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PAGE by janelle bitker E R V IE W S N& R IN T y s t e n t c it ho m e le s ? b a c kya r d in yo u r Sacramento’S newS & entertainment weekly

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MARCH 3, 2016 | Vol. 27, iSSuE 46

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25 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 Writer Raheem F. Hosseini Arts & Culture Editor Janelle Bitker Assistant Editor Anthony Siino Editorial Coordinator Becca Costello Editor-at-large Melinda Welsh Contributors Daniel Barnes, Ngaio Bealum, Alastair Bland, Rob Brezsny, Jim Carnes, Deena Drewis, Joey Garcia, Cosmo Garvin, Blake Gillespie, Lovelle Harris, Jeff Hudson, Jim Lane, Garrett McCord, Kel Munger, Kate Paloy, Patti Roberts, Ann Martin Rolke, Shoka, Graham Womack Editorial Intern Kris Hooks

32 Design Manager Lindsay Trop Art Director Brian Breneman Production Coordinator Skyler Smith Designer Kyle Shine Marketing/Publications Design Manager Serene Lusano Marketing/Publications Designer Sarah Hansel Contributing Photographers Lisa Baetz, Kevin Cortopassi, Wes Davis, Evan Duran, Luke Fitz, Jon Hermison, Shoka, Darin Smith Director of Sales and Advertising Corey Gerhard Sales Coordinator Anne Lesemann Senior Advertising Consultants Rosemarie Messina, Olla Swanson, Joy Webber, Kelsi White Advertising Consultants Meghan Bingen, Angel De La O, Stephanie Johnson, Lee Roberts Sales Assistant Matt Kjar Director of First Impressions David Lindsay Distribution Director Greg Erwin Distribution Services Assistant Larry Schubert Distribution Drivers Mansour Aghdam, Daniel Bowen, Heather Brinkley, Mike Cleary, Jack Clifford, Lydia Comer, John Cunningham, Lob Dunnica, Chris Fong, Ron Forsberg, Garry Foster, Joanna Gonzalez-Brown, Greg Meyers, Kenneth Powell, Gilbert Quilatan, Lloyd Rongley,

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59 Lolu Sholotan, Jonathan Taea N&R Publications Editor Michelle Carl N&R Publications Managing Editor Shannon Springmeyer N&R Publications Writers Kate Gonzales, Anne Stokes Senior N&R Publications Consultant Dave Nettles N&R Publications Consultants Elena Ruiz, Julie Sherry President/CEO Jeff VonKaenel Director of Nuts & Bolts Deborah Redmond Human Resources Manager Melanie Topp Marketing/Promotions/Facilities Manager Will Niespodzinski Executive Coordinator Jessica Takehara Business Manager Nicole Jackson Payroll/AP Wizard Miranda Dargitz Accounts Receivable Specialist Kortnee Angel Sweetdeals Coordinator Courtney DeShields Nuts & Bolts Ninja Christina Wukmir Senior Support Tech Joe Kakacek Developer John Bisignano System Support Specialist Kalin Jenkins 1124 Del Paso Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95815 Phone (916) 498-1234 Fax (916) 498-7910 Website www.newsreview.com

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Have a rest I worried this past Monday night inside City Hall would be another explosive meeting between electeds and Right to Rest homeless activists.

It wasn’t. In fact, it was productive.

The council members on the city’s special homelessness subcommittee, led by Jay Schenirer, invited stakeholders to speak. They knew many would chastise them. And people did.

Sister Libby Fernandez of Loaves & Fishes demanded that the city repeal its “anti-camping ordinance.” Not every day a nun reprimands you for bogus policy. But props to Schenirer and the two other council members, Jeff Harris and Steve Hansen, for taking it and listening. (Read my story on this on page 8.)

The behavior inside council chambers on Monday was a welcome change from what’s happened in recent weeks out front of City Hall. I’ve seen protesters insult cops’ mothers.

I’ve seen a cop smack a video camera held by an activist. And I saw video of a man nicknamed “Que”: Lawyers called police tactics during his arrest an “Eric Garner choke hold” (read page Raheem F. Hosseini’s essay on page 10 for more on this incident).

That statement’s an insult to Garner and his family—it wasn’t a choke hold—but the arrest wasn’t necessary, either.

There was a fragile peace between cops and protesters when the Right to Rest occupation began at City Hall in early December. It’s now decayed.

Before something awful happens: Put a moratorium on enforcement of the anti-camping ordinance. Have the protesters agree to leave City Hall.

Let the cops do their jobs instead of monitoring and arresting activists.

Give city staff time to analyze anticamping ordinance data.

Let’s have a rest. Please.

—nick millEr nic k a m@ ne wsr e v ie w.c o m

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“Hillary is very poWerful. it is close.”

asked outside Barnes & noBle on arden Way:

Who should be elected president in 2016?

Jamam Williams

kile y pierce

student

Bernie Sanders is a strong individual. Specifically, I like the idea of free college because it is good for us. A lot of students are not able to get the education they need because of the cost.

These are people who are very intelligent and could help [our country] in so many ways.

student

Bernie Sanders, because I like his pro-environmental status. I like that he is a democratic socialist. I like his campaign strategy. He is cool. I don’t know if he can beat Hillary. I think Hillary is very powerful. It is close.

I am not a huge activist, to be honest, but I do talk to my friends about it.

irene r amire z

rox anne Borchard

retired

emitai Bishop

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Hillary Clinton. I think she will help the people that need help, like people with Medicare. She will push for women to get fair pay.

I think most importantly, I don’t want the Obamacare taken away. I feel that with the Republicans, the care would be taken away.

office assistant

Bernie Sanders. Hopefully, he will lower the taxes. My husband and I have been paying a lot in taxes lately.

I know he has addressed that issue. The only other one is Donald Trump. I just like the way he is going to try to get illegal people out of the country. We are paying too much for illegal aliens.

I would vote for Bernie Sanders. I want to say he is almost like Obama, in that he has the same mindset.

I really don’t like Donald Trump and I don’t want him.

It’s the things he says about keeping the immigrants out.

I just don’t like what he says; I think he is a racist.

Brianna nikdell student

Bernie Sanders. I support his platforms. I think he is in tune to the general public and what is best for them, whether it is students, low-income or anyone who is trying to get by. I know that is not the 1 percent, but I support that. It is kind of refreshing to have someone who is for me.

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What’s wrong with Hillary Re “Bernie for president?” by Jeff vonKaenel (SN&R Greenlight, February 25): What is wrong with Hillary Clinton? She earns $11 million in speaking fees to banks and other industry groups, then refuses to release transcripts of those speeches. She accepted $675,000 for speeches at Goldman Sachs. Don’t we, the voters, have a right to know what was said? I think we do. Clinton has a long history of Nixonian-style secrecy, including her work on health care during her husband’s presidency, her emails on a personal server while secretary of state and her richly rewarded public speaking. We need more transparency from Hillary Clinton.

Christine hansen s a c ra m e nt o

No brains Re “Civil exodus” by Graham Womack (SN&R News, February 25): You first have to notice a brain exists before it can

be characterized as a “brain drain.” The transit system has been allowed to deteriorate and limp along dwelling in fixed mediocrity. Regional Transit head Mike Wiley did nothing to improve the utter contempt

his agency had for bike-friendly projects, always very slow to respond to changes that city officials had worked hard to implement in allowing bicycles greater mobility and access to direct commuting routes. As for City Manager John Shirey, his troubling background is well-documented with many redevelopment projects that went over budget and failed to fully comply with original agreements. These agencies left a legacy of huge debt to many cities in California.

Henry Garciga Sacramento

Hillary’s crumbs?

No thanks.

Re “Bernie for president”

by Jeff vonKaenel (SN&R Greenlight, February 25): In his not-unexpected endorsement of Hillary Clinton, SN&R’s publisher Jeff vonKaenel said the difference

between Hillary and Bernie Sanders is that Hillary gets things done. … But what has Bernie accomplished? He got Hillary to change almost her entire platform and take his issues and words as her own for the primary campaign. Berners know that it will be difficult for Sanders to get his proposals passed with the current makeup of the congress, including all the Hillary Democrats. That is why we will focus on replacing as many of them as we can next November and in 2018.

How low have our aspirations sunk that we should accept our serfdom and be grateful for the crumbs the ruling class may let millionaire Hillary throw at us? We need a better America. The world needs a better America. We will never get it so long as we keep settling for the crumby candidates the ruling class throws at us.

Jan Bergeron Sacramento

Bernie beats the GOP Re “Bernie for president”

by Jeff vonKaenel (SN&R Greenlight, February 25): Jeff vonKaenel states that Mr. Sanders’ nomination would likely result in a Republican president. All polls indicate that that statement is, again, false. All polls indicate Sanders by a landslide. All it takes is for people to vote.

And to vote out the do-nothing Congress for a Congress that works, like we do.

Janna Welk Sacramento

@SacNewsReview

Facebook.com/ SacNewsReview

@SacNewsReview

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Sac State lecturer Nicki Mehta (left) is threatening to go on strike because faculty have not had a proper raise in nearly eight years.

PHOTO BY EVAN E. DURAN

Stingers, strike!

Faculty threatening Sac State work stoppage say pay raise is long overdue and will improve graduation rates

by Kris HooKs

There’s an office on the first floor of Sacramento State’s Brighton Hall, a tiny room where stacks of fliers and papers atop a large table and desk almost climb to the ceiling. It’s a modest little space, yet it houses the California Faculty Association, a powerful group with big plans for an imminent and major strike against the university system that employs them.

The CFA, a union that represents more than 26,000 California State 6 | SN&R | 03.03.16

University faculty—including about 1,600 at Sac State—has been in a “wage war” of sorts with the administration in recent years.

Administrators say the pay they’ve offered is sufficient. But the CFA claims that their wages never recovered from belttightening during the recession.

Nicki Mehta, a Sac State lecturer and co-chairperson of the CFA’s strike committee, told SN&R that “there’s not been a proper wage increase in nearly eight years.”

k r ish @ ne wsr e v ie w.c o m

The Sac State administration and CSU chancellors would rather spend money on boosting dismal graduation rates, which are a huge problem. A recent budget summary by Gov. Jerry Brown’s office revealed that fewer than 20 percent of full-time CSU freshmen graduate in four years, compared to the 34 percent national average of public universities.

At Sac State, the number of students graduating in four years is 9 percent, the third lowest in the CSU system.

Meanwhile, professors and the CFA claim that part of the reason graduation rates are so bad is because the administration has not invested in teaching.

Without better pay and commitment to full-time faculty, they argue that the four-year grad rates will stay as low as 20 percent.

graduaTion-raTe debaTe The faculty union has received basic increases that kept up with inflation during contract negotiations in recent years. But now, they’re asking for an actual raise, 5 percent.

Professors point out that their meager salary hikes are in stark contrast to wage bumps for CSU administrators. During the past two years, for instance, 30 of the CSU’s top executives received two pay increases, totaling 5 percent, which

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brings their average yearly salaries to more than $300,000—this compared to the $45,000 average for faculty.

Another issue for the faculty union is that the CSU system turned to hiring more part-time faculty to help cut costs.

They did this to combat a struggling economy that made school funding unpredictable during the recession. But it’s a trend that CSU’s Assistant Vice Chancellor of Public Affairs Laurie Weidner says continues today because it allows “budgetary flexibility.”

Of the more than 47,000 faculty in the CSU system, 54 percent are considered part-time, which is the same percentage at Sac State.

“There isn’t a direct correlation between student outcome and salary,” Weidner said.

To prove that the CSU cares about and wants to invest in improving grad rates, Chancellor Timothy White recently announced the “Graduation Initiative 2025.” One of its goals is to up graduation rates to 24 percent over the next 10 years. The plan, however, isn’t ambitious enough, according to the governor.

CSU administrators also say that low graduation rates misrepresent student success rates. They pointed out that while the number of four-year graduates in the system is grim, the five-year and six-year rates aren’t so bad. In fact, the time it takes for a first-time freshman to obtain a degree is a 4.7 years, an alltime low according to the CSU. At Sac State, however, the five-year graduation rate for first-time students is 32 percent, and the six-year rate is 46 percent.

“You want to see your graduation rates go up, but yet you’re not investing the money to do that,” Mehta said.

“They say they want high-quality educators … but they don’t fund the education programs to get that done.”

Since taking over as president of Sac State last year, Robert Nelsen has maintained a focus on improving graduation rates. When Nelsen spoke with SN&R in October 2015, he mentioned that hiring more full-time faculty, instead of parttime, would enable student success. (Read the interview—“State of Sac State” by Jeff vonKaenel, SN&R News, November 5, 2015—at http://bit.ly/216UYyq.) Nelsen also recently hired Jim Dragna, a “graduation czar” formerly of the University of Canterbury in

New Zealand. “What you want from a graduation czar is someone who is both student-centered and data-driven. Jim Dragna is that person,” Nelsen said in a statement regarding the hiring.

But, according to Mehta, the university needs to spend less on facilities and allocate more of what she says are sufficient budget dollars into the classrooms.

“If they had a staffing priority and a priority of faculty, then we would see this come to fruition,” Mehta said.

a saC sTaTe shuTdoWn? The CFA’s last salary increase came in 2014, when they signed a three-year contract that allowed a 1.6 percent general raise for all faculty in the first year. But the agreement permitted both sides to reopen negotiations in years two and three of the contract—this year being the second. The CFA has asked for a 5 percent increase in salary for several years, which they say will help get them out of the recessioninduced pay slump.

But in addition to asking for 5 percent in general salary, the CFA also wants a 1.2 percent salaryrecovery adjustment.

Weidner says the difference between their ask and the administration’s is $69 million. She explained that, if you count the more than $40 million from the “me too” clause included in other employee groups’ agreements—this allows professors to get the same raise as other CSU faculty unions—the union’s proposal would cost the system $143 million, money that the CSU says would have to be cut from other operating expenses.

The CSU says its offer of 2 percent— a pay increase valued at $33 million—is more than fair.

But according to “Race to the Bottom”—a series of four research

papers released by the CFA last spring that examined, among other things, faculty salaries over the last decade— the union says the system has more than enough budget to meet their demands.

A strike in April won’t necessarily mean that the campus closes. Nelsen released a statement saying that, “The strike should not interfere with students being able to complete their courses and graduate on time,” and that Sac State would remain open in case of a work stoppage.

Both sides recently presented their arguments to a neutral third-party during arbitration hearings and now await a report from that group. If the CSU and CFA don’t come to terms following its release, expected sometime this month, the faculty association will strike April 13-15, and 18 and 19. “[The CFA] board of directors authorized a strike based on an over 94 percent vote with a wide range of possibilities,” CFA Capital Chapter President and Sac State professor Kevin Wehr said. He says if nothing is resolved after the strike, the board “has authorized an escalation.”

The union has gained significant support from labor allies statewide. Strike sanctions have been decided in every region where a CSU campus is located, which means members of different unions won’t cross picket lines.

Although the faculty association has authorized systemwide strikes in the past, it’s never actually occurred.

However, faculty have previously held a one-day walk-out on two campuses over proposed budget cuts.

And even if both sides were to agree on a 5 percent salary raise and no strike occurs, there is a possibility this could happen again in 2017. Based on the current contract, negotiations for the 2016-2017 school year begin May 1. Ω

At Sac State, the number of students graduating in four years is 9 percent, the third lowest in the CSU system.

Sacramento Regional Transit is exploring the possibility of a new security contractor amid public outcry about the current one’s humanitarian record.

G4S Security Solutions provides RT with approximately 90 security guards for its trains and platforms, at an annual cost of $3 million to $4 million, according to Sacramento Police Capt. Norm Leong, who manages RT security. That’s cheaper than RT expanding its own unionized force, Leong says. The embattled transit agency entered 2016 facing a $3.2 million operating shortfall.

But the global security firm has accrued numerous allegations of violating human rights at its for-profit prisons and migrant detention centers in South Africa, Palestine, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Dozens of groups—including the Democratic Party of Sacramento County and the local chapter of Amnesty International—have petitioned RT to cut ties. The University of California divested itself from G4S following a similar public campaign.

G4S’s contract with RT is up for a one-year renewal in June.

RT guards employed by G4S don’t have the same authority as unionized transit fare inspectors, who can issue citations, or contracted law enforcement personnel, who can make arrests. But they’re the largest and most visible part of RT’s security apparatus.

Leong isn’t eager to change that right now. “As the manager of our security force, I’m reluctant to start fresh with a company when we have so much to do to get ready for our security with an arena coming,” he said. (Graham Womack)

Jail TheraPy Five months in, Sacramento County is doubling down on an experiment in which mentally incompetent criminal defendants receive treatment in jail.

Typically, when someone facing felony charges is deemed mentally unfit to stand trial, that person is placed on a waiting list to receive treatment aimed at restoring their competency at a state hospital. This past summer, the county entered into a new arrangement with the California Department of State Hospitals and University of California to provide those services in-house—or in-jail, as it were.

On February 23, county supervisors agreed to expand the program from 16 beds to 32 beds. The state requested the expansion, which could see inmates brought in from outside counties, and has agreed to pay for it at a slightly reduced per diem rate. The sheriff’s department can get a maximum of $2.9 million under the amended contract, which runs through June. (Raheem F. Hosseini)

seeking a Windfall It will cost approximately $150,000 to reopen the region’s

only homeless shelter for unaccompanied adolescents, its operator announced last week.

Wind Youth Services unexpectedly suspended operations at its shelter on February 19, after running an annual deficit for two years. During that period, the six-bed shelter hosted nearly 200 youth between the ages of 12 and 18, Wind said in a release.

Goodwill Sacramento Valley & Northern Nevada pledged the first $10,000. donations can be submitted online at www.windyouth.org/donate. (RFH)

03.03.16 | SN&R | 7

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03.03.16

Camp homeless Is a tent city coming to your neighborhood?

by Nick Miller

nic k a m@ ne wsr e v ie w.c o m

estimated that it would cost $120,000 to operate For the first time ever, city leaders appear a safe-ground encampment for 100 people for an more than serious about sanctioning encampments entire year. for homeless Sacramentans.

The city estimates that it spends about A contingent of council members and city officials visited “safe ground” style homeless camps $14 million annually on homelessness. A majority of the homeless services purse strings are held in Seattle this past Friday. And on Monday, at a by the county. special City Hall meeting on homelessness with Enforcement of the city’s anti-camping ordimore than 200 in attendance, stakeholders discussed nance was also a major topic of discussion during the need for “tent city” camps and services such as Monday night’s meeting. Many Right to Rest 24-hour crisis centers for homeless people. protesters occupying City Hall grounds sat in the Councilman Jeff Harris, who last month visited audience and applauded as homeless stakeholders both Seattle and San Francisco to learn more about asked council members to repeal the law. homeless services, said on Monday that he came “We really have to stop arresting people for away impressed by the Emerald City’s camp. camping,” Sister Libby Fernandez of Loaves & “It provided stability, it provided safety. A Fishes told the committee. “It is morally wrong person could actually leave their stuff there and a tremendous cost to people who and know it would be there at the end are homeless.” of the day” while they were at Shahera Hyatt, who spoke work, he observed. on behalf of the Right to The councilman is part Rest protesters, said the of a special homelessness “They look like ragtag anti-camping ordinance committee with fellow tent cities, that’s exactly “actually makes [homelessmembers Jay Schenirer and what they are, an eyesore. ness] worse” by forcing Steve Hansen. They hope homeless people into a to make recommendations But they serve a pretty vital criminal-justice system that to the mayor and larger function.” can’t serve their needs. She council regarding homelessclaimed to know a man who ness policy in mid-April.

Councilman Jeff Harris had been cited 36 times under Harris—whose district the anti-camping ordinance. includes multiple areas uniquely This past Tuesday marked the impacted by homelessness, includ12th week of City Hall’s Right to ing near Loaves & Fishes—said that Rest occupation.

Seattle’s homeless camps are self-governed, Some advocates think a solution might be a residents take on chores and elect leaders, and even 24-hour “triage center” for homeless people: Instead clean up in the surrounding neighborhood. But he of citing people on the street for illegal camping, also conceded that they aren’t lovely additions to they could be taken to an all-night shelter for sleep the urban tapestry. and case management.

“They look like ragtag tent cities, that’s exactly San Francisco operates a similar crisis shelter, what they are, an eyesore,” he said. “But they serve but it is pricey, according to Sacramento’s a pretty vital function.”

Homeless Services Coordinator Emily Halcon, with Its been more than seven years since Oprah beds costing twice as much to run as a normal shelWinfrey’s TV show converged on Sacramento to ter. Councilman Harris called them “very expensive tell the world about the city’s homelessness crisis. … but really helping a tough-to-serve population.”

Her crew highlighted one of the area’s first unauThe city committee on homelessness will hold thorized tent cities, just north of Midtown. Since, four more nonpublic meetings with stakeholders numerous other illegal encampments have popped before going in front of the full council in April. up, but each has been shut down by local governThey’ve yet to discuss possible sites for any tentments. Last month, SN&R counted nearly five city-style encampments, but rumored locations dozen camp sites on the American River Parkway include Oak Park, north Sacramento, Greenhaven near Northgate Boulevard. and under Highway 50 near Broadway. Ω Attorney and homeless advocate Mark Merin urged council on Monday to declare a homelessshelter crisis and sanction encampments. He was the one who organized last week’s Seattle visit, and

Investors and Black Lives Matter collide in Oak Park storY and photo bY KrIs HooKs

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Inside Oak Park’s Guild Theater this past Saturday, 200 investors, house-flippers, landlords and more gathered for a summit on restoring old neighborhoods. At the same time just outside, dozens of residents protested the event and what they believe it really stood for: gentrification.

Tanya Faison, founder of Sacramento’s Black Lives Matter chapter, said the current gentrification of Oak Park isn’t about revitalizing a decayed neighborhood: It’s just another way to systematically remove those who have lived in the area for decades.

“Nobody cared about Oak Park until people started investing in it,” Faison told SN&R. “And now that more people are moving into the neighborhood, everybody is trying to put all this money into it to make it better.

“But it’s pushing Activists protest oak Park gentrification this people of color out.” past weekend.

And it’s not just the buying and flipping of homes that’s changing the once poverty-stricken Oak Park, but also the emergence of new businesses. From mixed-use developments and a brewery near the Broadway Triangle to the newest addition to the area, Capitol Floats, it’s clear that north Oak Park is in the middle of a resurgence.

But Faison, also an Oak Park resident, questions whom the resurgence is benefiting. “We’re kind of at a stage where gentrification is already happening, so it’s not like we can stop it. But I really think that it’s important going forward that all of the community is involved.”

Al Williamson, producer of this past weekend’s Summit at the Guild event, was adamant that it was not about gentrification of Oak Park. Instead, Williamson said he wanted to put together a business event to show that Oak Park has more to offer than just arts and theater.

He acknowledged the protesters’ legitimate concerns over the event’s theme of “neighborhood revitalization,” but Williamson also said that rebuilding any area is just part of a growing economy.

“It’s like being upset because the leaves are falling,” Williamson explained. “It’s part of a natural cycle.” Ω

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The City Hall protests—and truths and lies—continue

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Myths about homeless people are as plentiful as Kanye West Twitter tirades. As the Right to Rest occupation of City Hall cruises into its third month, SN&R decided to follow up a story from last month and examine more false assumptions about homelessness in general, and about the city of Sacramento’s role in particular.

Enforcing thE anti-caMping ban is a path to sErvicEs It’s unclear whether city officials actually believe this when they say it. But several providers say it’s an indictment of the system that helping homeless people starts with handcuffs. “It’s strange to make that jump, that the only route to services is criminalization,” says Niki Jones of Wind Youth Services.

The city has invested in a dozen navigator positions, people who are tasked with essentially case-working the individuals experiencing homelessness. Jones says it’s a worthy addition to the continuum of care, but downplays its successes. The navigators, she says, “are funneling people” into programs like hers that already have waiting lists.

There are 1,900 people in the community queue, up 10 percent in a month, Jones said, “all theoretically connected to services, yet most are sleeping outside. Getting connected to services does not mean housing.”

The city has responded in a way: It recently stopped funding the navigator assigned to Wind.

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Cops are the messengers of the city’s policies, not its architects. Yes, the “just following orders” explanation is unsatisfying for those who feel like their mere existence draws police scrutiny. Ask Luke “Que” McCrae, who was singled out for arrest on Saturday, February 20, while protesting the city’s camping ban.

The 35-year-old African American man has been previously cited for violating the city’s anti-camping ordinance, and was one of a few individuals who refused police commands to move his belongings from the sidewalk outside of City Hall. But he’s the one they arrested, and it’s led to some exaggerated claims on both sides.

r a h e e mh @ ne wsr e v ie w.c o m

McCrae was booked on four felony counts of battery on a peace officer, according to online jail logs.

The Sacramento Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild is looking into why McCrae was arrested when other protesters were not. The guild and others have also repeated allegations that police “brutalized” McCrae and placed him in a chokehold similar to the one that killed Eric Garner.

But video of the incident doesn’t support the brutality claims any more than it does police’s battery ones. And the hyperbolic discourse threatens to overshadow valid concerns about how the city’s policy is enforced and who it targets.

Opponents of the camping ban only do the city council a huge favor by forgetting who holds the leash.

thE EconoMy has rEboundEd Despite a regional recovery that has pushed unemployment down to prerecession levels, the jobs that came back aren’t as good as those that vanished, according to a recent study by the Sacramento Business Review. “This is not news,” SBR states in its 2016 economic outlook report.

The shift to a job market propped up by unskilled and lower-wage positions has been creeping along for years. Meanwhile, rents have spiked irrespective of this data, up more than 3 percent in the city over the past year, and averaging $1,140 a month, according to Apartment List Rentonomics.

“The rent is rising here dramatically. Still, the people at the bottom haven’t recovered. It hasn’t trickled down,” says Sacramento Homeless Organizing Committee Director Paula Lomazzi, who used to be homeless herself. She laughs.

“That’s another myth.”

“Nobody should work 40 hours a week and not be able to pay their rent. But that happens every day in Sacramento,” Jones adds. Ω A longer version of this essay is available at www.newsreview.com.

Read SN&R’s other features on homelessness myths: Raheem F. Hosseini’s “Camp obvious” (SN&R News, February 4), http://bit.ly/ 1SABmDF; and Nick Miller’s “The real face of homelesness” (SN&R Feature Story, November 15, 2012), http://bit.ly/1QgZYxF.

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Vanilla Ice played halftime at last Friday’s Sacramento Kings game.

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Councilman Steve Hansen did his best to marginalize and discredit the City Hall Right to Rest protesters last week. While visiting Seattle this past Friday, Hansen told The Sacramento Bee’s Ryan Lillis that the protesters were doing “a disservice” to the general homelessness debate. Hold on: If not for the protesters, there would be no debate, city task force or fact-finding mission in Seattle. Scorekeeper says Hansen’s comments are unproductive and unnecessary.

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Scorekeeper is all about bicycling. But a “Bike Share” program in Sacramento, as advocated for by The Sacramento Bee’s Editorial Board last week? We’re not so hot on the concept. Consider: All the unused bikeshare two-wheelers in San Francisco and Washington D.C. on recent visits—and those are cities with prime customers for bike share (e.g., tourists). Sacramento should spend more money on bike-lane paint and racks instead.

Not only is Sacramento native greta gerwig filming her directorial debut, Lady Bird, in Sacramento later this year, she’s also the keynote speaker at the Chamber of Commerce’s Metro EDGE “Emerge Summit” event next month, at the Memorial Auditorium on Friday, March 18.

(Yes, we’re actually condoning attendance at a Metro EDGE event.) Learn more at www.emergeypsummit.com.

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, USHI S american style

How Lou Valente, a white guy from Philadelphia, became one of sacramento’s top sushi chefs by janelle bitker • janelleb @ newsreVIew.com

B

ehind his sushi bar, Lou Valente moves with precision: his choreography a result of more than 20 years of faithful repetition. He dips his fingers into water and claps his hands before grabbing a small mound of rice, nimbly stretching it across a crisp sheet of nori. In a matter of seconds, his creation is rolled and ready for a final garnish of sesame seeds. He reaches for the shaker without looking.

The job is all about mise en place, which sometimes inspires Valente to break out into song. “Mise en place is my friend, mise en place is my friend!” he sings, pretending to conduct his workstation. Everything is arranged just so: thinly sliced scallions, cucumber sticks, lemons, whole avocados, pickled ginger, wasabi and shredded daikon that shines like glass.

Valente is chef and owner of Lou’s Sushi, the beloved Midtown neighborhood restaurant. On a Friday night, the line for a table starts forming at about 5:30 p.m. and doesn’t stop until 9 p.m. Exceedingly humble, charismatic and a little goofy, he’s understandably a popular guy.

His path here was simultaneously classic and unusual. Though he spent years apprenticing for Japanese sushi masters, he’s also a big, gregarious Caucasian dude from Philadelphia. He broke into a culinary world known for strict rules, tradition and cultural purity. Today, this would still be a feat, but in the early ’90s? Valente’s presence was a rarity.

12 | SN&R | 03.03.16

His talent, however, is clear. Order omakase-style, and he’ll unleash an epic, nigiri-filled parade: suzuki with a dab of fiery yuzu kosho, kanpachi kissed with lemon, saba heightened with chili oil. But he thrives with Americanized sushi as well, serving bombastic, saucy rolls with bold textural contrasts. His sense of humor, for example, comes through on the dish Tastes Like Beef, which features seared tuna, wasabi cream and fried onions. It really does, miraculously, taste like beef.

Despite already accomplishing what once seemed like the impossible— succeeding as a Caucasian sushi chef and restaurant owner—he’s still on the perpetual quest to perfect his craft. For now, he’s quite proud of his tamago, the omelette known as one method used to dictate how Japanese chefs judge fellow chefs. Valente’s is rich yet delicate, with eight creamy, barely distinct layers.

“Yeah,” he says, nodding and smiling with his eyes. “Not bad for a white guy, right?”

‘I ’ d n e V e r e V e n H e a r d o f s u s H I b e f o r e ’ Like many chefs, Valente commits to his craft with ink. The tattoo on his right arm spells out “Louis Valente” phonetically in Japanese, but it also symbolizes “pure sushi,” “crazy hands” and “sword.” It seems like he was meant for the trade.

Yet, for the first 20 years of his life, sushi didn’t exist. Valente grew up in Philadelphia, first learning the ways of pasta, cookies and Italian cuisine from his grandmother instead.

“I went to almost every sushI bar I thought I would lIke to work at and I got l aughed out of every sIngle one of them . no one would even consIder me.”

lou valente

owner, lou’s sushi

photo by darin smith

Valente’s childhood was pretty standard: divorced parents, sports and decent grades in school. He worked some odd jobs before road-tripping to Los Angeles at age 22 and never looking back. There, he went to his first Japanese restaurant. While feasting on spicy scallop hand rolls, sweet shrimp with fried heads and a huge spread of nigiri, Valente marveled at the way the chefs moved and the exquisite presentation.

“I had never even heard of sushi before that,” he says. “I just fell in love right away.”

Valente immediately sought an entry into this world and landed at Bambu, an Asian fusion restaurant with a sushi bar in Malibu. Whenever he wasn’t busy washing dishes, he’d linger around the bar, chatting with revered master Go Kawano and taking mental notes. One day, he sketched out the entire sushi bar workstation on a yellow legal pad and, unprompted, began arriving early to set everything up. That’s when Kawano took Valente under his wing, letting him stand in on busy nights and make California rolls. Eventually, a chef broke his leg skiing and Kawano threw Valente behind the bar as a quick fix. He stayed there for two years.

In Japan, it’s common for sushi chefs to start learning as teenagers and spend years just cleaning fish or only washing rice before actually making sushi. But the process is different in the United States.

“The demand for sushi exploded so quickly, there wasn’t time for people to go through that sort of apprenticeship,” says Trevor Corson, author of The Story of Sushi. He traces sushi’s popularity stateside back to the late ’70s,

when Hollywood celebrities began spreading the gospel. By the early ’80s, there were Japanese restaurants in most major cities on the coasts, and those restaurants needed chefs.

Nonetheless, Valente’s old-school Japanese boss demanded a grueling training period. Whenever he was caught slouching, Valente felt a knee rammed into his back. If a batch of rice wasn’t perfect, it met the trash. Hours were long and filled with constant micromanagement.

Yet, despite his traditional training, Valente says he had trouble finding his next gig. It was 1995, and he wasn’t Asian.

“In Japan, there’s a mindset about the uniqueness of its culture and that others can’t master that culture,” Corson says. “A traditionally minded person would find [a Caucasian sushi chef] inconceivable.”

Valente moved to San Francisco to attend the California Culinary Academy, a backup plan of sorts while he looked for work. He remembers going to one of the city’s premier sushi bars and, after dinner, handing the chef a letter of recommendation, written by Kawano in Japanese. That chef laughed and handed it to the next chef, who laughed and handed it to the next chef, who laughed and handed it to the next chef. His now ex-wife cussed them out as Valente inquired about the check.

“I went to almost every sushi bar that I thought I would like to work at and I got laughed out of every single one of them,” he says. “No one would even consider me.”

It went on like that for several months. Beaten down, Valente nearly gave up. That cultural barrier seemed impossible to overcome.

continued on page 14

03.03.16 | SN&R | 13

Photo by darin smith

continued from page 13

Then, Valente spotted a want ad in the San Francisco Chronicle, calling for “smiling sushi chefs.” Valente grabbed his resume and set out to what would become Ace Wasabi’s, a lively Japanese restaurant in San Francisco’s Marina District. The chef, Kiyoshi Hayakawa, would become his mentor for nearly six years.

At the time, Ace Wasabi’s was different than other sushi joints in town. It was rock ’n’ roll-themed and popularized the creative rolls that everyone now comes to expect from Americanized sushi restaurants. Valente spent three years with Hayakawa lurking over his shoulder before Hayakawa entrusted him with the kitchen. No other Caucasian chefs would come through during Valente’s time there.

“I think he’s one of the best guys,” Hayakawa says. “I told [apprentices] the main thing is the food, not the decoration: the basic skills, the basic technique, the basic taste. I think Lou really understands that.”

Still, did Valente have more to prove because of his skin color?

“To me, I really don’t care about what they are if they love making sushi,” Hayakawa says. “How is the public going to react? Well, that is their problem.”

S u cc eS S , a n d ot h e r S t r u g g l eS Sake bombs usually kick off Valente’s dinner shift, and he drains them with speed.

He stays sharp, though, with his eyes always darting around his 36-seat restaurant. He notices everything. He says “hello” and “thank you” to everyone.

He calls customers at the sushi bar his friends—only when he doesn’t already know them by name—and clinks glasses with the ones who send over sake, beer or whiskey.

He constantly fiddles with the lighting and sound—he hates for the room to look too bright or too dark, or for the reggae to sound too quiet or too loud. He runs upstairs to adjust it periodically, depending on the crowd.

And again. And again.

“It’s an all-night battle,” he says, exasperated.

In the kitchen, one of Valente’s cooks bats a Japanese hand fan to cool down a fresh batch of koshihikari rice, the crown jewel of Japanese grains. It’s a lengthy process of rinsing, soaking, straining, steaming, mixing and cooling.

And proportions aren’t simple. Lately, Valente has been using 9 pounds and 11 ounces of water to cook 11 pounds and 9 ounces of rice, but that varies from bag to bag. How long ago the rice was milled factors into the kernels’ water content, which factors into how it should be cooked. Then, there’s the technique for mixing vinegar into rice. You almost make a slicing motion at an angle, quickly breaking up clumps. But if you push it the wrong way, you risk mashing the rice into a starchy mess, rendering it completely ruined with no way to fix it.

14 | SN&R | 03.03.16

Preparing rice is just one small, crucial part of Valente’s jam-packed, 14-hour days.

He usually arrives at the restaurant by 9 a.m. He’s the executive chef, sure, but he insists on also completing work typically reserved for prep cooks. He wants to make sure all the tasks are done right, which means he needs his hands in them. He’s not above washing up after service, either. Sometimes, he breaks down all the equipment and completes an extra thorough cleaning when Lou’s is closed. He butchers all the fish, noting which filets could benefit with additional aging as well as where and when the fish was caught. Even the exact boat involved.

But Valente is learning to slowly relinquish a little control now that he’s hired such an able second-in-command, Kae Saeteurn. Tall, gangly and Asian, Saeteurn looks like Valente’s foil behind the sushi bar. He’s quieter at first, but sweet-natured and funny, and a beast when it comes to creativity. He’s responsible for the extensive vegetarian and vegan selections that have, in part, made Lou’s so popular.

Their rapport is obvious. Valente constantly forgets what tables orders are supposed to go to, but insists on betting a beer on the hope that perhaps, on this particular night, he will remember for change. Saeteurn always wins.

“He was everything in a sushi chef that I wanted to learn from,” Saeteurn says, recalling his move from Haya Sushi in Citrus Heights to Lou’s. “I had yet to meet a Japanese sushi chef or even a chef who trained under a Japanese chef traditionally.”

Indeed, Valente’s time under Hayakawa was so valuable, he finally had no problem convincing people to hire him. In 2000, he moved to Sacramento to become his own chef and a small partner in the nowshuttered Sushi on the River.

A pattern took shape. The small Japanese restaurants Valente stepped into kept transforming into bigger, flashier versions of themselves with massive flat screen televisions and neon lights. It wasn’t just Sacramento, though. It was happening at mom-and-pop sushi spots across the country in the late ’90s and early 2000s. The food wasn’t enough—owners felt they needed to sell a specific atmosphere too, and Valente wasn’t a fan.

After an expansion for Sushi on the River, Valente went to Taka’s Downtown. When Taka’s closed for a remodel, Valente hopped over to Zen Sushi. Six years later, Zen, too, closed for a remodel.

“They turned that place into a nightclub,” Valente says. “I was like, I can’t do this anymore. That’s not what I think it’s all about it. That’s not the direction places needed to go.”

In the fall of 2012, he signed a lease for a small space on 28th and P streets, which would become Lou’s Sushi. But he ran out of money during the build-out, and when Lou’s Sushi opened its doors on October 1, 2013, there was nothing in the bank to ensure it’d last. Every day was crucial,

Valente thriVeS with

AmericAnized sushi, and Lou’s, like many new restaurants, wasn’t an instant success.

“The first eight months were crazy—it was like being in a washing machine,” Valente says, demonstrating by shaking his head furiously and making “dun-dun-dun” sound effects.

In other words, he felt clobbered.

Valente never quite had a handle on the business side of things. Numbers didn’t add up. In August 2014, Valente hired his now-business partner Kelly Brean as a consultant, who Valente largely credits for saving the sinking ship. Brean worked as the vice president of operations of Steakhouse Partners Inc., which owned chains such as Hungry Hunter and Carvers, for 13 years. His corporate background ushered in improved food costs, staff accountability and better front-ofthe-house management.

Still, the rise in success wasn’t all business-related. A few months earlier, Lou’s Sushi got a huge bump from a glowing review in The Sacramento Bee. Then-critic Blair Anthony Robertson raved that Valente’s rice is “some of the finest you may ever eat” and his fish “superbly fresh, nuanced and clean on the palate.” When Valente read the piece, he cried. Sales went up 40 percent and stayed that way. In 2015, business rose another 20 percent.

All the while, Valente has enjoyed a loyal following of fans who have been eating his sushi for years. Indeed, go to Lou’s enough and you’ll probably see Les Pung, who loves the restaurant so much he once ate there for lunch, happy hour and dinner on the same day, back-to-back-to-back.

“I sit here, there’s no stress,” he says while dining at Lou’s for the 10th day in a row. “I know the service will be good. I know the food will be awesome. I leave here, I’m happy.”

Across the sushi bar, there’s Stacie Larkin, who has been frequenting Valente’s establishments for 15 years. Her husband doesn’t normally like seafood, but he’ll try whatever Valente puts in front of him. Today, it’s the couple’s first time eating octopus. They’re not really fans, but that’s OK. “I come here because I trust him,” Larkin says. “I can say, ‘Give me the best thing,’ and I trust he’s gonna give me the best stuff. I don’t think I’m special in that. He treats everyone in here like a close friend.”

Valente, are more likely to help with the effort because they can communicate effectively without cultural or language barriers. Valente’s mentor Hayakawa agrees, and says his own struggle with the English language was part of why he first took Valente on as an apprentice.

“It’s good for America,” Hayakawa says.

Besides, sushi never solely belonged to the Japanese, according to Corson. Its beginnings go back to Southeast Asia, and China, Taiwan and Korea have long had their own versions.

“There are definitely legitimate concerns about cultural appropriation. … At the same time, the history of sushi was a history of constant cultural change and mixing,” Corson says. “Sushi continues to evolve and transform.”

Corson argues that Caucasians thriving in sushi fits and that there are, unfortunately, many Japanese sushi chefs who still bank on their race for success. Valente sees it locally, too. In his words: “Some guys think their shit don’t stink just because they’re Japanese.”

And while Valente may be super-serious about his craft, he’s for the people.

He happily stuffs wontons with bacon, applies a blow torch to mayo-topped jalapenos and liberally sauces his ever-popular sushi nachos. His taste isn’t solely focused on what’s refined, simple and elegant. His all-time favorite sugary cereal is Fruity Pebbles, because he digs the texture when it enters soggy territory. His regular order at Gunther’s Ice Cream is a double scoop of vanilla in a waffle cone, chocolate-dipped, and sometimes he’ll buy a Mini Nutty Cone to nibble on while he waits. Every two weeks, he goes to the bank on payday and, while in the neighborhood, picks up two giant oatmeal raisin cookies from Estelle’s Patisserie. Sometimes his car unintentionally veers into the Marie’s Donuts parking lot.

For his few precious hours away from work every week, Valente still thinks about food. He loves going out to restaurants—pho in south Sacramento, dim sum at Hong Kong Islander, bone marrow at Empress Tavern—and drinking at dive bars. The farmers market is a Sunday morning ritual. He’ll go to the movies sometimes, but even then, his mind wanders back to food. He recently saw The Hateful Eight and is now convinced he’ll name his next sushi roll “Minnie’s Haberdashery” after the movie’s setting.

And, of course, Valente eats sushi, his favorite activity in the world. When he pops a piece of nigiri into his mouth, he leans back with his eyes closed, smiling, savoring, giggling. Every sensation is pure delight. For his local fix, he drives to Shige Sushi in Carmichael, where the Japanese staff have known him as a customer for 16 years.

“He’s real, real good for a white boy,” the waitress says, patting Valente’s shoulder on a recent visit. “Of all the white people making sushi in all the countries, yours is the only one I recommend.”

One day, he’d like to visit Japan for the first time. But that would involve getting his restaurant completely dialed in, and Valente says Lou’s Sushi still can’t run flawlessly if he’s gone for too long. The most time he’s spent away was three days to visit his mom on her 70th birthday.

In that vein, his goals are completely Japanese, at least in the stereotypical sense. He strives for perfection, a goal requiring endless repetition, obsession and sacrifice. In Japan, sushi masters work tirelessly to climb to the top, though no one really knows where that is or what’s there.

That means he’ll never expand Lou’s Sushi, no matter how long the lines get. Valente dreams of turning 65 and opening a tiny, 10-seat jewel box of a restaurant, in true Japanese fashion.

Instead of retiring, he’d relish working alone. He’d welcome a nightly audience that prefers to relinquish control. Then, he’d serve sushi the way he likes to eat it, single nigiri after single nigiri, like a gently guided journey through the ocean. Ω

SerVing

bomba Stic,

Sauc y rollS with bold te x tur al

contr a StS .

S u S h i , f o r t h e p eo p l e Shaquille Dixon massages a sushi roll into place, and Valente jokes that if it’s not good enough, Dixon is fired.

“You fire me at least three times a shift,” Dixon says, rolling his eyes. “I’m really not that bad.”

Dixon is Valente’s first apprentice. He’s 22, just like Valente when he received his first chance in Malibu. Valente, now the master, has come full circle.

He’s not as harsh as old-school Japanese sushi chefs, but he emphasizes the tiny details no one really notices that, he says, make all the difference.

He develops sayings to help Dixon remember rules, which Dixon calls “Lou-isms.” For example: “If you don’t see the white, you ain’t doing it right.”

It doesn’t refer to Valente, rather, the shimmery white strip on hamachi left behind when you skin it properly.

“I only have to tell him things 100 times before he gets it,” Valente says, letting out a snort while he laughs. Dixon started at Lou’s in the kitchen but spent his free time shadowing Valente behind the sushi bar. “I haven’t seen that level of interest since I did that in the beginning, so we gave him a shot.”

If you couldn’t tell by his name, Dixon isn’t Asian, either.

Continuing to teach people how to make sushi the traditional way is crucial for preserving authentic, Tokyo-style sushi in the United States, says Corson, the sushi expert. The long and intense apprenticeship matters, not the ethnicity of the sushi chef. In fact, Corson says westerners passionate about sushi, like

Lou’s Sushi is located at 2801 P Street.

For more information, call (916) 451-4700 or visit www.lou sushi.com.

03.03.16 | SN&R | 15

United States Army soldier Bowe Bergdahl, who spent five years held captive by the Taliban, is the subject of the latest season of Serial.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

R ADIO

BY RACHEL LEIBROCK • RACHELL@NEWSREVIEW.COM

Serial co-founder Julie Snyder talks Bowe Bergdahl, bias and Making a Murderer

W

hen Serial launched in late 2014, the This American Life spinoff became an instant hit among listeners hungry to play armchair detective in the case of Adnan Syed, a Baltimore teen convicted of killing his girlfriend Hae Min Lee

in 1999.

It wasn’t just the true crime grittiness of the story that made the series one of iTunes’ most successful podcasts ever, however. Much of that credit goes to host Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder, her Serial co-founder and executive producer. The veteran journalists used deep reporting to reveal important evidence and craft a compelling narrative that stretched out over a dozen episodes. The result was the kind of old-fashioned radio series that left listeners impatiently waiting for the next installment, inspired countless theories and, even, led to Syed’s February postconviction hearing—the results of which could net him a new murder trial.

This season, Koenig and Snyder have brought a different type of case to listeners: The story of Bowe Bergdahl, the American soldier held for five years by the Taliban before the U.S. government negotiated for his release—and then eventually arrested for desertion.

Koenig and Snyder undertook the story after being approached by filmmaker Mark Boal (Zero Dark Thirty, The Hurt Locker), who’d recorded numerous hours of phone interviews with Bergdahl for a possible movie and knew he had something that transcended the visual medium. Berghdal’s story, as related by Koenig and Snyder, is puzzling, frustrating and undeniably fascinating.

Koenig and Snyder will be front and center for “Binge-Worthy Journalism: Backstage with the Creators of Serial” on Monday, March 7, at the Mondavi Center.

Snyder took a break from her busy schedule producing the show’s evolving biweekly installments to discuss the challenges of reporting a story that requires an interview request with the Taliban.

16 | SN&R | 03.03.16

What can people expect from this event?

It’s fun! Essentially, we want to talk about the process of making Serial; we had a grand vision, and we did have plans and we thought we knew exactly what were doing.

Then it became clear we didn’t know what we were doing—things happened, not by design. We’ll play tape from the season one and season two stories and talk about the places where we figured stuff out [and] places we made mistakes.

Listeners know Sarah Koenig as the voice of Serial, but clearly there’s a team behind the show’s work. What’s your role?

I’m the co-creator and executive producer, essentially my role is being the boss and I’m also Sarah’s editor. Sometimes it can be hard to explain and sometimes it’s hard to figure out who’s doing what, since both of us come from background where

we were radio producers but I’m the editor to her being a reporter.

My job is also talking about the direction of the show. We have another producer on staff, Dana [Chivvis], and then we have the website and social media so I’m also in charge of that.

How many hours go into a single episode?

I feel like before when we were doing This American Life, when we were doing 40-minute stories, that was easier to answer. The first season took about a year and that was 12 episodes [with each taking] a total of nine to 12 hours. This season I would say it’s been not fully a year because we’ve partnered with the screenwriter Mark Boal and he’s already done a lot of the reporting and research.

Save room for pie See off meNU

20

You and Sarah were originally thinking of another story for Serial’s second season, right?

At what point then did you realize it was your next story?

Not at first, it wasn’t like, “Oh, you guys should do this,” it was just “Holy shit! Oh my god!” in terms of the story, in terms of Bowe.

Frankly, I didn’t know a ton about it. I had of course read news stories and seen the video footage released by the Taliban when Bergdahl was rescued—the footage of him getting out of the pickup truck and being escorted into the helicopter.

I thought, “Oh my God, that guy has a story to tell,” but I’d kind of assumed we’d hear it pretty quickly … but then there was nothing.

What was shocking to me that Mark said, “We’ve been talking and have 20 hours [of tape] and he’s told me everything about the circumstances of why he wandered off and what happened during those five years of captivity. … I can’t even claim that after listening to all of the conversations that you’ll have a full understanding—it’s all packed pretty full but maybe you could just do something where it’s just these conversations and give them more room to breathe.”

See DiSh

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KittieS!

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yoU Do yoU See aSK Joey

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The Army announced it would court martial Bowe shortly after the first episode aired—did that change anything?

Serial co-founders Julie Snyder (left) and Sarah Koenig decided to investigate Bergdahl’s story after being approached by Zero Dark Thirty filmmaker Mark Boal.

It didn’t and frankly I was surprised it hadn’t already happened. Everyone had honestly been waiting for it to happen. …

If anything we were confused, reaching out to military experts asking why it was taking so long.

PHOTO BY ELISE BERGERSON

Oh my gosh, yes. We’d pretty much started [that story] in June and we were still in the process [of working on it]. We’d been working on a couple of different stories, then there was one in particular that we were narrowing in on, spending more time on it and then at the same time we started talking to Mark and his company Page 1. The president of his company is a former editor in chief at The New York Times Magazine and [he and Mark] really had these reporter sensibilities.

They had all this tape and felt it was newsworthy—that it shouldn’t just live on a desk in a research pile for the film.

faNcy oN the cheap

"As we started doing the reporting we kept having so many questions, it just kept going wider."

Julie Snyder

co-founder and executive producer, Serial

The thing is, as we started doing the reporting, we kept having so many questions, it just kept going wider.

What were the challenges of reporting a case more people were familiar with and knew, at least in part, the outcome vs. the season one case?

At a certain point it just is what is, but for some things there’s more reporting we can do. For instance, there are questions we have that Bowe doesn’t have answers to: Where were you being held? Who was holding you? Why were they treating you this way? He doesn’t know and that’s where we can do all the reporting. For things we didn’t fully understand—Mark did a great job, [but] they had conversations they didn’t record. And for that kind of stuff, we’re in the position where

you don’t want to speculate so it’s about making choices: Talking to his friends and family, asking Mark for his thoughts and interpretation.

[Then] you put it out there and let people decide for themselves. To a certain extent Bowe is the only one who knows what was going on inside his head. These aren’t challenges—it had been reported and reported and, if anything, it makes it easier because there was some pretty terrific reporting out there and we could say, “Oh, let’s just Google that!” The challenges for us—it’s an interesting thing where a lot of times people think they know the story, but the challenge is I don’t think it’s the story you think it is. I want to break that down through some of these particulars. “You know this and you’ve heard this, but if we line it up differently …”

There have been some criticisms of bias in Serial’s reporting—the show’s use of narrative asides, for example.

Do you think those critiques are unfounded or misguided?

I get it in a sense, but [the criticism] is a little broad. … It’s all in the execution.

Are you telling the truth?

Are you fact-checking?

Are you presenting multiple points of view? … There is a standard that applies across the way, whether you’re telling it in a serial format or in a newspaper, those are always fair questions to ask. Some outlets are more responsible than others. I think we see journalism abused all the time. Think about the fact that, when it comes to a crime story or a murder story, that there are entire networks devoted to telling stories of being murdered. A lot of times I don’t like it, I think it’s gross. It seems exploitative. It doesn’t feel like it’s serving justice or that it’s doing anything other than being titillating. Then again, we’ve seen excellent stories on how we operate as a society and what we expect from the criminal system. It comes down to execution.

Did you watch Making a Murderer?

Many have compared its format to Serial and also criticized what’s seen as its bias.

I [didn’t]. I’ve been very busy so I’m no fun to talk to, [but] I do know the conclusion—I know people are still in prison and honestly, with all of that you want me as your audience. I’m very generous, I think it’s so hard and I know what went into making it. Ω

Catch Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder at 8 p.m.

Monday, March 7.

Tickets are $23.50-$58.

Mondavi Center, 1 Shields Avenue in Davis. www. mondavi arts.org.

03.03.16 | SN&R | 17

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18 TICKETS ON SALE THIS FRIDAY AT 10AM

PURCHASE TICKETS AT TICKETMASTER.COM OR APECONCERTS.COM #TahoeConcerts

TotalRewardsTahoe.com Shows subject to change or cancellation. Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. ©2016, Caesars License Company, LLC. ®

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2/29/16 4:17 PM

FOR ThE wEEk OF MARCh 3

e m i t g in

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Best of the California Coast FRIDAY, MARCH 4 Local Ken McKowen has written many travel articles (and a few books) in his life. But he’s also worked as a park ranger for the TRAVEL California state park system. So, yeah, he’s a good guy to get travel advice from. This Friday, he’ll share his spectacular photo slideshow of the California coast, which is sure to be educational for anyone wanting to someday travel the state’s spectacular coastline. Or, you know, for those who just want to look at pretty pictures.

Free; 10 a.m. at Folsom Public Library, 411 Stafford Street in Folsom; www.folsom.ca.us/depts/ library_services.

—AARon CARnes

T

ake into account the unseasonably warm weather as of late and this week’s intense lineup of colorful events, and it seems that global warming and the city have come together to send the following message: Your winter-hibernation days of lying sloth-like on the couch are being cut short this year and it’s time to be immersed in the hyperactivity of the spring season whether you like it or not. The sun is out, the music is loud and you will have fun.

First on the docket: Life in Color on Saturday, March 5, at Cal Expo (1600 Exposition Boulevard).

Dubbed the “world’s largest paint party,” it’s a big concert featuring deejays DVBBS and DJ4B, plus aerial artists, contortionists, fire eaters and people on stilts. But the big thing is the “paint blast,” which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: The crowd gets doused with neon-colored paint, on purpose and to much delight. It’s not referred to as a rave, but I highly suspect this is a rave. Tickets start at $44.99 and can be purchased at http://lifeincolor.com.

If something a little less millennial is more your speed, the fourth annual Brazilian Carnaval is also taking place on Saturday at the Old Sugar Mill (35265 Willow Avenue in Clarksburg) from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. SambaDa will be providing the live tunes, the Brazilian Dance Co. will perform and food and drink will abound. For those not content to sit around and watch, there’s a free samba class at 7 p.m., body painting and a costume contest.

Tickets range from $20-$50 and more information can be found at www.oldsugarmill.com.

If you’re looking to get your kicks in by getting your heart to race through some chemical stimulation, the second annual Sacramento Caffeine Crawl is likewise happening on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. at Chocolate Fish Coffee (4749 Folsom Boulevard).

Attendees will have the option to stop in at 10 coffee shops included in six different routes that can be covered either on foot, by bike or by car. Sip various cups of local joe and get insight into the roasting process from some of the city’s best, including Insight Coffee Roasters, Old Soul Co., Pachamama Coffee and Shine, among others. An afterparty will take place at RailBridge Cellars. Tickets are $28; find out more info at www.caffeinecrawl.com.

—DeenA DRewIs

Oak Park Pinewood Derby sATURDAY, MARCH 5 Pinewood derbies are a long-standing Cub Scout tradition dating back to the 1950s. The Oak Park Brewing Company will play host to a local Pinewood Derby (that’s actually non-Scout related) for the second year running. Expect plenty of competition with separate categories for adults and SPORTS kids. The event welcomes regulation class racers, as well as anything-goes creative class cars. Prizes will be awarded for such things as fastest car and most creative car. Free; 11 a.m. at Oak Park Brewing Co., 3514 Broadway; www.facebook.com/events/948918021811145.

—LoRY GIL

Jewish Film Festival sATURDAY, MARCH 5, AnD sUnDAY, MARCH 6 Celebrate and learn about Jewish culture with a weekend of films that focus on such themes as food, art and philanthropy. The FESTIVAL two-day event covers an opening night reception, hosted in partnership with the Sacramento Jewish Food Faire, and four films.

Tickets, at all levels, include admission to the California Museum exhibits and parking. Proceeds benefit the upcoming Unity Center gallery at the California Museum. $15-$50; showtimes vary at the California Museum, 1020 O Street; www.california museum.org.

—LoRY GIL

The Breakfast Club sUnDAY, MARCH 6 Much in the same way that it’s always possible to make room for dessert, there’s always time for The Breakfast Club. Round up your friends and catch the iconic Brat Pack in this John FILM Hughes classic, and then grab a drink or four afterward so you can reenact the “We Are Not Alone” dance scene. $8-$10; 7 p.m. at the Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street; www.crestsacramento.com.

—DeenA DRewIs

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e c n a H c t s a l

Hall of fame 2o16

to

! e t o v I n December, SN&R put out a call for readers and local music experts to nominate their favorite bands across myriad categories. In return, we received countless votes and invaluable insight into what makes this town’s scenes so damn good.

There’s inventive electronica and experimental music, heart-shredding metal and hardcore, provocative hip-hop and everything else one can imagine occupying space on the sound spectrum.

And so here are the 2016 SAMMIES nominees.

Check out the artists, listen to their music and catch them live. Oh, and stay tuned for news on some upcoming Sammies showcases.

Voting is open now and ends March 7. The awards ceremony, which will feature a packed bill of local acts, will happen Thursday, March 24, at Ace of Spades (1417 R Street). Tickets are $10, or visit http://snrsweetdeals.newsreview.com for special $5 tickets.

In the meantime, visit www.sammies.com to pick your favorites for everything but the Hall of Fame category—that’s an award saved for acts who’ve already nabbed three Sammie wins.

SAMMIES.COM 20 | SN&R | 03.03.16

Dog Party Ira Skinner James Cavern The Nickel Slots White Minorities

artist of tHe Year Cam Chrch Element Brass Band Graveshadow J-Kraken Joseph in the Well Some Fear None Zyah Belle

americana / alt-countrY

50 Watt Heavy Chris Gardner Band Delta City Ramblers F Street Stompers The Golden Cadillacs MerryGold Million Dollar Giveaway One Button Suit Saint Ashbury The West Nile Ramblers

Blues

The Christian DeWild Band The Hucklebucks Kyle Rowland Blues Band Matt Rainey and the Dippin’ Sauce Michael Ray The Ranell Carpenter Band Stillwood Sages Two Tone Steiny & the Cadillacs

cover Band Apple Z Cover Me Badd Groove Thang Hip Service The Lucky Seven Thunder Cover Tragically White

deejaY

Cue22 DJ Billy Lane: DJ Nocturnal DJ Oasis DJ Zephyr J-Kraken Sam I Jam

ElEctronic / ExpErimEntal DoofyDoo Gentleman Surfer The Good Fortune I Am Strikes Pregnant So Much Light SpaceWalker WiseChild Young Aundee

EmcEE

Brutha Smith Cam Century Got Bars Chuuwee Dre-T Dylan Phillip Luke Tailor Mahtie Bush Mozzy Soosh*e:

Folk rock

Hannah Jane Kile Honyock Joseph in the Well Misner & Smith Paige Anderson & the Fearless Kin Salt Wizard Spangler

Funk

Big Sticky Mess Groovincible Hans! and the Hot Mess Ideateam Joy and Madness The Pressure Lounge

Hard rock

California Riot Act Heat of Damage Misamore Roswell Some Fear None Terra Ferno

HardcorE / industrial / post-HardcorE Havenside Kill the Precedent A Lot Like Birds Mercedes Avenue Rad White Knuckle Riot

Hip-Hop / rap

pop / rock

rock

indiE

producEr

rockaBillY

The Beatknocks Blaquelisted California Bear Gang: DLRN The Good Samaritans Iconoclast Robot Recorded Freedom Tel Cairo

Desario Epsilona Exquisite Corps Life in 24 Frames Sea of Bees Soft Science Sunmonks Vasas Vinnie Guidera & the Dead Birds

Jazz

The Alex Jenkins Trio City of Trees Brass Band The Crescent Katz Dank Ocean Element Brass Band Hot City Jim Martinez Quartet

livE pErFormEr Cross Class Chrch Death Rogen Drop Dead Red Hans Eberbach Kill the Precedent Race to the Bottom Some Fear None Sea of Bees Zyah Belle

mEtal

Battle Hag Chrch Defecrator Embodied Torment Graveshadow Horseneck The Kennedy Veil Modraniht Plague Widow Psychosomatic

nEw artist

Andrew Castro The Good Fortune Little Tents Maddie Sipes & the Painted Blue Modern Man Tell the Wolves Well Dressed Mannequins

Bellygunner Cemetery Sun Drop Dead Red Fate Under Fire Hero’s Last Mission Humble Wolf Once an Empire PointDexter

Casey Groat Charles Albright Chris Woodhouse David Jensen DJ Loot Joe Johnston John Morris Pat Hills Sean Stack

punk / post-punk The Bar Fly Effect The Croissants The Enlows Ghostplay The Moans Nmbrsttn Rebel Radio S.W.I.M.

r&B / soul Cash Campain JustKristofer Miss Mouthpeace Rashell Zyah Belle

rEggaE / Jam

Element of Soul Island of Black and White J Ras King Hopeton Massive Delicious MAU OneLegChuck Riotmaker Sacto Storytellers Simple Creation

rElEasE oF tHE YEar

The Diva Kings The Kelps MindFlowers Race to the Bottom Sages The Soul Shine Band Tell the Wolves The Three Way

Frankie and the Defenders Hank Biggs & the Hardtops The Infamous Swanks The Left Hand Rockabilly Love Cats Todd Morgan & the Emblems The Vintage Vandals

singEr-songwritEr Andrew Castro Christopher Fairman Jayson Angove Kevin Seconds Rebecca Peters Xochitl

tEEn artist Altessa Heat of Damage Urd-om

triButE Band Cash Prophets Revolver Steelin’ Dan Stellar SuperHuey Worlds Apart

world

Bomba Fried Rice Dinorah Halfpence and Haypenny Hollow Point Stumblers La Noche Oskura Nagual One Eyed Reilly Rey y Kaye Solsa World Hood Zorelli

Chrch: Unanswered Hymns DLRN: Neon Noir (Deluxe) DoofyDoo: The Tourist Epsilona: Thinkers Graveshadow: Nocturnal Resurrection Joseph in the Well: Joseph in the Well Little Tents: Fun Colors Mozzy: Bladadah Sea of Bees: Build a Boat to the Sun So Stressed: The Unlawful Trade of Greco-Roman Art

03.03.16 | SN&R | 21

IllustratIons by Hans benneWItZ

So savory Fried chicken, Savory Fried chicken There’s not much Filipino food on the grid, which means you’ll probably need to make a trek for the good stuff.

Enter Savory Fried Chicken in Elk Grove. Savory’s chicken doesn’t come with the fluffy, crunchy skin you’d expect in a Southern version, but that’s because the texture isn’t the focus. It’s the sweet, salty and— ahem—savory flavors, which start with a secret marinade known only to the prep cooks. Grab a combination plate, which comes with a half-chicken, rice and a side ($8.25)—get the lumpia, obviously. Or, go big and order a whole bird ($11.25). 9174 Franklin Boulevard, Suite C, in Elk Grove; (916) 395-3905.

—kriS hookS

Sweet signature krakow Salt Mine, red rabbit kitchen & bar

IllustratIon by Mark stIvers

Floral notes

by Janelle Bitker

Coffee and pie: Ryan Harden left his gig as Old Soul Co.’s head roaster last week, but he’s been planning his next move for the past six months: Camellia Coffee Roasters.

When it opens—hopefully in July—Camellia will look very different than other Sacramento cafes. No outlets. No tables. No customers who park and work for hours. Harden envisions something similar to G&B Coffee in Los Angeles, a small kiosk in downtown’s Grand Central Market. It mostly does to-go business, with a few bar stools for folks to enjoy a cappuccino or espresso on-the-spot.

“It’s more like a bar experience—you’re not going to pull out your laptop at a bar,” Harden says.

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As for food, Camellia will eschew the usual selection of breakfast pastries for a line of hand pies in collaboration with Matt Masera of Mother, Empress Tavern and Maiden Ice Cream. Expect a rotating selection of two sweet options with seasonal fruit and two savory options, probably one veggie pie and one meat pie.

Harden is actively looking for a cafe location in Midtown with his business partner Robert Watson, of Insight Coffee Roasters. They already have a space in Roseville to start roasting in mid-March for wholesale clients.

According to Harden, there are no hard feelings with Old Soul. He actually bought the company’s old roaster to help launch Camellia.

03.03.16

“There’s a lot more room for other things besides Insight, Temple, Old Soul and Chocolate Fish,” he says.

Scoops: I have very fond memories of Tucos, the eclectic wine bar in Davis, and I was sad to see it go.

But few things make me happier than excellent ice cream, so it’s a relief that the old Tucos space (130 G Street, Suite A) will at least be filled by frozen treats.

The Good Scoop is shooting for a March 26 grand opening.

The family-owned business will serve Portland-based Stumptown Coffee—including cold brew—and Berkeley-based Tara’s Organic Ice Cream. Tara’s currently rotates through 176 flavors, which means the Good Scoop will serve far beyond the usual assortment of vanilla, chocolate and mint chip.

Current seasonal flavors include avocado, beet balsamic, lavender, pink peppercorn and geranium.

A small cup costs $4, ice cream sandwiches go for $6.50 and ice pops cost $5. Plus, house-made organic cones. Ω

You’ve probably heard about it, but if you haven’t, can we talk about the Krakow Salt Mine ($9) at Red Rabbit? Developed by Matt Nurge, it’s become one of the Sacramento bar scene’s signature cocktails. With a base of slightly sweet Zubrowka (a bison-grass vodka) and apple cider, it’s perked up with lemon juice, simple syrup and ginger beer. The tall drink is then garnished with salt and an apple slice. The result is sweet, sour, salty and incredibly refreshing: a perfect drink for the warm weather we’re suddenly seeing.

2718 J Street, http://theredrabbit.net.

—Garrett Mccord

Praise immaturity ShootS and SproutS Elsewhere in the country, it’s winter. But here, it already feels like April. That means lots of shoots and sprouts at the farmers market. Why eat immature vegetables, you ask? These buds, leaves and tiny stems are packed with nutrients and tenderness.

You may find pea shoots, which are the tiny leaves of pea plants that won’t bear their orbs until summer. They’re chock full of folic acid and vitamins A and C. Try them in a salad or as a garnish for risotto. Also look for broccoli sprouts, daikon sprouts, bean sprouts and green garlic.

—ann Martin rolke

Value menu

Still beer

By Janelle Bitker

tableVine

HHH 1501 14th Street, (916) 942-9599, www.tablevine.com Dinner for one: $15 - $20 Good for: an affordable, upscale night out Notable dishes: scallops, clams

Scott McNamara knows how to sear a scallop.

And we know this already. His scallop dish at Brasserie Capitale won raves from multiple critics in town, earning a spot on the Sacramento Bee’s list of best dishes of 2015.

Prior to Brasserie Capitale, McNamara was the executive chef at Bistro Michel, where he also applied heat to scallops in just the right way. Now, he’s back at the same location, which has been slightly redesigned and reconceptualized under new ownership as TableVine.

Here, too, he serves scallops.

Marvelous scallops. They wear a dense, golden-brown sear that gives way to smooth, ivory silkiness. Paired with swirls of creamy cauliflower puree, nutty brown butter, fried capers, plump raisins and crispy nuts, the dish triumphs in textural contrasts and bold flavors. In taste and presentation, it’s comparable to the excellent Brasserie Capitale version. Then factor in how TableVine serves five scallops for $20 instead of three scallops for $22.

Suddenly, TableVine slays.

Now, TableVine is not a French restaurant, and it’s nowhere near as fun, beautiful or bustling as Brasserie Capitale. Comparisons shall stop with the scallops.

TableVine pitches itself as a cozy restaurant with a wine country vibe. Apart from the extensive wine list, it doesn’t fully succeed in creating that relaxed yet elegant atmosphere. As for the menu, it’s not a yawn, but it’s not exactly exciting either.

Regardless, McNamara’s cooking is always good and TableVine’s prices are very reasonable. It’s

j a ne l l e b @ne w s re v i e w . c o m

ideal for people who like dining out and feeling special, but maybe don’t want to spend $25 or $30 on an entree, as is becoming more and more common with Sacramento’s new fleet of high-end restaurants.

TableVine’s all-day menu—meaning the prices unfortunately don’t go down at lunch—changes regularly, but most of the well-portioned entrees fit in the $15-$20 range. A big bowl of manila clams ($15) with toast makes for a great shared appetizer or main dish. The bright orange, white-wine-based broth is packed with flavor from house-made chorizo, stewed tomatoes and shaved garlic. You’ll want more bread to sop it up, and TableVine will oblige.

I devoured the duck confit ($18), served in the vein of cassoulet. The duck leg is slowly roasted in its own fat, resulting in meltingly tender meat that falls off the bone—and into a pool of creamy butter beans, crispy bacon bits and buttered breadcrumbs.

It’s hefty, and not oily. My only qualm: the flabby duck skin.

For a warming starter, try the Portuguese kale soup ($7), with white beans, linguica, potato and spices that pack a subtle punch. Pasta is also done well, such as the bucatini ($14) with delicate baby squid in a garlicky white wine sauce.

You’ll likely be tempted to skip dessert, as the menu reads like an afterthought.

Still, while simple, the dense and tangy cheesecake ($7) is among the better I’ve tried in Sacramento.

When it comes to helping pair your meal with wine, servers are as helpful and unpretentious as you could ever want. And the wine list fits all budgets, whether it’s a $6 glass or a $1,000 bottle. But other times, service felt overbearing. One guy acted so friendly that he called me “buddy” and signaled with multiple thumbs up.

Still, I didn’t mind that as much as the music selection. On one lunch visit, the schizophrenic soundtrack switched from classical guitar to Tom Petty to religious orchestral music. During a subsequent dinner, I cringed at the nonstop Christian rock that almost had me crying out “Jesus!”

But these are easy fixes. Much easier than, say, nailing a perfect scallop. Ω

The duck leg is slowly roasted in its own fat, resulting in meltingly tender meat.

We’re almost at the Sacramento Beer Week finish line, which means you’ve got a few more chances to feel really, really bloated. There is, of course, Capitol Beer Fest on Sunday, March 6. The big finale features more than 125 breweries pouring tastes on Capitol Mall. General admission costs $40 at www.capitolbeerfest.com. Or, you could opt for the more unusual Beer Prom at the California Automobile Museum (2200 Front Street) on Friday, March 4. It’s another $40 tasting event but with far fewer brewers and a funky, flashy vibe and deejays spinning ’80s dance music instead. More at www.calautomuseum.org. Finally, if you’re way too hungover to even consider these options, head to the Davis Farmers Market for Pig Day on Saturday, March 5. Pet baby pigs, say hello to people dressed as pigs and nibble on pig-themed eats: bacon ice cream, pigs in a blanket, pork fried rice and so forth. Find the fun from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Central Park.

—Janelle Bitker

Drunken noodles, drunk in love

By Shoka This is a love letter. A love letter to The Coconut Midtown, a small Thai food eatery at 2502 J Street with more vegan options on the menu than a self-proclaimed vegetarian restaurant in town. Really!

Nearly every section of the menu has multiple options, and it’s wonderful the restaurant is accommodating a broader dining population. Granted, many Thai places will make adjustments for herbivore diners, but the Coconut’s got its veganfriendliness splayed all over its

menu. Furthermore, even its side of brown rice is reason enough for returning: dark brown, nutty grains in an inverted-bowl mound. Plus, the drunken noodles may leave taste buds drunk in love—and portions are André the Giant. The Coconut further puts “friendly” into “veganfriendly” by offering free refills on that sweet glass of vegan Thai ice tea with coconut milk—and offering it in a to-go cup if you’re so full you’re about to burst … with happiness.

03.03.16 | SN&R | 23

FIND OF THE WEEK

4th AnnuAl EvEnt!

SAturdAy MArch 5, 2016 | doorS opEn At 6:00pM

Live music by Brazilian band SambaDa + Brazilian Dance Company dancers/percussion + Flame and Fire + food trucks + delicious drinks/wine + face/body painting + costume contest and prize for the MOST festively dressed! -21+ and over event -Doors open 6pm -Event 6:30pm - 10:30pm -VIP Lounge -Presale tickets $20/pp, at the door $30/pp Admission includes a complimentary samba class at 7:00pm and one COMPLIMENTARY drink from the Mardi Gras bar. MARDI GRAS Beads for Everyone! (while they last)

gourmet —HANDCRAFTED—

BURGERS

Dispatches from the ledge trouBle Boys How do you recount the history of a band that likely spent much of its prime deep in the hazy throes of alcohol and drug abuse? Faulty memories (and utter blackouts) aside, that’s what Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements (Da Capo Press, $27.50) aims to do. Writer Bob Mehr has written a Book biography nearly unpredictable as the band that always seemed on the brink of total self-destruction. Unlike most other stories about the Minneapolis quartet, this one is authorized and built upon new interviews with Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson, as well as family of the late Bob Stinson. As such, it gets into the nitty-gritty, including the story behind the ’Mats’ legendary 1986 train wreck of an appearance on Saturday Night Live. That gig, in case you haven’t watched the YouTube clips, was a three-ring circus of drunken and drug-fueled insanity that got them—and nearly every other band on Warner Bros., their label at the time—banned from the show.

—rAChel leiBroCk

Enjoy with Baguettes garlic fries and a locally brewed IPA. BEEF CHUCK, BRISKET & SHORTRIB MEAT Foccacia buns, handmade fresh daily ALSO AVAILABLE IN BLACK BEAN & GARDEN

(916) 685-4587 BaguettesDeli.com 8351 Elk Grove Blvd #100 24

Elk Grove, CA Sun - Thu 8am to 6pm Fri & Sat 8am to 7pm

Beyond tired ForgotteN PlAgue Chronic fatigue syndrome (myalgic encephalomyelitis) is not a well understood disease. It’s much worse than the name suggests. This is not about simply feeling tired all the time. Rather, it embodies the inability to exert energy, muscle pain, unrefreshing sleep and even cognitive problems. Forgotten FILM Plague is a documentary that explores this disease. It includes a combination of scientific data and anecdotes by those afflicted with it. Director Ryan Prior has experience with the subject—he was diagnosed with the disease in 2006. As such, he has a deep understanding of its intensity, and brings much of his own story to the film. $12; 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 10, at the Tower Theatre, 2508 Land Park Drive, www.forgottenplague.com.

—AAroN CArNes

Cat lady simulator Neko Atsume: kitty ColleCtor In the real world, turning your backyard into a playground for 50 felines might be met with disapproval. But in the world of Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector, (Android and iOS platforms, free) hoarding cats is the name of the game.

Originally a huge smash in App Japan (natch), the American version has gone from unknown to maximum cultural saturation in just a few months.

The goal is to collect cats. Start with some fish (the in-game currency) and buy a toy. Place it in your yard and wait. Soon, an adorable cat shows up to play with it! When the cat departs, it leaves more money. With more money, you buy more toys. More toys attract more cats. Save up to expand your yard, which can house more toys, which attract more cats. You get the idea.

All the cats have different personalities, from the gluttonous Tubbs to the elusive Peaches. There’s even an entire cohort of rare cats, who are only attracted to certain toys.

When they show up, activate the camera function to capture their adorable antics in your “catbook.”

OK, look: I’m well aware that at this point, I’ve lost most of you. But to those who are left, the simple mechanics of Neko Atsume will quickly become an obsession. I don’t even like cats (a heresy on today’s cat-centric Internet), and I’ve been checking my virtual yard religiously for two months now. I’m down to one empty spot in my catbook, and I know St. Purrtrick can’t hold out forever.

—BriAN BreNemAN |

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03.03.16

Now playiNg

ReviewS

5

Frankenstein

A real switch hitter

by Patti RobeRts

The B Street Family Series brings literature’s most famous monster back to life with this excellent adaptation

by Jerry Montoya. Set in the opulent living room of the home that Mary Shelley and husband Percy own, on a dark and stormy night to amuse themselves, a group of writers begin to discuss ghost stories. Mary proposes a contest to see who can write the best one, since the men feel that women are incapable of writing such a story. Excellent performances by all, particularly Megan Wicks as Mary, who narrates her story and holds her audience, on stage and in the audience, captive.

5

The Last Five Years

This is the deconstruction of a love story, told by two characters, one starting at the end, one starting at the beginning, meeting briefly in the middle. The show features strong performances by two outstanding performers, Kevin Caravalho (who also directs) and Jennifer Morrison. A lush ensemble of strings adds to the magic.

F, Sa, Su 8pm. Through 3/6. $18. Green Valley Theatre, 3825 V Street; (916) 736-2664; http://greenvalley theatre.com. B.S.

Short reviews by Bev Sykes.

Sa, Su 1pm and 4pm. Through 3/20. $15-$20. B Street

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

“You’re so cute when you’re a stereotypical guy.”

Love and baseball

4

Love and Baseball; 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday, 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; $28-$35. B Street Theatre B3 Stage, 2711 B Street; (916) 443-5300; http://bstreet theatre.org. Through March 19.

Local playwright Jerry Montoya is pretty savvy to name his play Love and Baseball—appealing to a wide audience interested in either relationships or sports, or both. In fact, the B Street Theatre’s marketing materials for Love and Baseball claim the play has “just the right amount of romance and sports to be entertaining to men and women alike.”

And judging by the reactions on opening night of the play’s debut, Montoya was right on—reactions were pretty amusing with the women nodding in recognition when the dialogue centered on relationships and gender differences while the men visibly perked up when baseball trivia was delivered, along with re-enactments of historic baseball moments.

Love and Baseball is the story of a roller-coaster relationship between a community college philosophy instructor Michele (Brittni Barger) and a baseball fanatic and documentary filmmaker Will (Brian Rife).

The strength of the production is the snappy repartee and fun baseball moments enacted by the two actors—Barger, who delivered a memorable Nora in Capital Stage’s recent production of A Doll’s House and gives a sharp performance here, and Rife, who captures the quirkiness of a baseball-loving bachelor.

The weakness of the play is rooted in its scenarios and plotlines of convenience where we’re to believe or care that these two verbal sparring partners who only meet three times for a couple of hours in a span of five years are destined to be together. In a baseball analogy, they have swung and missed twice and in the third act, they will either call it outs or hit a home run.

But if you keep logic deeply hidden in the dugout, and simply enjoy watching the

PhOTO cOURTESy OF B STREET ThEATRE

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4 Twelfth Night Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night can be staged as a giddy romp (involving misplaced love and mistaken identity), or as calamity-barely-averted (if you play it dark) or anything between. Different characters can dominate, too. Sometimes, for example, party animal Toby Belch becomes the inebriated, anarchic center-of-gravity.

In this Sacramento Theatre Company production, it’s savvy women who stand tall. Alicia Hunt is charismatic as enterprising Viola, disguising herself as the beardless 20-something Cesario, and inadvertently catching the eye of wealthy and bored Olivia (the marvelous Melinda Parrett), who promptly puts the moves on the younger “man.”

When Hunt and Parrett work together onstage, this show hums. It’s a convincing change of pace for both: Hunt excelled as a stressed-out drone pilot in the B Street Theatre’s Grounded last year; Parrett was an icy, commanding figure in Capital Stage’s The Homecoming. (Two other versatile actors from Homecoming, Ryan Snyder and Chris Vettel, are in Twelfth Night, too.)

Directors Kirk Blackinton and Brian Harrower favor a sunny, upbeat interpretation. The drunkenness of Toby Belch (Don Hayden), oft tipsy before noon, has few repercussions. Newcomer Taylor Vaughan makes an appealing debut as Olivia’s clever serving woman Maria. The play’s set in a British Caribbean colony, hence Noah Lee Hayes as a barefoot black Feste, singing calypso.

—Jeff Hudson Twelfth Night; 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; $15-$38.

Sacramento Theatre company, 1419 h Street; (916) 443-6722; www.sactheatre.org. Through March 20.

Father knows best?

PhOTO cOURTESy OF cELEBRATION ARTS ThEATRE

Father figure With Stick Fly, playwright Lydia R. Diamond uses her keen awareness of family dynamics, especially the ways in which a father can belittle or express disappointment in an offspring, to tell a story that is Shakespearean in nature: A great man is brought low by ambition and deception. James Wheatley directs an excellent cast that includes Preston Collier as the father and Tarig Elsiddig and Tory Scroggins as his sons. $8-$15; 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at Celebration Arts Theatre, 4469 D Street; (916) 455-2787; www.celebrationarts.net.

—Jim Carnes

03.03.16 | SN&R | 25

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Zootopia “Where’s Jesse?”

3

by Daniel Barnes

A childhood incident with a fox bully left Judy physically and emotionally scarred, and although she espouses “progressive” views on predators, Aside from a couple of over-the-moon box office she still carries a can of fox mace on her belt. Her smashes in recent years, Disney Animation has become trust issues come to a head when a smooth-talking a runner-up within its own studio. Disney churns out con artist fox named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) the occasional please-all-masters hit like Frozen or becomes involved in a kidnapping investigation Wreck-It Ralph, but Pixar turns out the classics. Part that could make or break Judy’s career. Nick also of the reason for the weird critical vitriol aimed at last dismisses Judy for her small size, and until the year’s perfectly good The Good Dinosaur was that buddy-cop trappings take over, the film is largely it appeared under the Pixar brand, while offering the concerned with themes of intolerance and diversity unfocused story and mixed thematic signals we’ve and bullying and the toxicity of stereotypes. come to expect from Disney.

Unfortunately, it’s also a little all over the Pixar has set a high bar for films about place. I’m all for hectoring children into anthropomorphized critters, inanimate checking their privilege, but I’m not objects, artificial intelligences and sure what to make of the copious abstract concepts, too high for a references to Breaking Bad and Zootopia is a harmless but only marginally clever The Godfather. It feels like thoroughly likable time-filler like Zootopia to fully cynical parent bait randomly hurdle. Creaky animal puns aren’t and entertaining film dangled into the script, just going to cut it. Zootopia is like pop-culture references without that remains almost the baseline version of a Disney context or punchline. There completely devoid of effort—crisp and colorful animaare some gorgeous images, the tion, an intriguing lead character high points. voice work is good and the pace and a wafer-thin story, all in service rarely drags, but there’s no way of a slippery but presumably ennobling Zootopia needed to be 108 minutes message of acceptance. It’s a thoroughly long, especially since the scarcity of likable and entertaining film that remains almost major characters makes the identity of the completely devoid of high points. villains pretty obvious.

Directed by Disney vets Byron Howard (Tangled) And for all of the film’s empowering messages and Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph), Zootopia springs about transcending stereotypes, there is a pandering from an extremely low-grade high-concept premise: subtext about conquering “your” fears of the big, What if animals were like people? End of premise. scary racial or ethnic other. It’s a scenario that Ginnifer Goodwin voices Judy Hopps, a high-achieving probably required the clever nuance of Pixar rather rabbit who leaves the family carrot farm to become the than the blunt glibness of Disney. Ω first bunny cop of Zootopia, an urban “paradise” where predator and prey live in ostensible harmony. When Judy arrives for her first day on the force, however, she’s instantly stereotyped and marginalized by the all-predator cops, while harboring her own ingrained Poor Fair Good Very excellent biases against foxes.

Good

1 2 3 4 5

fiLm CLiPS

3

3

Eddie the Eagle

2

Gods of Egypt

Writers Sean Macaulay and Simon Kelton and director Dexter Fletcher blithely fictionalize the story of Michael “Eddie” Edwards, the English plasterer who realized a lifelong dream by attending the 1988 Winter Olympics as a ski-jumper. He didn’t win—came in dead last, in fact—but he had the time of his life and captured the indulgent attention of reporters and viewers, especially back home in the U.K. Taron Egerton plays Edwards with boyish, infectious zest, and Hugh Jackman does as an amusing turn as Eddie’s (fictitious) coach.

Some hilarious facets of the true story are left out while much is invented, but the movie is an irresistible sports tearjerker. Plus, it gives us an athlete’s-eye-view of ski jumping that makes us understand why Edwards loved doing it. Never underestimate the value of that. J.L.

In a conspicuously pale-skinned ancient Egypt, 10-foot tall, shape-shifting deities walk amongst the mortals. Favored son and ribald god Horus (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) prepares to ascend to the throne when he’s maimed and exiled by his father’s power-mad brother Set (Gerard Butler); meanwhile, a resourceful human thief (Brenton Thwaites) tries to retrieve his dead wife from the underworld.

Smeary, cartoonish, largely unimaginative CGI special effects wash over every single shot of director and co-writer Alex Proyas’ dopey spectacular, while the performances are a bizarre mixed bag. Butler is crazy bad as the villainous Set, and it feels like Thwaites’ moptopped thief wandered in from a community theater performance of Xanadu, but Geoffrey Rush was born to play Ra, the Egyptian sun god. The film is so ridiculously awful that it threatens to bend back into compelling camp, but the end result is just too excruciating to be entertaining. D.B.

Hail, Caesar!

Josh Brolin stars in Hail, Caesar! as Eddie Mannix, a 1950s studio executive known for his ability to protect his stars and manipulate the press. Mannix is loosely based on the real-life MGM “fixer” of the same name, and as a series of disconnected scenes skewering old Hollywood, Joel and Ethan Coen’s film is a blast. Unfortunately, there’s no center to hold the disparate pieces together. We never connect with Mannix as a character, and the film moves in stops and starts, with the pace severely lagging between showstopping sequences. A lot of scenes work as ideas, but not as scenes, especially the ones involving a cabal of Communist screenwriters. There are still those welcome touches of Coen acidity, and as an examination of the post-war hypocrisy of Hollywood, the fantasyland of Hail, Caesar! is ten thousand times more righteous than the based-on-fact Trumbo.

But as a Coen brothers’ movie, it’s just OK. D.B.

3

NOW!

Deadpool

A mentally unstable mercenary (Ryan Reynolds) undergoes experimental surgery for his cancer; it leaves him with advanced healing abilities, but so hideously ugly that he goes underground, allowing his girlfriend (Morena Baccarin) to think he’s dead while he seeks revenge on his doctor (Ed Skrein). Oh, and for reasons too contrived to go into, he takes the name “Deadpool.” The jokes in this foul-mouthed super-anti-hero movie begin with the credits— instead of actors’ names we get “British Villain,” “CGI Character,” “Comic Relief,” etc. Some of the jokes in Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick’s script are pretty funny, which helps compensate for the dreary familiarity of the CGI fight scenes.

Tim Miller’s direction is flat, but he keeps things moving. J.L.

3

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

BY DANIEL BARNES & JIM LANE

The Lady in the Van

Adapted by playwright Alan Bennett from his own memoir, The Lady in the Van offers more fourth wall-breaking narrative devices than a Tarantino fever dream, but since

Transistions Buprenorphine Clinic 3647 40th Street, Sac CA, 95817 916.452.1068 transitions.drflynn@gmail.com “No, seriously, just wait for VOD.”

3

Triple 9

After a striking debut with The Proposition, Australian director John Hillcoat has settled into a gruff, deadly serious competence. Triple 9 is Hillcoat’s third grimly serviceable film in a row, following The Road and Lawless, although he’s once again put together a shockingly good cast. Four Oscarnominated actors (Kate Winslet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Casey Affleck and Woody Harrelson) and a supporting team of excellent character actors and promising talent (Anthony Mackie, Aaron Paul, Norman Reedus, Gal Gadot, Clifton Collins Jr., Michael Kenneth Williams) assemble for a film that is the dictionary definition of “wait for VOD.” Dirty Atlanta cops in too deep with the Russian mob pull off increasingly dangerous bank heists, while a wide-eyed rookie (Affleck) and his dogged but drug-addled uncle (Harrelson, having fun) threaten to blow the deal. The heist scenes are handled well, but the good cop/bad cop stuff feels rote, and the performances are largely leashed to clichés. D.B.

we’re never that invested in the characters, it doesn’t add up to anything but a self-satisfied distraction. Maggie Smith excels in the title role, playing a cantankerous eccentric and possible fugitive going by the name of Mary Shepherd, a homeless woman who takes up residence in Alan’s driveway, but the main character here is actually the bookish and withdrawn Alan (Alex Jennings). Beyond the inherently icky premise of framing a story around a destitute and dying woman teaching a privileged jerk to be slightly less of a privileged jerk, the character of Alan never fully comes to life. He comes to see Mary as his “mother’s derelict counterpart,” but our relation to Alan and his mommy issues is always more assumed than felt. D.B.

3

Race

The dazzling Olympic career of track-and-field legend Jesse Owens, who won three gold medals and shared a fourth at the 1936 games in Berlin, thereby putting the lie to Hitler’s boasts of Aryan racial superiority, gets a solid if uninspired filming from writers Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse and director Stephen Hopkins. The truth is, the bare facts of the story are inspiring enough, and at least the movie doesn’t drop the ball. Stephan James puts himself on the map with a strong showing as Owens, matched by Jason Sudeikis as Owens’ coach, acquitting himself well in a change-of-pace straight dramatic role. It’s essentially a twocharacter movie, but others do well in support: Carice van Houten as documentary filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, Jeremy Irons in a long cameo as Olympic bigwig Avery Brundage, etc. J.L.

2

Son of Saul

At Auschwitz during World War II, a Sonderkommando—that is, a Jewish prisoner forced to work disposing of the corpses of his fellow Jews—finds one body he believes is that of his teenage son, then goes seeking a rabbi to say the proper prayers over the boy. This Hungarian drama from writer-director László Nemes won the 2015 Golden Globe for foreignlanguage film, and looks like the front-runner for an Oscar as well. But it’s turgid and uninvolving, a dreary downer even beyond the tragic subject matter. It’s never really clear what’s going on or what the characters are talking about, or even

who the main character is or why he thinks this is his son. Nemes stages nearly the whole movie as one long close-up of leading man Géza Röhrig, and his numb, expressionless face quickly becomes a boring presence. J.L.

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Where to Invade Next

It has become so easy and so right to blame Michael Moore for everything annoying about the contemporary state of activist documentaries that his skill as an entertainer often gets overlooked. One good belly laugh from Moore is worth a million paranoid whispers from Alex Gibney and Eugene Jarecki. Just try to watch any one of the neoconservative hit piece/rip-off documentaries produced in the last dozen years, and you’ll realize how difficult it is to do what Moore does. His first theatrical release in six years, Where to Invade Next puts Moore back in high-concept territory, as he “invades” foreign countries to steal their ideas for social change, such as Finnish school reforms and Portuguese drug policies. The arguments are simplistic but effective, and while this entertaining film probably won’t change many people’s minds about the need for social liberalism, that’s a ridiculous standard for any work of art. D.B.

5

The Witch

Writer-director Robert Eggers makes a shockingly self-assured feature debut with the terrifying “New England Folk Tale” of The Witch. A soul-withering, vaguely sexual slow creep in the vein of Under the Skin, only with all of the dialogue spoken in spot-on Old English, The Witch feels authentic both as Pilgrim anthropology and as a waking nightmare.

In a tenuously settled American territory in the 17th century, a family of fundamentalists gets exiled from the commonwealth, forced to the edge of the forest for taking the popular religious doctrine too far. The father refuses to compromise his extreme beliefs about sin, taking his gospel to the freedom of the wilderness, but it’s not long before hunger, isolation, paranoia and supernatural terror tear the family apart. Undeniably disturbing and strangely elegant, The Witch creates its horror with such care that the film may be over before you realize it’s a tour-de-force genre classic. D.B.

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Y

I’m a longtime resident and artist living and working here in Oak Park, and it’s an honor to be part of the flourishing renaissance happening in my community. Events such as First Fridays in Oak Park create another opportunity for people in the neighborhood and surrounding communities to walk around and taste, touch, hear and see the vibrant palette that makes up this urban setting. As an artist, I’m inspired by the creative, eclectic vibe found here and proud to call Oak Park the place where I live, work, and play.”

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$60 EMISSIONS DIAGNOSTIC

its first full-length album, 2013’s No Passion All Technique. The band members’ collective work ethic and drive, however, has led them closer to a sneaky catchiness on each release. Listeners can hear it in Casey’s sing-speak, atonal vocals that edge closer to ragged crooning, particularly on “I Forgive You,” on the band’s latest album, 2015’s The Agent Intellect.

The song is based on the real-life case of a priest at the Jesuit high school that all the Feel the light.

Protomartyr members attended, who was convicted of molesting a student. A particular detail about the behavior of the Making Pitchfork’s and the New York Times’ priest captured Casey’s imagination. year-end “best of” lists doesn’t always translate “I thought it was interesting he approached these into bringing a crowd in Sacramento. In fact, criminal acts from a scientific point of view. He took Detroit band Protomartyr’s last show here—in these meticulous notes,” Casey says.

2014 with G. Green at the now-shuttered Luigi’s Casey incorporated the priest’s crimes into “I Fun Garden—was hardly packed.

Forgive You” with storytelling precision: “Caught Frontman and singer Joe Casey, reached by him in the locker room / running tapes—taking phone the night before his band embarked on an epic notes / on where the boys fall on the spectrum / months-long tour, laughed while recalling that night’s scientific method.” sparse crowd.

Local band G. Green’s singer-guitarist “I hope this one’s a little bit better than Andrew Henderson points to Casey’s that one, but we still had fun,” he says. evocative, slice-of-life lyrics as one Protomartyr returns to of the reasons his band is coming Protomartyr’s Sacramento this Saturday, March 5, out of hiatus to play its last show at Blue Lamp. with Protomartyr. bleak, churning and A lot of the ink spilled about “They’re just, like, no hypnotic sound has Protomartyr mentions Casey’s late bullshit, which is rare,” been solid since the start as a frontman and the fact Henderson says. that as someone in his late 30s, This novelistic theme and beginning. he has 10 years on the rest of the oblique approach is typical: his band, which includes Greg Ahee on mother’s Alzheimer’s Disease (“why guitar, Alex Leonard on drums and Scott does it shake? / the body / why does Davidson on bass. it move? / the fear”), and the sometimes Still, Casey says the generation gap is not too crushing boredom of middle-aged parties (“old folks acute. “Mostly now it comes down to musical tastes. party / take care / mind the décor”).

It seems like young people are a little less tribal in These days Casey takes on those parties with a their tastes, a little more catholic,” he says. philosophical approach. “You see people raging as Casey got his taste for life in a small, independent much as when they were young and you think ‘This rock band when he was a “shiftless roadie” on U.S. is pitiful!’” he says. “But then there are some people and European tours for Tyvek, another critically who can do it with class. … There are still lifers. I’d acclaimed Detroit band. He said he found the experilike to be a part-time lifer if I can.” Ω ence inspiring.

“When I got back to Detroit I wanted to get a band together myself. … I picked vocalist because Check out Protomartyr on Saturday, March 5, at Blue Lamp, that’s the only thing I could do,” he says.

1400 Alhambra Boulevard. Tickets are $12. Chastity Belt and G. Green Protomartyr’s bleak, churning and hypnotic sound are also on the bill. Learn more at www.protomartyrband.com. has been solid since the beginning, as evidenced on

SouNd advice

Venue upsets

—Nick Miller nic kam@ new s r ev i ew . com

For sale: The Palms Playhouse, a longtime staple of the local singer-songwriter community, is up for sale. That means the Winters venue’s calendar is empty for the first time in years.

Earlier this month, the Palms posted a brief update to its Facebook

page: “We haven’t felt right confirming shows not knowing if a possible sale would happen. While there is nothing currently listed … we do have some shows waiting in the wings if our current space remains available to us, and are exploring a number of options as we move forward.”

Talent buyer Dave Fleming could not be reached for comment.

Dave Alvin was purportedly the venue’s last show on Saturday, February 20, but keep checking www.facebook.com/The.Palms. in.Winters.CA for more updates.

—eddie JorgeNseN

True growth: Naked Lounge was packed last Friday for a great, all-local lineup: Vinnie Guidera & the Dead Birds, Silver Spoons, Mallard and Honyock. It was Mallard’s EP release, but Honyock easily stole the show.

Since its inception, Honyock has always been a solid roots-rock band.

But at some point in the past year, the local four-piece blossomed into an exceptional band. Influences remain the same—rock with Americana notes and a classic rock edge à la Dr. Dog— but the material and execution got so much better. This was made clear during Honyock’s quick 30-minute set of mostly new songs, which blew the crowd away. Brothers Spencer and Mason Hoffman played guitars and sang with a gentle, flawed charm.

Drummer Christian Meinke was a powerhouse, bringing balance with loud, simple, midtempo and Tom Petty-esque beats. Meanwhile, bass player Tyler Wolter contributed a deep groove to the mix. All together, the sound felt laid-back and driving at the same time. Honyock, which happens to be nominated for a Sammie in the folk rock category, is growing into one of the best rock bands in town.

FRI APRIL 1ST SPAZMATICS

KARAOKE

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AMAZING DINNER SPECIALS NIGHTLY

ST PATRICK’S DAY PRE PARTY SATURDAY MARCH 12TH

CONED BEEF N CABBAGE. REUBEN’S AND OTHER IRISH DISHES FREE LATE NIGHT CORNED BEEF N HASH $2 GREEN BEER $6 CAR BOMBS 8-10PM

STTHURSDAY PATTIES DAY MARCH 17TH

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on the inner light and the inner sound Free introductory class given by a regional speaker followed by optional free vegetarian lunch and discussion Sunday, March 6th, 12 noon Sierra 2 Center, Curtis Hall 2791 - 24th St. Sacramento

THE PARROT HEADS LIVE ON STAGE. JIMMY BUFFET TRIBUTE LIVE ROCK BAND KARAOKE UP FRONT! IRISH DINNERS AND FUN

FREE DANCE LESSONS NIGHTLY

1320 DEL PASO BLVD

STONEYINN.COM | 916.927.6023

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#artmix @crockerart fti

Ace of Spades 2.0: Live Nation is one of the largest concert promoters in the United States. The multibillion-dollar company has an operating interest in dozens of venues across the country, from San Francisco’s the Fillmore to every House of Blues venue in America.

Add Sacramento’s Ace of Spades to that list.

Ace owners Bret Bair and Eric Rushing have sold their business to Live Nation for an undisclosed amount. Bair told SN&R that they had multiple offers from various national concert promoters. “We felt that Ace of Spades would fit nicely with their other properties,” he said. “This is a great time for Sacramento, as far as the interest that national companies have in the market.” Bair and Rushing will join Live Nation as employees.

Their other venues, including Goldfield Trading Post and the Boardwalk, are not part of the deal.

Bair also said Live Nation has “strong interest” in a bigger Sacramento venue, something with 2,500 to 4,000 capacity. “There’s definitely a couple locations that have been pegged” in the central city, he said, adding that Live Nation is “being aggressive.”

He promised Ace of Spades’ loyal customers that much won’t change.

“Hopefully, it means more programming,” he said, or a better variety of programming.

Live Nation will also book acts at the new Kings arena, including the already scheduled Maroon 5 gig.

Bair said he and Rushing began discussing the sale of Ace of Spades last year. “Eric and I put our life savings into Ace of Spades,” he said. But, after a shooting incident outside the venue last February, the duo realized that it might be smarter to sell now.

He wouldn’t discuss financial details. “It was a decent chunk of change. It wasn’t cheap. We didn’t give it away. It was a really great deal for us.”

—AAroN cArNes

BTW: You have until Monday, March 7, to vote for your favorite local bands for a Sammies award.

Visit www.sammies.com now, before you forget again.

Tickets for the awards show on Thursday, March 24, at Ace of Spades are on sale for just $5 instead of $10 at http://snrsweetdeals.newsreview.com.

—JANelle Bitker jan el l e b @ne w s re v i e w . c o m

VAUDEVILLE

THURS, MAR 10 5 - 9 PM 21+

PETER PETTY AND HIS TERPSICHOREANS OPEN MIC + PECULIAR PERFORMANCES HAPPY HOUR 5 - 6 PM / $5 DRINK SPECIAL

03.03.16 | SN&R | 33

03 T HU

03 T HU

04 FRI

05 SAT

Fatlip & Slimkid3

Blue Oaks

American Killers

Hot Flash Heat Wave

Harlow’s restaurant & nigHtclub, 8 p.m., $20-$25 The Pharcyde released back-to-back classics in the ’90s with the Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde debut and Labcabincalifornia follow-up. With success came amplified internal struggles that manifested in crack addiction and physical fights. The Pharcyde fractured, but Fatlip (pictured) and Slimkid3 have since restored their friendHIp-HOp ship and continue to tour off their solo works. Fatlip’s The Loneliest Punk continues to age well 11 years removed, while Slimkid3 released a solid collaboration album with DJ Nu-Mark in 2014. And perhaps with enough encouragement they’ll dig back to their Pharcyde days? 2708 J Street, http://thepharcyde.com.

pour House, 10 p.m., no cover

starlite lounge, 8 p.m., $7

Blue Oaks’ guitarist and vocalist Brendan Stone has officially moved back to Sacramento after a stint in Austin, Texas and will join drummer Cody Walker BLUES to perform new songs and familiar tunes from their 7-inch single, “Hit By a Train from New York City Blues” and its B side, “Skeleton Key.” The folksy-blues duo will perform follow the Deschutes Beard & Mustache Competition in honor of Sacramento Beer Week. Blue Oaks will release a full-length album this summer and continue to work meticulously to capture that old-school analog authenticity. 1910 Q Street, www.facebook.com/ blueoaksmusic.

—blake gillespie

tHird space art collective, 7 p.m., $5

Lite Brite fans, say hello to the same band under a new name: American Killers. And if you already know Lite Brite, then you know American Killers is made up of three complete badasses who perform like lunatics: hair flying, bodies thrashing, vocal chords straining, fuzz exploding. This will be American Killers’ first hometown show with its new identity, and as such, it’s ROcK releasing a debut EP, Young Blood, on March 7. Check out the epic animated video for “Big City,” chock-full of fast cars, naked ladies, explosions and a super-evil—or, uhh, normal?—Donald Trump. 1517 21st Street, http://americankillers.band.

—Janelle bitker

—stepH rodriguez

—amy bee

ACE OF SPADES THURSDAY, MARCH 3

DEAD KENNEDYS REAGAN YOUTH - SCREAMING BLOODY MARYS THE SECRETIONS

SUNDAY, MARCH 6

MIKE STUD

OCD: MOOSH & TWIST – FUTURISTIC - WNTRS

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

ALL AGES WELCOME!

THURSDAY, MARCH 17

ELI YOUNG BAND FRIDAY, MARCH 18

ANDRE NICKATINA

THURSDAY, MARCH 10

SUNDAY, MARCH 20

BAD OMENS

CROWN THE EMPIRE - ONE OK ROCK NIGHT VERSES

BORN OF OSIRIS VIEL OF MAYA - AFTER THE BURIAL – ERRA -

ISSUES MONDAY, MARCH 21

FRIDAY, MARCH 11

TONIGHT ALIVE & SET IT OFF

SILVERSTEIN BEING AS AN OCEAN – EMAROSA – COLDRAIN - RARITY

THE READY SET - SAY WE CAN FLY

SATURDAY, MARCH 12

TUESDAY, MARCH 22

THE ALPHA COMPLEX - WHITE KNUCKLE RIOT – SAGES - MADISON AVE - HEAT OF DAMAGE A MILE TILL DAWN - CONCIEVED IN CHAOS

THE FACELESS - GOOD TIGER

FALLRISE

AUGUST BURNS RED & BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ALL DIMPLE RECORDS LOCATIONS AND ARMADILLO RECORDS 34 | SN&R | 03.03.16

Hot Flash Heat Wave released its debut album Neapolitan late last year with a much more polished sound than the EP from the year before. With catchy ROcK harmonies and enthusiastic live shows, it’s quickly become the West Coast’s band crush. The instrumentation flirts with the early 2000s garage-rock renaissance while vocals stay light and poppy. HFHW sounds surprisingly cohesive for a band that put out its first full-length album in 2015; what each member of the quartet brings to the table melds so well that it sounds like it’s been a group for decades. 946 Olive Drive in Davis, www.facebook.com/HotFlashHeatWave.

COMING

SOON

03/23 03/24 03/25 03/26 03/30 04/05 04/06 04/07 04/08 04/09 04/10 04/16 04/18 04/21 04/22 04/23 05/01 05/05 05/06 05/12 05/18 05/20 05/27 05/28 06/03 07/23

Pop Evil SAMMIES Baby Bash Big SMO Geographer & The Crookes Chase Bryant Tyler And The Creator Killswitch Engage Ratt The English Beat Vilma Palma E. Vampiros Dokken Parachute J Boog The Expendables Jerrod Nieman Apocalyptica Digitour Spring Break Moonshine Bandits Tech N9ne Somo Hatebreed / Devil Driver Frightened Rabbit Katchafire Josh Thompson Julieta Venegas

cHOcK-FULL OF FAST cARS, NAKED LADIES, EXPLOSIONS AND A SUPER-EvIL—OR, UHH, NORMAL?—DONALD TRUMP.

05 SAT

06 S UN

07 MON

08 T UE

Dengue Fever

Kimock

Bongzilla

Heartwatch

Harlow’s NigHtclub & restauraNt, 8 p.m., $15

ceNter For tHe arts, 8 p.m., $27-$32

The most obvious element that sets six-piece Dengue Fever apart from just about every other band on the club circuit is the influence of Cambodian pop, both current and retro.

Indeed, there are some songs that sound like they were plucked off of a ’60s Cambodian garage-rock compilation. But Dengue Fever is so much more than Cambodian-pop (or even garage rock, for that matter). The ROcK band fuses elements of psych-rock, funk, indie, Latin and a bunch of other influences. It’s no surprise that this melting pot of a band is from the biggest melting pot there is: Los Angeles. 2708 J Street, www.dengue fevermusic.com.

Fans of the Grateful Dead and its many side projects already know guitarist Steve Kimock for his work with the Other Ones, Bob Weir’s RatDog, and EXPERIMENTAL his own group Zero. This particular show pairs him with his son John Morgan Kimock, an equally thoughtprovoking drummer and composer. They’ll play selections from his latest, Last Danger of Frost, joined by Bobby Vega on bass in addition to guest vocalist Leslie Mendelson.

Expect a night of heady musical fare that showcases Steve Kimock’s love for defying the laws of musical tradition. 314 West Main Street in Grass Valley, www.kimock.com.

—aaroN carNes

—eddie JorgeNseN

starlite louNge, 7 p.m. $18

lowbrau, 8 p.m., No cover

Legendary sludge band Bongzilla is coming to town, and while it seems to have a theme, I’m not sure what it is. After spending some time with the album Amerijuanican, I’m pulling out my hair trying to discern the meaning behind songs such as “Weedy Woman” and “Champagne & Reefer.” What I do know is that this band crushes—fuzzy, heavy and screechingly dope. If you know SLUDGE what’s going on with these guys, please clue me in. Otherwise, I’ll probably just get really high before the show and see if I can figure it out then. 1517 21st Street, www.facebook.com/Bongzilla.

—aNtHoNy siiNo

Formerly known as the Tropics, San Francisco five-piece Heartwatch plays perfectly palatable indie-pop rock.

Following the release of the newest single “Never Let You Go,” which debuted on Entertainment Weekly last INDIE ROcK month, the band evokes a sort of less dramatic Florence + the Machine brushed ever so lightly with a First Aid Kit kind of Americana. Having played Outside Lands previously and slated to play BottleRock in Napa this year, you can be sure that Heartwatch is a band to, well, watch and catch at a small venue while you still can. 1050 20th Street, http://heartwatchmusic.com.

—deeNa drewis

★ 21 yrs+ EvEnts ★

sac beer week events ★

★

EvENtS

votEd BESt BaR IN RoSEvILLE! 2015 -PRESS tRIBUNE

Mar 04 Christian DeWilD Mar 05 simple Creation Mar 06 peter holDen Duo* Mar 11 VagabonD brothers Mar 12 brian rogers Mar 13 James parr*

BEER WEEK LINE-UP Mar 03 FooD & beer pairing night: traCk 7 & alaskan Mar 04 ipa Day! Doubles & triples: knee Deep, rubiCon, mraZ & altamont Mar 05 soCal/norCal saturDay: piZZa port, speakeasy, stone & more kill the kegs! DisCounteD pints all Day! 27 Beers on Draft trivia monDays @ 6:30pm open mic weDnesDays sign-ups @ 7:30pm

ComeDy open miC’s eVery thursDay night 7:30pm pint night monDays 5-8pm

101 MaIN StREEt, RoSEvILLE 916-774-0505 · lunCh/Dinner 7 Days a Week Fri & sat 9:30pm - Close 21+

Thursday 3/3 • 5pm ★ FRUIT BEER NIGHT 25+Fruit Draft Beers of varying styles!

Local Food Vendor, Cash Prophets start at 7pm, Live Art & Art Display from local Artist Annie Limond ★

★ Friday 3/4 • 4-7pm ★ SEVEN STILLS TASTING & BEER PAIRING BBQ starts at 5pm ★ Saturday 3/5 • 7pm ★ Pizza Port Tap Take Over & Revision Brewing Collab Night! PIG ROAST BBQ starts at 6pm, 11 Handle Takeover!

Come Challenge the Brewers to Cornhole & Horseshoe Games!

Country Club Saloon Prizes for 1st and 2nd places

4007 Taylor Road Loomis, CA {EXIT I-80 TO SIERRA COLLEGE}

916-652-4007 countryclubsaloon.com

/bar101roseVille

03.03.16 | SN&R | 35

THURSDAY 3/3

FRIDAY 3/4

SATURDAY 3/5

BADLANDS

#TBT and 5 Card Stud, 8pm, call for cover

Fabulous and Gay Fridays, 9pm, call for cover

Spectacular Saturdays, 10pm, call for cover

BAR 101

Beer Week: Food and beer pairing night Beer Week: IPA Day and CHRISTIAN and comedy open-mic, 7:30pm, no cover DEWILD, 9pm, call for cover

Beer Week: NorCal/SoCal Day and SIMPLE CREATION, 9pm, call for cover

Trivia, 6:30pm M; Open-mic, 7:30pm W, no cover

BLUE LAMP

WORK DIRTY, CAPO CLICK SMOKE SQODD, LACE LENO, G-WILL; 9pm

PROTOMARTYR, G. GREEN; 9pm, $12

Industry Night, M; BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR, 8pm Tu, $15

2003 K St., (916) 448-8790

List your event!

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.

101 Main St., Roseville; (916) 774-0505 1400 Alhambra, (916) 455-3400

THE BOARDWALK

SKIZZY MARS, GNASH; 7pm, $17-$20

CENTER FOR THE ARTS

DARLINGSIDE, CAITLIN CANTY; 8pm, $20-$24

9426 Greenback Ln., Orangevale; (916) 988-9247 314 W. Main St., Grass Valley; (530) 274-8384

KIMOCK, 8pm, $27-$32

Beer Week: Fruit Beers and CASH PROPHETS Johnny Cash Tribute, 5pm

Beer Week: Seven Stills Tasting; BOB WOODS, 5pm; OLD TOWN BOYS, 9pm

DISTRICT 30

THOMAS GOLD, 10pm, $10

DJ Oasis, Joseph 1; 10pm, call for cover

FACES

Everything Happens dancing and karaoke, 9pm, call for cover

Absolut Fridays dance party, 9pm, $5-$10

Party Time dance party with Sequin Saturdays drag show at 9:30pm, $5-$12

FOX & GOOSE

MARTY COHEN & THE SIDEKICKS, 8pm, no cover

KEVIN SECONDS, 9pm, $5

YOGOMAN, HANS! AND THE HOT MESS, SACTO SOUL REBELS; 9pm, $7

Open-mic, 7:30pm M; Pub quiz, 7pm Tu; All Vinyl Wednesdays, 6pm W, no cover

GOLDFIELD TRADING POST

Line dancing lessons, call for time and cover

CRIPPLE CREEK, 9pm, no cover

Country DJ dancing, 9pm, no cover

REAL FRIENDS, 7pm M, $5

HALFTIME BAR & GRILL

Karaoke happy hour, 7pm, no cover

THE TONE MONKEYS, 9pm, $5

Trivia night, 7pm Tu; Bingo, 1pm W; Paint Nite, 7pm W, $25

HARLOW’S

FATLIP, SLIMKID 3; 9pm, $20-$25

THE JEAN GENIES David Bowie Tribute, 6:30pm; SAVED BY THE ’90s, 10pm

DENGUE FEVER, TV MIKE AND THE SCARECROWS; 9pm, $15

THE HIDEAWAY BAR & GRILL

Punk and glam night with DJ Annimal, 9pm, no cover

Cassanova Frankenstein spins rock ’n’ roll; call for time, no cover

SONIC LOVE AFFAIR, THE SQUARE COOLS; 8pm, $1

Cactus Pete’s 78 RPM Record Roundup, 8pm Tu; Twisted Trivia, W

LUNA’S CAFE & JUICE BAR

Joe Montoya’s Poetry Unplugged, 8pm, $2

BACHELOR PARADISE, JULIE LAUTSCH, NANCY NORTHROP; 7pm, $5

ROCCO & STEVE MCCLANE, TONY GALIOTO; 7pm, $5

Nebraska Mondays, 7:30pm M; Openmic comedy, Tu; BOBBY BLECKMAN, W

4007 Taylor Rd., Loomis; (916) 652-4007 1016 K St., (916) 737-5770

1001 R St., (916) 443-8825

Hey local bands!

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 3/7-3/9 Big Mondays happy hour all night, M; Karaoke, Tu; Trapicana, W

COUNTRY CLUB SALOON

2000 K St., (916) 448-7798

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.

WILLIE JOE, YOUNG GULLY; 8pm, call for cover

SUNDAY 3/6 Sunday Tea Dance and Beer Bust, 4pm, call for cover

1603 J St., (916) 476-5076

5681 Lonetree Blvd., Rocklin; (916) 626-6366 2708 J St., (916) 441-4693 2565 Franklin Blvd., (916) 455-1331 1414 16th St., (916) 441-3931

MIDTOWN BARFLY

That Wild Thing on Friday, 10pm, $5

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

NAKED LOUNGE DOWNTOWN 1111 H St., (916) 443-1927

ISLAND OF BLACK AND WHITE, 7pm, no cover

CATHERINE DAYTON, SAM SHARP; 8:30pm, $5

XOCHITL, PATRICK NEHODA; 8:30pm, $5

Sunday Mass with heated pool, drag show, 2pm, no cover

ZYAH BELLE, 6pm, $12-$15

EDM and karaoke, 9pm M, no cover; Latin night, 9pm Tu, $5

ANDERSON EAST, DYLAN LE BLANC; 7pm Tu; POUYA, BUFFET BOYS; 7pm W

Salsa Wednesday, 7:30pm W, $5 DESTROY BOYS, LOVE DEFENDERS; 8:30pm, $5

NAKED LOUNGE QUINTET, 8:30pm M; LOOSE LEAF, 8:30pm W, $5

GET RESULTS! THE COOLEST, MOST INNOVATIVE WAY TO ADVERTISE

IMPACT MEDIA MOBILE ADVERTISING • 916.837.8456 • IMPACTMEDIA1.NET 36

|

SN&R

|

03.03.16

THURSDAY 3/3

FRIDAY 3/4

SATURDAY 3/5

OLD IRONSIDES

Karaoke, 9pm, no cover

SIX BEERS DEEP, OSTRICH THEORY, SLUTZVILLE; 9pm, $6

Lipstick, 9pm, $5

ON THE Y

Open-mic stand-up comedy and karaoke, 8pm, no cover

1901 10th St., (916) 442-3504 670 Fulton Ave., (916) 487-3731

SUNDAY 3/6

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 3/7-3/9 HEATH WILLIAMSON AND FRIENDS, 5:30pm M; Karaoke, Tu; Open-mic, W

Karaoke, 7:30pm, call for cover

Karaoke, 9pm Tu, no cover

THE PALMS PLAYHOUSE

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

PISTOL PETE’S

140 Harrison Ave., Auburn; (530) 885-5093

SHOTBLAST, 9pm, call for cover

S.W.I.M., VOO DOO DOLLS, BLAME THE BISHOP; 8pm, call for cover

POUR HOUSE

Beer Week: Deschutes party, 4pm; BLUE OAKS, 10pm, call for cover

TOTAL RECALL, 10pm, call for cover

VASAS, 10pm, no cover

Sunday Night Takeover with Sun Valley Gun Club, 9pm, no cover

FUTURE ROCKERS, YOUNG AUNDEE, ERNIE FRESH; 9pm W, call for cover

POWERHOUSE PUB

ASHLEY BARRON, call for time and cover

TAKE OUT, call for time and cover

BRODIE STEWART, call for time and cover

SHANE DWIGHT, 3pm, call for cover

Live band karaoke, 8pm Tu, call for cover; 98 Rock Local Licks, 8pm W

Press Club Fridays with DJ Rue, call for time and cover

Pop 40 dance party, 9pm, $5

Sunday Night Dance Part with DJ Larry, 9pm, call for cover

EMOTIONAL, FRIENDLESS SUMMER, VASAS; 8pm W, call for cover

1910 Q St., (916) 706-2465 614 Sutter St., Folsom; (916) 355-8586

THE PRESS CLUB

2030 P St., (916) 444-7914

Sonic Love Affair with the Square Cools 8pm Saturday, $1.

The Hideaway Bar & Grill Rock ’n’ roll

SHADY LADY SALOON 1409 R St., (916) 231-9121

STARLITE LOUNGE

Mission Control with DJ Nocturnal, Rated-R, Hey Zeus; 9pm, $5

AMERICAN KILLERS, LOVE MOON, HORSENECK, REPTOID; 8pm, $7

JUST LIKE HEAVEN Cure Tribute, NEW DAY RISING Husker Du Tribute; 10pm, $8

STONEY’S ROCKIN RODEO

Country DJ dancing and karaoke; call for time and cover

Country DJ dancing and karaoke, 8pm, $5

Country DJ dancing and karaoke, 8pm, $5

Country DJ dancing and karaoke, 8pm, $5

TORCH CLUB

Acoustic open-mic, 5pm, no cover MATT RAINEY AND DIPPIN’ SAUCE, 9pm

BLACK MARKET III, call for time and cover

SOLSA, call for time and cover

Blues jam, 4pm, no cover; Front the Band karaoke, 8pm, no cover

1517 21st St., (916) 704-0711 1320 Del Paso Blvd., (916) 927-6023 904 15th St., (916) 443-2797

BONGZILLA, BLACK COBRA, LO-PAN; 7pm M, $18; RIP, ANGLERFISH; 8pm W Country DJ dancing, 8:30pm W, $5-$10

All ages, all the time ACE OF SPADES

1417 R St., (916) 448-3300

DEAD KENNEDYS, REAGAN YOUTH, SCREAMING BLOODY MARYS; 7pm, $26

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2016

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The N&R assumes no financial liability for errors or omission of copy. In any event, liability shall not exceed the cost of the space occupied by such an error or omission.

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03.03.16

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massage THERAPISTS

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Awaken your state My dating life is pathetic because I find it hard to love and accept others when I don’t love and accept myself. I’m not at ease with others and that doesn’t allow them to be at ease. Suggestions?

to grow into who you are, and who you are becoming. In other words, discover how easy it is to be you.

I have a love-hate relationship with online dating. It’s scary to date people who might not call you back or who you think you like, and who might not like you.

It makes me afraid to talk to people I see and am attracted to when I travel or in my daily life. Any advice?

Yes, ditch your allegiance to the self-help gurus who say you must love yourself before you can love anyone else. If that statement was true, no one would ever love or be loved, because no one can love themselves or others that perfectly. It could be argued that a narcissist loves him or herself Choosing to tell yourself stories of all of the perfectly, but in truth, a narcissist is capable terrible things that could possibly happen if of attachment to an admirer, but not capable you extend yourself in love, is well, crazy. of love. The person dating the narcissist Why turn your dreams into nightmares? isn’t in love, either. He or she is Most people do it because it gives in co-dependency, or some them an excuse to hide, or other unawakened state. So to attack. Yes, that means please don’t judge yourthey really don’t want self so harshly for not what they say they yet having a partner. want (a partner); All of us stumble It’s not love to only they’re just trying on the path to selfto conform to celebrate someone’s light, understanding, and social expectations while pretending his or her in relationship. around romantic When someone dark side doesn’t exist. relationships. But says: “You must having a partner love yourself before won’t invest you with you can love others,” a sense of belonging. what they mean is that You must embrace the we love others to the extent ways you already belong, and that we have accepted ourselves. currently have what you want. So So if I have accepted that I am sometimes stop rejecting the single life. Stop worrying annoying, imperfect, demanding and impaabout whether your phone calls will be tient (and I am), I can embrace all of who returned, or your affections requited. Call another person is. That’s love. It’s not love yourself back to the present, and enjoy to only celebrate someone’s light, while every moment. Ω pretending his or her dark side doesn’t exist.

That’s denial.

For you to love yourself is to accept that you’re insecure at times, and that meeting MedItAtIon of the Week new people heightens your insecurity.

“I have never seen a greater You’re not alone in that experience—a lot monster or miracle in the of people share those feelings, even people world than myself,” said Michel who seem to have life dialed in. The good de Montaigne, French writer news is that the skills you need can be and philosopher. What happens learned, and will improve with practice. when you shine a light on your Begin with a commitment to learning how dark side? to be authentic. If you feel uncomfortable approaching someone you are attracted to, Write, email or leave a message for say so. Like this: “I’m nervous approachJoey at the News & Review. Give ing you, but I didn’t want this moment to your name, telephone number pass without introducing myself. There’s (for verification purposes only) and question—all something about you that just stands out, correspondence will be kept strictly confidential. and I wanted to tell you.” If the person says Write Joey, 1124 Del Paso Boulevard, Sacramento, CA thank you but shuts you down, don’t take it 95815; call (916) 498-1234, ext. 3206; or email as defeat. Celebrate breaking through fear askjoey@newsreview.com.

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SN&R | 03.03.16

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I wanted to ask you if you have any ideas on how to invest in some way. I have some cash, but I do not have any idea on how or which way to invest—either in production or sales would be great. I read your weekly column and regard you as an expert. I appreciate any insight and info you can provide.

—Sally C. Indeed. You know, a random dude asked me just this morning how to get in on the cannabis industry. He had no idea what he wanted to do—he just wanted to “make money,” as if it were that simple. Keep a few things in mind: I am not a financial expert. For real. And: Cannabis is still illegal under federal law. Depending on what happens this November, California’s cannabis industry could be full of social justice, money and fat buds, or chaos and chicanery.

People can and do lose money.

That being said: The ArcView Group (www.arcviewgroup.com) is a good place to start. You just missed the International Cannabis Business Conference, but the Marijuana Investor Summit is happening in San Francisco this weekend. More info at www.marijuanainvestorsummit.com. Do your due diligence and try to talk to people who have been in the marijuana business for at least five years. Have fun and good luck!

Pot, not prison, may save this town.

Hey man, is there any good news in California? Please help.

—Poly Anna I can indeed bring you good news! It turns out that some towns and counties are looking to shed their NIMBYness (NIMBYosity?) and embrace the 21st century.

Out in the SoCal towns of Adelanto and Desert Hot Springs, local officials—gonna say it once more for the politicians in the back: local officials!—have decided to create reasonable regulations and encourage large-scale cannabis cultivation projects. According to reports, industrial property values in Adelanto have already seen a huge spike in growth. Not bad for a former-Air-Force-town-turned-prison-town-turned-earlypioneer-in-the-cannabis-industry. Imagine that: Pot, not prison, may save this town.

In Desert Hot Springs, city officials expect to generate at least $5 million per year through fees and taxes, and plan to turn their town into a sort of regional hub for the cannabis industry.

I would like to thank the activists and lawyers and political figures who worked to bring these towns into the future. While I may have my own concerns about large-scale, super-commercial grows, I think that the cannabis industry could be a boon for many small towns looking for ways to boost their economy. Hell, it worked for Humboldt County after the logging industry fell off. Weed can also work for other towns. Fresno and Stockton, I’m looking at you. Ω

VOTED BEST 420 PHYSICIAN IN SAC! ’15

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Email him questions at ask420@newsreview.com.

www.420MD.org 03.03.16 | SN&R | 45

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Has Medical Marijuana iMproved Your life?

Capital Cannabis Guide is looking for stories of people whose lives have been positively impacted by the use of medical marijuana.

Contact editor Michelle Carl at michellec@newsreview.com to share your story.

Photo by ANNE STOKES

Co2 Made’s Cherry Berry Blast, Fire Drop and Pink Lemonade candies

by Daniel Barnes

Go Ahead, Treat Yourself

T

Value ......................★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Discretion ...............★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ Potency ..................★ ★ ★ ★ ✩

here may be no more satisfying impulse purchase than checkout line candy. You’ve got the bulk of your items stacked up in front of a cash register or stretched out on a grocery store conveyor belt, and you toss an extra treat into the pile, a little reward for your ride home.

Priced at an extremely reasonable $4 a pop, the medical cannabis hard candies from Co2 Made seem positioned as the dispensary version of checkout line impulse purchases (although unlike an Almond Joy, you should wait until after the ride home to ingest these sweet treats). Each candy packs in 30mg of THC, a pretty heaping “single serving” of medicine, and an excellent bargain for the price.

The Co2 Made candies come in three different flavors, although two of them are so similar in taste and appearance, I’m not sure why one is called Cherry Berry Blast and the other Pink Lemonade.

Sugar and corn syrup are the first two ingredients in both candies, though, so obviously they’re both good, offering a flavor and texture similar to the exterior shell of a Blow Pop, only with an extra shot of dankness.

The medical cannabis hard candies from Co2 Made seem positioned as the dispensary version of checkout line impulse purchases.

Fruit-flavored hard candies are right in my wheelhouse, but the real revelation of the Co2 Made candy line is the Fire Drop, a cinnamon-hot hard candy in the Red Hots vein. The taste-bud-tingling flavor and heat level are absolutely perfect — it made me long for a brand of candy that I never even liked that much.

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Free will astrology

by Raheem F. hosseini

by Rob bRezsny

FOR THE WEEk OF MARCH 3, 2016 ARIES (March 21-April 19): Actress Blythe Baird

writes about the problem that arises when her dog sees her eating a peanut-butter-andchocolate-chip bagel. Her beloved pet begs for a piece and becomes miserable when it’s not forthcoming. Baird is merely demonstrating her love, of course, because she knows that eating chocolate can make canines ill. I suspect that life is bestowing a comparable blessing on you. You may feel mad and sad about being deprived of something you want. But the likely truth is that you will be lucky not to get it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “I do not literally

paint that table, but rather the emotion it produces upon me,” French artist Henri Matisse told an interviewer. “But what if you don’t always have emotion?” she asked him. This is how Matisse replied: “Then I do not paint. This morning, when I came to work, I had no emotion.

So I took a horseback ride. When I returned, I felt like painting, and had all the emotion I wanted.”

This is excellent advice for you to keep in mind, Taurus. Even more than usual, it’s crucial that you imbue every important thing you do with pure, strong emotions. If they’re not immediately available, go in quest of them.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Some night soon,

I predict you’ll dream of being an enlightened sovereign who presides over an ecologically sustainable paradise. You’re a visionary leader who is committed to peace and high culture, so you’ve never gone to war. You share your wealth with the people in your kingdom. You revere scientists and shamans alike, providing them with what they need to do their good work for the enhancement of the realm. Have fun imagining further details of this dream, Gemini, or else make up your own.

Now is an excellent time to visualize a fairy tale version of yourself at the height of your powers, living your dreams and sharing your gifts.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): It’s not always

necessary to have an expansive view of where you have been and where you are going, but it’s crucial right now. So I suggest that you take an inventory of the big picture. For guidance, study this advice from philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: “What have you truly loved? What has uplifted your soul, what has dominated and delighted it at the same time? Assemble these revered objects in a row before you and they may reveal a law by their nature and their order: the fundamental law of your very self.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Sportswear manufacturer

Adidas is looking for ways to repurpose trash that humans dump in the oceans. One of its creations is a type of shoe made from illegal deep-sea nets that have been confiscated from poachers. I invite you to get inspired by Adidas’s work. From an astrological perspective, now is a good time to expand and refine your personal approach to recycling. Brainstorm about how you could convert waste and refuse into useful, beautiful resources—not just literally, but also metaphorically. For example, is there a ruined or used-up dream that could be transformed into raw material for a shiny new dream?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “There isn’t enough

of anything as long as we live,” wrote Raymond Carver. “But at intervals a sweetness appears and, given a chance, prevails.” According to my analysis of the astrological omens, Virgo, you’ll soon be gliding through one of these intervals.

Now and then you may even experience the strange sensation of being completely satisfied with the quality and amount of sweetness that arrives. To ensure optimal results, be as free from greed as you can possibly be.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “The other day,

lying in bed,” writes poet Rodger Kamenetz, “I felt my heart beating for the first time in a long while. I realized how little I live in my body, how much in my mind.” He speaks for the majority of us. We spend much of our lives entranced by the relentless jabber that unfolds between our ears. But I want to let you know, Scorpio, that the moment is ripe to rebel against this tendency in yourself. In the coming weeks, you will have a natural talent for celebrating your body. You’ll be able to commune deeply with its sensations, to learn more abut how it works and to exult in the pleasure it gives you and the wisdom it provides.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In his

“Dream Song 67,” poet John Berryman confesses, “I am obliged to perform in complete darkness / operations of great delicacy / on my self.” I hope you will consider embarking on similar heroics, Sagittarius. It’s not an especially favorable time to overhaul your environment or try to get people to change in accordance with your wishes. But it’s a perfect moment to spruce up your inner world—to tinker with and refine it so that everything in there works with more grace. And unlike Berryman, you won’t have to proceed in darkness. The light might not be bright, but there’ll be enough of a glow to see what you’re doing.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Here’s the

dictionary’s definition of the word “indelible”: “having the quality of being difficult to remove, wash away, blot out or efface; incapable of being canceled, lost or forgotten.” The word is often used in reference to unpleasant matters: stains on clothes, biases that distort the truth, superstitions held with unshakable conviction or painful memories of romantic breakups. I am happy to let you know that you now have more power than usual to dissolve seemingly indelible stuff like that. Here’s a trick that might help you: Find a new teacher or teaching that uplifts you with indelible epiphanies.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): According to poet

Tony Hoagland, most of us rarely “manage to finish a thought or a feeling; we usually get lazy or distracted and quit halfway through.” Why? Hoagland theorizes that we “don’t have the time to complete the process, and we dislike the difficulty and discomfort of the task.” There’s a cost for this negligence: “We walk around full of half-finished experiences.” That’s why Hoagland became a poet. He says that “poems model the possibility of feeling all the way through an emotional process” and “thinking all the way through a thought.” The coming weeks will be a favorable time to get more in the habit of finishing your own feelings and thoughts, Aquarius. It will also be more important than usual that you do so!

(Hoagland’s comments appeared in Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Fine Arts.)

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Unless you work at

night and sleep by day, you experience the morning on a regular basis. You may have a love-hate relationship with it, because on the one hand you don’t like to leave your comfortable bed so early, and on the other hand you enjoy anticipating the interesting events ahead of you. But aside from your personal associations with the morning, this time of day has always been a potent symbol of awakenings and beginnings. Throughout history, poets have invoked it to signify purity and promise. In myth and legend, it often represents the chance to see things afresh, to be free of the past’s burdens, to love life unconditionally.

Dream interpreters might suggest that a dream of morning indicates a renewed capacity to trust oneself. All of these meanings are especially apropos for you right now, Pisces.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “For a wound to heal,

you have to clean it out,” says author Yasmin Mogahed. “Again, and again, and again. And this cleaning process stings. The cleaning of a wound hurts. Yes. Healing takes so much work. So much persistence. And so much patience.” According to my analysis, Libra, you should be attending to this tough but glorious task. Although the work might be hard, it won’t be anywhere near as hard as it usually is. And you are likely to make more progress than you would be able to at other times.

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.

PHOTO BY JON HERMISON

Hacking for change A series of emails brings us to a real-world rendezvous point: Naked Lounge on Q Street, daytime. If movies have taught me anything about hackers, I’m looking for a lone male dressed casually and stooped over a battered laptop. There are, like, four of those guys here. Luckily, my hacker wears his allegiance on his sleeve—literally.

Joel Riphagen is the new captain of Code for Sacramento, the local branch of Code for America, a vast network of volunteer coders who use their mutant powers for good. A survivor of the government sector, with stints at the California Legislative Analyst’s Office and Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, he believes hackers and government can work together.

Time to bring down the firewall.

What’s the difference between a hacker and a coder?

When people hear “hackers” in the context of computers, they immediately think of people breaking into computer systems and doing things they should not do. That is one definition of “hacker,” and it has nothing to do with what we do. There’s another definition of “hacking,” which is finding creative solutions to problems. You’ve heard of “life hacking.” What we do is “civic hacking,” which is trying to solve civic problems using creative technological means. It has nothing to do with Edward Snowden.

Or when Anonymous weighs in on the Right to Rest debate?

Nobody’s tried to make that connection to us, for which I’m grateful.

Until my tabloid journalism introduced it.

(Laughs.) Right. Really, we’re heads-down, trying to make government work better for

the people. To the extent that there’s issues like that, I appreciate the motives of people in many cases who are trying to force freedom of information in ways I wouldn’t necessarily condone.

The last Code for Sacramento project involved building a portal to make it easy to visualize certain aspects of the city budget.

Right, and we did that in partnership with the city.

How does that compare in terms of your other projects?

That project got a lot of press, but as a technological effort, it wasn’t that difficult.

Something else we got a lot of press on last year was WICit. Again, it was fairly simple technologically. But essentially it’s a mapping application where you can find the locations near you that accept WIC.

can expand on it, add the rest of the guide, add the other functionality in it.

Other projects?

Last year, it’s a small little thing, but it’s called @CutePetsSac. It’s a Twitter bot that every day tweets out a picture of a pet from the Front Street Animal Shelter, thereby increasing its chance of getting adopted.

That’s actually a good example of the Code for America ecosystem, because it was created by a Code for America brigade in Colorado. But everything we do is open source, so everything we create, the code is available for anyone to use and change for their own purpose.

You’re very open-system oriented.

Yes, we are all about open data. I actually came from a government background.

I worked for 15 years in state and local government. My skills are all in data analysis and visualization and policy and things like that, and open data was never really an issue for me.

It’s inventive.

We’re actually working on a project right now that I know a little more about where it came from. There’s a local nonprofit that deals with homeless issues [Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness].

They publish a guide in paper and PDF form of the various resources you can access, and they have been looking at ways to digitize it and make it more accessible.

You had access to it.

I had all the data. As soon as I left my government job and I fell in with Code for Sacramento, open data quickly became an issue. Because when you’re trying to make progress on something outside of government, you begin to realize all the barriers there are to getting the information that you need.

Interesting.

We’ve had a volunteer working on it as part of a capstone project in a programming course he’s taking, so he’s getting credit, he’s providing free work for this nonprofit and he’s creating this app … which locates food resources throughout the community.

Feel the pain, brother.

Exactly, you sometimes have to feel the pain to understand what the problem is. Ω

Is that its focus?

No, the resource guide is very general. …

Once he’s done, we’ll open up the project to the rest of the community and perhaps they

Learn more about Code for Sacramento at http://codeforsacramento.org.

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