and music production. Everything has been in class and is lab-based.

I am taking one online class. It is really, really hard. I think it’s because it is not in the class setting. I work very well in a [classroom] setting. I get that one-on-one with the teacher. It is easier to understand what people mean when you can hear the tone of their voice.

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Re “The long game� (SN&R Editorial, February 27): This editorial wisely laments our “unsustainable population.� Wasteful consumption and population growth contribute to the problem. Consumption can be reduced through personal conservation, along with prudent state policies on energy, land and water use. But population growth letter of must be addressed globally, since treating it as a state the week problem simply foists it onto the doorstep of another region, state or country. Californians can and should urge efforts toward equitable worldwide economic and population stabilization, family health care, and universal education and employment. We can also expose the reckless policies of governments, corporations, religious groups and cultures that discourage the empowerment of women. It is tempting to ask, “What kind of future do we want for California?� The only effective long game is to ask, “What kind of future do we want for the world community?� Evan Jones

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New Sacto motto Re “Arena addicted� (SN&R Editorial, February 20): I suggest a new city motto: “The Official Doormat of the NBA.� Jan Bergeron Sacramento

God and honesty Re “The stigma of being an American atheist� by Dave Kempa (SN&R Essay, February 20): I appreciate the writer’s honesty, as well as his lack of vitriol. I’m an Anglican priest, and many of my friends are agnostic at best. (I don’t know many people who identify as atheist in the classic sense of the word; most come from the perspective of just being unsure.) Honestly, I think that is healthy. Whatever beliefs you come to, they should be the result of honest inquiry on your part. And I am fairly certain the God I believe in would want that as well. Fr. Joshua Lickter Roseville

Will the new businesses actually employ Oak Park residents? Could local businesses partner with schools and community agencies? Offer training programs, host benefits, donate funds or serve as a community space? Residents should demand nothing less of the businesses profiting from the “opportunity� presented by a struggling community and economy. Unless these new “investors� are really committed to employing and engaging our community, this is nothing more than pushing the heart of Oak Park deeper into south Sac—an area that may actually deserve the term “ghetto�— and expanding Midtown, with the ultimate goal of keeping poverty out of sight and more easily out of mind. We can only hope that some of the benefits of these endeavors will “trickle-down� or at the very least, do no harm. Rachel Marine Sacramento

Email your letters to sactoletters@ newsreview.com.

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Corrections In last week’s Beer Issue story on the booming craft-brew industry (“On how the Sacramento craft beer scene exploded—and will it last?� by Nick Miller), Rick Sellers was incorrectly identified as co-founder of Sacramento Beer Week. He was co-founder of Capitol Beer Fest. In “2014 vs. 2016� by Steph Rodriguez (SN&R News, February 20), Lanette Davies has collected signatures for and supports the California Cannabis Hemp Initiative 2014. SN&R has made these corrections in the stories online.

Midtownificiation of Oak Park Re “Oak Park’s new kicks� by Lovelle Harris (SN&R Feature Story, February 13): What’s termed “investment� in Oak Park is nothing more than an expansion of Midtown. As the article alludes to, the division between north Oak Park and the rest of the neighborhood grows deeper, as would-be Midtowners see north Oak Park as a cheaper alternative, close enough to the grid to meet their bourgeoisie needs.

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Crackdown on homelessness and cans See NEWS

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City’s real sports-arena policy See BITES

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End the ‘new Jim Crow’ See EDITORIAL

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East bound and not downtown From McVillages to forgotten neighborhoods, candidates vie to succeed Steve Cohn as District 3’s council member Thanks to the arcane art of political redistricting, Sacramento City Council District 3 by looks something like a bat with two Cosmo Garvin mismatched wings. The eastern wing is affluent East co s mog@ newsr evie w.c om Sacramento, along with Cal Expo and Sacramento State University. The broad western wing includes the more working-class neighborhoods of south Natomas and Gardenland. The district narrows to hug the American River around Sutter’s Landing Regional Park, and also includes Sacramento Loaves & Fishes and the surrounding complex of social services for the poor, as well as the developer’s dreamscape of the Sacramento rail yards, where roads are now being built to accommodate new retail and housing. As this story was going to print, six candidates had drawn papers for a possible run in District 3: Deane Dana, Efren Gutierrez, Jeff Harris, Adam Sartain, Cyril Shah and Rosalyn Van Buren. They will compete to replace Councilman Steve Cohn, who, unless he changes his mind at the last minute, is giving up his seat after 20 years to run for state Assembly. Of the six candidates, four are from East Sacramento, with only Gutierrez and Sartain coming out of south Natomas. Gutierrez says he’s running to expose the raw deal that his side of the district has received. “We’re the lost stepchild. They don’t do anything for us out here,” he said. He brings up the lack of hospitals or other medical facilities in the area, and notes that Northgate Boulevard, the main corridor for the community, has few crosswalks. The local police substation closed long ago. “Why can’t we get a skating rink or a bowling alley? We want the same benefits as the people of East Sacramento.” Gutierrez is critical of a proposed Sacramento Kings arena subsidy. If a new arena needs to be built, he wants it built in Natomas. “All the infrastructure is here. We should keep them here.” He is a fixture of the local progressive movement, and has the endorsement of the Latino Democratic Club and the Green Democratic Club of Sacramento County and former California Supreme Court Judge Cruz Reynoso. But Gutierrez has raised little money so far, and his unapologetic lefty politics have led some to dismiss him. “It’s going to be an uphill battle,” he acknowledged.

BEFORE

“But I want to bring up some of the inequalities in this district. We need a true Latino representative who’s homegrown and who can speak for this community.” On a recent rainy Wednesday evening, fellow District 3 candidate Rosalyn Van Buren stood on a doorstep in south Natomas explaining in Spanish that she is the only Latina in the race. She was born and raised in East Sacramento, but as a “half-black, halfMexican” single mom, she hopes she can connect with voters in this part of town. Unfortunately, on this night, there weren’t many voters to connect with, as registered households were few and far between. She and 8-year-old son Michael and paid campaign consultant Damion Osborne hustled from street to street, trying to keep precinct maps and umbrellas from blowing away.

“We’re the lost stepchild. They don’t do anything for us out here.”

Efren Gutierrez Sacramento City Council candidate By day, Van Buren runs a nonprofit providing breakfast and summer programs for low-income kids. She served on the Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force, and her endorsements include former Mayor Heather Fargo and Councilwoman Bonnie Pannell. Van Buren and Osborne were excited on this evening about earlier news that a superior court judge tossed out a ballot measure requiring voter approval for a Sacramento Kings arena subsidy. She’s an arena supporter, and says the project will bring 4,000 jobs. “It’s going to help the neighborhoods that I work in.” Maybe not, says candidate Jeff Harris. “I like to build stuff. But I think the arena finance plan is just awful,” he explained, standing on a doorstep across from McKinley Park, a few days earlier. Harris was president of the River Park Neighborhood Association, and chairman of the Sacramento Parks and Recreation Commission. He’s a general contractor by trade and was one of main organizers STORY

leading the rebuilding of McKinley Park playground. During a tour of the playground, he stops frequently to say hello to parents and grandparents he met while working on the project. Voters in this part of town want to talk about the proposed McKinley Village development nearby. Or “McVillage,” as one woman described it, saying she’s concerned the 360 houses will generate additional traffic on her already busy street. Harris offers that he thinks much of the concern about the project would be eased by the construction of an additional entrance point connecting the development to Alhambra Boulevard. “If they did the Alhambra entrance, I’d be all in,” he said. That’s another difference between Harris and Van Buren, who is for the McKinley Village project as it is proposed now. Harris said he is running to “restore city services to the level they were before the recession.” He did early work on Measure U, the half-cent sales tax voters passed in 2012 to restore parks and public-safety funding. In a few years, when the city starts paying the arena bonds, he said, “You are going to hear a big sucking sound. And we’re going to have to pass another Measure U.” At some doors, voters were strongly opposed to the arena deal. When Harris encountered a high-school teacher who was strongly in favor of having “a worldclass arena down the street,” Harris pushed on, saying he wants the city to get written guarantees for the development the Kings have promised around the arena site. “I think we need to get them to sign contracts and make sure they bring that whole area around there up at the same time,” he said. Harris and Van Buren are both opposed to the strong-mayor proposal that will be on the ballot in November, as is Gutierrez. Harris was also against the repeal of the city’s big-box ordinance last year, which the city council pushed through to ease construction of a Wal-Mart in south Sacramento. According to the latest campaign reports, Harris has raised about $10,000, about twice as much as Van Buren. Both grumble about the fundraising of opponent Cyril Shah, who has raised more than

“EAST BOuND” continued on page 8 |

Possible Sacramento City Council candidates for District 3 include (top to bottom) Cyril Shah, Rosalyn Van Buren, Adam Sartain, Jeff Harris and Deane Dana. (A photo for Efren Gutierrez was not available by deadline.)

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$100,000 and spent more than $30,000 already. Shah is a financial planner with Raymond James and emphasizes economic development and jobs. He serves on the American River Flood Control District, the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission and was president of the East Sacramento Improvement Association. He has thousands in small contributions, including many from friends and family outside the city. He also has the only large PAC money in the race: The California Real Estate PAC gave $5,000, and real estate is heavily represented among his donors. The Region Builders PAC kicked in $2,500 as of the beginning of the year. Asked if the money meant Shah would advance the agenda of developers and real-estate interests, he said no. “There’s no back room with guys with cigars saying, ‘Let’s get Cyril in, and he’ll do our bidding.’” Shah is in favor of the arena plan, which he says can transform downtown. He said he wants to make sure the arena plan “keeps the general fund whole.” Asked if he thinks the current plan would have a negative effect on the general fund, he said he’s “still looking at it.” He said he would have “revised rather than reversed” the city’s big-box ordinance. “My family shops at Target and at Compton’s [Market]. I appreciate having both options.” On the strong-mayor proposal, he said he “will let the people decide in November,” adding that he looks “forward to putting charter reform behind us and tackling the important issues that we face as a community.” Shah also didn’t offer a strong opinion on the McKinley Village project, saying the issue would likely be decided before he gets on the council. He did say that he felt an entrance at Alhambra Boulevard would lessen neighbor concerns. At the other end of the fundraising spectrum is Adam Sartain, a housing inspector for the state. He lives in south Natomas and, like Gutierrez, says residents in his area feel underrepresented. He draws a parallel with the McKinley Village fight. In both parts of town, he said, “People don’t feel like their voice is being heard.” Sartain says his top issue is protecting small business—he cited repeal of the big-box ordinance as an example of policies that hurt small businesses.

He’s strongly opposed to McKinley Village, saying he thinks the strip of land would be better off with fruit trees, a restaurant and a farmers market. Sartain is in favor of the strong-mayor plan. And he also favors subsidizing the Kings arena downtown, but says he wants to make sure the public gets more benefits for its money. He proposes free public concerts at the venue, discounted tickets for low-income groups, and first dibs for small business to occupy storefronts around the new arena. Also, Sartain may or may not be the only candidate in the race who can play tuba. Deane Dana is the only registered Republican in the race. He’s lived in East Sacramento for 30 years and is president of the McKinley East Sacramento Neighborhood Association. He said the McKinley Village project is the “best project we’ve seen proposed for that site in 30 years,” but he’s likely to oppose it because he says the developer has not addressed the neighbors’ concerns.

“ There’s no back room with guys with cigars saying, ‘Let’s get Cyril in, and he’ll do our bidding.’”

Cyril Shah Sacramento City Council candidate

Dana says he thinks the strongmayor bid is “premature,” adding, “I’d like to see who the candidate is first.” He says the downtown arena is not the city’s highest priority, but he counts himself as a cautious proponent. Dana puts heavy emphasis on public-employee pensions and the city’s debt load. “We have to get pensions under control,” he said, singling out the city police union as the one bargaining unit which has thus far refused to agree to less generous pensions. Dana is a late entry in the race, and so far, hasn’t reported any campaign donations. But he said he would refuse to take any “special interest” money from unions or developers. With so many candidates in the race, and with Shah’s big fundraising lead, it’s not clear there would be any special-interest money available, even if Dana wanted it. Ω

8 | SN&R | 03.06.14

THINK FREE.

Bottles and cans and bans Tweaked law could run Sacramento County’s cargo recyclers indoors or out of business Jonathan Santana thinks Sacramento County might want him out of the recycling business. by Like about three dozen other recySteph Rodriguez clers in the unincorporated county, Santana runs his business out of a shipping container in a parking lot. Because of complaints of blight and loitering homeless people, the county is considering tweaks to an ordinance that would run these “cargo” recycling centers indoors or out of business. ordinance on March 10. A final decision by the board of supervisors is expected sometime in April. “This is not about discouraging recycling,” Stevens told SN&R. “We’re trying to update our recycling ordinance to increase design standards so they’re not a blight on the community.” Stevens said the complaints her department receives concern loud noises, unkempt premises, tattered tarp PHOTO BY LOVELLE HARRIS

BEATS

Old schools, new uses Sacramento school-district officials could decide today what to do with seven buildings that used to educate the city’s students. On February 18, an advisory body known as the “7-11 Committee” urged the Sacramento City Unified School District to keep the school sites it closed last year instead of selling them, and allow community-oriented groups to give them new purpose. Among the proposals, the committee suggested using the shuttered schools to house a Head Start Program, a longterm homeless shelter for women and children, a facility for the Northern California Boy Scouts of America, a satellite office for Legal Services of Northern California and a new charter school. Speaking of the latter, a parent-led effort is already underway to convert the recently closed Joseph Bonnheim Elementary School into a dependent K-6 charter school. The district gave those behind the effort until July to get their application in order. Anna Molander, chair of the 7-11 Committee, believed the recommendations can steer the district toward a positive note after a “traumatic experience” with the months-long process of closing cherished local schools. The committee also advised using the sites for new community centers, a living laboratory community garden, a business center for the district, a district library storage facility, an expanded La Familia Counseling Center, and letting the private Camellia Waldorf School relocate to one of the buildings. The committee arrived at its unanimous recommendations after five months of site visits, meeting with schooldistrict attorneys and hearing proposals, Molander explained. With seven large sites ranging from 3 to 10 acres each, “almost all [of the proposed uses] can coexist at the sites,” she said. (Cody Drabble)

Sacramento County officials say complaints about outdoor recycling centers are leading them to move to ban the shipping-container locations.

“If [the county] passes the law, I’m not going to be able to rent indoors because it’s going to be upward of $3,000 for the rent, and I can’t afford that,” he explained. “It’s the only business I have, you know?” It might not be for much longer. The county’s Community Development Department received an estimated 50 complaints in the last year involving recycling facilities—namely those working out of long blue or green cargo containers often found outside of grocery stores or gas stations. A proposed change to existing county policy aims to prohibit these specific businesses by requiring recyclers to obtain minor-use permits from the zoning administrator and operate inside an enclosed building instead of from the current modular containers. If the policy passes, 90 percent of recycling centers of the cargo variety stand to be affected, according to county principal planner Tricia Stevens. The Sacramento County Planning Commission is set to hear the revised |

covers, broken fences and homeless people loitering on-site with shopping carts full of recyclables. Stevens said that when the facilities in question keep recyclables outdoors, they often look like big piles of trash, which prompts surrounding business owners to complain. “Most of the complaints that we receive are from other businesses in the shopping center where the recycling facilities are located and their concerns are taking up parking, as well as the unsightly operation,” she added. Angie Rivera, owner of JA Recycling Center on Florin Road, fears revisions to the existing ordinance will ultimately run her out of business. “Everybody’s trying to meet the regulations the county wants,” she said. “We just want to be able to work and make some sort of living out of it.” Rivera said she’s complied with county code enforcements on several occasions, fixing signs and adjusting the size of the corral that surrounds her facility. She said smaller recycling-center business owners like STORY

her choose to operate out of cargo containers simply because it’s more affordable. Rivera used to own a second facility, which closed due to financial hardships. That’s something that Santana also experienced. “I’ve already lost one facility, and this one is all I got left,” he said. Santana said he struggles with his current monthly rent of $1,200. He added that his customers would lose out on a source of income if he goes out of business. “This [ordinance] will not only affect the owners, but also the customers,” he told SN&R. “All people of all income types recycle at my place, and some cannot get jobs.” On average, these containers cost between $98 and $115 to lease monthly, in addition to the rent of the lot spaces, which is decided by the property’s landlord. According to Rivera, rents near $1,000 a month for a majority of recycling-business owners. The other hassle can just be finding a willing landlord from whom to rent space. “The minute you say, ‘I’d like to open a recycling center,’ some will say ‘no’ because it does bring an element of people like the homeless, and they do start searching through the neighborhood garbage cans,” Rivera said. But some landlords are on the side of the small businesses, like Riaz Mohammed, co-owner of the Valero gas station where Santana Recycling is located. Mohammed is also Santana’s landlord. “They are here making an honest living,” Mohammed said. “[The ordinance] doesn’t make any sense. People are poor. It’s absurd. I’m happy to have the recycling business on my property. It helps me that they’re here all the time. It’s better for the entire community.” The California Grocers Association also came out in opposition to the proposed changes. In a letter to the planning commission, local government-relations manager Tim James wrote that the revisions would have “dramatic negative impacts.” The reason, he explained, is something known as “convenience zones,” which refer to a half-mile radius around full-service grocery stores where many recycling facilities are found. These zones, established by the state Legislature, exist to ensure that recycling centers are easily accessible to the public. Ω |

Women in chains When it comes to caring for pregnant jail inmates, Placer and Yolo counties lead by example, while Sacramento County leaves a big, fat question mark. That’s according to Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, an advocacy group that aims to improve conditions for incarcerated California residents. In 2012, LSPC collaborated with Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins and Gov. Jerry Brown to update a 2005 law banning the use of leg irons, belly chains and handcuffs behind the back on pregnant inmates. The original law came after a 2004 incident in Contra Costa County, where a medical professional highlighted the risks of using restraints on an inmate appearing for maternity services. After 11 months of monitoring, LSPC determined that only 21 counties fully complied with the new regulations. In last month’s “No More Shackles” report, the group also noted that Sacramento County ignored numerous requests for public records. “Sacramento is one of the only three—and the largest of the 58—counties that did not respond to a Public Records Act request from March 2013,” said LSPC policy director Jesse Stout. The Board of State and Community Corrections recorded zero instances of pregnant inmates being unlawfully or dangerously restrained since it started inspecting jails in 2012. While Stout acknowledged there was no evidence of such violations, he hoped the report would encourage the remaining counties to be more forthcoming. “Hopefully, the word gets out that if there’s a violation, someone calls us, and then we can take appropriate action,” he said. Nine counties in partial compliance relied on a national private contractor, Lexipol, to update their custody policy manuals, but the company failed to apply all the changes in the law. (C.D.)

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Mondavi CENTER Three masters merge jazz and Indian rhythms

Six ways to California Splitting the state isn’t just a bogus idea,  but the proposed names also bite  While nowhere near as rich a comedic vein as Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, carving up California is a comedic cornucopia. At least it has been the 100-and-some times the idea has been broached legislatively and politically throughout the 20th century and the last 50 years of the 19th. California was thinking about cutting itself even before it became a state. Back then, though, supporters of downsizing California limited S A C U by GREG L themselves to creating two, sometimes three, California-ettes. One caplowdown@newsreview.com up north. One down south. But that’s totally yesteryear. In the way more bitchin’ 21st century, the latest split-the-state scheme slices California up six ways from Sun City. The aptly named “Six Californias� initiative is a proposed amendment to the state constitution that needs more than 807,000 signatures by July 18, to stompin’-on-the-terra-firma resident of the most-awe-inspiring, badass state in the whole darn U.S. of America to a nebbish schlepping through life in one-sixth of the State Formerly known as Kal-E-4-Na-A—particularly when it has some clunky Geography 101 moniker. North California? Sounds like North Dakota. Try this experiment: No self-censoring, just go with what immediately comes to mind after seeing the words, “South California.� Exactly. South Carolina. It’s not like there isn’t killer statenaming material to work with. The new state composed of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles and Ventura counties would become West California. Really? That’s the best these “Six Californias� pikers can do? Without breaking a mental sweat, here’s five state names that would have Walt Whitman pissing himself with poesy: Cayucas. Isla Vista. Buenaventura. Topanga. Zuma. The new Central California, consisting of much of the Central Valley counties, seems derivative. According to the address on the letter submitting “Six Californias� to the attorney general for scrutiny, “Silicon Valley� would be the new home state of the initiative’s creator. Just as it would be for the 6.8 million people in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. The state of Silicon Valley would have the highest per capita personal-income level of any state in the union—$63,288, according to the legislative analyst. Central California’s per capita personal income would be the lowest in the nation, $150 below Mississippi, the analyst notes. Equity aside, Silicon Valley is yet another sucky name. Does a Californian in Walnut Creek, Aptos or Salinas consider themselves part of the Silicon Valley? Do they even want to? Jefferson, the northernmost of the six states, has a nice ring to it, however. Maybe because that’s what residents wanted to call their new state back in the early 1940s when they supposedly were going to shack up with some southern Oregon counties and proclaim their liberty from the tyranny of Sacramento and Salem. Jefferson conjures a certain magic and majesty. It’s inclusive and inspirational and evocative. Like California. Ί

TOMORROW NIGHT!

Charles Lloyd, Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland Sangam Born as a tribute to drummer Billy Higgins, Sangam is built on the complex rhythmic interplay of Zakir Hussain (tabla) and Eric Harland (drums), and tethered together by the unifying presence of Charles Lloyd on saxophones, flutes, tarogato, piano and percussion.

MAR 7

Ballet Flamenco Eva Yerbabuena Lluvia (Rain)

MAR 11

A tale of smoldering love told through the fire and passion of flamenco. Forget the clichÊs of fans, frills and clacking castanets. Yerbabuena is electric with emotion—stomping out monologues and mastering the moment of a long, slow burn. She recognizes the need to take the art form in exciting new directions while celebrating the flamenco tradition.

The state of Silicon Valley would have the highest per capita personal-income level of any state in the union. win a place on the ballot. The premise is that California’s diversity and 38 million-and-climbing population— a plurality of which will be Latino this month for the first time since 1848—make the Golden State “nearly ungovernable,� using the initiative’s language. Backers of the initiative claim the answer is creation of six teensier Californias within the same outline of the current California. This division will make government more responsive, less remote and, presumptively, the governed will all thrive accordingly. It must be a good idea, the initiative says, because Californians “overwhelmingly� supported splitting the state in two back in 1859. Not to wax snarky, but California also happily slaughtered Native Americans, enacted laws restricting Chinese immigration and put American citizens of Japanese ancestry into detention camps as recently as 1942. All three seemed like swell ideas at the time. But limiting this screed to the merits of six Californias being better than one, there’s just no way around the fact that five of the names for the six new states totally bite. No right-thinking human being is going to trade down from being a

Caladh Nua MAR 17 FREE CONCERTS IN THE CORIN COURTYARD

Capturing the essential qualities of traditional Irish music and balancing them finely with innovative contemporary styling, this acclaimed ensemble from Ireland is sure to bring out all the rambunctious fun of St. Patrick’s Day. Preceded by a FREE Corin Courtyard Concert at 6:30: Cahersiveen

Brian Greene MAR 20

Explaining the Elegant Universe In this engaging and beautifully accessible talk, Greene takes the audience on a delightful, lucid voyage through modern physics that brings us closer than ever to understanding how the universe works.

Greg Lucas’ state-politics column Capitol Lowdown will appear every-other week in SN&R. He also blogs at www.californias capitol.com.

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Technically foul Sacramento apparently needs to update its sports policy, which says arena subsidies can only be approved by voters Here’s an excerpt from the city of Sacramento’s “sports policy” on publicly funded arenas and other facilities, adopted by the city council in 1996: “Any amount of direct public subsidy for facility development will be considered only with approval by Sacramento voters

tell

to my

through a referendum process.” Didn’t know the city had a sports vin ar G policy? You’re not alone. The sportsO SM by CO policy resolution was adopted in the cosmog@ newsrev iew.c om run-up to a 1997 council decision to loan the Sacramento Kings $73 million. It was also around this time there was talk of trying lure Major League Baseball to the city. The policy lays out scenarios and conditions for subsidizing and incentivizing sports teams. This has been an ongoing concern of this city, you may have noticed. There are several provisions, none of which the city follows, including the one that says the city manager “is responsible for providing information on the economic impacts of sports franchises.” The sports policy was never exactly binding anyway. Rob Kerth, a council member at the time (and now SMUD board member, again) recalls that since the Kings loan of 1997 would eventually be paid back, it was decided it didn’t trigger the public-vote requirement. Furthermore, Kerth noted resolutions are the “considered opinion” of the council, not the law of the land. “In the current situation, the council has approved a project that doesn’t seem to follow its own policies. It is always the council’s right to do this,” Kerth says. The danger is merely that “staff, project proponents and the public will all eventually come to wonder which, if any, of the council’s adopted policies still matter to the council.” No big deal. Bites brings up the city’s forgotten sports policy not because it presents some legal obstacle to current arena proposal. But because it highlights one of the more dishonest arguments being made by the arena boosters club: That citizens have no power to participate in this decision, other than pep rallies and the occasional election. That a public vote on the arena subsidy is unneeded, unheard of or just a nuisance. The folks spreading this idea are either unaware of the city’s history, or they are obscuring it. Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork made itself an easy target in many ways, starting with its name. Whether Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley would toss the signatures of 23,000 citizens because of the petition errors always seemed like a 50-50 proposition. But Bites was surprised that Frawley bought into the boosters’ argument that voter approval is somehow usurping the power of the city council. After all, the STOP initiative, BEFORE

for all its problems, only codified a policy the city council itself set long ago. It’s OK to change that policy. And if the considered opinion of the council is now “no public votes on sports subsidies,” then the council should adopt a new policy and explain the change in public. But you can’t pretend the old policy didn’t exist. You can’t pretend that the plurality of citizens who liked that policy are somehow being unreasonable when it asks the city to stick to it. Or that a public vote on sports subsidies was some sort of foreign, far-out idea. As Bites has written before, the STOP initiative was always a clunky tool for the job. A referendum, where voters confirm or reject the council’s arena actions would be more elegant. The problem with the referendum—and the reason why STOP went the route that it did—is that the law only allows 30 days to gather enough signatures to put a referendum on the ballot.

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The public’s right to vote was never a nuisance. It’s a legitimate policy that has been on the books for years.

Also, city officials believe the council’s arena vote can’t be subject to a referendum, because it’s not an “ordinance.” Only ordinances are subject to referendum, the argument goes, not major city-changing expenditures of hundreds of millions of dollars. “That’s completely wrong. These are clearly subject to a referendum,” says Mark Paul, co-author of California Crackup, a history and critique of California’s direct democracy. He says courts have held citizens can vote on “legislative acts,” which enact policies or projects, regardless of whether they are called “ordinance.” And Paul says election code explicitly allows for citizens to hold a referendum on the issuance of government bonds. In fact, in the case of bonds, the law allows 60 days to collect signatures, and the overall signature requirement is lower. About 12,000 signatures would be required to put Sacramento’s arena bonds to a public vote. It may be that there’s no more appetite for more signatures and petitions. Bites is certainly a bit burned out. But don’t be fooled. The public’s right to vote was never a nuisance. It’s a legitimate policy that has been on the books for years. And it’s still possible. Ω | A R T S & C U L T U R E |

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BUILDING A

HEALTHY S A C R A M E N T O

Taking it to the Streets

BY C O R R I E P E LC Making improvements on Franklin Boulevard that support both economic development and a healthy community is the goal of the North Franklin District Business Association (NFDBA). After the dissolution of California’s redevelopment agencies in 2012, getting money to accomplish this goal became a lot harder. But efforts are moving forward. Recently the NFDBA received a grant from the California Endowment’s Building Healthy Communities campaign, which it will use to create an economic development plan for the district. According to Marti Brown, executive director of NFDBA, part of the plan is to conduct a comprehensive survey of the area’s residents to develop solutions to some of the district’s social and physical infrastructure problems. The NFBDA has met with business and property owners, residents and community leaders to develop a questionnaire, which will be administered at public places, such as light rail stations and supermarkets. The hope is that 300400 people will share their opinions on topics including education, access to health care and affordable housing. Brown says the purpose of the survey is to take an integrated approach to community wellness and economic development to ensure everyone’s needs are being met. “Businesses need customers and [residents] need businesses and places to shop, so this survey is about forming that cyclical relationship,” she explains. “We need to paint a whole picture of what it looks like so we can address those residential and business needs in a holistic way.” In addition, NFDBA is also evaluating how friendly Franklin Boulevard is for pedestrians and cyclists by holding a walk and bicycle audit on Saturday, March 15, with Walk Sacramento. injury and accidents, they also promote healthy, active lifestyles among community residents. Brown says without funding from the California Endowment, they would not have been able to do this important work. “Without an organization like the Endowment... we would continue to limp along with our plan … to do some of the things that we need some additional expertise [for],” she explains. “I am incredibly grateful and I also hope it will be informative for the Endowment, as [well] as for other public agencies, [as] it’s really demonstrated to us how remarkable it is what you can do with so little money.”

BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES In 2010, The California Endowment launched a 10-year, $1 billion plan to improve the health of 14 challenged communities across the state. Over the 10 years, residents, community-based organizations and public institutions will work together to address the socioeconomic and environmental challenges contributing to the poor health of their communities.

One of the aims of the economic development plan headed by Marti Brown, executive director of the North Franklin District Business Association, is to increase the walkability of streets like this one within the district by adding crosswalks. Photo by Anne Stokes

“BUSINESSES NEED CUSTOMERS AND [RESIDENTS] NEED BUSINESSES AND PLACES TO SHOP, SO THIS SURVEY IS ABOUT FORMING THAT CYCLICAL RELATIONSHIP.” Marti Brown, executive director of the North Franklin District Business Association Brown says a number of volunteers will spend the day walking up and down Franklin Boulevard to assess its walkability and bikeability, and the data collected will be used to determine if a new streetscape is needed for the area. Brown hopes the information they gather will demonstrate to policy makers and funders the need for street improvements to meet the needs of the district’s residents and businesses. “We have a population down here that is low income and we really need to address their needs and make this a much more user-friendly, complete street that allows for multimodal transportation,” she says. Safe, walkable and bikeable streets are not only a boon to businesses and important in reducing

Your ZIP code shouldn’t predict how long you’ll live – but it does. Staying healthy requires much more than doctors and diets. Every day, our surroundings and activities affect how long – and how well – we’ll live.

Health Happens in Neighborhoods. Health Happens in Schools. Health Happens with Prevention.

www.SacBHC.org

PAID WITH A GRANT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT 12 |

SN&R | 03.06.14

This Modern World

by tom tomorrow

Repeal ‘new Jim Crow’ It’s been called “the new Jim Crow.” People of color are more likely to be stopped by police, more likely to be detained and searched, and more likely to be charged and convicted than whites in similar circumstances. After prison, they face many barriers that prevent a return to full citizenship, including disenfranchisement laws that deny them the right to vote—a problem that affects nearly one in 13 black adults. That’s why we support U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s call for states to repeal laws that prohibit the formerly incarcerated from voting. Such laws, which affect 5.85 million Americans, serve no purpose other than to lower voting rates among communities of color and make it harder for ex-convicts to reintegrate into society. Only 11 states bar felons from voting for life, but most impose some period of disenfranchisement. In California, ex-convicts may not vote while on parole or under any form of mandatory criminal-justicesystem supervision. In 2012, these policies denied the vote to more than 400,000 otherwise eligible Californians, most of them African-Americans and Latinos, who make up 76 percent of the state’s prison population. Disenfranchisement laws only serve to compound disparities in the criminal-justice system and suppress voting in minority communities. California should heed the Obama administration’s call and wipe them off the books. Ω

State needs to spend money to make money A wrong assumption reaps a false conclusion. Consider propped up buyer demand until popping, and Greg Lucas’ February 6 column (“Budget tore a hole in the economy. by boomer,” SN&R Capitol Lowdown), which State government spending can shrink that Seth looked at Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed hole. Yet the governor’s budget and Lucas’ Sandronsky general fund budget for 2014-2015. column assume away weak demand as an Lucas agrees with Brown that reducing economic problem and wrongly conclude that state spending is a prudent path forward. The decreased government spending is a policy governor’s plan “demonstrates he’s trying solution for prosperity. to avoid mistakes by previous corner-office The name for this budgetary approach is occupants,” Lucas writes. “His spending plan austerity. Austerity weakens growth by reducis short on spending and big on saving.” ing the amount of dollars circulating in the But is it really the best time for frugality in economy. Just ask Europe. California? Bear with me. This is basic math, folks. Saving instead of Jobs data shows the state’s unemployment spending state tax revenue means slow growth of seth sandronsky is a sacramento rate was 8.9 percent last year, still higher than the economy and tepid job creation. journalist and member it was at any time during Lucas further confuses of the freelancers unit the Great Recession, things by arguing that praise of the Pacific Media Is it really the best from debt-rating agencies, Workers Guild. email from December him at sethsandronsky@ 2007 to June 2009. such as Moody’s Investors time for frugality gmail.com. Consequently, the unemService, in turn “boosts investin California? ployed lack purchasing ment” and makes Brown’s power to support the budget plan “even more supply of goods and services. solvent.” If the past is prologue to the future, Economists have a technical term for this we should be skeptical. An online version of this problem: weak demand. Lucas’ concurring Here’s why: To earn money from their essay can be found at clients, these same ratings agencies gifted www.newsreview.com/ with the governor’s assumption to save rather AAA designations to financial institutions sacramento/ than spend sidesteps the issue of a demandpageburner/blogs. and-supply imbalance. specializing in subprime-mortgage-based In California and across the United States, bonds that ultimately burst the real-estate weak demand from un- and underemployment bubble here and abroad. grinds on after the bursting of an $8 trillion Oh, Moody’s still advises California on its housing bubble. That mad, mad price spike finances. We’re one of its best clients. Ω BEFORE

Six times the crazy Within the last year, when Modoc, Siskiyou and Glenn counties passed resolutions in favor of seceding from the state, it seemed little more than a plea for attention from an oft-ignored part of California. It was a crazy plan, and we doubted even the folks in the proposed State of Jefferson took it seriously. Now, with billionaire Tim Draper’s announcement that he will finance a ballot initiative to split California into six separate states, we have a proposal that’s at least six times crazier, yet more likely to be taken seriously. Dividing California as Draper has proposed would widen the gap between rich and poor parts of the state, escalate disputes surrounding issues like water rights, and increase costs associated with highways, public schools and more by creating five new governments to run them. Besides, the plan has absolutely no chance of being approved by Congress, which would not be eager to make room for 10 new senators or provide incentives for other “split the state” movements. Don’t sign Draper’s petition. California is the nation’s most diverse state, but it’s not ungovernable. The way forward is in working for consensus, not encouraging divisiveness with fantasies of secession. Ω

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a new learning curve Celebrity professors, big-budget productions and Ivy League prestige: are mOOC s high-tech hype, or will the online courses transform the future of education?

By Melinda Welsh melindaw@newsreview.com

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14 | SN&R | 03.06.14

he room is dark and silent. Inside, a young computer scientist with a shaved head and intense blue eyes sits alone at a desk facing a pane of sound-absorbent foam. Above him a video camera points straight down at a high-tech tablet; his right hand is poised to scribble out code on its screen. Taped to the camera’s microphone is a yellow Post-it with one word scrawled on it—“ENERGY”—a curious message to the professor in his own handwriting. Next, UC Davis’ John Owens takes a sip of Dr Pepper and begins teaching a class — Introduction to Parallel Computing—to a vast audience of learners via the Internet. Instead of giving a PowerPoint presentation before his usual classroom of hoodie-wearing co-eds with laptops and iPhones, however, this educator’s lessons will spiral out to an audience of 42,000 students across the globe. Though he must take the irregular step of using a Post-it to summon the energy usually inspired in him by living-andbreathing students, with this one class, Owens will teach many, many more pupils than he will otherwise have the opportunity to instruct throughout his entire tenured career at UC Davis. Welcome to the world of massive online open courses—better known as MOOCs, where

future-minded academics like Owens are early principals in a grand experiment about the future of education. MOOCs (rhymes with “nukes”) came on the scene about three years ago. The courses combine high-end video production on lectures from world-class professors with assignments and assessments that students can get into at their own pace, on their own time, with the encouraged use of forums, discussion boards and social-media platforms like Facebook. From its inception, the fledgling MOOC industry drew hyperbole. Ivy League universities (Harvard, Stanford, MIT), renowned think tanks (Institute for Public Policy Research) and key media players (The New York Times’ Thomas L. Friedman, The New Yorker’s Nathan Heller) heralded the MOOC on high with its potential to cure to all that ails higher education. Imagine the potential of MOOCs! they claimed—universally obtainable college classes taught to millions of learners by cream-ofthe-crop professors for free or very low cost. The democratization of elite education! Some even predicted that MOOCs—now boasting more than 10 million students and thousands of classes—would do nothing less than

revolutionize higher education, making residential colleges obsolete in the process. But all that rises soon must fall. Negative critiques began mounting—from longtime educators, faculty unions and watch guards of traditional pedagogy. Many said the MOOC phenomenon was, at its core, a threat to brick-and-mortar colleges and an affront to the traditional purveyors of higher education. After early data showed that some 90 percent of MOOC students drop out before completing courses, critics declared proof of failure. Just a few months ago, critics almost cheered when a study by the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education found that MOOC student engagement falls off an even steeper cliff shortly after each class begins, with coursecompletion rates averaging more like 4 percent. Meanwhile, it was also becoming clear that most of those who completed MOOCs were already highly educated, decidedly motivated. Slate published a blistering critique, NPR aired a negative take, and other headlines across the country took up a new pessimistic chant with: “Are MOOCs already over?” (The Washington Post), “Are MOOCS Really A Failure?” (Forbes), “All Hail MOOCs! Just Don’t Ask if They Actually Work” (Time).

PHOTO BY STEVEN CHEA

Sacramento State University professor Mark B. Brown has shared his reservations about massive open online courses on his Whose University? blog. “The parts of MOOCs that are new are not what they seem. And the parts that work well are not very new,” he said.

So, are MOOCs done? It’s not likely. Or why do the industry’s major providers continue to grow and announce new classes, endeavors and partnerships? Why do the numbers of students keep mounting by the millions? Why does venture capital keep pouring in? According to the gurus of innovation, the MOOC phenomena is simply being misunderstood. As Mark Zuckerberg’s character said in The Social Network: “We don’t even know what it is yet.”

‘On my own terms’ Nuclear physicist Walter Lewin demonstrates the difference between potential energy and kinetic energy in his edX Electricity and Magnetism MOOC with a perilous display. The MIT professor stands in front of a lecture hall full of students, picks up a white sphere (about half the diameter of a basketball and weighing a hefty 15 kilograms) that is tied to a cord and attached to the ceiling. He’s about to prove to those gathered—a few hundred in the auditorium and the tens of thousands online all across the globe—that he has faith in “the conservation BEFORE

of mechanical energy.” Lewin drops the sphere and it swings, pendulum-style, like a wrecking ball, across the front of the hall, then back with velocity toward his own face. Students squeal with apprehension, then delight, as the returning orb misses Lewin’s chin by mere inches. “Physics works, and I’m still alive!” he proclaims. Not all MOOC lectures go to such extreme lengths to make a point. But Lewin reminds that the passion of a great educator is undeniable; the influence of outstanding professors irrefutable. For example: Thanks to his much-lauded Socratic-style MOOC Justice on edX, Harvard’s political philosopher Michael J. Sandel is now celebrated as a “celebrity educator” all over the world. Another famed MOOC prof is University of Pennsylvania’s Al Filreis who teaches the madly popular class ModPo—Modern & Contemporary America Poetry for Coursera. And no less than 160,000 students signed up to gain skills at the hand of Stanford’s Sebastian Thrun, who co-taught the MOOC Introduction to Artificial Intelligence in the fall of 2011. (The experience led Thrun—famous for his development of Google’s driverless car—to found Udacity.) Those are just a few of thousands of MOOC professors—ones who built careers teaching in ivy towers to vastly smaller numbers in classrooms and lecture halls—who now offer up their wisdom to millions through one of the three MOOC industry giants: Udacity, Coursera, edX. Unlike online education classes that have been available for decades with mostly low-budget videos of lectures and assignments taken for credit, MOOCs produced by the “three giants” are expensive to make with top “talent,” highend production value, professional editing and, sometimes, cool visual effects. Often, the lecturer breaks lessons up in segments of 15 minutes or less, followed by a quick quiz and/or an opportunity to ask questions in social-media format. In the case of UC Davis’ Owens, the burning passion was to teach parallel computing—where large problems are divided into smaller ones so that many calculations can be carried out simultaneously “in parallel,” by many computers. (The form of computation solves the problem of how to keep processors running faster regardless of heat generated.) Owens’ MOOC was designed to teach students how to code a series of image processing algorithms (like those used in Photoshop or Instagram), and program and then run those assignments on high-end graphicsprocessing units. “The big thing is—how do you think in parallel?” said the associate professor of electrical and computer engineering. “How do you take a complicated problem,” as examples, he mentioned global warming and protein folding, “and divide it into its littlest pieces so that you can collaborate, communicate, get something done?” Though Owens’ typical UC Davis class comes together with plenty of time for questions and “winging it” by the teacher, the MOOC he launched with Udacity in the winter of 2013 did not exactly involve ad lib. Introduction to Parallel Computing, a class he’d never taught specifically before, consisted of seven hour-long lectures broken into segments. Aside from a few videos featuring Owens and his co-instructor, the course is focused on Owens’ right hand, literally. As his voice guides students along, the video they see onscreen in the MOOC follows him drawing, scribbling code and scratching out algorithms on STORY

a Wacom Cintiq drawing pad. The segments are short, sometimes funny, and taught in a “dense” style that includes no summaries, wrap-ups or review. It’s like a TV show for advanced geeks with a Sesame Street-type approach that includes quick lessons graphically taught with some animation. The six student projects are autograded. The course offers a certificate for those who completed the class; around 10 percent of the original class finished. “It’s a huge team that put this together,” said Owen of his MOOC. He estimated that the effort cost Udacity something like $250,000 if you add up all the time and people power, including “back-end” experts, video editors, forum staffers and publicity folks. “For my one hour of lecture, it takes them 30 hours of edit,” he said.

unlike online education classes with mostly low-budget videos of lectures, massive open online courses — better known as mOOCs — are expensive to make with top “talent,” high-end production value, professional editing and, sometimes, cool visual effects.

“During the time the course was active, I was spending 10 to 15 hours per week answering questions [on the forum] besides whatever else I was doing,” he said. With his striking appearance and shaved head, Owens makes a good target for approach at conferences by students who took his MOOC. They think him a rock star. “People are walking up to me and taking pictures and tweeting about it,” he said. “And they’re just beaming. They want me to review their projects.” The only UC Davis academic so far to have made and launched a full-throttle MOOC, Owens describes the UC Davis campus as “incredibly supportive,” though he created the class while on sabbatical and was not rewarded for it by UC Davis in any direct sense. “This didn’t reduce my teaching load or anything,” he said. “I’d rather explore this on my own terms,” shrugged Owens, “instead of being phased into doing it 10 or 15 years down the road.” When asked if he’d ever teach another MOOC, Owens nodded without skipping a beat. “Absolutely,” he beamed.

‘Excessive optimism’

trip. But not everyone has vacated the premises this winter break. Up on the third floor of Tahoe Hall, looking like a younger, more studious version of William H. Macy, a CSUS professor of government sits ready to discuss pedagogy, technological determinism and the future of higher education. Hint: Mark B. Brown is not too big on the MOOC thing. “I think there’s been a kind of excessive optimism,” said Brown, who has pondered plenty about MOOCs on his Whose University? blog. “People often seize on a technological solution to social and political problems,” he said. “They come up with a nice hammer, and everything looks like a nail.” What problems are we talking about? Try budget cutbacks, escalating tuition and soaring levels of student debt (estimated total at around $1 trillion) for starters. Add an alarming increase in waiting lists and inability for students to get into the classes they need to graduate. Then add a strikingly increased reliance on part-time faculty. “There’s an assumption that a huge decline in public funding is somehow natural,” when it is instead the result of political decisions, said Brown. He noted California’s 2012 passage of Proposition 30 (a measure which increased taxes so as to prevent $6 billion in cuts to education) as an example of how politics and government can best ease some of higher education’s troubles. “It’s much easier to argue about the pros and cons of [MOOCs] rather than fundamental questions of funding and priorities,” he said. According to Brown, MOOCs are a pedagogical throwback, e.g., with their “sage on the stage” emphasis. “The parts of MOOCs that are new are not what they seem. And the parts that work well are not very new,” he said. “Proponents of MOOCs often say the advantage of online lectures is that ‘you can pause and go back and review it again later.’ Which is what used to be called the virtues of a book. And they say, ‘MOOCs make the best knowledge in the world available to people on a public basis?’ “Well, that is what used to be called the virtues of a public library.” He prefers the idea that MOOCs become just “one more resource for faculty to draw on” to instruct at their own discretion, as when they assign a book or a film. Brown also believes the proposed solution of MOOCs “comes along with a diagnosis that faculty are usually lazy and slow to innovate, that they’re not interested in making use of new technologies,” he said. But it’s simply not true, he protested. For example, like many other professors, he makes use of new technologies all the time in his teaching. “My students run a course blog. I have a website for each of my classes. We have online discussion boards. I have my own blog.” “You get these outsiders who don’t have teaching experience who are credited with coming up with magical proposals for making everything better,” he said. When MOOCs are criticized by lifelong educators and professors like Brown, one gets the sense that many in that community were fundamentally affronted by the sudden,

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PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN OWENS

“a new learning curve” continued from page 15

UC Davis’ John Owens created a MOOC for Udacity—Introduction to Parallel Computing—in 2013 while on sabbatical. “I’d rather explore this on my own terms,” he said, “instead of being phased into doing it 10 or 15 years down the road.”

explosive media attention MOOCs drew to the otherwise fairly dry subject of higher education. Rolin Moe, a Pepperdine University education doctorate student revealed some of the preliminary results of a recent Delphi study (a research model that uses expert “stakeholders” to investigate a topic) that he conducted on MOOCs for his dissertation and found opinions quite polarized about what he calls “not a learning model but a cultural phenomena.” According to Moe, the “negative backlash” against MOOCS from many faculty members did not occur “because there’s an institutional fear of change,” he said. “It’s more because it was frustrating to have rock stars like [Sebastian] Thrun come through and take center stage for their ‘eureka moment’ about higher education, when really people have been doing the pedagogical work since way before.”

‘Some fear ... some upset’ When Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg launched his online-education bill in March 2013, he did it with a nod to the future. Instead of holding a traditional press conference with rows of scrappy journalists scribbling into notepads and running tape, Steinberg delivered news of what was to be a groundbreaking bill via live video stream at a Google Hangout conference. Reporters joined in via video chat or live over Web stream as the senator—with Udacity’s Thrun in supportive attendance and Coursera waiting in the wings to offer classes—told those gathered about Senate Bill 520, his bill to improve access to higher education in California. The ambitious legislation would have a panel of faculty from the state’s three segments of higher education—California Community College, California State University and the University of California— choose online options to offer for 50 lowerdivision courses that had outrageously lengthy waiting lists. According to Steinberg, hundreds of thousands of students each year are shut out of courses they must take to continue with their major or fulfill other requirements. S.B. 520 was positioned to relieve such pressures by offering the country’s first statewide online college courses for credit. Steinberg knew the bill might create “some fear … some upset” among the state’s educators and their unions, yes. But he was floored by the extent of the opposition. Education-advocacy groups and faculty unions hated the bill as written. Despite Steinberg’s pledge that it did not represent a shift in funding priorities, the California Teachers Association, California Faculty Association, and California Federation of Teachers protested that S.B. 520 would “lower academic standards, exacerbate the educational divide along socio-economic lines and diminish accountability within our institutions.” The opposition roiled, even though S.B. 520 was not directly linked to the globally available MOOCs of hyperbole, but more about making lower-division “hybrid” and so-called “flipped” classes (where professors 16 | SN&R | 03.06.14

utilize online lectures and other resources access video) and newspapers (social and digiin otherwise traditional classes) available to tal media shifting how people get their news). California students for credit. The presence “First, the people running the old system of Thrun at the press launch for S.B. 520 don’t notice the change,” he wrote toward probably didn’t help people understand the the end of 2012. “When they do, they assume distinction. it’s minor. Then that it’s a niche. … [B]y “It was invasion of the MOOCsters,” the time they realize the world has actually said Lillian Taiz, president of the California changed, they’ve squandered most of the time Faculty Association representing the teaching they had to adapt.” staff at the 23-campus CSU system. “There’s Could this hold true for the “industry” of no magic wand that can solve issues of higher education? access,” she said. “The role of state governOnly three years into the grand MOOC ment in [the] future of higher education is to experiment, nobody knows. But at least one invest in the things that are going to get us an thing seems clear: MOOCs don’t seem to educated workforce.” be panning out the way anybody expected. “[MOOCs] are an impersonal medium— Among other unanticipated outcomes, based when we need face-to-face.” on data from multiple studies, the vast majorAccording to Steinberg’s press secretary ity of students enrolled in MOOCs have Rhys Williams, “the pro tem sat down with already earned one or more degrees. So it’s [the faculty unions] and talked about their the highly educated and motivated people who concerns,” he said. “We amended the bill seem to get the most from MOOCs. … then there were more concerns. We went But if the high dropout rate seems to through this rigmarole two or three times and indicate failure, perhaps it’s due to a false ultimately, it was fairly apparent there was presumption, i.e., that everybody who takes a going to be no consensus. course has the intention to complete. Perhaps “There was a misperception that the bill MOOCs are more suited to other applicawas trying to switch tions—some even the model,” he suggest MOOCs will said. “There was create a vast new [ ] “ s faculty wariness and “leisure learning” skepticism about market. Meanwhile, a different way of the “three giants” all teaching.” seem busy testing new Critics also areas of focus, such as jumped on the vocational education, results of a MOOC partnerships, career .” experiment that groundwork, workGov. Jerry Brown Lillian Taiz place training and prelaunched with president college preparation. In flourish in January California Faculty Association mid-January, Udacity 2013—a partnership launched a partnership that paired San Jose with Georgia Institute State with Udacity to offer several for-credit of Technology that offers an online master’s courses online to high-risk students. Pass rates degree in computer science, with Udacity in the pilot class of 100 students turned out to tutoring and financial support from AT&T. be much lower than the typical in-class pass And edX just announced a partnership to rates. host advanced-placement-course modules for Post-skirmish, S.B. 520 was put on hold high schoolers. MOOC providers seem also in the Assembly where it still remains. to be realizing that, for a small fee, “human According to Williams, Steinberg “can mentors” can amount to higher completion choose to move it or not,” depending on rates for some classes. how the three systems progress—fueled by All the while, massive data compilafunds from Prop. 30—on developing various tion on MOOCs continues apace. In fact, agreed-upon online courses this year. education has never seen such metrics, with “Going forward, Sen. Steinberg is exhaustively collected statistics about student delighted that S.B. 520 ignited the debate behavior, retention, acquisition, satisfaction. about access to online education in All is being tracked and measured by MOOC California,” said Williams. purveyors with failures acknowledged and But Mark Brown of CSUS thinks of it successes built on. differently. “Nobody knows what MOOCs are going “It was technological euphoria,” he said. to look like,” shrugged UCD’s Owens when “Steinberg was doing what [The New York asked to look into the crystal ball. “The Times’] Thomas Friedman had been doing— jury’s still out.” plunging in with wild ideas without doing But in a recent blog post in response to his homework and without talking to faculty mounting bad press for MOOCs, Udacity’s who have been involved in improving higher Thrun put it this way: “To all those people education for decades.” who declared our experiment a failure, you have to understand how innovation works. Few ideas work on the first try. Iteration is key to innovation.” Will MOOCs ultimately settle into an Futurist and Harvard professor Clay Shirky industry that develops education products for reflected on MOOCs on his blog by invoking niche markets? Or will they ultimately make a stories from others in the communication world-class education available to all? Either industry that have been disrupted by the is possible. Or perhaps, to return to the posispeedy advance of technology. Examples: tion evoked in The Social Network, we don’t music (the peer-to-peer MP3 revolution), even know what it is yet. Ω books (the rise of digital readers), network TV (the emergence of cable and other means to

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photo by lisa baetz

Comic-book enthusiast Tim Watts says that even though the annual convention’s gotten more corporate, he’s still excited about the upcoming Wizard World Sacramento Comic Con.

NERDS!

by JaNEllE bitkER

NERDS!

JaNEllEb@NEwS R EviE w.co m

Do conventions such as the Wizard World Sacramento Comic Con signal the democratization of nerds—or the profit-hungry mainstreaming of geek culture?

age 12, Stephanie Rector went to her first Star Trek convention. As she marveled at her costumed peers, she immediately felt at home.

And that’s when she knew she was a geek. “I was a shy kid and didn’t have a lot of friends,” Rector says, her eyes bright behind thick glasses. “It was nice to find a group I fit in with.” And that’s why Rector still goes to conventions. She’s been to at least a dozen—ComicCon International in San Diego, WonderCon Anaheim, Sac-Con in Sacramento—and the novelty has somewhat worn off. These days, she attends to meet other geeks obsessed with 18 | SN&R | 03.06.14

the likes of Star Trek, Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica. Now, Rector is gearing up for a new convention in town: Wizard World Sacramento Comic Con, the largest convention of its kind in Sacramento yet. While not at the 150,000person level of San Diego’s super-famous rendition, Wizard World promises a spectacle. From March 7 to 9, thousands of pop-culture buffs will gather at the Sacramento Convention Center for an all-around geek-out. Guests include legendary comic-book creator Stan Lee (Spider-Man, The X-Men, The Fantastic Four), animator Phil Ortiz (The Simpsons) and plenty of artists, such as Neal Adams (Batman, Green Lantern) and Paolo Rivera (All-New X-Men, Spider-Man). And, of course, there’s a cast of A-list celebrities, including Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers, Thor), Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead) and William Shatner (Star Trek). Yes, many of those names are famous away from the comic world. Perhaps because the comic world isn’t the hyper-nerdy, closed-off

place it once was. With Hollywood’s blockbusters so often being derived from comics—The Avengers, Iron Man, X-Men, Spider-Man, to name a few—and television shows like The Walking Dead creating a frenzy, geek culture has become mainstream culture.

What’s a geek, anyWay? There are conflicting definitions of “geek.” And Rector, who runs the 2,000-person Meetup group Sac Geeks, says the term has been “watered down” in recent years. Geeks were once considered eccentric enthusiasts of offbeat culture, while nerds were more achievementoriented in their hobbies. Now they blend together, along with dorks and fans. And maybe even hipsters. “Geeks hold on to the obscure stuff that no one else likes, and that goes along with hipster territory,” Rector says, recalling the nostalgic games—Magic: The Gathering and Street Fighter, for example—once played at the Bows & Arrows semiregular event, Nerd Night.

Only, to Rector, most people at Nerd Night (currently on hiatus following Bows’ recent closure) aren’t really nerds. “They’re being ironic. A real geek likes these things [unironically].” Still, Rector adds, that’s fine, too. “They’re still showing an homage to that time,” she says. “A lot of geekdom is nostalgia, for when we were growing up in the ’70s or ’80s watching Star Trek.” Drew Walker, the man behind Nerd Night, argues that just about everyone is a nerd, unless they’re actively fighting it. “It’s more of an emotion,” he explains. “Like, I feel nerdy because I care about something that might be silly. It’s clinging to your fun and not caring what other people think.” That “fun” can be just about anything— movies, television, books, video games and board games are the go-to choices. So, the fact that comic cons aren’t strictly about comics anymore can be a major bummer for certain nostalgic enthusiasts.

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range from $175 to $450. Meanwhile, individual photo ops start at $35 for David Della Rocco (Boondock Saints) and go up to $250 for a snapshot with Chris Hemsworth and Stan Lee. Autographs are a premium as well: $30 to $199.99. Perhaps Wizard World—and convention culture in general—is growing too quickly for its own good. Wizard World held nine conventions last year across the country, and this year it’s added seven new cities, including Sacramento. It’s a rapid expansion, which Wizard World CEO John Macaluso admits is not just because of the company’s ability to attract Hollywood talent. “We’re not the reason we’re growing so fast,” he says. “It’s because the fan base itself has gotten so huge.”

SCENE& HEARD Mardi Gras, nudity optional “Text your Mardi Gras thoughts to the TV.” This message, displayed on multiple televisions inside the River City Saloon on Saturday night, implored Mardi Gras revelers to share their feelings, like a clingy girlfriend who just has to know what you’re thinking. “Cell # … 6850” obliged with, “Boobs for beads … front of the bar.” This was quickly followed by the classy caveat, “Sexy ladies only!!!” Sadly for “Cell # … 6850” there didn’t seem to be any takers on this generous offer. Most of the bars at Old Sacramento’s Mardi Gras party were already handing out free beads with no nudity stipulations. The only nipples on public display were on the paintings inside Fanny Ann’s Saloon. Old Sacramento’s Mardi Gras is a tinier, tamer, almost hesitant homage to the New Orleans celebration. It started promptly at 5 p.m. and officially ended around 10 p.m. A few people wore costumes, but the majority looked like any other Old Sacramento tourist. Outside the bars on the pub-crawl map, you wouldn’t know it was Mardi Gras. The most telling outdoor sign of festivity was a line out the door of Joe’s Crab Shack, which advertised free appetizers for anyone with a Mardi Gras wristband. Inside the bars, signs of the holiday were also sparse. Except for River City’s masquerade theme (props for the giant masks hanging from the ceiling), none of the bars really decorated or pushed New Orleans-inspired cocktails. It was entirely up to the bar bands to hold down the party, which they did. Around 6:30 p.m. at O’Mally’s Irish Pub, the Duchess Wilder Band had a dozen wild women dancing to its female-fronted, full-throated rendition of Joe Cocker’s “Feelin’ Alright.” Bonus: one young couple doing shots and grinding enough to make everyone feel awkward. At Laughs Unlimited, the scene was nearly the same. The FOG’s played a heartily entertaining version of “Gloria” by Them while a different drunk couple made everyone feel awkward. (His signature move involved crawling on his knees toward her crotch.) In the basement of Vega’s Underground an hour later, Cluster Phunk let loose with a “Super Freak”-“U Can’t Touch This” medley that culminated with energetic frontman Dennis McBride break-dancing in the crowd. At Fanny Ann’s Saloon, YesterDays News covered Motown, country and classic rock in a mellow, jazz-tinged style. Older music fans relaxed on three rows of chairs while young women in miniskirts peered at the scene, then made quick exits for someplace more lively. That someplace was River City Saloon, the night’s most popular spot. It’s a shame the bar has no dance floor, because Soul Rock City stole the cover-band crown with a surprising song list including Elton John’s “Rocket Man,” Cameo’s “Word Up,” and Prince’s “Purple Rain.” The band was squished into a corridor near the bathrooms where boozed-up college girls in corsets danced inches away from middle-aged married couples as bar staff squeezed past with drink orders. Still, the crush of bodies and the overpowering mixture of booze and drumbeats made it feel like New Orleans, if only for the length of a song.

Sac Geeks meetupgroup organizer Stephanie Rector says many self-proclaimed nerds are actually just hipsters who take their sci-fi and comics with a twist of nostalgia.

Revenge of the neRds Watts has a love-hate relationship with the state of nerddom. On one hand, he enjoys the proliferation of comic-book-themed movies and shows. On the other hand, he had to suffer a stigma growing up that youngsters nowadays don’t really have to deal with. “I see guys now in their early 20s, and they’re into comic books and video games, and they still have girlfriends,” he says. “And I think, ‘Hey, that’s not fair. I should get some credit.’” There are plenty of theories as to how nerds went from weak-armed outcasts to cool underdogs. Watts points to Buffy the Vampire Slayer as the first geeky television show to attract a different crowd—women—and bring on the transformation. In 2000, X-Men became one of the first major comic-based hits, bringing Halle Berry to San Diego’s Comic-Con. More generally, sitcoms have popularized nerds in shows like The Big Bang Theory and The IT Crowd. Likewise, Netflix gave nongeeks a chance to binge watch—and inevitably obsess over— Battlestar Galactica several years later. Then there’s the tech boom. Silicon Valley turned the nerd into the boss, suddenly rolling in dough and partying in San Francisco’s ritziest clubs. Perhaps more telling is last year’s addition of “geek chic” to the Oxford Dictionaries (noun: “The dress, appearance, and culture associated with computing and technology enthusiasts, regarded as stylish or fashionable”). “It’s funny. Nerds always said they’d take over the world, and they did,” Walker says. “But not in the way they thought they would. They didn’t destroy the jocks in a blaze of glory; just everyone else became one of them.” Ω Want to get your geek on? Check out the Wizard World Sacramento Comic Con, on Friday, March 7, through Sunday, March 9, at the Sacramento Convention Center, located at 1400 J Street. Find information on times and tickets at www.wizardworld.com.

“ Geeks h old on to th e obscure stu ff th at no one el se l ike s, and that Goes alonG wit h hipster territory. ” Stephanie Rector founder, Sac Geeks Tim Watts is not one of those enthusiasts, though he knows plenty of them. Watts, co-creator of a comic called The Nice Guy and co-host of a podcast about post-apocalyptic pop culture, fondly remembers going to his first Sac-Con at age 13 and thinking it was the coolest thing in the world. It took place in a small room, with a bunch of guys selling comics and not much else. “It’s very, very different now,” he says. “I can see why people get bent out of shape, because it’s so precious to them.” But Watts loves the big cons, and Wizard World’s represents all sorts of new opportunities for Sacramento. He’s most excited that the special guests are giving practical lessons in subjects such as figure drawing and filmmaking. Meanwhile, Rector appreciates the variety of social programs, which includes a masquerade ball, film festival, fashion show and costume contest for cosplayers, and the panel discussions—cosplay as a lifestyle, geeky feminism, multicultural heroes—but it’s the one-on-one panel with James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel) that will place her in line at least an hour early. But for some convention regulars, Wizard World’s seems too corporate and BEFORE |

disorganized. The programming schedule wasn’t released until mid-February, which meant many purchased single-day tickets without an idea of what events were scheduled, and cosplayers started designing costumes without knowing rules or regulations, or if there was an opportunity to compete in them at all. Plus, local fan groups had been planning to set up tables, like they are accustomed to at Sac-Con, since last summer when they submitted applications. But after realizing the size limitations of the Convention Center, Wizard World revoked the fan tables and offered some discounted tickets instead. That didn’t sit well with the Sacramento Steampunk Society, according to member Lon Lee. “It doesn’t seem to be about local community support, it’s just about how much money are they’re going to make,” Lee says, adding that he and other steampunkers no longer plan to attend. Rector agrees, and she’s not too keen on Wizard World, either, due to the fantable debacle—she applied for a table for Sac Geeks—and the high costs. Three-day tickets sold out in January at $65, and single-day tickets range from $35 to $45. But VIP packages, which include photo ops, autographs, gifts and other perks, F E AT U R E STORY |

Bonus: one young couple doing shots and grinding enough to make everyone feel awkward.

becca c@ n ews revi ew.com

—Becca Costello

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March picks by Shoka

“Kirby” by Abigail VanCannon, oil on canvas, 2013.

Illustrations on drugs Local curator Robert-Jean Ray is responsible for choosing the works in the group show Human Voice II: The Art of GROUP SHOW Social Comment at the Sacramento Temporary Contemporary this month. One of his picks is “Kirby” by Abigail VanCannon, a Sacramento-area artist whose paintings lovingly depict 1950s nostalgia. Also showing in the gallery is Jean-Marc Brugeilles, a Bay Area artist who constructs hyper-vivid surreal paintings that look like children’s book illustrations on drugs with an undeniable influence from Marc Chagall. Where: Sacramento Temporary Contemporary, 1616 Del Paso Boulevard; (916) 921-1224; www.tempartgallery.com. Opening reception: Thursday, March 6, 6-8 p.m. Second Saturday reception: March 8, 6-8 p.m. Hours: Thursday through Saturday, 4-8 p.m.; Sunday, noon-3 p.m. Through March 30.

“Discovery” by Avery Palmer, oil on canvas, 2013.

Murky puzzle Through the haziness and dim earth tones, there’s a figure as naked as the landscape he’s standing in. And then there’s the presence of a child’s toy or circus appurtenance and a disembodied head, and the viewer decides he or she must be peering SURREALISM through the darkness into someone’s id. The paintings of Avery Palmer are rife with symbolism and melancholic countenances, and indeed, they are surreal. In addition to his narratives on canvas, Palmer takes his vulnerable figures flawlessly into the third dimension, and his ceramic sculptures, like his paintings, harken to the classics of hundreds of years ago, but with more grit and quirk. His work spells out a frangible enigma, and it’s one murky puzzle that’s beautiful to try and decipher. Where: John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 First Street in Davis; (530) 756-3938; www.natsoulas.com. Second Saturday reception: March 8, 7-9 p.m. Hours: Wednesday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday through Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Through April 12.

Total recall Memory is a complex thing: It seems so certain sometimes, solid, like an unmoving boulder, but more often, it’s fluid like a river, sweeping new pieces of information with its flow while leaving behind old ones. The group GROUP SHOW show that artist Justin Marsh organized for Axis Gallery this month, The Memory Pore, deals with the act of remembering. The exhibition features Californian artists Benjamin Hunt—who works as an exhibition preparator at the Crocker Art Museum, just as Marsh does—Kevin Frances, Richard Karson, Matthew Taylor and Marsh’s own work, too. Don’t forget to check it out. Where: Axis Gallery, 1517 19th Street; (916) 443-9900; www.axisgallery.org. Second Saturday reception: March 8, 6-9 p.m. Hours: Saturday through Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; and by appointment. Through March 30. “Untitled (Boardwalk)” by Benjamin Hunt, Plexiglas and photo transparencies, 2011.

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Sacramento Vedanta Reading Group Every Friday 7:00 - 8:30 pm ¡ Free admission Sacramento Yoga Center @ Sierra 2 Community Center, Room 6 2791 24th Street, Sacramento Parking in back For more information please see www.SacVRG.org

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13 INTEGRATE SACRAMENTO 2220 J St., (916) 541-4294, http://integrateservices sacramento.blogspot.com

14 KENNEDY GALLERY 1931 L St., (916) 716-7050, www.kennedygallerysac.com

15 LITTLE RELICS 908 21st St., (916) 716-2319, www.littlerelics.com

16 MIDTOWN FRAMING & GALLERY 1005 22nd St., (916) 447-7558, www.midtownframing.com

17 OLD SOUL CO. 1716 L St., 7 BLUE LAMP 1400 Alhambra Blvd., (916) 455-3400, www.bluelamp.com

(916) 443-7685, www.oldsoulco.com www.reddotgalleryonj.com

18 RED DOT GALLERY 2231 J St., Ste. 101; 19 SACRAMENTO ART COMPLEX 2110 K St., Ste. 4; (916) 476-5500; www.sacramentoartcomplex.com

Midtown 1 ALEX BULT GALLERY 1114 21st St., (916) 476-5540, www.alexbultgallery.com

8 CAPITAL ARTWORKS 1215 21st St., Ste. B; (916) 207-3787; www.capital-artworks.com

2 ART OF TOYS 1126 18th St., (916) 446-0673, www.artoftoys.com

9 CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, SACRAMENTO 1519 19th St., (916) 498-9811, www.ccasac.org

20 SACRAMENTO GAY & LESBIAN CENTER 1927 L St., (916) 442-0185, http://saccenter.org

3 ART STUDIOS 1727 I St., behind Michaelangelo’s; (916) 444-2233

10 CUFFS 2523 J St., (916) 443-2881, www.shopcuffs.com

21 SHIMO CENTER FOR THE ARTS 2117 28th St., (916) 706-1162, www.shimogallery.com

4 ARTFOX GALLERY 2213 N St., Ste. B; (916) 835-1718; www.artfox.us

11 ELLIOTT FOUTS GALLERY 1831 P St., (916) 446-1786, www.efgallery.com

22 TIM COLLOM GALLERY 915 20th St., (916) 247-8048, www.timcollomgallery.com

5 AXIS GALLERY 1517 19th St., (916) 443-9900, www.axisgallery.org

12 GALLERY 21TEN 2110 K St., (916) 476-5500, www.gallery2110.com

23 UNION HALL GALLERY 2126 K St., (916) 448-2452

6 B. SAKATA GARO 923 20th St., (916) 447-4276, www.bsakatagaro.com

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Don’t miss E ST. 22ND ST. 23RD ST. H ST. 22 6 26 15 18 16 13 1 19 12 23 8 10 24 42 41

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24 UNIVERSITY ART 2601 J St., (916) 443-5721, www.universityart.com

25 THE URBAN HIVE 1931 H St., (916) 585-4483, www.theurbanhive.com

26 VIEWPOINT PHOTOGRAPHIC ART CENTER 2015 J St., (916) 441-2341, www.viewpointgallery.org

27 ZANZIBAR GALLERY 1731 L St., (916) 443-5601, www.zanzibartrading.com

Downtown/olD Sac 28 ADAMSON GALLERY 1021 R St., (916) 492-2207, www.theadamsongallery.com

29 ARTHOUSE UPSTAIRS 1021 R St., second floor; (916) 672-1098; www.arthouse-sacramento.com

30 ARTISTS’ COLLABORATIVE GALLERY 129 K St., (916) 444-7125, www.artcollab.com

31 CROCKER ART MUSEUM 216 O St., (916) 808-7000, www.crockerartmuseum.org

32 E STREET GALLERY AND STUDIOS 1115 E St., (916) 505-7264

33 ExHIBIT S 547 L St., (203) 500-8679, www.exhibitsstudios.com

34 LA RAZA GALERíA POSADA 2700 Front St., (916) 446-5133, www.larazagaleriaposada.org

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35 SMITH GALLERY 1020 11th St., Ste. 100; (916) 446-4444; www.smithgallery.com

36 TEMPLE COFFEE 1010 Ninth St., (916) 443-4960, www.templecoffee.com

37 VOx SACRAMENTO 1818 11th St., www.voxsac.com

EaSt Sac 38 ARCHIVAL FRAMING 3223 Folsom Blvd., (916) 923-6204, www.archivalframe.com

39 FE GALLERY & IRON ART STUDIO 1100 65th St., (916) 456-4455, www.fegallery.com (916) 456-1058, www.gallery14.net (916) 600-4428, http://inkoff.me

40 GALLERY 14 3960 60th St.,

41 INKOFF.ME 5534 Elvas Avenue, 42 JAYJAY 5520 Elvas Ave.,

off map I BLUE LINE GALLERY 405 Vernon St., Ste. 100 in Roseville; (916) 783-4117; http://bluelinegallery.blogspot.com

KLIN . BLVD (916) 453-2999, www.jayjayart.com

III THE BRICKHOUSE ART GALLERY 2837 36th St., (916) 457-1240, www.thebrickhousegalleryoakpark.com

IV DEL PASO WORKS BUILDING GALLERIES 1001 Del Paso Blvd.

V DELTA WORKSHOP 2598 21st St., (916) 455-1125, www.deltaworkshopsac.com

VI EVOLVE THE GALLERY 3428 Third Ave.,

(916) 572-5123, www.evolvethegallery.com

VII GALLERY 1855 820 Pole Line Rd. in Davis, (530) 756-7807, www.daviscemetery.org

VIII KNOWLTON GALLERY 115 S. School St., Ste. 14 in Lodi; (209) 368-5123; www.knowltongallery.com

Ix PATRIS STUDIO AND ART GALLERY 3460 Second Ave., (916) 397-8958, http://artist-patris.com

x RECLAMARE GALLERY & CUSTOM TATTOO 2737 Riverside Blvd., (916) 760-7461, www.reclamareart.com

xI SACRAMENTO TEMPORARY CONTEMPORARY 1616 Del Paso Blvd., (916) 921-1224, www.tempartgallery.com

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For the week of March 6 Photo by timothy Nutter

wEEkLY PICkS

Alan Taylor Thursday, March 6 American-history buffs, take note: UC Davis professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Alan HISTORY Taylor will be at Sacramento State University as part of the Friends of the Library’s Author Lecture Series. He’ll talk about his book, a 2013 National Book Award finalist, The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832. Free, 3 p.m. at the Sacramento State University Library Gallery, 6000 J Street; www.csus.edu.

—Jonathan Mendick

Sacramento Jewish Film Festival Thursday, March 6, Through sunday, March 9 This year, the annual Sacramento Jewish Film Festival kicks off on Thursday with Dancing in Jaffa. Then it takes a break on Friday night (the Sabbath), and continues Saturday with The Zigzag FILM Kid, and a double feature on Sunday of When Comedy Went to School and Next Year Jerusalem. $9.50-$10.50 per screening, festival passes are $18-$40; at the Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street; (916) 442-5189; www.thecrest.com.

—Jonathan Mendick

Beekeeping I class saTurday, March 8 At-home beekeeping has myriad benefits, but here are my favorites: 1. You get a bunch of honey, and 2. you can help save the world (no, seriously) by helping re-establish the honeybee population. Attendees will learn about the biology of bees and the basics of beekeeping. Long sleeves, pants and CLASS closed-toe shoes are highly recommended (duh). $50, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Soil Born Farms, 2140 Chase Drive in Rancho Cordova; (916) 363-9685; www.soilborn.org.

—Deena Drewis

Donut Dash Seis saTurday, March 8 Taking a break in the middle of a run to eat doughnuts sounds like a bad idea in theory, but where there’s a will there’s a way, right? Participants will cover approximately 4 miles from William Land Park to Marie’s Donuts (2950 Freeport RACE Boulevard) and back, and proceeds benefit the Child Life Program at Sutter Children’s Center. $15-$35, 8:30 a.m. at William Land Park, 3800 S. Land Park Drive; http://donutdash.org.

F

or a small college town, Davis has a remarkably thriving arts scene. Yet it lacked a theater troupe dedicated to modern classics, so a group of five enthusiasts drafted a plan and took it to the Internet. They call themselves The Art Theater of Davis, and say they want to see more Henrik Ibsen, Bertolt Brecht and Maurice Maeterlinck in Yolo County. With a goal of staging

three plays per year by similarly iconic playwrights, the group completed a successful crowdfunding campaign on the website Indiegogo. Now, $3,000 later, The Art Theater of Davis is ready for showtime. Its first production is Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters, a naturalistic drama written in 1900. It follows the lives of an upper-class family in a provincial town. They’re dissatisfied with their present existence and yearn to live in Moscow, the big, exciting city full of culture and promise.

But when the brother of the three sisters marries a petty, bourgeois local woman, the sisters’ dreams of moving on to Moscow fade away. Expect elements of comedy, philosophy, love and frustration from this four-act masterpiece. Artistic director Timothy Nutter is a Davis native who has recently worked as a dance instructor and choreographer for the Winters Shakespeare Workshop, the Davis Community Chorale, the Davis High School Jazz Choir and the Davis Art Center

ballet program. And regular theatergoers may recognize the lead, Davis native Scarlet O’Connor, from the Actor’s Workshop of Sacramento. Experience Three Sisters through March 16. Showtimes are Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Third Space (946 Olive Drive in Davis). Tickets cost $15 for adults, and $10 for seniors, children and students. Email art.theater.of.davis@ gmail.com for reservations.

—Deena Drewis

St. Baldrick’s head-shaving fundraiser saTurday, March 8 Support childhood-cancer research with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Get out to de Vere’s Irish FUNDRAISER Pub in Davis to donate, pledge money, or show kids they are not alone in their battle against cancer by shaving your head. Free (donations welcome), 2:30 p.m. at de Vere’s Irish Pub, 217 E Street in Davis; (530) 204-5533; www.stbaldricks.org.

—Janelle Bitker

—Jessica Rine

24 | SN&R | 03.06.14

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Year of the cheese The Melt 500 First Street in Davis, (530) 601-9819, www.themelt.com Forget the Year of the Horse, it seems like 2014 is the year of the cheese. Even though almost twothirds of humans are lactose intolerant, the by Ann melting pot that is the United States skews Martin Rolke heavily as cheese loving. And lately, lots of restaurants have been capitalizing on this fromage fondness. In the last year, Sacramento has gotten The Rind, The Cultured & The Cured, and Block Butcher Bar—all big promoters of cheesy goodness. Now Davis has the first Central Valley outpost of the San Francisco-based fastrating: casual chain called The Melt. HHH Guided by a board of directors that includes venture capitalists and Apple alums, The Melt is also advised by big-time chef Michael Mina. Dinner for one: It shows in the attention to eco-minded and $5 - $10 digital details. So, how’s the food? In a word, comforting. It soothes the stomach, the wallet and the conscience, which is a pretty clever market niche. Patrons can order online or in person, choosing any of the restaurant’s 10 grilledH FlaweD cheese versions. Depending on how busy they are, the employees may deliver orders to the HH haS momentS table, or diners may have to pick them up. Everything comes packed in compostable HHH boxes or steel baskets with recyclable cutlery appealing and cups. You can choose from all-natural HHHH cane-sugar sodas, Peet’s coffee, or a variety of authoritative canned microbrews or sparkling wine (alcohol HHHHH is available for ordering in only). epic If you like grilled cheese, The Melt’s are pretty good. The bread is thickly sliced, with good crusts, and the cheeses are varied and flavorful. Everything is cooked quickly in sandwich presses for golden-brown toastiness. An aged Swiss on sourdough is simple but a little upscale, and diners can add a variety of meats or veggies, or even choose gluten-free bread. The Mac Daddy is made of macaroni and aged cheddar on white bread, and it’s perfectly fine, if not inspired. It benefits greatly from a dip in the Two Tomato Basil soup. In fact, all the soups are made specifically Still hungry? Search Sn&r’s for dipping. They’re smoothly pureed and fairly “Dining Directory” thick. The Spicy Black Bean has a hint of chili, to find local restaurants by name while the Sweet Corn Tortilla tastes like melted or by type of food. sweet tamales. It seemed a bit odd at first, but Sushi, mexican, indian, worked well with the salty grilled Italian Job of italian—discover it fontina and provolone cheeses on garlic bread. all in the “Dining” The Caesar and The Field Greens salads section at www.news come fairly heavily dressed, with the clever review.com. addition of grilled-cheese croutons. Apples, sunflower seeds and goat cheese make the greens an unusually good mix for a fast-food setting. The weak points of the menu are the sweets: The chocolate-chip cookies are dry, and the milkshake was no better than McDonald’s. The Melt’s website shows a tempting s’more melt for dessert, but the eatery didn’t seem to have it at the Davis location.

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Diners can also order breakfast all day, in the form of grilled cheese with egg, like the Egg-ina-Waffle. The dish features Eggo-style waffle rounds with aged cheddar and a little hole on one side for the egg. It comes hard-cooked and is an interesting combo, but could border on addictive with a higher-quality waffle and the optional addition of smoked bacon.

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1315 21st Street, Sacramento 916.441.7100

The Mac Daddy, made of macaroni and aged cheddar on white bread, is perfectly fine, if not inspired. It benefits greatly from a dip in the Two Tomato Basil soup.

The restaurant was virtually spotless on our visit and decked out in of-the-moment orange accents everywhere. It all seemed so perfect that it was somewhat disconcerting. I don’t usually frequent fast-food or even quick, casual places, so perhaps I’m a bit out of touch. However, The Melt seems like one of those places that’s so focus-grouped that it’s lost a bit of soul. Is that bad? Not necessarily. You’ll get exactly what you expect from The Melt—maybe even a bit more. It’s the epitome of 21st-century American comfort food. Ω

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I am always in the mood for South Indian food. So, my empty stomach was pleased to explore a newish spot called Peacock Indian Restaurants in Folsom (1870 Prairie City Road, Suite 500). It’s a Bay Area franchise with stores in Fair Oaks and West Sacramento, but for the hollowest, most desperately growling guts, Tuesday evening is recommended for dining, for it is the vegetarian buffet night, which includes an in-dining-room griddle for made-to-order dosas. It’s a cost-effective way (6,200 rupees) to sample many items—or to binge eat—of course. Some of the standouts were menu staples: the gently searing chana masala and the lovely, thick sambar. So far, it’s the closest spread in the area to the dearly departed Udupi Cafe. Oh, how this (obsessed) stomach misses that place so. —Shoka

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Downtown Darna This Palestinian restaurant serves an excellent baba ghanoush that, instead of being blended into a smooth paste, is served chunky and studded with eggplant seeds. Its smoky, deep flavor is balanced out by a lemony brightness, and it’s good on the somewhat flabby pita bread with which it’s served, but it’s even better on the house-made za’atar bread. Chicken-breast kebabs are not particularly flavorful but have some char from the grill, while the falafel and chicken shawarma are underwhelming. Do order a side of tabbouleh salad, however. It’s pretty to look at—bright-green chopped parsley studded with white grains of bulgur—and tastes refreshing. Palestinian. 925 K St., (916) 447-7500. Dinner for one: $15-$25. HHH B.G.

arugula on grilled bread. There are also a variety of flatbreads loaded with topping combos like capicola, three cheeses, piquillo peppers and green onions. The bread for these comes across as more than a pizza trying to be fancy. American. 1200 K St., Ste. 8; (916) 228-4518. Dinner for one: $10-$15. HHHH AMR

Here are a few recent reviews and regional recommendations by Becky Grunewald, Ann Martin Rolke, Garrett McCord and Jonathan Mendick, updated regularly. Check out www.newsreview.com for more dining advice.

Where to eat?

Midtown The Coconut Midtown The food here travels a path between standard and inventive. Creamcheese wontons, for example, aren’t the epitome of culinary Southeast Asian traditions, but damn it if they aren’t delightful. Soft cream cheese and chives in a crispy wrapper and served with a sweet chili sauce? Nothing wrong with that. The chicken larb—a spicy mincedmeat salad—is fragrant and intense. Mint, chilies, basil and iceberg lettuce are drenched in a spicy lime dressing punctuated with a heavy hand of fish sauce. The Coconut has warnings in its menu about which dishes are spicy, but unless you’re a newborn kitten, trembling and mewling, you might not even be aware of the chilies in your food. Thai. 2502 J St., (916) 447-1855. Dinner for one: $10-$15. HHH1/2 G.M.

that encourages patrons to talk to each other. An interesting wine list includes entries from Spain and Israel; there are also draft cocktails and numerous beers on tap. The brunch menu is heavy on the eggs, prepared in lots of ways. One option is the Croque Madame, a hamand-Gruyere sandwich usually battered with egg. This one had a fried egg and béchamel, with a generous smear of mustard inside. The mountain of potato hash alongside tasted flavorful and not too greasy. The menu also features pizzas and house-made pastas, but one of its highlights includes an excellent smoked-eggplant baba ghanoush, which is smoky and garlicky. The bananas foster bread pudding is equally transcendent. American. 1630 S St., (916) 442-4885. Dinner for one: $20-$40. HHH1/2 AMR

it all together for an addictive and satisfying lunch. One of Thai Basil’s true highlights is its homemade curry pastes. These balanced constructions of basil, lemongrass, shallots, chilies, kaffir lime leaves and other ingredients, when roasted, have been known to drive hungry Sacramentans into a berserk craze. Service here is impeccable. Thai Basil has earned its reputation. Thai. 2431 J St., (916) 442-7690. Dinner for one: $10-$20. HHHH G.M.

Land Park/ Curtis Park Spice Kitchen The menu here has a few tangential dishes like pad thai, but it’s mostly focused on Japanese cuisine, with a side menu of Chinese-American favorites. Tasty options include the vegetable tempura, lightly fried with slices of Japanese sweet potato and yams. If you want ramen, the hot soup dish these days, try the red tonkotsu version: It’s served with lots of nicely chewy noodles, spinach and the requisite soft-boiled egg. Spice Kitchen also serves bento boxes in lunch and dinner portions for a good price. Here, diners get soup, rice, salad and tempura, as well as a meat of choice. Japanese. 1724 Broadway, (916) 492-2250. Dinner for one: $10-$15. HHH AMR

Downtown & Vine This tasting room and wine bar spotlights the local farm-to-glass movement. Here, diners can order 2-ounce tasting flights of wine. Choose three from the same vintner to compare styles, or mix and match to contrast similar wines from regional wineries. Wines are also available in larger pours and by the bottle. Wine is meant to be enjoyed with food, of course: The menu offers a wide selection of tidbits and hearty dishes. Worth sampling: the goat-cheese stuffed peppers, chilled Spanish-spiced shrimp, and a cheddar-andapple melt. Or try the ambrosial Wine Country sandwich, with salty prosciutto, sweet fig jam, oozy mozzarella and peppery

Thai Basil SN&R readers consistently vote this place among the city’s top Thai restaurants for this paper’s annual Best of Sacramento issue. And for good reason. The restaurant’s tom yum soup may be one of the best foods served in the City of Trees. It features an incredibly savory broth with layers of flavor. Likewise, the tom kha gai—a coconut-broth soup—is a veritable panacea against Delta winds. Salads make up a large part of Thai cuisine and should not be overlooked. Larb gai consists of simple shredded chicken over mixed greens, cucumber and tomatoes. Fresh mint and a chili-laden dressing heavy with fish sauce and vigorous squeezes of lime juice pull

upscale dishes such as enchiladas de mole: tortillas wrapped around amazingly moist, flavorful chicken, bathed in a housemade mole poblano. The sauce has a million wonderful flavors. The portions here are quite generous. A green salad with fruits and nuts was big enough for a meal, even without the optional meat or seafood topping. The restaurant’s empanaditas de salpicon con papas are little turnovers standing up amid a drizzle of ancho sauce. The crust features a bit of leavening that makes it both crunchy and fluffy. The filling of beef, potatoes and vegetables tastes wellflavored and a bit spicy. Or try the tacos de arrachera—three soft tortillas enclose marinated strips of meltingly good steak, topped with roasted poblano chilies, lots of fresh cilantro and crema. They’re drippy, but worth every napkin. The menu is meatcentric, but the kitchen is vegetarian friendly as well. The crema de rajas poblanas, fully vegan and similar to a Mexican minestrone, is full of chickpeas, poblanos and onions in a rich broth uniquely flavored with vanilla and epazote. Mexican. 3672 J St., (916) 736-2506. Dinner for one: $20-$25. HHHH AMR

beef marinated in soy sauce) plus veggies (diced green onion, cucumber and cilantro) wrapped in a large, flat carbohydrate crepe (a thin pancake made out of flour, water and green onion). Elsewhere on the menu, Yang’s eponymous noodles are homemade, alkaline and chewy. Chinese. 5860 Stockton Blvd., (916) 392-9988. Dinner for one: $10-$15. HHHH J.M.

West Sacramento Wicked West Pizza & BBQ This popular destination for kids’ sports teams and birthday parties also caters to adult diners with good food and healthy options, such as organic whole-wheat crusts. Glutenfree and vegan choices are also available. With a texture closer to Chicago style than New York style, the pizzas are tasty but quite filling. Choose from house-made sauces and fresh toppings, or pick from one of the inventively named presets. The Old Lady is especially good, with pesto, potatoes, spinach, lots of veggies and a zingy balsamic drizzle. The biggest secret here, though, is the barbecue. Wicked West delivers with shredded, tender meat that’s lightly smoky and tossed with a vinegar-based sauce. The pork ribs are dry-rubbed and toothsome, while the tri-tip is well cooked but leans toward a dry texture. The chicken is rubbed with olive oil and herbs and rotisserie-smoked to produce a moist and juicy result.

Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co. The restaurant, by the same owners as Midtown’s The Golden Bear, sports a firefighting theme (a ladder on the ceiling duct work, shiny silver wallpaper with a rat-andhydrant motif) and a bar setup

South Sac Yang’s Noodles This is perhaps the only place in town that serves niu rou jian bing (sliced beef rolls)—a specialty of northern China—and the ones at Yang’s hit the spot. This is basically the Chinese version of a burrito: meat (thinly sliced

East Sac Cielito Lindo Mexican Gastronomy Instead of cheese-blanketed entrees, diners here can order

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Pizza/Barbecue. 3160 Jefferson Blvd. in West Sacramento, (916) 572-0572. Dinner for one: $5-$10. HHH AMR

Arden/ Carmichael El Forastero Mexican Food The menu here resembles the type of Mexican food found in Southern California: a blend of American fast food, Tex-Mex and traditional Mexican dishes. There’s menudo on weekends, but also french fries hiding inside burritos and buried underneath steaming piles of carne asada. For a taco or torta filling, try the adobada, a pork marinated in a red chili sauce. Or, try two of the most famous San Diego-style Mexican dishes, both delicious but full of calories: the California burrito and carne asada fries. The latter consists of a plate of fries topped with carne asada, cheese, sour cream and guacamole. A California burrito is basically an order of carne asada fries wrapped in a tortilla— which, surprisingly, isn’t even the fattiest-sounding dish on the menu. That distinction most likely belongs to the hangovercuring Super Breakfast burrito, with bacon, chorizo, ham, fries, eggs and cheese—all wrapped in a tortilla. It’s incredibly hearty. Mexican. 5116 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Carmichael, (916) 488-1416. Dinner for one: $5-$10. HHH1/2 J.M.

options—gyros, hummus, falafel, etc.—it also serves dishes from a wide range of cultures. For example, FreshMed offers a $6 Indian and Pakistani lunch buffet. Selections include stir-fried eggplant; curried chickpeas, lentils; and a creamy, spicy and hearty chicken tikka masala. Regular menu items include baba ghanoush, which tasted a bit bitter, and chicken kebab. The Mediterranean Nacho and chicken panini are examples of what the restaurant does well: culinary mashups that aren’t derivative, but instead rely heavily on flavor and innovation. The paninis are standouts: The bread is sweet, thicker than one might expect, and pressed nicely on a grill, with char marks on both sides. Mediterranean. 1120 Fulton Ave., Ste. I; (916) 486-1140. Dinner for one: $10-$20. HHH1/2 J.M.

pizza impresses: It’s light and crispy like a cracker and clearly is the superior option. Italian. 6530 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Carmichael, (916) 488-9800. Dinner for one: $10-$20. HHH J.M.

Stirling Bridges Restaurant and Pub This British- and Scottishthemed gastropub offers an adequate beer selection and an extensive menu that goes beyond standard deep-fried pub fare. Try the Irish onion soup, a French onion-styled soup kicked up with Irish whiskey and Guinness beer. Or order the house-made veggie burger—it’s one of the tastiest black-bean patties around. The most unusual dish on the menu is the Scottish Mafia Pizza. Topped with turkey pastrami, potatoes, cabbage and Swiss cheese, it falls short with its too many flat flavors to actually benefit from their unusual pairing. Thankfully, there’s Tabasco sauce on the table. Pub. 5220 Manzanita Ave. in Carmichael, (916) 331-2337. Dinner for one: $10-$20. HHH1/2 J.M.

about a dozen sauces (including cooking wine, ginger, teriyaki, and Sriracha sauces); and additional toppings (sesame seeds, minced garlic). Want to stick to the menu? Try the Kim Son Spicy Beef, seasoned with sha cha jiang, a sauce composed of minced garlic, chili, shrimp and other seasonings: It’s the best dish from an otherwise lackluster menu of Chinese food. Chinese. 4980 Watt Ave. in North Highlands, (916) 331-8188. Dinner for one: $10-$15. HHH1/2 J.M.

Davis Raja’s Tandoor This place has long been a favorite with the area’s student population, thanks to its lunch buffet featuring multiple vegan and vegetarian options (dinner at Raja’s also won’t disappoint, by the way). The potato-andpea samosas are a meal in and of themselves. It is highly recommended that you slather these with spicy chutney and seasoned raita. The chana masala here is one of the best dishes by far. It usually tends to feature a strong butter taste but is actually cooked with canola oil here—it’s vegan—and the tenderness of the chickpeas as well as the punch of the ginger and coriander makes it worth returning for. Indian. 207 Third St. in Davis, (530) 753-9664. Dinner for one: Less than $10. HHH1/2 G.M.

Chef’s choice, your decision

Roma’s Pizza & Pasta This eatery claims to serve “authentic Italian-style” food, but that’s only partially true when it comes to its pizza. That’s because it actually serves two types: one with the kind of thick, doughy crust usually found on an Americanstyled pizza, and another with a thinner crust, resembling a pie one might actually have in Italy. The thicker crust is chewy, but ultimately lacking in flavor. However, the tomato sauce makes up for the dough with a nice, spicy kick, and Roma’s doesn’t skimp on the toppings. The thin-crust

North Highlands Kim Son Mongolian BBQ Vietnamese & Chinese Food It’s difficult to rate Mongolian barbecue by regular reviewing standards, because it’s the diner who chooses the ingredients and seasoning and then gives them to the chef to prepare. But here’s what Kim Son does well: It stocks plenty of fresh veggies; thin slices of meat; thick, chewy chow mein noodles;

Michael Thiemann’s new, all-vegetarian spot Mother (1023 K Street) ignites a whole lot of debate. Is it really as revolutionary as a certain well-read Sacramento food critic says? The best way to decide is to head over for dinner, when Thiemann offers 10 dishes for $40-$50. At least two people at your table need to participate—or suck it up and eat double the grub by yourself—but the payoff is massive. It’s an always-changing chef’s choice, served in a similar fashion to Korean banchan—eight plates grace your table all at once, followed by dessert. Highlights on a recent evening include a creamy “polenta” made of cauliflower with more cauliflower; grilled pineapple slices with fried shallots and jalapeño; perfectly fried, lemony okra; and a deadly apple pie with flake salt and cheddar cheese. —Janelle Bitker

FreshMed Mediterranean Cuisine This restaurant broadens the definition of “Mediterranean.” In addition to the usual

DINE OUT AND SAVE! PURCHASE GIFT CARDS FOR UP TO 50% OFF Sawasdee Thai Cuisine: $25 for $12.50 Clark’s Corner: $30 for $15 Vallejo’s: $10 for $5 Bistro Michel: $50 for $25 Country Club Saloon: $20 for $10 Bento Box: $15 for $7.50 Beach Hut Deli-Midtown: $10 for $7 3 Fires Lounge: $25 for $12.50 Monsoon Cuisine of India: $20 for $13 Hock Farm: $25 for $18.75 Jensai Sushi: $25 for $12.50 Hooters: $20 for $10 Sal’s Tacos: $10 for $5 The Union Bar & Restaurant: $25 for $12.50

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photo courtesy of harris center for the arts

Kava OPE. P FORGA ood enough FOR YOU. Good enough FIND OF THE WEEK

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Ready? OK! A sign from God church sign Maker Is it an artform to choose what a church’s marquee will say on a weekly basis? Let us not debate this, but instead praise the creators of Says-It.com for its WEBSITE Church Sign Maker, where anyone can announce from the Holy Ghost Church “Aunt Norma’s missing again. Call the Millers.” Or from Mother Ministries: “Clean your room, because God said so.” Pick the sign style and its colors, the denomination, the message, and the name of the holy institution, and hallelujah, it looks like a convincing actual sign from God’s house prime for a prank, thanks to the low-quality snapshots used as templates. There is also a sign-making option for the Church of Scientology and the Westboro Baptist, um, “Church.” www.says-it.com/churchsigns. —Shoka

Bring it On: the Musical Is there any cheer in the history of cheers better than the one from opening scene of Bring It On? No, my friends, there is not: “I’m sexy, I’m cute! I’m popular to boot! / I’m bitchin’, great hair! The boys all love to stare! / I’m wanted, I’m hot! I’m everything you’re not! / I’m pretty, I’m cool! I dominate this school!” The original 2000 flick, which starred Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle MUSICAL Union, spawned four direct-to-DVD sequels and, in 2011, a stage show based loosely on the original. Bring It On: The Musical, which will be performed at the Harris Center for the Arts from Friday, March 7, through Sunday, March 9, employs backflips, human pyramids and catchy cheers to tell the story of two rival cheerleading squads that go pom-pom to pom-pom for a national title. In other words, expect lots of cattiness, snark and flippy short skirts. But it’s not just teen-angst lite. The story also explores themes of female friendship and empowerment. And, written by Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q), with lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights) and music by Tom Kitt (Next to Normal), it’s received rave reviews as well as Tony Award nominations for Best Musical and Best Choreography. But again, yeah, cattiness, snark and flippy short skirts. That’s definitely something to cheer about. Tickets cost $45-$75, and showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday; and 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday at the Harris Center for the Arts, 10 College Parkway in Folsom; (916) 608-6888; www.harriscenter.net. —Rachel Leibrock

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Behind the laughter One MOre thing: stOries and Other stOries B.J. Novak, best known for his role as Ryan “the temp” on The Office, channels his comedic writing skills into BOOK more than 50 short stories inside One More Thing (Knopf, $24.95). Every piece is reliably funny, but many transcend the jokes to form an insightful critique of American pop culture. What truths are revealed when Comedy Central roasts Nelson Mandela? What does it mean for society when “love” fails to win The Best Thing in the World Awards (hosted by Neil Patrick Harris)? These timely, humorous stories point beyond the punch lines, always asking the reader to notice just one more thing. —Becca Costello

ends 03/0

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Sins of the family My stepfather had an affair with my sister. My mom blames my sister for seducing my stepfather and went to counseling with him to save her marriage. She also stopped talking to my sister. I know that what my sister did was reprehensible, but my stepfather (I hate even calling him that) is a creep. Before he and my mom married, she thought he was fooling around by Joey ga with a woman in his office. He rcia denied it, and she believed him, despite the text messages a skj oey @ ne wsreview.c om that showed something was going on. He’s also always way Joey too touchy with me; it’s gross. When is a sleep evangelist! I complained to my mom, she blamed Read her blog at me. I’m getting married in August. I www.joeygarcia.com. don’t want any family drama at my wedding. I definitely will not invite my stepfather. But should I invite my mom or sister? Who can’t you live without? If you never spoke to your mother again, would you still allow yourself to thrive? If you had to live the remainder of life without another conversation with your sister, would you be capable of shrugging off regret? These are the important questions you face. To answer honestly, you must first engage in the soul work of forgiveness. Forgive your stepfather for his moral emptiness. He nurtures a serious level of self-hate and misogyny. He has not learned yet how to love and may actually be incapable of it. And, finally, forgive yourself for believing that there is some proper etiquette that should be followed on your wedding day. Hey, it’s your party: Invite whoever you want to invite. Send your mother and sister a notice post-ceremony and explain that, like King Solomon, you opted to let love make the choice. And, yes, that means you love everyone involved so much that you allow them to maintain the boundaries they have so clearly established. I am in a new job, and the person I was hired to work for has left. My new boss never answers a question directly. Instead of answering me, he rambles on about nothing, or he tells me a story, or he answers my question with another question. I am so frustrated. I want to do a good job, but I don’t feel like I can succeed without receiving specific direction and advice as needed. Of course you can! The gift in this situation is that you will learn to trust your own judgment. So stop asking your boss for advice. He obviously does not have the answers you need, and he is not able to admit that to you. Instead of seeking direction or approval from him, proceed at work according to your own common sense, accumulated wisdom and professional expertise. You should also actively seek a mentor at your firm or in your industry. Try searching LinkedIn or hire a personal coach who specializes in your field. In time, you will be ready to promote up into your boss’s role. And won’t that be fun? Ω

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Forgive your sister for her compulsive need for attention. She confuses lust with genuine interest.

Write, email or leave a message for Joey at the News & Review. Give your name, telephone number (for verification purposes only) and question—all correspondence will be kept strictly confidential. Write Joey, 1124 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815; call (916) 498-1234, ext. 3206; or email askjoey@ newsreview.com.

Got a problem?

Forgive your mother for her fear of being alone. It has driven her to confuse the state of being single with the feeling of being lonely. She has failed to open her mind, heart and spirit to the joy of solitude and the profound freedom that accompanies the single life. Her desperation to avoid her own company forces her continued attachment to a man who betrays her. Forgive your sister for her compulsive need for attention. She confuses lust with genuine interest. By having an affair with her mother’s husband, she is unconsciously seeking power over her mother by temporarily taking her place. Yes, serious childhood issues are operating in this situation.

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Meditation of the Week “Confidence is over-rated. … [I]f you work with fear at your back— especially the kind of fear that comes from really caring about something—you’re likely to work harder and be more successful than those people who seem so enviably self-assured,” says Maraya Cornell, who plans another 400-mile walk through Africa to raise awareness of the poaching crisis affecting elephants and rhinos. Read more about it at http://largematters.com.

I www.capitalac.com | 03.06.14 |

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Between poetic and potboiler Romeo and Juliet Here’s the paradox of Romeo and Juliet: Most people feel familiar with this iconic play. Everyone recognizes the balcony scene (“Wherefore by Jeff Hudson art thou Romeo?”) and goes into seeing a production realizing the star-crossed lovers will die. But it is not that oft produced—in fact, a surprising number of folks have never seen it live. As verification, the decades-old Sacramento Theatre Company (historically fond of classics), is currently staging Romeo and Juliet for the first time. Director Ed Claudio updates the setting to Prohibition-era New Jersey, where two patriarchal syndicate clans (one Jewish, one Italian) contend. Hip flasks abound, cocky slit her throat in the distraught rabbi’s study. The production’s tone wavers between poetic and potboiler—but as a piece of storytelling, it connects (albeit less consistently as the frolicking first half). The cast’s dedication and the time-honored qualities of this classic script carry the day. Ω

Now playiNg

4

Cannery Row

quietly and convincingly. Th, $30. New Helvetia Theatre, 1028 R St.; (916) 469-9850; www.newhelvetia.org. J.H.

4

City Theatre presents John Steinbeck’s classic, taking advantage of the large stage to include more than 35 actors, the town of Monterey and a musical quartet. This production, directed by Christine Nicholson, is an admirably ambitious undertaking with some good performances and imaginative staging. There are times, however, when all the production elements seem to swallow up the story, and we lose the intimacy of this tale of a Depression-era seaside town and its memorable characters.

F 8pm; Sa 2pm & 8pm. Through 3/8.

1 FouL

5

The Wild Party

4 The Merry Wives The Big Idea Theatre adapts Shakespeare to California’s gold-rush period—with six-guns in place of swords, and bonneted ladies as, uh, bonneted ladies—in this reinterpretation of The Merry Wives of Windsor. The adaptation works very well and allows for some Old West shenanigans in the form of a “hostess with the mostest,” as the traditional Host of the Garter Inn takes on the style of a bordello operator with good sense (well-played by Shaleen Schmutzer-Smith, who doubles as Mistress Quickly). The two “wives” of the piece, Mistress Page (Laura Kaya) and Mistress Ford (Adriana Marmo) set a giggly trap for the boastful, lusty Falstaff (Jeffrey Lloyd Heatherly, who was born to bombast his way through this role) and also manage to teach their husbands a thing or two. As with all Shakespeare’s comedies, there’s a concurrent plot involving the affections of the beautiful, young Mistress Anne Page (Janey Pintar, in this and several other roles), and true love doth right all with a wedding at the end. In between, Heatherly carries the show on his formidable shoulders, with some able funny business from Scott Divine as the “French” Dr. Caius (think Inspector Clouseau with dust on his boots) and Michael O’Sullivan as the “Irish” Sir Hugh Evans. For the most part, the supporting cast is quite good, though there were a few muffed lines that will no doubt quickly be brought up to snuff. The set is well-designed by Alex Slater and executed by the company, with a gold-rush camp tent to hide certain necessary elements and the requisite number of entrances necessary for a comedy. But a true shout-out goes to Kaya, who designed the wonderful period costumes of a quality steampunk cosplayers would envy, and to director Angelina LaBarre, who wrangled a collaborative enterprise with her cast that resulted in some bellying up to the bar for a bellyful of laughs.

—Kel Munger PHoTo CouRTeSy oF THe SaCRaMenTo THeaTRe CoMPany

F, Sa 8pm; Su 2pm; Sa 3/22 2pm. Through 3/23. $12-$15. City Theatre in the Main Auditorium, Performing Arts Center at Sacramento City College, 3835 Freeport Blvd.; (916) 558-2174; www.city theatre.net. P.R.

Green Valley Theatre Company’s production of Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party delivers the sort of knockout you’d expect from a bathtub full of gin. The four main characters, portrayed by Andrea St. Clair, Jacob Montoya, Ryan Allen and Lindsay Grimes, are top-notch; director Christopher Cook conducts an excellent orchestra; the choreography by Carly Sisto is energetic and detailed; and the party gets really, really debauched. F, Sa 8pm;

2 FaIR

3 GooD

Su 2pm & 7pm; Th 3/6 8pm; Su 3/9 2pm. Through 3/9. $18. Green Valley

4

Passion

“Dark” is a descriptor oft applied to composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. And Passion is quirky, even by his standards. The setting is 19thcentury Italy, where handsome soldier Giorgio (Matt Surges) is posted to a drab mountain garrison—separating him from hot love interest Clara (Courtney Glass) in Milan. Soon, Giorgio meets Fosca (Jackie Vanderbeck)—as a perpetually ailing, twitchy recluse who obsessively presses for Giorgio’s affection. It’s a complicated, warped, manipulative relationship. Artistic director Connor Mickiewicz stages this strange love story sensitively,

Theatre Company at the Grange Performing Arts Center, 3823 V St.; (916) 736-2664; http://greenvalley theatre.com. K.M.

4 WeLL-Done

4

Wrong for Each Other

Melinda Parrett and Kurt Johnson star in Norm Foster’s heartwarming comedy about a couple who met, married, got divorced, then meet by chance some years later and review some of the highs and lows of their relationship. Tu 6:30pm; W 2pm &

5 SuBLIMe–Don’T MISS

6:30pm; Th, F 8pm, Sa 5pm & 9 pm, Su 2pm. Through 4/13. $23-$35.

B Street Theatre, 2711 B St.; (916) 443-5300; www.bstreet theatre.org. J.C.

Short reviews by Jim Carnes, Jeff Hudson, Kel Munger and Patti Roberts.

PHoTo CouRTeSy oF CaMeLLIa InTeRnaTIonaL FoLK DanCe FeSTIvaL

Mysterious masked smooches and melodrama.

Romeo and Juliet, 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; $12-$31. Sacramento Theatre Company, 1419 H Street; (916) 443-6722; www.sactheatre.org. Through March 23.

young men are quick to draw concealed weapons. Instead of Friar Laurence (uttering “Holy St. Francis”) we get Rabbi Laurence (“Jumping Jehoshaphat,” spoken by cagey veteran Matt K. Miller). Newcomer Jeb Burris (a pro who’s played Mercutio on the summer circuit) lights up the audacious Queen Mab speech. And comic actress Amy Kelly (as Juliet’s motormouth nurse) channels the brassy spirit of Ethel Merman. Romeo (buff, giddy, eager Andrew Perez) does athletic pullups to smooch Juliet (modest, pint-sized but feisty Denver Skye Vaughn) on her balcony, bringing freshness and good chemistry to the scene. Its pure bawdy comedy until halftime, as Shakespeare intended. Then, the young bucks start slaughtering each other in the streets, and Romeo’s penchant for impulsive action derails his half-formed plans. Everything darkens: The glad-handing Lord Capulet (Kirk Blackinton) is revealed as an abusive woman-beater; the suicidal Romeo visits a street pusher to buy a fatal dose; the desperate Juliet threatens to

This looks like an invitation to dance.

Into the groove This weekend, at the 58th Camellia International Folk Dance Festival, Scandinavian and Balkan folk dances are the main event. Beginning on Friday night, join master teacher of international folk dances Lee Otterholt with an easy Balkan folk-dance workshop and an all-request party afterward to utilize those new dance moves. The fun continues on Saturday with a Scandinavian couples-dancing workshop. Much like polka, the dances are bouncy and fun with lots of twirling and weaving in and out of circles. Later in the day, Otterholt amps it up with Balkan line dancing, and then to close the weekend is a night of dancing. The festival organizer, the International Folk Dance and Arts Council, boasts more than 20 clubs in the greater Sacramento area and advocates the fun family activity of international folk dancing. $8-$25, Camellia International Folk Dance Festival at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 7; and 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 8; at the Central United Methodist Church, 5265 H Street; www.folkdancesac.org. —Jessica Rine

The Merry Wives, 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday; $10-$16. Big Idea Theatre, 1616 Del Paso Boulevard; (916) 960-3036; www.bigideatheatre.com. Through March 29.

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Dutch treat Tim’s Vermeer Tim Jenison of San Antonio, Texas, would probably have made an interesting subject for a documentary even if he had never undertaken the project at by Jim Lane the heart of Tim’s Vermeer. A tinkerer from an early age, he founded NewTek Inc., a hardware and software company whose various products have won him wealth, awards and (most of all) the leisure to pursue a wild hair like this one. Jenison mentioned his Vermeer project to his longtime friend Penn Jillette, of the comedymagic duo Penn & Teller, and the two magicians decided that even if the project failed, there was a movie in it. The result is Tim’s Vermeer, narrated by Penn Jillette and directed by Teller. book, Vermeer’s Camera by Philip Steadman, reinforced the idea. So Jenison, who himself had no training at all as a painter, set out to see if he could duplicate one of Vermeer’s paintings using only technology and materials that would have been available to Vermeer himself. The one he chose was “The Music Lesson” because of its complexity and multitude of elements. It would mean duplicating exactly the room in which Vermeer painted and everything in it, then using the doohickeys Jenison developed that Vermeer might also have used (or something like them) to paint “The Music Lesson” in the first place. That’s probably as much as I should tell you about the “plot” of Tim’s Vermeer, since much of the fun of this brief documentary lies in going with Jenison through all the nuts and bolts—and setbacks and hurdles—of his project. The movie is entertaining on that level, but on another level it’s even more stimulating, because it explores the intersection between technology and the artistic temperament. “There’s this modern idea,” Jenison says, “that art and technology must never meet.” A modern attitude, Jenison suggests, that artists 300 or 400 years ago didn’t necessarily share.

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Jillette and Teller’s movie focuses on Jenison’s obsession with the 17th-century Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, who died at 43 in 1675, and whose reputation went into eclipse for more than 200 years. Never prolific (only 34 pictures are widely attributed to him, with some estimates going as high as 60), Vermeer is today revered as one of the greatest of the Dutch masters, renowned for the almost photographic realism of his painting—“painting with light,” some have called it. Jenison dismissed that term out of hand. “You can’t paint with light,” he says in the movie, “you have to paint with paint.” But the question remains: How did Vermeer do it? “As a video guy,” says Jenison of Vermeer’s work, “I’m looking at this image, and I see a video image; I see something that looks like it came out of a video camera.” It was British artist David Hockney’s book Secret Knowledge that first inspired Jenison. Hockney’s book suggested, controversially, that the great artists of the Renaissance (and after) may have used more than their eyes and imaginations to produce their great paintings: They may have exploited the technology of their day—early experiments in optics, lenses, the camera obscura, etc.—to develop trade secrets that they then took to their graves. This set Jenison to thinking: What if Vermeer, who left no record of any real artistic training, did something like that? Another

Tim’s Vermeer is stimulating, because it explores the intersection between technology and the artistic temperament.

It’s a kind of modern arrogance that sometimes makes us think, however unconsciously, that because they didn’t have electronics in the past, they didn’t have technology—or that because they didn’t have light-sensitive film emulsions, they didn’t have a grasp of certain basic photographic principles. Watching Tim’s Vermeer, I remembered something a theater instructor of mine once said: “You cannot separate technique from artistry.” Substitute “technology” for “technique” and any other art for acting, and you have the crux of Tim Jenison’s experiment, and of Jillette and Teller’s movie about it. In the end, does a hypothetical reliance on technology that would have been state-of-the-art (ironic term!) in the 1600s make Vermeer more or less of a genius? Jillette, in his commentary, answers that question, and his and Teller’s modest, intriguing documentary makes a persuasive argument that he’s right. Ω

by daniel barnes & JiM lane

1

Although the revolting 3 Days to Kill is basically a revamp of French au-turd Luc Besson’s lousy 2013 film The Family, this movie is so awful it makes The Family seem good enough to have not been based on a Besson script. As supposedly directed by McG, 3 Days to Kill stars Kevin Costner as grizzled CIA killer-for-hire Ethan Renner. After learning he has inoperable cancer, Ethan reunites with his estranged wife and daughter, but a mysterious agent (Amber Heard, playing one of the most asinine characters in recent memory) lures him back with the promise of a life-saving cure. Ethan’s ex-wife divorced him out of mortal fear, yet she immediately departs for a business trip the second he shows up, leaving her only daughter with this near-stranger and career murderer. “She’s a good mother,� growls Ethan. Agree to disagree! D.B.

3 Days to Kill

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About Last Night

Two attractive singles (Michael Ealy, Joy Bryant) get fixed up by their best friends (Kevin Hart, Regina Hall), and a one-night stand turns serious: love, move in, crisis, break up. Meanwhile, each huddles up periodically with his or her pal to puzzle over dealing with the opposite sex. Directed by Steve Pink and written by Leslye Headland, this remake of the 1986 Demi Moore and Rob Lowe movie (both loosely based on David Mamet’s Sexual Perversity in Chicago) is a rueful Valentine candy box, blithely profane, but essentially sweet and very funny. Ealy and Bryant are appealing, though they mainly play straight-man to Hart and Hall. Hart’s staccato schtick plays much better in a supporting role, and Hall matches him line for yammering line. They’re hilarious: This could be the beginning of a great rom-com team. J.L.

4

Stalingrad

AN I INV NVENTO NVEN TOR R TR TRIE IES S TO SOL OLVE VE O ONE NE O OF F TH THE E GR GRE EATE TEST ST M MYS YSTE TERI RIES ES OF ART

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Franco Zeffirelli’s 1981 Endless Love, an overheated teen soaper starring Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt, is easily the least regarded of the three 1980s movies whose remakes were released into theaters last weekend. Directed by Shana Feste (Country Strong), Endless Love feels like a better-than-average episode of a CW drama that should have been canceled years ago, but it’s also watchable page-turning trash with a few solid performances. British actors Alex Pettyfer and Gabriella Wilde play the stereotypical “sweet bad boy� and “rich good girl,� and while both performers come off as callow and unworldly, with the coltishly beautiful Wilde it feels more like an actor’s choice. The reliably awful Pettyfer just lacks charisma and screen presence, and he practically distills into vapor any time he is forced to share the screen with a crafty veteran like Bruce Greenwood or Robert Patrick. D.B.

Endless Love

More than drawing inspiration from the cultural invasiveness of Hollywood’s bombast, Fedor Bondarchuk’s Russian IMAX epic Stalingrad wants to stand next to, and even surpass, their PG-13 thrills. It largely succeeds, even if the “Burn in hell, scum!� rhetoric occasionally makes Stalingrad feel like a Russian-language reboot of Nation’s Pride, the propaganda film-within-a-film from Inglourious Basterds. However, unlike the American-produced propaganda purveyed by Michael Bay and Roland Emmerich, Stalingrad smuggles a tender soul into the omnipresent CGI and Gladiator-style fight scenes. During World War II, a group of Russian scouts are sent across the Volga River to prepare for a counteroffensive against the Nazis. When the plan fails, the soldiers hide out in an apartment, where they befriend a pretty survivor named Katya. Stalingrad is clearly stitched together from its more broad-shouldered influences, but it does offer solid action, serviceable drama, images of grisly awe and moments of sick humor. D.B.

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2

The Monuments Men

4

The Lego Movie

The U.S. Army’s Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Section, tasked during World War II with retrieving millions of artworks stolen by the Nazis, is somehow turned into a movie in praise of stars Matt Damon and George Clooney (the latter also directed and co-wrote with Grant Heslov, from Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter’s book), making the section’s fine work look like a 1940s prequel to Ocean’s 11. It also reduces the 400 workers from 13 nations to a handful of Americans (John Goodman, Bill Murray, Bob Balaban) with a few token Europeans (Cate Blanchett, Hugh Bonneville, Jean Dujardin). False notes abound—words to a song that weren’t written until 1954, etc.—and, as usual, Clooney’s preening vanity gives him all the best lines. J.L.

2

Son of God

The life of Jesus Christ (Diogo Morgado) is depicted here from Nativity to Resurrection. As a devotion, the movie will comfort believers with its sincerity, but as drama it’s low watt. There are casual anachronisms—talk of Roman “occupation� (a term lifted from Jesus Christ Superstar, of all places), and Jesus has not followers but “supporters,� as if he’s a candidate for something. Director Christopher Spencer leans heavily on extreme close-ups to conceal the picture’s limited budget (much of which was apparently spent on a CGI model of Jerusalem). Performances are sincere but nondescript; only Greg Hicks’ snarling Pilate makes an impression, and not a good one. J.L.

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Given the many cinematic atrocities that have been produced by Hasbro in recent years, it is completely understandable to approach The Lego Movie with a certain amount of suspicion and dread. However, this is as wildly imaginative and fun as any film you’re likely to see this year, even if it is based entirely on corporate synergy. Written and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs), The Lego Movie concerns a lonely conformist (Chris Pratt, extremely personable) mistaken for a prophecy-fulfilling rebel savior. The film never takes its mumbo-jumbo seriously, opting instead to focus on giddily anarchic comedy, a childlike sense of visual invention, and a copyright-protected wet dream of supporting players. The only missteps are made in the third act, as that childlike wonder is literalized, and madness is sacrificed at the altar of lesson-learning. D.B.

2

Non-Stop

2

Lone Survivor

This pulse-deadening thriller from director Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown) would like to be an airborne thrill ride, but it only manages to capture the claustrophobic tedium of a transoceanic flight. Liam Neeson phones in another growl-and-glower job as Bill Marks, a blearily alcoholic federal air marshal who begins receiving midair text messages from a passenger threatening to murder people. Marks tramples all over the passengers’ rights in his attempt to uncover the killer, whose plan appears to implicate the troubled air marshal. The setup is just Ten Little Indians goes techno, and much like last year’s dismal The Fifth Estate, Non-Stop is convinced that watching people play with their cellphones is the apex of suspense. Collet-Serra hints at an insipid political consciousness, but the reveal of the killers and their motives is so pointless, it may as well have been determined by a dice roll. D.B.

2

That Awkward Moment

Two single dudes (Zac Efron, Miles Teller) and their divorce-bound pal (Michael B. Jordan) swear off serious relationships with women—but each of them quickly backslides into what might develop into a real romance. This flimsy update of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost was written and directed by Tom Gormican, whose experience consists of only two pictures, including this one. Gormican shows aptitude, but apparently it’s more from paying attention in screenwriting class than from observing people in real life: His script is so arch and self-consciously clever that the jokes sound stale even as we hear them for the first time. Efron and Teller do what they can (Jordan is underused), but the women make a stronger impression: Imogen Poots as Efron’s match and (especially) Mackenzie Davis as Teller’s. J.L.

In 2005, a team of Navy SEALs (Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster) drops into the Afghan mountains to ambush a high-level Taliban warlord—but are ambushed themselves, unable to call in air support or rescue. Based on a real operation, the movie has grueling scenes of combat, some of the most realistic and harrowing ever seen. But writer-director Peter Berg and writer Patrick Robinson (adapting the memoir by Marcus Luttrell, the “lone survivorâ€? of the title) never get around to establishing the characters as individuals. This makes the closing array of names rather confusing. Besides, the title is the ultimate spoiler, so there’s little suspense. We know only one will survive, and since only Wahlberg is billed above the title ‌ J.L.

2

Pompeii

3

The Wind Rises

Log onto GOFOBO.COM /RSVP and enter SNRBUE7 to download Sasses to tKe sSeFial sFreening on :ednesda\ 0arFK in 6aFramento Passes are limited and will be distributed on a Âżrst Fome Âżrst serYed basis wKile suSSlies last /imit two admit one Sasses Ser Serson This ďŹ lm is Rated PG-13. Theatre is overbooked to ensure a full house. Passes received through this promotion do not guarantee admission and must be surrendered upon demand. Seating is on a ďŹ rst come, ďŹ rst served basis. EXCEPT FOR MEMBERS OF THE REVIEWING PRESS. No one will be admitted without a ticket or after the screening begins. All federal, state and local regulations apply. A recipient of tickets assumes any and all risks related to use of ticket and accepts any restrictions required by ticket provider. Summit Entertainment, Sacramento News & Review, Gofobo.com, Allied-THA and their afďŹ liates accept no responsibility or liability in connection with any loss or accident incurred in connection with use of a prize. Tickets cannot be exchanged, transferred or redeemed for cash, in whole or in part. We are not responsible if, for any reason, winner is unable to use his/her ticket in whole or in part. Not responsible for lost; delayed or misdirected entries. All federal and local taxes are the responsibility of the winner. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. Participating sponsors their employees and family members and their agencies are not eligible. NO PHONE CALLS!

In the doomed city of the ancient Roman Empire, a Celtic gladiator (Kit Harington) falls for a freeborn woman (Emily Browning) who has caught the eye of a powerful senator (Kiefer Sutherland). Lee and Janet Scott Batchler’s script flaunts its ignorance of history (“OK,� says one slave. Elsewhere, Browning snaps, “I’m a citizen of Pompeii!� No, honey, you’re a citizen of Rome who lives in Pompeii). The model isn’t Roman history, it’s James Cameron’s Titanic— but Harington isn’t Leonardo DiCaprio and Browning isn’t Kate Winslet (at least Sutherland isn’t Billy Zane). Director Paul W.S. Anderson strains credulity by having Harington defeat foe after foe, each of whom outweighs him by a good 30 pounds. The final destruction is enjoyably cheesy—and that’s really all we came to see. J.L.

A modern master of supple, hand-drawn animation, Hayao Miyazaki’s films are at their best when they weave occasions for dreamy flights of fancy into the fabric of the story. That’s why it’s disappointing that The Wind Rises, his most “conventional� and purportedly last ever directorial effort, boasts his flabbiest narrative yet. It is a biopic of Jiro Horikoshi, a brilliant engineer instrumental in developing World War II Japanese fighter planes. He’s presented here as sensitive and noble, a dreamer who pursues his passion for planes, despite their destiny of mass destruction. The gorgeous and powerful first half sets up a highly personal story about the balance between artistic obsession and integrity, but the second half gets bogged down in a tragic love story that never connects. D.B.

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That down-home sound During The Living Room Sessions, music is made, stories are shared and mistakes are welcome A couch, an end table, a lamp. There’s no place quite as cozy as a living room. So, when local musician Erik Hanson got the opportunity by to host a monthly series at Old Ironsides, he Aaron Carnes knew what he wanted to do—outfit the stage with a couch, some chairs and whatever else was needed to temporarily transform it into a comfortable, homey space. pHOTO By BOBBy MuLL

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rather see the cracks. We’re all having a good time. It’s a more relaxed atmosphere.” It was Kevin Seconds, the local punk icon and singer-songwriter, who first sparked the idea with a similar showcase he did back in the 2000s-era True Love Coffeehouse days. Back then, Seconds brought on other songwriters, including Hanson, to trade off on songs and chat. Now, for Hanson, each show goes its own way—it all just depends on the guest. Hanson may play host, but it’s the artists who hold the power. “I’ll start on a certain road, if they want to deviate from that, I let them,” Hanson says. “I had Sherman Baker playing a couple months ago. Before one song, we talked for 15 minutes. He was telling stories about old roommates … that’s what I want.” In February, Hanson was joined by his sister, Freeport guitarist and vocalist Jeannie Howell, as well as Knock Knock’s Allen Maxwell. Between songs, the trio swapped stories about something they had in common—their hometown of Yuba City. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it turned out to be a sweet trip down nostalgia lane,” Howell says. “When we get together, it’s inevitable that the Yuba pours out. We joked about legends of friends and places we knew and loved.” Every show closes each session by playing a cover tune with the other songwriters. So far, sets have included takes on Oasis’ “Roll With It,” New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triangle” and Townes Van Zandt’s “Dead Flowers,” to name a few.

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The Living Room Sessions founder Erik Hanson test-drives a new couch. Grab a drink and get comfy at The Living Room Sessions with Erik Hanson, Sarah Bethe and Damon Wyckoff at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, at Old Ironsides, located at 1901 10th Street. There’s no cover. Learn more at www.facebook.com/ livingroomsession.

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The idea: Songwriters would come hang out, shoot the shit and maybe even play a few tunes. The couch never did make it to the stage, and a lamp and end table only lasted a couple of gigs. Still, even with just a few chairs, the idea remained the same, and so he kept the original name, The Living Room Sessions. Besides, it isn’t décor that gives Hanson’s monthly series its down-home feel, it’s the vibe. Since its inception in November 2013, the shows, which take place every second Thursday of the month at Old Ironsides, feature Hanson and a pair of singer-songwriters trading off on songs, talking and pretty much going wherever the mood takes them. And mistakes are welcome. “I like the fuck-ups,” Hanson says. “That’s the charm of it. Instead of being perfect, I’d

“ Instead of being perfect, I’d rather see the cracks. We’re all having a good time. It’s a more relaxed atmosphere.”

Erik Hanson founder, The Living Room Sessions Other than that one constant, however, Hanson aims to create an anything-goes, virtually structureless environment. “It’s just like if I invited people over to my living room and said, ‘Let’s just play some music and bullshit.’ I don’t feel like I’m on a stage at all,” Hanson says. “I’d rather have the audience up there with me. I want bean bags [onstage] so they can come up and hang out. That is my ultimate goal—to have the audience surround us.” Ω

Soundscapes and early summer soundtracks Experiments in chamber rock: I was not expecting the accordion player to sing, but he did, and he did so dramatically. It was just one element of interest throughout Mother Falcon’s set at the Veterans Memorial Theatre in Davis on February 28. The orchestral indie band from Austin, Texas, utilized 12 people and countless instruments to create fascinating, layered soundscapes. There was elaborate, at times mismatched harmonizing and childlike crooning, stomping and clapping. Brass and string dueled over rhythms that moved from hip-hop to rock to jazz and back. When they weren’t playing, the musicians stood with their eyes closed and heads down, as if waiting to be activated. They put a symphonic spin on Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android,” plugging an upcoming album comprising OK Computer covers. The big breakdown and destructive screeching came from a violin. For the final song, two saxophone players marched to the front of the stage, playfully finishing each other’s lines. Meanwhile, the lone female slid down her chair as she played her trumpet one-handed, and then jumped on top to scream at the top of her lungs. With cello, mandolin, banjo, keyboard, drums, upright bass, multiple guitars, multiple brass instruments, multiple vocal mics and more, I can’t imagine how long Mother Falcon’s soundcheck took. But the result was certainly worthwhile—the sold-out audience gave two standing ovations. Earlier in the night, opener Tom Brosseau brought out Seattle singersongwriter Shelby Earl as a surprise guest, and her deep, soulful voice was a welcomed treat. Brosseau proved to be a master storyteller, whether in song or in song intros. He told tall tales from his hometown of Grand Forks, North Dakota, dedicating songs to his grandmother, who taught him about music and lutefisk, and Marilyn Hagerty, the 87-year-old restaurant critic who notoriously reviewed the Olive Garden in 2012. Apparently she’s a real sweet lady who sometimes gets stuck on her roof, Brosseau explained, as he began to play “Stuck on the Roof Again.” jane lleb@ n ews r ev i ew . com —Janelle Bitker

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EVERY FRIDAY~9PM $10 COVER AFTER 10PM

Down those cello shots: The Los Angeles band El Ten Eleven creates the sort of warm and upbeat songs BEFORE

that soundtrack your endless summer, which until the recent rains, had been just what this winter felt like. The uplifting instrumental two-piece has said in the past that they hate terms such as “ambient” and “post-rock” but if you have to call it something, well, its brand of looping crescendos are in the vein of Ratatat, but are created with nothing more than a drum kit, a doublenecked guitar-bass and an orbit of effect pedals in place of laptops and synthesizers. Normally, it would seem like nothing new, but what makes El Ten so spectacular is what two men of flesh and blood achieve on stage alone. At it since 2005, the duo released its fifth studio album Transitions in 2012 on their own imprint Fake Record Label. Eternally self-sufficient, the band has continued to produce its own albums without signing to a label. It also had its music featured on a long list of radio and television shows, including a run of documentaries by Gary Hustwit including Helvetica, Objectified and Urbanized. Hear the band for yourself on Thursday, March 6, at Harlow’s Restaurant & Nightclub (2708 J Street). The show starts at 7:30 p.m., costs $12-$14 and is all ages. If you want more in the instrumental realm, catch Classical Revolution Sacramento when it plays a show on Monday, March 10, at Shine (1400 E Street). The show starts at 8 p.m. and costs $5 at the door. The low-key revolving ensemble, which describes itself as “ live chamber music out of the concert hall” were regulars at the now-shuttered Bows & Arrows. There, drinking, laughing and catcalling made for an unorthodox but attractive atmosphere for anyone looking to enjoy a classical music performance outside of a formal setting. Recently, a link posted to the ensemble’s Facebook page highlighted a new social organizing site called Groupmuse that allows users to sign up to host a “classical music house party.” So far, the closest Groupmuse parties are being held in Berkeley, but if we want this city to hold more keggers and house shows, the time is right for someone in Sacramento to crash the party and sign up as a host. Cello shots, anyone?

—Julianna Boggs

taco tues $1 tacos, $2 coronas, 2–8pm wednesday

ELEVATE FRIDAY SAT 3/8~8:30PM

Dj Supe in the mix playing top 40 hits and interactive videos

open mic sign-ups at 7:30pm thursday

SHAI AND

KaraoKe @ 7:30pm open for lunch & dinner 7 days a weeK doors open at 11:30

MIDNIGHT PLAYERS

Shai Hit: “If I Ever Fall in Love” Presale tickets $25 - Door $35

SAT 3/15~8:30 PM

live music

mar 07 said the shotgun ancient astronaut mar 08 garrett wildgust of (the old screen door) & sean fleming mar 14 down the hatch mar 15 simple creation cd release party mar 16 vagabond brothers unplugged from 2-5 mar 17 st. pattys day celebration music by adrian bellue, ruppidy buppity, sean fleming facebook.com/bar101roseville 101 main street, roseville • 916-774-0505

ADINA HOWARD AND SOLSA Adina Howard is an award winning American R&B singer, who rose to fame during the mid-1990s with her debut album, Do You Wanna Ride? Presale tickets $25 - Door $35

CONTACT SALES for tickets, VIP and tables @916-226-2907 or eventbrite.com 3443 LAGUNA BLVD • ELK GROVE FACEBOOK.COM/PINSNSTRIKES PINSNSTRIKES.COM • 916.226.2695

Orange Shandy is here.

Funk Springs Eternal Thursday, March 13 5 — 9 PM Spring is coming and the Crocker is celebrating all things funky fresh. Enjoy live performances by Groovincible and Idea Team, a special set by the DJs from FFFreak! night, and demos by The Outsiders Bboy crew. Fortify your funk collection at a pop-up record shop, get schooled about funk-inspired art and dig interactive art making with this month’s featured artist. Drink specials under $5 all night.

Join us out here Please drink responsibly.

crockerartmuseum.org |

#artmix

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07FRI 50-Watt Heavy Blue Lamp, 8 p.m., $6 50-Watt Heavy plays a whole lot of heartland rock ’n’ roll, despite being from Sacramento. That’s because being from the actual ROCK heartland isn’t a requirement, just a love for straightforward singer-songwriter-based rock ’n’ roll, and a diverse palette of influences: country, soul and folk. 50-Watt Heavy also has a lot of sweet harmonies, some subtle twang and a driving beat—though, for the most part, there’s a mellow contemplative quality about the band’s tunes. It even has a slight ’90s altrock bent in some songwriting choices, plus some airy guitar texture. But at its heart, the group just plays some good American rock ’n’ roll. 1400 Alhambra Boulevard, www.bluelamp.com.

07FRI Sangam Mondavi Center, 8 p.m., $37-$54 Charles Lloyd, Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland create a sound that is almost mystical—a blend of West and East where traditional American jazz meets the traditional sounds of India. When Lloyd trills his flute against the backdrop of Hussain’s tabla and Harland’s piano, or when Hussain’s voice is the featured instrument, you’ll be spirited along for a rich and winding musical journey. Each member brings an impressive set of credentials, starting with Lloyd’s mastery of the saxophone and a long musical career. WORLD Hussain is considered a virtuoso of classical tabla and forefather of contemporary world music. Harland is a composer and drummer who also plays piano for Sangam. 9399 Old Davis Road in Davis, www.charleslloyd.com/projects.htm.

07FRI Hamilton Loomis Torch Club, 9 p.m., $10 Hamilton Loomis’ red guitar was a gift from his mentor, Bo Diddley—maybe you’ve heard of him? Loomis met the R&B legend as an eager, 16-year-old fan, and you can certainly hear Diddley’s influence in Loomis’ funky, soulful blues. But the Texasnative gets luckier—he also had BLUES big-timers Johnny Copeland, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Joe “Guitar” Hughes and Albert Collins as guides. No wonder the Grammy Award-nominee became such a seasoned pro so quickly. His most recent album Give It Back is polished, groovin’ and definitely partyworthy. 904 15th Street, www.hamiltonloomis.com.

08SAT Ghost of the Robot Assembly Music Hall, 7:30 p.m., $20 Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans should be excited: Ghost of the Robot—the musical product of actor and singer James Marsters and several Sacramento musicians—is on tour, following the release of three albums in 2011. Marsters, famous for his role as heartthrob Spike on Buffy, is at the helm as frontman and guitarist, backed closely by vocalist and guitarist Charlie De Mars—with whom Marsters started the band back in 2002. The rest of the lineup includes Sullivan Marsters on guitar, Kevin McPherson on bass and Jordan Latham on drums. GOTR’s unique sound was described by College Pulse ROCK Magazine as pop-rock “with more soul,” but also features charming lyrics and catchy melodies. 1000 K Street, www.gotrmusic.com.

—Janelle Bitker

—Aaron Carnes

—Trina L. Drotar

—Jessica Rine

For Rentals or Private Parties please contact AssemblyMusicHall@gmail.com

fOR TIcKETS TO all SHOWS vISIT assemblyMusicHall.com

1000 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Sat March 8 @ 7:30pM maxxx

O.N.l.y. daNcE fESTIval 2v2 bboy battle & 5v5 all dance Style (finalS)

Sun March 9 @ 2pM

original.new.legit.you.

tue March 11 @ 6:30pM Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar 23 Mar 24 Mar 25 Mar 26 Mar 27 Mar 29 apr 04 apr 05 apr 06 apr 08 apr 09 apr 11 apr 12 apr 18 apr 19 apr 23 May 23

thurS Mar 13 @ 8pM

Upcoming ShowS The Kin Kumandae live experience alesana being as an ocean blacK lips carnifex animals as leaders auTumn sKy / life in 24 frames barcelona headbang for The hwy cunninlynguisTs zz ward bear hands bombay bicycle club Jamies elsewhere dance gavin dance The siren show Through The rooTs The green

RacHEl BaRTON PINE 38 | SN&R |

fri Mar 14 @ 7pM

THE SIREN SHOW

Sat Mar 15 @ 8pM

Mon Mar 17 @ 6pM

03.06.14

08SAT Rainbow Girls Harlow’s Restaurant & Nightclub, 8 p.m., $10 It’s unclear whether Rainbow Girls are based out of Santa Barbara, Sebastopol or really anywhere. The truth is that they move around a lot. And they have just the right music for their transient lifestyle. It’s folk-based, full of percussion stomping, jazz swinging, soul shaking and cabaret crooning. They are modern-day gypsy-folk hippies, not unlike Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes—though in the Rainbow Girls’ case, they are an all-female band. Their influences and infectious live energy make them a good AMERICANA fit for fans of Gogol Bordello and the Devil Makes Three. They’re kind of like an upbeat, dancey Grateful Dead. 2708 J Street, www.facebook.com/rainbowgirlsstomp.

09SUN Con Bro Chill Harlow’s Restaurant & Nightclub, 8 p.m., $10-$12 Professional lacrosse midfielder and neon dance-party ringleader Connor Martin brings his ’80s-infused synth-pop band Con DANCE POP Bro Chill to Harlow’s Restaurant & Nightclub this Sunday. The Portland, Oregon-based band has racked up millions of YouTube hits, first with a series of videos directed by Martin’s brother Sam while they were interns at a lacrosse company, followed by cinematic goofs featuring PGA players in cosplay, and the band in mirror-ball codpieces at a roller disco. Did I mention the band is sponsored by a fanny-pack company? Just dust off your neon-green sneakers and pump your fist, already! 2708 J Street, www.conbrochill.com.

10MON Larry and His Flask Harlow’s Restaurant & Nightclub, 8 p.m., $12 Larry and His Flask, adoringly referred to by fans as “Larry and his bluegrass traveling circus,” is just that: a five-piece of bearded, plaid-button-up-wearin’ men who play loud and fast. The band adds punk, folk, bluegrass and hillbilly jamboree into its musical CrockPot and serves up an alternative-country dish rich in carbohydrates and whiskey. Something else Larry and his troupe bring to the dinner table is found in their contraPUNK/BLUEGRASS bass player, Jeshua Marshall. Contrabass is an instrument created at an octave lower than a standard bass, and you best believe Marshall’s bass stands upright. Scott H. Biram and Whiskey Shivers will warm up the crowd. Yeehaw! 2708 J Street, wwwlarryandhisflask.com.

13THURS Umphrey’s McGee Ace of Spades, 7 p.m., $25 Umphrey’s McGee marches to the beat of its own drum. The rock band—known for its electric, epic live shows, heavy amounts of improvisation and an emphasis on the jam-band aesthetic—has made a habit ROCK of releasing its material atypically. The group has offered fans the chance to watch live concerts on its website, and access to video of past shows for free as well. In other words, U.M. has always tried to get its music out to as many people as possible. It’s been a long time coming, but a follow-up to the 2011 record, Death by Stereo, is in the works and set to be released later this year. 1417 R Street, www.umphreys.com.

—Brian Palmer

—Aaron Carnes

—Cody Drabble

—Steph Rodriguez

ACE OF SPADES THURSDAY, MARCH 6 FRIDAY, MARCH 21

1417 R Street, Sacramento, 95814 www.aceofspadessac.com

ALL AGES WELCOME!

T-PAIN THURSDAY, MARCH 13

MEMPHIS MAY FIRE THE WORD ALIVE - A SKYLIT DRIVE HANDS LIKE HOUSES BEARTOOTH

COMING

PRICELESS DA ROC - DIAMOND DEZ - BIAJE & SMOKE DJ KENTOT - KEYRINGZ - MIC TAYLOR - YOUNG DUSE

SATURDAY, MARCH 22

SOON

UMPHREY’S MCGEE SATURDAY, MARCH 15

AN EVENING WITH

EOTO

03/31 Blue October 04/02 Beats Antique 04/04 Yonder Mountain String Band 04/05 Crosses 04/09 Schoolboy Q 04/13 Mogwai 04/15 All Time Low 04/16 Sevendust 04/21 The 1975 04/24 The Dandy Warhols 04/25 Drive-By Truckers 04/27 Julieta Venegas 05/02 Ty Dolla $ign 05/03 Fallrise 05/08 Chiodos 05/11 Twenty One Pilots 05/16 “One” Metallica Tribute Band 05/21 Christina Perri 05/31 Tech N9ne 06/13 Mickey Avalon

SUNDAY, MARCH 23

LAGUNA COIL BUN B & KIRKO BANGZ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26 MONDAY, MARCH 24

THE EXPENDABLES STICK FIGURE - SEEDLESS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19

BREAK SCIENCE

MOONSHINE BANDITS & THE LACS DRY COUNTY DRINKERS - COLONEL JIMMY & THE BLACKFISH

THURSDAY, MARCH 20

THE WAILERS PERFORMING “LEGEND” IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE

REVEREND HORTON HEAT NEKROMANTIX - DEKE DICKERSON - INFAMOUS SWANKS

SUNDAY, MARCH 30

Tickets available at all Dimple Records Locations, The Beat Records, and Armadillo Records, or purchase by phone @ 916.443.9202

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NIGHTBEAT ASSEMBLY MUSIC HALL 1000 K St., (916) 832-4751

THURSDAY 3/6 POSTERCHILD, 7pm, call for cover Tipsy Thursdays, Top 40 deejay dancing, 9pm, call for cover Karaoke, 7:30pm, no cover Beats, Rhyme & Life with DJ Hustle, 9pm-2am, $10 Twin Engine Saloon Ladies’ Night,

FRIDAY 3/7

SATURDAY 3/8 GHOST OF THE ROBOT, MAXXX; 7:30pm, $20

SUNDAY 3/9 Only Dance Festival, 2pm, call for cover Sin Sunday, 8pm, call for cover VAGABOND BROTHERS, 2pm, no cover Get Down to the Champion Sound reggae night, 9pm-2am, $3

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 3/10-3/12 WE ARE THE IN CROWD, WILLIAM BECKETT, SET IT OFF; 6:30pm Tu, $14 Mad Mondays, 9pm M; Latin video flair and Wii bowling, 7pm Tu Trivia, 6:30pm M, no cover; Open-mic, 7:30pm W, no cover Acoustic open mic, 8pm M, no cover; Naughty Trivia, 8pm W, no cover

Post your free online listing (up to 15 months early), and our editors will consider your submission for the printed calendar as well. Print listings are also free, but subject to space limitations. Online, you can include a full description of your event, a photo, and a link to your website. Go to www.newsreview.com/calendar and start posting events. Deadline for print listings is 10 days prior to the issue in which you wish the listing to appear.

List your event!

BADLANDS BAR 101

2003 K St., (916) 448-8790 101 Main St., Roseville; (916) 774-0505

Fabulous and Gay Fridays, 9pm, call for cover SAID THE SHOTGUN, ANCIENT ASTRONAUT; 9:30pm, $5 RED LEAF, CELESTINS, 50 WATT HEAVY; 8pm, $6 FIRE AND WHEELS, FRANK HANNON; 8pm, $10-$15

Saturday Boom, 9pm, call for cover Will & Garrett Show with SEAN FLEMING, 9pm, call for cover SHOVE-ITS, FLIP-OFFS; 5pm, no cover; Radio Radio ’80s Dance Night, 9pm FRYED BROTHERS BAND, 8pm, $10

BLUE LAMP

1400 Alhambra, (916) 455-3400

THE BOARDWALK

9426 Greenback Ln., Orangevale; (916) 988-9247 7pm, $5

CENTER FOR THE ARTS THE COZMIC CAFÉ DISTRICT 30 FACES 1016 K St., (916) 737-5770 2000 K St., (916) 448-7798

314 W. Main St., Grass Valley; (530) 274-8384 594 Main St., Placerville; (530) 642-8481 Open-mic, 7:30pm, no cover All Night Lng with Aviator, Kronyak, Bphree, (530), 10pm, call for cover Johnny Mojo’s Blues Night, 8pm, $8 Chuck Dynasty with DJ Peeti-V, 10pm, call for cover Hip-hop and Top 40 Deejay dancing, 9pm, $5-$10 KEN KOENIG, 8pm, no cover WEST NILE RAMBLERS, HOLLOW POINT STUMBLERS; 9pm, call for cover DJ Shaun Slaughter, 10pm, call for cover DJ Crook One, 10pm, call for cover 27 OUTLAWS, 9pm, $5 EL TEN ELEVEN, 7:30pm, $12-$14 Karaoke, 9pm, no cover Joe Montoya’s Poetry Unplugged, 8pm, $2 THE FAMILY PRACTICE, SHINING STAR; 9pm, $8 LOVEFOOL, 10pm, $12 DJ Rock Bottom and The Mookie DJ, 9pm, no cover BRIAN ROGERS, JACKSON GRIFFITH, BASKET HOUSE, HONYOCK, DUKE BILL MYLAR, THE THING ITSELF; 7pm, $7 CHEVALISE; 9pm, $5 You Front the Band Live Karaoke, 9pm, no cover Get Down to the Champion Sound, reggae and dancehall deejays, 10pm, $5 JUKEBOX JOHNNY, 8:30pm, $5 The Drop, house and ’90s hip-hop w/ DJ Jonathan, Funktion, Phreed; 9pm, $3-$5 DJ Whores, 10pm, no cover LOVEFOOL, 9pm, $5 ZUHG, RAINBOW GIRLS, THE CITY OF TREES BRASS BAND; 8pm, $10 GEOFF BAKER, JAY SHANER; 8:30pm, $5 AARON ROSS, PREGNANT, COVE; 8pm, $5 Wizard World Masquerade Party, 10pm, call for cover Hip-hop and Top 40 Deejay dancing, 9pm, $5-$10 MIKEY LP, JULIE MEYERS, RED SKY SUN RISE; 9pm, $5

AUSTIN LOUNGE LIZARDS, 8pm, $20-$22

Dragalicious, 9pm, $5

Queer Idol, 9pm M, no cover; Latin night, 9pm Tu, $5; DJ Alazzawi, 9pm W Open-mic, 7:30pm M; Pub quiz, 7pm Tu; NORTHERN SOUL, 8pm W, no cover

FOX & GOOSE Want to be a hot show? Mail photos to Calendar Editor, SN&R, 1124 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815 or email it to sactocalendar@ newsreview.com. Be sure to include date, time, location and cost of upcoming shows.

1001 R St., (916) 443-8825

Hey local bands!

G STREET WUNDERBAR 228 G St., Davis; (530) 756-9227

THE GOLDEN BEAR

2326 K St., (916) 441-2252

Industry Night, 9pm, call for cover

Trivia night, W, call for cover Trivia night, 7:30-9pm Tu, no cover

HALFTIME BAR & GRILL HARLOW’S 2708 J St., (916) 441-4693

5681 Lonetree Blvd., Rocklin; (916) 626-6366

CON BRO CHILL, 8pm, $10;

LARRY AND HIS FLASK, SCOTT H. BIRAM, WHISKEY SHIVERS; 8pm M, $12 Hip-hop and R&B deejay dancing, 9:16pm Tu, no cover HARLEY WHITE JR., 7pm M, $5; Comedy night, 8pm W, $6

LEVEL UP FOOD & LOUNGE 2431 J St., (916) 448-8768

LUNA’S CAFÉ & JUICE BAR 1414 16th St., (916) 441-3931

MARILYN’S ON K

908 K St., (916) 446-4361

Showcase Sundays, 7pm, no cover

Karaoke, 9pm M, no cover; Greatest Stories Ever Told, 8pm Tu, no cover

MIDTOWN BARFLY

1119 21st St., (916) 549-2779

2708 J Street Sacramento, CA 916.441.4693 www.harlows.com

6:30pm • $12adv

el ten eleven

- March 06 -

con bro chill 7pm • $10adv - March 10 -

- March 09 -

cayucas Miner All AgeS - March 14 -

- March 14 -

Coming Soon Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar 22 Mar 23 Mar 26 Mar 27 Mar 28 Mar 29 Mar 30 Apr 05 Apr 08 Apr 09 Apr 12 Apr 12 Apr 14 Apr 17 Tommy Castro Sandra Dolores Mustache Harbor WeekendTommy Castro Toubab Krewe Zepparella Adrian Bellue Travis Garland Tyrone Wells Chuck Ragan / The White Buffalo Joe Ely Leagues Super Huey Hip Service The Colourist White Lies

lovefool The Bay Area’s finest party band 9pm • $12

- March 07 -

larry and his flask scott h. biram foreverland (mj tribute) - March 15 -

doey rock / mark noxx

Whiskey Shivers 7pm • $12

dumpstaphunk The nibblers 7pm • $17.50adv Rainbow Girls City of Trees Brass Band 7pm • $10

- March 11 -

(cat stevens tribute) feat maggie koerner big business, o’brother

majickat galactic - March 19 - March 18 -

- March 16 -

zuhg

- March 08 -

follow us HARLoWSniTECLuB HARLoWSniGHTCLuB HARLoWSniGHTCLuB

musical charis The Royal Jelly, Joseph in the Well 7pm • $5adv

- March 13 -

the sword

40

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THURSDAY 3/6 NAKED LOUNGE DOWNTOWN 1111 H St., (916) 443-1927 KYLE TUTTLE, BANJO FIDDLE; 8:30pm, $5

FRIDAY 3/7 SHERMAN BAKER, WALKING SPANISH; 8:30pm, $8

SATURDAY 3/8 SEAN KILCOYNE, JULIET COMPANY, LITANY; 8:30pm, $5

SUNDAY 3/9

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 3/10-3/12 Jazz session, 8pm M, no cover; THRUSTACHE, CPR, 8:30pm W, $5 HEATH WILLIAMSON, 5-7pm M, no cover; Karaoke, 9pm Tu; Open-mic, 9pm W

OLD IRONSIDES ON THE Y

1901 10th St., (916) 442-3504 670 Fulton Ave., (916) 487-3731 Karaoke, 9pm, no cover WILLY PORTER, MARTYN JOSEPH; 8pm, $20

WILLIAM MYLAR, 5pm, no cover; GRAVE SHADOW, IN THE SILENCE, BREWFISH, THEY WENT GHOST; 9pm, $6 SWIM; 9pm, $5 Karaoke, 9pm, no cover ANTSY MCCLAIN AND THE TRAILER PARK TROUBADOURS, 8pm, $25 AUSTIN LOUNGE LIZARDS, 8pm, $20 DJ Politik and DJ Peeti V, 9pm, $15 Sacramento Beer Week Pint Nights, 7-10pm, no cover Elevate with DJ Supe, $10, no cover before 10pm Karaoke, 9pm, no cover SANDY NUYTS, SWEET REVENGE; 10pm, call for cover No Diggity, ‘90s night with DJ Meek Da Kat, 9pm, call for cover FOUR BARREL, 10pm, call for cover Top 40 w/ DJ Rue, 9pm, $5 RUTABAGA BOOGIE BAND, 10pm, $10 Top 40 Night w/ DJ Larry Rodriguez, 9pm, $5 LOOSE CHANGE, 3pm, call for cover Sunday Night Soul Party, 9pm, $5 The Sol Mercado and Kid’s Day, 1pm, no cover Country dancing, 7:30pm, no cover, $5 after 8pm Salsa with Mike Del Campo, 8:30pm, no cover, $5 after 9:30pm X TRIO, 5pm, no cover; JERAMY NORRIS PAILER AND FRATIS, 5:30-7:30pm, no AND THE DANGEROUS MOOD, 9pm, $5 cover; HAMILTON LOOMIS, 9pm, $10 Country dancing, 7:30pm, no cover, $5 after 8pm Salsa with Mike Del Campo, 8:30pm, no cover, $5 after 9:30pm JOHNNY KNOX, 5:30pm, no cover; TAD ROBINSON, 9pm, $8 Country dance party, 8pm, no cover Domingos Latinos with Mr. DJ Omar, 9pm, $5-$10 Blues jam, 4pm, no cover; MAX PORTER, 8pm, $5 Sacramento Beer Week Pint Nights, 7-10pm, no cover SHAI, MIDNIGHT PLAYERS; call for time, $25-$35 Sacramento Beer Week Pint Nights, 7-10pm, no cover Asylum Downtown: Gothic, industrial, EBM dancing, 9pm, call for cover RUBY JAYE, 8pm, call for cover Open-mic comedy, 9pm, no cover

Karaoke, 9pm Tu, no cover

THE PALMS PLAYHOUSE 1116 15th St., (916) 442-7222

13 Main St., Winters; (530) 795-1825

THE PARK ULTRA LOUNGE PINE COVE TAVERN PINS N STRIKES PISTOL PETE’S 502 29th St., (916) 446-3624 3443 Laguna Blvd., Elk Grove; (916) 226-2625 140 Harrison Ave., Auburn; (530) 885-5093

Open-mic, 10pm-1am Tu, no cover Ballroom dancing with Jim Truesdale, 6:30pm W, no cover Karaoke, 9pm Tu, W, no cover Rock On! live-band karaoke, 8pm Tu, no cover DAD PUNCH, MARRIAGE + CANCER, POCKETS, KAZ MIRBLOUK; 8pm M, $5 Microphone Mondays, 6pm M, $1-$2 Comedy open-mic, 8pm M; Bluebird Lounge open-mic, 5pm Tu, no cover Blues jam session, 8:30pm Tu, no cover BILL MYLAR, 5:30pm Tu, no cover; Acoustic open-mic, 5:30pm W, no cover

Geoff Baker with Jay Shaner and Lauren Cole Norton 8:30pm Friday, $5. Fox & Goose Folk

POWERHOUSE PUB THE PRESS CLUB SOL COLLECTIVE 2030 P St., (916) 444-7914

614 Sutter St., Folsom; (916) 355-8586

2574 21st St., (916) 832-0916

STONEY INN/ROCKIN’ RODEO 1320 Del Paso Blvd., (916) 927-6023

THE STATION TORCH CLUB

1100 Orlando Ave., Roseville; (916) 728-1166 904 15th St., (916) 443-2797

All ages, all the time ACE OF SPADES 1417 R St., (916) 448-3300 T-PAIN, PRICELESS DA ROC, DIAMOND DEZ; 6:30pm, $32 APE MACHINE, CURA COCHINA; call for time and cover CHIKADING!, FURSCHITZEN GIGGLES, HIGH PROFILE TRANSIENTS; 8pm, $5 APRICOT, PLOTS, PUPPET RADIO; 8pm, $5 S.R.O., THE UNCOVERED; 8pm, $5 Open jazz jam w/ Jason Galbraith & Friends, 8pm Tu; Poetry, 7pm W

LUIGI’S SLICE AND FUN GARDEN 1050 20th St., (916) 552-0317

Harley White Jr. 7pm Monday, $5. Luna’s Café and Juice Bar Jazz

SHINE

1400 E St., (916) 551-1400

$ O

“safe access” Main Ave Northgate Kelton Norwood

10 p a C aMs r g l N al

35 Cap ON a ll 1/ 8 $

ths

safe capitol compassion 135 Main avenue • sacramento ca, 95838 Open Mon thru sat 10aM–7PM // closed sun 916-254-3287 AFTER |

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SN&R | 03.06.14

ABCs of MMJ I have been a budtender for 10 years in our green state, and I’m still baffled why we in the culture still refer to medical marijuana as “pot,” “weed,” “grass,” etc. It seems to me that we, as patients, will never get the same treatment or respect as a patient taking pharmaceuticals simply because it’s been downgraded and laughed at for so long. I love Tommy Chong, but his character Chong is just that: a character and not a fair or even just representative of an MMJ patient. We have a responsibility to ourselves as patients, advocates, EALUM B IO budtenders, etc., to get away from the stereotypes A G N by and start respecting marijuana for what it is: a medicine. —Bud You kinda have a point, but I am not sure I agree with you. What do you suggest we do? Already, people say things like “medicating” instead of “getting high.” It’s not a “pot shop” or even a “cannabis club,” it’s a “medical-marijuana dispensary.” It’s not a “joint,” it’s a “prerolled cannabis cigarette.” I mean, you refer to yourself as a “budtender” and not a “medical-cannabisdispensing professional.” Even the word “marijuana” is considered a pejorative by some of my more radical activist friends. “It’s ‘cannabis’!” they yell. “‘Marijuana’ is a slang term popularized by the evil prohibitionist Harry Anslinger so people would think it was a different drug than cannabis.” And they are right. But so what? If I used the word “cannabis” every time I mentioned cannabis, this column would get hella repetitive. Language is fluid, and don’t forget that the names of most over-the-counter drugs are completely made up. The real name for Lipitor is atorvastatin calcium. Viagra If I used the word is sildenafil citrate. The don’t mean much. I “cannabis” every time names know it sounds weird when I mentioned cannabis, someone says something like, “Man, that doob of this column would get God’s Pussy really did for my arthritis.” hella repetitive. wonders But the important thing is that it did wonders for her arthritis, and not that the strain has a horrible name. The same is true of strains like “Green Crack” and “Girl Scout Cookies.” Horrible names, great strains. Ultimately, I don’t think it matters much. Use the words you like, and listen to what people mean and not just what words they use, and we will all get along fine. (And leave Tommy Chong alone! That man has done wonders for the cause of cannabis freedom.) ’13

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SN&R | 03.06.14

by JOnathan Mendick PHOTO BY JONATHAN MENDICK

For the week of March 6, 2014

by ROb

bRezsny

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Are you

between jobs? Between romantic partners? Between secure foundations and clear mandates and reasons to get up each morning? Probably at least one of the above. Foggy whirlwinds may be your intimate companions. Being up in the air could be your customary vantage point. During your stay in this weird vacationland, please abstain from making conclusions about its implications for your value as a human being. Remember these words from author Terry Braverman: “It is important to detach our sense of selfworth from transitional circumstances and maintain perspective on who we are by enhancing our sense of ‘self-mirth.’” Whimsy and levity can be your salvation, Aries. Lucky flux should be your mantra.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You Librans

haven’t received enough gifts, goodies and compliments lately. For reasons I can’t discern, you have been deprived of your rightful share. It’s not fair! What can you do to rectify this imbalance in the cosmic ledger? How can you enhance your ability to attract the treats you deserve? It’s important that we solve this riddle, since you are entering a phase when your wants and needs will expand and deepen. Here’s what I can offer: I hereby authorize you to do whatever it takes to entice everyone into showering you with bounties, boons and bonuses. To jumpstart this process, shower yourself with bounties, boons and bonuses. art of living is more like wrestling than dancing,” wrote the Roman philosopher Marcus Aurelius more than 1,800 years ago. Is that true for you, Scorpio? Do you experience more strenuous struggle and grunting exertion than frisky exuberance? Even if that’s usually the case, I’m guessing that in the coming weeks your default mode should be more akin to dancing than wrestling. The cosmos has decided to grant you a grace period—on one condition, that is: You must agree to experiment more freely and have more fun that you normally allow yourself.

Talking tall Not only is there such a thing as the Sacramento Tall Club, but with nearly 90 members, the local chapter is among the largest under the national umbrella of Tall Clubs International. The social organization for those of above-average height was founded in 1938 by a 6-foot-2-inch Californian named Katherine Ruth “Kae” Sumner Einfeldt (who, interestingly, was an animator for Walt Disney Productions’ Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). Today, there are about 50 such groups throughout the United States. The Sacramento chapter’s former president and current publicist Bob Huggett, a 6-foot-7-inch chief engineer at the California Department of General Services, recently dished about what it’s like to be vertically gifted.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “The

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The

renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma once came to the home of computer pioneer Steve Jobs and performed a private concert. Jobs was deeply touched, and told Ma, “Your playing is the best argument I’ve ever heard for the existence of God, because I don’t really believe a human alone can do this.” Judging from the current astrological omens, Taurus, I’m guessing you will soon experience an equivalent phenomenon: a transcendent expression of love or beauty that moves you to suspect that magic is afoot. Even if you are an atheist, you are likely to feel the primal shiver that comes from having a close brush with enchantment. dream, I was leading a pep rally for a stadium full of Geminis. “Your intensity brings you great pleasure,” I told them over the public-address system. “You seek the company of people who love you to be inspired. You must be appreciated for your enthusiasm, never shamed. Your drive for excellence doesn’t stress you out, it relaxes you. I hereby give you license to laugh even louder and sing even stronger and think even smarter.” By now, the crowd was cheering, and I was bellowing. “It’s not cool to be cool,” I exulted. “It’s cool to be burning with a white-hot lust for life. You are rising to the next octave. You are playing harder than you have ever played.” paintings no longer interest me,” said the prolific artist Pablo Picasso when he was 79 years old. “I’m much more curious about those I haven’t done yet.” I realize it might be controversial for me to suggest that you adopt a similar perspective, Cancerian. After all, you are renowned for being a connoisseur of old stories and past glories. One of your specialties is to keep memories alive and vibrant by feeding them with your generous love. To be clear, I don’t mean that you should apologize for or repress those aptitudes. But for now—say, the next three weeks— I invite you to turn your attention toward the exciting things you haven’t done yet. you sleep with a special someone whose dreams you’d like to blend with yours. And when I say “sleep with,” I mean it literally: It’s not a euphemism for “having sex with.” To be clear: Making love with this person is fine if that’s what you both want. But my main point is that you will draw unexpected benefits from lying next to this companion as you both wander through dream time. Being in your altered states together will give you inspiration you can’t get any other way. You won’t be sharing information on a conscious level, but that’s exactly the purpose: to be transformed together by what’s flowing back and forth between your deeper minds. For extra credit, collaborate on incubating a dream. Read this: http://tinyurl.com/dreamincubation.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In my

For the itch you are experiencing, neither chamomile nor aloe vera will bring you relief. Nor would over-the-counter medications like calamine lotion. No, Sagittarius. Your itch isn’t caused by something as tangible as a rash or hives, and can’t be soothed by any obvious healing agent. It is, shall we say, more in the realm of a soul itch—a prickly tickle that is hard to diagnose, let alone treat. I’m guessing that there may be just one effective cure: Become as still and quiet and empty as you possibly can, and then invite your future self to scratch it for you. world is awash in bright, shiny nonsense. Every day we wade through a glare of misinformation and lazy delusions and irrelevant data. It can be hard to locate the few specific insights and ideas that are actually useful and stimulating. That’s the bad news, Capricorn. Here’s the good news: You now have an enhanced ability to ferret out nuggets of data that can actually empower you. You are a magnet for the invigorating truths you really need most.

At what age did you get really tall?

I don’t think I really got tall until maybe the middle of high school. I was tall before then, but that’s when I really started paying attention to it.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The

Did you play basketball in high school?

I was a wrestler. I followed my brothers into wrestling; and I liked wrestling. I never played basketball until a church league after high school. enjoyed myself. And I got invited to an ice-cream social the next night, and it just kind of took off from there. At that ice-cream social, the vice president was very nice and sat down next to me, and we eventually got married. We met at the Tall Club. That doesn’t happen very often, [though]. club, I’m not sure who the tallest woman would be; maybe about 6’5” [or] 6’6”.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “My old

Advantages and disadvantages of being tall?

Well, advantages are, of course, being above the others, [but] you’re always looked at a little bit differently when you’re tall. I spent a couple weeks in Bogotá, Colombia, about 40 years ago, and everybody else was pretty [short], and so you’re kind of an oddity down there. I obviously enjoy being tall; it’s got nice advantages that other people don’t get.

Is there a personality trait that’s linked to being tall?

I don’t think so. I mean, we’re just normal people. Without the height, we’re just normal people, and there’s nothing really different about us. In the club, that’s really the only common trait we have: We’re all tall.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): If you

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I recommend that

come up with an original invention, apply for a patent immediately. If you think of a bright idea, put it to work as soon as possible. If you figure out crucial clues that everyone else seems blind to, dispel the general ignorance as quickly as you can. This is a perfect moment for radical pragmatism carried out with expeditious savvy. It’s not a time when you should naively hope for the best with dreamy nonchalance. For the sake of your mental health and for the good of your extended family, be crisp, direct and forceful.

Did she rope you into being the publicist?

That [happened a] long [time] beyond that. We [were] involved in the Tall Club for a number of years. We got married, went and had kids, kind of dropped out of the club for a few years, and about seven or eight years ago, we finally got back into it again. I took over as vice president, and I was president of the club for a few years. And after president, I went back down to publicity.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In the 1997

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “One chord is

film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, the lead character announces that “‘Danger’ is my middle name.” Ever since, real people in the U.K. have been legally making “Danger” their middle name with surprising regularity. I think it would be smart fun for you Pisceans to add an innovative element to your identity in the coming days, maybe even a new middle name. But I recommend that you go in a different direction than “Danger.” A more suitable name might be “Changer” to indicate you’re ready to eagerly embrace change. Or how about “Ranger” to express a heightened desire to rove and gallivant?

Are you envious of short people in certain situations?

Yes, there are certain conditions when, yeah, you wish your legs weren’t quite as long, so they could fit in the seat. Not every place is built for tall people. Not every airplane I get in has enough headroom and legroom and all that stuff. I got on a plane not too long ago, [and] I couldn’t stand up straight.

Is it strictly a networking club? Do you do any advocacy work to lobby car manufacturers or anything?

Tall Clubs International has [endorsed] California king beds and also tilt steering. A number of us went to Chicago a few weeks ago, [and] some people on the national level were able to work out a deal with Ford Motor Company. And they brought out one of their vehicles, the Transit Connect—which is already like a service vehicle—a small van they’re trying to convert into more of a passenger vehicle. They had a lot of us sit in it, and it had a lot of legroom and headroom. One of the ways they’re marketing this vehicle is for the vertically gifted, so they took a lot of pictures of us, and the international organization is actually endorsing the vehicle. We had our 7’4” guy in there checking out the legroom and stuff. It was actually quite roomy. Ω

If someone has a spouse that’s under the height cutoff for the club—6’2” for men and 5’10” for women—can they bring them to a meeting?

Yeah, we have a few—what’s the term— “associate” members. So we don’t look down on them too much.

fine,” said rock musician Lou Reed about his no-frills approach to writing songs. “Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you’re into jazz.” I recommend his perspective to you in the coming weeks, Virgo. Your detail-oriented appreciation of life’s complexity is one of your finest qualities, but every once in a while—like now—you can thrive by stripping down to the basics. This will be especially true about your approach to intimate relationships. For the time being, just assume that cultivating simplicity will generate the blessings you need most.

When did you get involved in the Sacramento Tall Club?

I’m not sure exactly when I found out about it. I think I’d heard it mentioned a few times, and they sent me out a newsletter. [The club does] a lot of TGIFs—a lot of Friday after-work get-togethers, and I went to one of those, and I really

You can call Rob Brezsny for your Expanded Weekly Horoscope: (900) 950-7700. $1.99 per minute. Must be 18+. Touchtone phone required. Customer service (612) 373-9785. And don’t forget to check out Rob’s website at www.realastrology.com.

Who’s the tallest person in the club?

I think we have a 6’8” guy in our club. In the national [level], I know we have a 7’4” gentleman out of Milwaukee, and a 6’10” woman out of Phoenix. As for the local

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Meanwhile in the Capital City...

by Mike Blount

Wizard World brings Comic Con to Sacramento elcome to the first ever Wizard World Sacramento Comic Con at the Sacramento Convention Center. Inside this guide, you’ll find show highlights, a schedule for photo opportunities with celebrities and a map of the convention floor. Over the next three days, you’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with the biggest names in pop culture — from legendary comic book artists, to movie and TV superstars, to cutting-edge cosplay artists and more. Wizard World CEO John Macaluso says his company is excited about expanding to new cities like Sacramento, and he looks forward to a great show in the Capital City. “We bring a great celebrity list and we’re packed with vendors,” Macaluso says. “We thought the city of Sacramento could use a show like ours and the attention and time the Convention Center and Visitor’s Bureau put into us — they were fantastic to work with. And we’re a California-based company, so why not do a show in California?” Macaluso adds that Wizard World plans to expand into even more cities and markets, including a digital channel with partner Cinedigm launching in August. But for the Sacramento show, he hopes this year’s lineup draws many fans in and around Sacramento, with celebrities such as Norman Reedus, William Shatner, Chris Hemsworth and Stan Lee attending the show. “We work very, very hard to bring great talent every year,” Macaluso says. “When you have a show like The Walking Dead, which goes to roughly 20 million viewers in five years, people want to meet those actors and actresses. We try to make that possible and we work hard to make sure our attendees have a no really good experience.” sa n tio b er yS en eL u

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ver since he began drawing cadavers in art school, Arthur Suydam has made a living out of the dead. Best known for his work in the celebrated comic series Marvel Zombies, the classically trained artist has won numerous awards and accolades in the industry since he burst on the scene in 1972. But while he appreciates the recognition from his peers, Suydam says he mostly looks forward to hearing feedback from his fans. “For me, the best part of comic conventions is the fans,” he says. “They are the barometer from which one can measure one’s own work and success, and my joy comes from coming to these shows to meet the fans and find out what they like and don’t like.” Suydam says he is especially looking forward to Sacramento Comic Con because he doesn’t get a chance to make it out to the West Coast very often. “I have a show every weekend all over the world, but for some reason, we never make it out to California,” Suydam says. “I’m really looking forward to meeting fans in Sacramento.”

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Photo Ops Want to get your picture taken with your favorite celebrities? Get ready, because Sacramento Comic Con is offering several photo opportunities over the weekend. Photos are taken by professional photographers to give you the best quality image from the show. Photo ops are cash only and are not included in admission to the show. Up to two fans can pose per shot, and additional prints will cost you $15 each. JPEGs are also available for $15, and you can purchase both a print and a JPEG for $25. Prices and times for each celebrity are listed below. Don’t miss your chance to take home a unique photo keepsake from the show.

Fri. March 7 3:40 p.m. Ralph Macchio $50 Sean Patrick Flannery $40 4 p.m. Bruce Campbell $50 James Hong $35 4:30 p.m. Sheamus $45 4:40 p.m. James Marsters $65 5 p.m. Michael Rosenbaum $50 5:20 p.m. Jason David Frank $45 5:30 p.m Urijah Faber $40 5:40 p.m Julie Benz $50 6 p.m William Shatner $80 6:15 p.m Michael Rooker $55 6:45 p.m Jon Bernthal $55 7:15 p.m Billy Dee Williams $50 Sat. March 8 11 a.m. James Hong $35 11:10 a.m. William Shatner $80 11:30 a.m. James Marsters $65 Noon Bruce Campbell $50 Sara Underwood $50 12:30 p.m. David Della Rocco $35 Sean Patrick Flannery $40 1 p.m. Jon Bernthal $55 1:30 p.m. Billy Dee Williams $50 Michael Rosenbaum $50 2 p.m. Michael Rooker $55 Stan Lee $100 2:30 p.m. Ralph Macchio $50 3 p.m. Jason David Frank (wearing Green Power Ranger suit) $55 Julie Benz $50 4 p.m. Boondock Saints (Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flannery and Julie Benz) $120 4:20 p.m. Boondock Saints (Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flannery) $100 Boondock Saints (Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flannery and David Della Rocco) $110 4:50 p.m. Norman Reedus $75 The Walking Dead (Norman Reedus and Michael Rooker) $110 The Walking Dead (Norman Reedus, Michael Rooker and Jon Bernthal) $145 12:20 p.m. Jon Bernthal $55 12:40 p.m. Chris Hemsworth $150 12:50 p.m. Billy Dee Williams $50 1:15 p.m. James Marsters $65 1:30 p.m. The Avengers (Chris Hemsworth and Stan Lee) $250 2 p.m. Julie Benz $50 2:30 p.m. Boondock Saints (Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flannery and Julie Benz) $120 2:50 p.m. Boondock Saints (Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flannery) $100 Boondock Saints (Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flannery and David Della Rocco) $110 3 p.m. Jason David Frank (wearing White Power Ranger suit) $55 3:10 p.m. Norman Reedus $75

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*SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Sun. March 9 10:30 a.m. James Hong $35 10:45 a.m. Ralph Macchio $50 Stan Lee $100 11 a.m. Michael Rosenbaum $50 11:20 a.m. David Della Rocco $35 Sean Patrick Flannery $40 11:50 a.m. Laurie Holden $55 Noon Chris Hemsworth (VIP only)

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also played other iconic roles, including district attorney Harvey Dent in Tim Burton’s Batman. Billy will talk about his experience on the movies he’s worked on, his love of painting and more. One on One with Jason David Frank 1:15-1:45 p.m., Big Bang Ballroom

throughout his career. Don’t miss your chance to pick his brain and have him answer your questions. Wizard World Costume Contest 7-9 p.m., Big Bang Ballroom

Come see the latest and greatest in independent film as filmmakers all over the world compete for prizes, including exclusive VIP sessions and photo ops with celebrities. Films will be screened both Friday and Saturday. Costumes + Playing = Cosplay! So What does that actually mean?

5:45-6:30 p.m., Big Bang Ballroom

As the original green Mighty Morphin Power Ranger, Jason David Frank introduced a whole generation of kids to the extremely popular live action children’s show. Jason will share stories from his time on Power Rangers, as well as talk about his role on the upcoming reality show, My Morphin Life. Wizard World Film Festival

Think you got what it takes to be crowned the best costume at Sacramento Comic Con? Cosplayer Eric “Smoke” Moran, the Sacramento News & Review and a panel of judges will weigh in on the most creative and interesting costumes. Wizard World Official Masquerade Party 10 p.m.-close District 30, 1022 K St.

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Listen to top-notch cosplayers, including Ivy Doomkitty and others, as they join the stage with Wizard World’s Damien Beurer to explain everything about cosplaying, including creating costumes, dressing up as their favorite characters, wardrobe malfunctions and more. The panel will share photos and take questions from the audience. Untold Stories from the Early Days of Game Development 6-6:45 p.m., Room 104

2-5 p.m., Big Sur Room on the 2nd floor of the Hyatt Hotel

Grab a mask and join Wizard World for a night of dancing and fun.

Join Wizard for day two of the independent film festival, where filmmakers all over the world compete for prizes, including exclusive VIP sessions and photo ops with celebrities. Films will be screened both Friday and Saturday. The Art of Animation Production with Animator/Director Tom Cook 3-3:45 p.m., Room 103

Sunday, March 9 One on One with Ralph Macchio 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Big Bang Ballroom

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Warren Davis, the designer and programmer of Q*Bert, shares his story of working in the video game industry during the heyday of the 1980s and early 1990s. Hear candid and amusing behind-the-scenes stories about the development of some classic — and not-so-classic — video games. WWE Superstar Sheamus

World-renown animator and director Tom Cook (Tarzan, Flash Gordon, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe) will demonstrate the steps he took to bring an idea from script to screen. He will also share his personal story of how he became an animator. One on One with Stan Lee

For more than 30 years, Ralph Macchio has been entertaining audiences in memorable roles, including Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid series, Billy Gambini in My Cousin Vinny and Eugene Martone in Crossroads. Sit back and hear Ralph tell tales from his time working on these movies, as well as a taste of what’s upcoming. One on One with James Hong 12:30-1 p.m., Big Bang Ballroom

6:45-7:30 p.m., Big Bang Ballroom

Wrestling phenomenon Sheamus shares his story — from his humble beginnings in Dublin, Ireland to becoming one of the most recognized faces in professional wrestling. Moderated by Mo Lightning.

3-3:45 p.m., Big Bang Ballroom

Saturday, March 8 Stan Lee Meet and Greet (PAID EVENT) 10:30-11:15 a.m., Room 201

If you’ve ever wanted to hang out with Marvel Comic legend Stan “The Man” Lee, this is your chance! Learn how he got his break in the industry and hear what inspired him to co-create such memorable characters as the Hulk, Spider-Man and the X-Men. If you have a question, Stan has got an answer. One on One with Julie Benz

Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee shares the amazing story of how he became cocreator on some of the most memorable characters in comic book history. At 91 years old, Stan is still going strong with his company Pow! Entertainment and projects such as Stan Lee’s Mighty 7. Stan will also answer questions from the audience. Don’t miss this once-in-alifetime opportunity! TV and Film Production in Sacramento 4-4:45 p.m., Room 103

James Hong has starred in more than 350 roles in film, television and video games. But most will probably recognize him from his role as Lo Pan in John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China. He also starred in the hilarious comedy Balls of Fury as Master Wong and was the voice of Mr. Ping in Kung Fu Panda. James will talk about working in the industry and will take questions from the audience. One on Two with the Boondock Saints 1:15-1:45 p.m., Big Bang Ballroom

11-11:30 a.m., Big Bang Ballroom

Come see one of the most versatile actresses in Hollywood, Julie Benz, as she discusses her many memorable roles in TV hits, such as Dexter, Desperate Housewives, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and more. One on One with Michael Rosenbaum 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Big Bang Ballroom

Join Wizard World for an exciting discussion among filmmakers and producers about production and future opportunity for production in the Sacramento area. This panel will be hosted by Brian Jagger, who will be joined by Emmy-Award-winning producer Doug Stanley and YouTube channel sensation Ryan Stanley. One on One with William Shatner 5-5:30 p.m., Big Bang Ballroom

Join the bad boys from The Boondock Saints — Sean Patrick Flannery and David Della Rocco — as they rehash their experiences working on the cult classic. How to Survive a Killer TV Show with John Bernthal 2-2:30 p.m., Big Bang Ballroom

Michael Rosenbaum has had a successful career spanning more than 20 films and a lead role as Lex Luthor on the hit TV show Smallville. But now he’s looking to change up the industry as the head of a production firm. Learn what makes him tick at this exciting Q & A. One on One with Billy Dee Williams 12:30-1 p.m., Big Bang Ballroom

Come see the one and only William Shatner as he dishes on some of the most iconic roles he’s played during his amazing career spanning five decades — from his groundbreaking role as Captain James T. Kirk on the original television series Star Trek to his recent stint as the spokesperson for Priceline.com. Bruce Campbell Versus the Audience 5:45-6:30 p.m., Big Bang Ballroom

While he didn’t survive the zombie apocalypse on the hit TV series The Walking Dead, Jon Bernthal has been keeping busy with new projects. Hear John talk about his role as Shane on the show, as well as his recent work in The Wolf of Wall Street and Mob City. If you’ve got a question, Jon will do his best to answer it. One on One with Chris Hemsworth 4-4:45 p.m., Big Bang Ballroom

While most know Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian from Star Wars, he’s

From his work on the cult classics Army of Darkness and Evil Dead, to his role as Sam Axe on the hit television series Burn Notice, Bruce Campbell talks about his role as an actor, director and author

Join one of the biggest names in Hollywood, Chris Hemsworth, as he discusses his experience becoming the mythological character Thor on film. Chris will also talk about his roles in Snow White and the Huntsman, Rush and Heart of the Sea. Don’t miss your chance to see Chris up close and personal.

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March 7-9, 2014 Sacramento Comic Con

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illy Dee Williams brought his natural charm to Star Wars, making Lando Calrissian one of the most celebrated characters in the sci-fi universe. Recently, he did voice work for a cameo in The Lego Movie and guest starred in an episode of Modern Family. But Williams has also been staying busy by attending conventions like Sacramento Comic Con to meet his fans. “I’ve been going to conventions for 15 to 20 years now, and it’s just been wonderful,” Williams says. “You get a chance to see all the creativity that people display in their costumes and there are Q & As where I get questions from fans. It’s always a lot of fun.” Williams says he knew working on Star Wars was something special, but he had no

idea the role would continue to earn him new fans year after year. “It’s a phenomenon,” Williams says. “You don’t really envision this kind of experience. But certainly in your mind — when you’re hired to work with some extraordinary people like George Lucas and Irvin Kershner — you know it’s going to be good.” Williams says he can’t wait to meet the fans in Sacramento who have offered him support over the years. “I just want them to come out and say, ‘Hello.’ I’m looking forward to meeting them.”

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d Watching Dead tching Dea Wa Michael Rooker enters the no-spoiler zone

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ichael Rooker has spent his time postThe Walking Dead turning into one of us: a fan. But if you think three seasons as despicable zombie-apocalypse survivor Merle Dixon on AMC’s hit drama entitles him to a little spoiler here and there, think again. “They won’t tell me! Producers won’t tell me — it’s like, ‘When Rooker calls, don’t tell him anything,’” he says. “Now I’m just as much in the dark as the regular fans.” While Rooker is enjoying season four (note for Michonne — enough of the crying, get back to bad-assery), his time apart from the show has allowed him to hit the Comic Con circuit. Rooker enjoys meeting fans that have followed him since his roles in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, JFK, Cliffhanger and Mallrats. But The Walking Dead has brought a zombie-like horde of new fans. “The fandom — it’s crazy, it’s just crazy,” he says. “You almost feel like you’re some sort of bizarre politician. You’re hugging and kissing babies, you’re shaking hands and smiling all day long.”

He’s looking forward to meeting Sacramento fans Friday and Saturday during Comic Con and possibly stepping off the convention floor to grab a bite. “I’m a big believer in tasting all the cuisine I can possibly taste on the weekend,” he says. Fans will get to see Rooker enter another comic book realm when he stars as Yondu

“I’ve d seaso one three Dead ns on The W a to kee nd I know alking p a se h Mich ael cret.” ow Roo ker in the upcoming movie Guardians of the Galaxy. Fans of the Marvel Universe are already wondering how filmmakers will weave elements from the original 1969 Guardians with the 2008 series. So, of course, they’re nudging Rooker for answers. “You know what, there are no spoilers. You’re gonna get it when you get it, baby!” he taunts. “I’ve done three seasons on The Walking Dead and I know how to keep a secret.”

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Playing with

Confidence P rofessional cosplayer Ivy Doomkitty remembers feeling extremely nervous the first time she wore a costume in front of people. Although it was “nerve-racking,” it was a lifechanging moment for her. “I always thought about doing cosplay because it looked like so much fun, but I chose not to because I was afraid of being made fun of or being called names or picked on,” Doomkitty says. “That happened for several conventions until a Marvel comic book artist named Frank Cho asked me to model in costume for one of his panels. He was one of my favorite artists and if somebody gives you an opportunity like that, you take it.” Soon after, Doomkitty started making her own costumes and wearing them to conventions all over, including the one she got her namesake from — Dr. Doom + kitty = Doomkitty. Now, she’s inspiring others to find a creative outlet through cosplay. “When fans come up to me and say, ‘I was afraid of cosplaying and I didn’t want to do it until I saw you,’ or ‘You make me feel good about myself,’ it’s incredibly humbling and I enjoy hearing it.” Look for Doomkitty as a judge at the cosplay contest for Sacramento Comic Con.

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or some, cosplaying as their favorite sci-fi or anime characters is something they do just for fun. But for members of the 501st and Rebel Legions, it’s much more than that. Ever since Episode IV: A New Hope was released in theaters in 1977, the Star Wars franchise has spawned countless fans who identify with the characters — so much that they create elaborate costumes to dress up as their favorites, including Chewbacca and Darth Vader. According to Daniel Delacruz, building a good stormtrooper costume is really a labor of love. But Delacruz chose

the stormtrooper because they are one of the most iconic characters from the movies. “Everyone knows what a stormtrooper looks like,” Delacruz says. “People that aren’t that familiar with the movies still recognize the costume.” Cosplayers like those in the Rebel Legion and 501st Legion use that recognition to volunteer at events to promote awareness for special causes, raise money for charities and interact with other Star Wars fans. “For me, the best thing about cosplaying is seeing how excited the kids get when they see me,” Lopez says. “Adults get really excited, too. The impact is incredible.” Photos by Serene Lusano

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Vampire Penguin is a penguin that lives in the North Pole. His best friend is a walrus who thinks he is a vamire. This walrus’ name is Walter the Walrus. Walter the Walrus follows Vampire Penguin around all day errday, asking questions about vampire penguinisms and such. Walter really looks up to his best friend.

Anthony Lopez, Daniel Delacruz, Tina Sixt, Jim Cullum and Myke Soler are part of the cosplay groups Rebel Legion and the 501st Legion. Both organizations celebrate the fan culture surrounding the Star Wars movies, while also giving back to the Sacramento community.

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Follow Vampire Penguin’s story: Facebook.com/VampirePenguin916

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