s-2018-12-20 by News & Review

IN 2018, GRINCHy-NESS TOOK OVER AMERICA

Sacramentoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S newS & entertainment weekly

Volume 30, iSSue 36

thurSday, december 20, 2018

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2 | SN&R | 12.20.18

EditoR’S NotE

dEcEmbER 20, 2018 | Vol. 30, iSSuE 36

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STREETALK LETTERS nEwS ESSAy fEATuRE ARTS + CuLTuRE diSh STAgE fiLM CALEndAR CApiTAL CAnnAbiS guidE 48 ASK joEy 51 15 MinuTES CovER dESign by SARAh hAnSEL

20 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. Editor Foon Rhee News Editor Raheem F. Hosseini Managing Editor Mozes Zarate Staff Reporter Scott Thomas Anderson Copy Editor Steph Rodriguez Calendar Editor Maxfield Morris Contributing Editor Rachel Leibrock Editorial Assistant Rachel Mayfield Contributors Daniel Barnes, Ngaio Bealum, Amy

Patti Roberts, Steph Rodriguez, Shoka, Stephanie Stiavetti, Dylan Svoboda, Bev Sykes, Graham Womack Creative Services Manager Christopher Terrazas Editorial Designers Maria Ratinova, Sarah Hansel Publications Designer Katelynn Mitrano Web Design & Strategist Elisabeth Bayard-Arthur Ad Designer Naisi Thomas Contributing Photographers Ashley Hayes-Stone, Lucas Fitzgerald, Tessa Marguerite Outland

Advertising Manager Michael Gelbman Sales & Production Coordinator Skyler Morris Senior Advertising Consultants Rosemarie Messina, Kelsi White

Advertising Consultants Taleish Daniels, Mark Kates, Anthony Madrid, Michael Nero, Rodrigo Ramirez Director of First Impressions/Sweetdeals Coordinator Reid Fowler

Bee, Rob Brezsny, Skye Cabrera, Aaron Carnes, Jim Carnes, Maia Paras Evrigenis, Joey Garcia, Kate Gonzales, Becky Grunewald, Howard Hardee, Ashley Hayes-Stone, Jim Lane, Ken Magri, James Raia,

Distribution Director Greg Erwin Distribution Assistant Lob Dunnica Distribution Drivers Mansour Aghdam, Beatriz

34 Fetterley, Chris Fong, Ron Forsberg, Joanna Kelly Hopkins, Kenneth James, Julian Lang, Calvin Maxwell, Greg Meyers, John Parks, Lloyd Rongley, Lolu Sholotan, Carlton Singleton, Viv Tiqui

N&R Publications Editor Michelle Carl N&R Publications Associate Editor Laura Hillen N&R Publications Editorial Team Anne Stokes Marketing & Publications Consultants Steve Caruso, Joseph Engle, Traci Hukill, Elizabeth Morabito, Luke Roling, Celeste Worden

President/CEO Jeff vonKaenel Director of Nuts & Bolts Deborah Redmond Director of People & Culture David Stogner Nuts & Bolts Ninja Norma Huerta Director of Dollars & Sense Debbie Mantoan Payroll/AP Wizard Miranda Hansen Accounts Receivable Specialist Analie Foland Developer John Bisignano System Support Specialist Kalin Jenkins

Aguirre, Rosemarie Beseler, Kimberly Bordenkircher, Daniel Bowen, Mike Cleary, Tom Downing, Marty

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Aiding and abetting This week, it’s SN&R’s annual Grinch issue, a review of people behaving really badly in 2018. Under the reign of President Donald Trump, he could top the list every year. And it’s completely justified to blame our grinch-inchief for all his despicable deeds, the damage he’s doing to our great nation. But all those who enable and defend Trump deserve big lumps of coal in their Christmas stockings, too. If they didn’t give him validation—if they instead called him out publicly—who knows, maybe it would change his behavior, at least a little. It’s a long list of shame, unfortunately. Outgoing interior Secretary Ryan Zinke carried Trump’s water on environmental backsliding and for his nonsense on wildfires. Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen tries to explain away the cruel policy of separating families at the border. Rep. Devin Nunes, a Republican from Tulare, is Trump’s henchman attacking the FBI. Even after those close to Trump leave the administration—and a lot of them do—many still won’t be completely honest about how dangerous our president truly is. Apparently, Trump minions only tell the truth when lying could land them in prison. Sad to say, special counsel Robert Mueller may be our best hope to bring some accountability to this presidency. But it will be an ugly road to get there—one only the Grinch would enjoy.

—FOON RhEE fo o nr @ ne wsr e v ie w.c o m

SN&R is printed at PressWorks Ink on recycled newsprint. Circulation of SN&R is verified by the Circulation Verification Council. SN&R is a member of Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, CNPA, AAN and AWN.

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I’d travel back to the Salem witch trials … not necessarily like watching the gore of it. But just that time, see if there actually were witches. Probably not.

I think I would travel back to the civil rights movement. Just because of everything that’s going on in the climate today. I think it would give me insight to what people actually fought for, and just to see it and be around people like Martin Luther King and Malcolm X and all those great leaders. ...

I’d go back in time to maybe right as I was finishing up high school and had some important life decisions to make—college or some type of trade school or something, because I found myself pedaling around for a few years ... Knowing what I know now, I’d probably do things a little bit differently.

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Shout it out Re: “Steinberg’s brilliant idea,” by Jeff vonKaenel (Greenlight, December 13): Brilliant? Did you not hear from the folks in North Sac at the very beginning of this debacle? All of us said it would be much better to have relatively small shelters spread throughout the entire city? [Mayor Darrell] Steinberg and [Councilman Allen] Warren were not going for it, so we had to shout even louder. So, are we brilliant, too?

Karen SolBerG S acr a m e nt o v i a s act ol e t t e rs

Vision and guts Re: “What now?” by Jeff vonKaenel (Greenlight, December 6): I wholeheartedly agree with your column … probably because it’s what I’ve been thinking for years! This is the capital of one of the most desirable places on Earth to live. In addition to undoing a lot of the

damage [President] Trump has done to the rest of the country, we have everything it takes to leap up to a global leadership position in so many areas—a green new deal, health care for all, a living wage for all working people, etc. We have all the resources it takes to solve these problems and more and show the rest of the country how to do it.

There’s not a single recommendation in your column that we can’t achieve—and then some. We need leaders with this kind of vision and the guts to make it happen because it most certainly can be done.

Diane Brazil S a c ra m e nt o via email

Orwell would approve Re: “Beyond the borders,” by Scott Thomas Anderson (News, December 6): This “Tenant Protection and Relief Act” sounds like a page from the playbook of the developer and owners lobby: Come up with an Orwellian sounding name and language that looks good to a distracted and exhausted public; make sure the language is meaningless and has no teeth; buy off a few myopic, self promoting, and self-interested politicians to pass it with

the requisite “glowing praise;” and then launch a slander campaign against the ballot measure that would enact real change by calling it “extreme and unnecessary” because the city already passed “common sense” (read: do nothing) legislation to “address” the problem. The purpose being to convince (likely, successfully) the aforementioned distracted and exhausted public that the ballot measure will be unnecessary. And as icing on the cake, they throw in “regulatory streamlining,” which is just more Orwellian code language for gutting regulations to save a few bucks that they will, of course, pocket rather than passing on the savings to renters and home buyers. ... Just another day in the greatest country on Earth … for the billionaire class anyway.

Corrections Re: “Steinberg’s brilliant idea,” by Jeff vonKaenel (Greenlight, December 13): The column incorrectly stated which City Council district includes the homeless shelter on Railroad Drive. It is in District 3, represented by Jeff Harris. Re: “Preliminary theater” by Raheem F. Hosseini (News, December 13): The story incorrectly reported that only prosecutors can call witnesses during preliminary hearings.

read more letters online at newsreview .com/sacramento.

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SN&R regrets the errors.

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Body-mounted and in-car footage from July 31 show the arrest of 42-year-old George Knox, who would overdose while in police custody. Videos stills taken from the sacramento Police dePartment

A lethal gamble If the drug war is ending, why did three Sacramento men fatally overdose after they were already in handcuffs? by Raheem F. hosseini

for more on George knox’s arrest and death, including video, visit newsreview.com/ sacramento.

Brandon Smith died in the back of a paddy wagon in a setting reminiscent of Freddie Gray. The circumstances were not. Back in June, state parole agents arrested Smith inside a detox center for undisclosed reasons. A city police officer sweeping the area for drunks and vagrants was summoned to taxi Smith to the county jail. A simple transport—that’s how it began. The police department’s deployment of body-worn cameras and a mandate to release the footage they record in critical incidents captured Smith’s final moments: Once the wagon traversed the two miles to the jail’s sally port, the driver opened the back door to find Smith laying unconscious on his belly. The officer shouted for help, but it was too late. Medical examiners later recovered a plastic bag from Smith’s stomach and determined the 30-year-old died from methamphetamine intoxication. Whether Smith’s complaints about feeling unwell before he tumbled to the wagon’s metal floor were ignored or just

6 | SN&R | 12.20.18

too commonplace to register hasn’t been answered. Whether he’s among the recent casualties of a drug war that claims lives even after the handcuffs click isn’t up for debate, say those on the ground. “When you say that we’re ramping down the drug war, we’re actually not,” observed Melinda Ruger, director of Harm Reduction Services in Oak Park, a longtime resource center for substance users. “Something deep down is broken.” At a time when even the Trump administration is supporting a bipartisan congressional effort to stop incarcerating drug addicts, the costs of the old paradigm continue to play out locally. Before Smith, there was Edward Currie in February 2016. Sacramento police approached the 31-year-old Carmichael man in the parking lot of a Mexican grocery store on Northgate Boulevard, then arrested him for allegedly holding. Officers didn’t learn that Currie had partially swallowed a drug-knotted baggie until after he suffered a “medical

ra he e mh @ ne wsr e v ie w.c o m

emergency” inside the jail’s nurse station. After Smith, there was George Knox, whose slow, agonizing demise was documented in real time by police cameras. The graphic footage is a testament to the terrorizing legacy of the failed drug war, and an illustration of the blind spots even compassionate officers have as cogs within its machinery. Knox knew the drill. He’d already logged nearly 50 criminal cases in Sacramento County when officers rolled up on him behind a strip mall on Stockton Boulevard early the morning of July 31. Dressed in loose, faded jeans and a gray hooded sweatshirt, Knox slid up the tan wall and assumed the position, asking what he’d done. The department’s official press release said uniformed officers contacted five “subjects” who were “loitering” near a dumpster with open beverages “appearing” to contain alcohol. The coded policespeak belies what can happen when officers are encouraged to use minor

infractions as an opportunity to look for bigger crimes. For proactive beat cops, it’s a no-lose scenario. Open containers and busted tail lights are the free pass to question probation statuses, run IDs, check for warrants, and rifle through pockets and glove compartments for the guns and contraband that consecrate righteous busts. On the other side of this dividing line are guys like Knox, modern-day Jobs exhausted by the system’s relentless tests. He was 42, with a long rap sheet for minor and borderline-serious busts, many that turned into convictions, many that didn’t. A body-mounted camera shows the main officer—let’s call him “Officer 1”—direct a gloved hand toward Knox, seated with his sneakers outstretched near some scattered bikes. “Stand up. Turn around. Face the wall,” Officer 1 says evenly. Knox rises and interlocks his fingers behind his head. “What’d I do?” he asks. The officer doesn’t answer. He guides Knox’s hands into handcuffs and clasps the first bracelet. “Got any weapons on you?” O1 asks. Knox says no. He repeats his question. His voice tips higher. He makes a show of his respect, dropping “sir” into a loop skittering into a worried falsetto. “What’d I do? Sir, what’d I do? What’d I do, sir?” The second cuff locks. With both hands restrained behind Knox’s back, O1’s tone changes. “C’mon man, you know,” O1 says. “You know you’re on parole.”

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beatS

BittersWeet relief The Trump administration on Tuesday granted a mother’s desperate appeal to be allowed into the United States to hold her

Knox continues to plead his innocence during the crab-walk to the SUV. O1 turns out Knox’s pockets, setting a small glass pipe on the hood of his cruiser beside an orange prescription bottle, wallet, cigarettes and other random items. With Knox secured in the back, O1 wakes his computer and makes small talk. “You just got surgery? ... For what? ... You just got shot? ... Where’d you get shot? ... For what?” O1 seems to be a nothing-personal kind of cop, keeping the mood light. Arrests don’t happen fast, like in the movies. There’s time to kill. The officer’s cellphone plays tinny on-hold music as he waits for some graveyard shift operator with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to confirm Knox’s parole status. At the 25:35 mark of the body-cam footage, O1 is walking back to his cruiser when he notices something unusual. “Hey man, you better not be spitting,” he says into the back window. “You good? Why you shakin’ so much? Huh? What’s wrong? Your blood pressure? Do you need a medic? No? What’s up dude?” An in-car camera records Knox’s strangled response. “I jus’ need some cold air,” he says, his voice thick. O1 can’t make out what Knox is saying. “You’re cold? Hey. Do I need to get a medic out here right now? … Because you’re tripping.” “I’m not trippin’,” Knox mumbles. “You’re shaking uncontrollably.” O1 sounds genuinely concerned. “Do you need a medic?” he repeats. The answer is no. “OK,” O1 relents. He recites the Miranda warning to Knox, who affirms he understands his rights through clenched teeth. “So what’s up with the pipe drugs?” O1 asks, trying for a confession. “I don’t have no drugs,” Knox says, barely audible. O1 asks about Knox’s no-bail warrant, but apparently doesn’t like what he’s seeing. He flags a colleague. “Hey, I’m gonna get a medic out here. He’s shaking. He’s shaking uncontrollably.” O1 punches the request into his computer and briefs his captive. It’s 28 minutes into the incident.

“Hey, Mr. [Knox], I got medics Knox never made it to the jail. A coming to check you out, OK?” O1 says plastic sandwich bag was pulled from gently. Then he lands on a scary thought. his throat. An autopsy confirmed a “Hey. Hey. Shit.” O1 rounds the car. “Did methamphetamine overdose. The death is you swallow a bunch of drugs before we ruled accidental. Three adult children were got here?” notified. Knox’s breathing sounds like a respiraMore than a month later, the court tor underwater, garbled and gargled. He records that Knox missed his scheduled denies ingesting drugs to the cop trying arraignment. Two misdemeanor counts of to arrest him for having drugs. He slurs drug possession are tabbed to a dead man. something like, “He’s inducing an unnecessary witness.” the deaths of currie, smith and knox The officer seems to suspect he’s share telling similarities. None of the watching a man die. African-American men were detained “Hang in there, OK?” he says, almost for a serious crime. Curry and Knox plaintively. “We got medics were both approached in parking coming.” lots and Smith was arrested At 32 minutes, O1 on the floor of a detox opens the back door center. He was taken of the SUV. The from a place that officer looking gets drugs out of through the people’s systems opposite side to a place where calls it: “He’s most freshly OD’ing.” booked inmates O1 sounds are under the helpless. influence of “Yeah something, man, you’re according to the Melinda Ruger freaking me National Office executive director, Harm Reduction out,” he tells of Drug Control Services Knox. “How much Policy. In all three did you take?” cases, officers never These cops don’t saw the men swallow the want to see Knox die over drug bags that killed them. this. But they don’t know Knox’s Police Chief Daniel Hahn said life experience, what he’s done or not done, his department is using its adoption of what he can’t endure. It’s a blind spot. body-worn cameras to learn lessons from “Hey, if you’re concerned about me the field. His officers are equipped with busting you for something you used, it Narcan nasal spray, which can reverse doesn’t matter because you’re already opioid overdoses. But Hahn didn’t suggest going to jail anyways,” O1 offers. that officers stop arresting people for drug Knox lists in the backseat. He keeps offenses. his mouth shut. “It’s not a matter of whether they At the 35-minute mark, a fire engine should have been arrested or not, but is rolls into the parking lot, followed by there something else we can do differently a boxy ambulance. But no one rushes that would prevent some of these things?” to the patient. Firefighters and medics Hahn said. “I think we always have to ask stroll the parking lot to the police SUV to ourselves those questions.” Knox. They ask the same questions the But Ruger, of Harm Reduction cops asked, but in flatter tones. They get Services, said reexamining drug enforcethe same answers. Knox is splayed on ment should also be on the table. a gurney and slow-wheeled away. It all “We send them to jail to punish them, happens at a leisurely pace. but what we are doing is creating people As the caravan departs, O1 hangs back, who are destined to fail,” she said. collecting Knox’s belongings from the “It’s racism. It’s classicism. It’s all hood of his car and plunking them one at these things that translate into this man a time into manila envelopes. They make swallowing this bag of dope,” Ruger a hollow “thap,” the possessions of a life continued. “We have to question what are withering away. we doing.” Ω

“It’s racism. It’s classicism. It’s all these things that translate into this man swallowing this bag of dope.”

dying infant son one last time. Shaima Swileh, a Yemeni national residing in Cairo, Egypt, required a travel waiver to make the sojourn due to President donald trump’s executive order barring travelers from seven mostly muslim countries, including Yemen. The State Department granted the waiver the morning after the Sacramento Valley office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or cair, drew national attention to the family’s plight during a press conference in the north Sacramento office building it shares with SN&R. Swileh was expected to arrive in San Francisco Wednesday evening, a CAIR staff member said. Her 2-year-old son Abdullah is currently on life support at an Oakland hospital. Abdullah’s father, Ali Hassan of Stockton, brought his son to the country a few months ago for treatment for a genetic brain condition. Both are U.S. citizens. Choked with emotion, Hassan said Monday that his wife had been prevented entry into the United States. Abdullah turned 2 just two days prior, he said. “My wife’s calling me every day wanting to kiss and hold our son for the one last time,” Hassan told reporters. “Time is running out.” According to CAIR-SV attorney Saad Sweilem, the chapter learned of the family’s dire situation from staff at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, which is treating Abdullah. Sweilem linked the federal government’s treatment of Abdullah to the recent death of a 7-year-old girl from Guatemala in U.S. Border Patrol custody. “American is in the middle of a fight,” he told reporters. “This administration is doing everything in its power to undermine immigrant rights and uphold a xenophobic agenda that tears families apart. As Americans, we need to decide. We decide what we want the rest of the world to think about when they think about America.” For Hassan, who said in a statement that he was preparing to take Abdullah off life support, it was a glimpse of the old America. (Raheem F. Hosseini)

panic Button catch-up The me too movement shed light on pervasive misconduct in America, but hotel employees continue to face harassment and assault at alarming rates. The city of Sacramento just took a step toward changing that. On December 11, the City Council’s Law and Legislative Committee considered additional safety measures for hotel workers. The most notable proposal would require hotels to provide employees with panic buttons. Consuelo Hernandez, Sacramento’s director of government affairs, suggested that hotel operators also be required to establish and distribute written sexual harassment policies. Councilman Eric Guerra noted it was time for the city to catch up to Sacramento County on the worker safety front. The county passed its own panic button policy in February. “It makes no sense if you cross Stockton Boulevard, or if you cross one of these areas, and you have one ordinance and then another ordinance,” Guerra said. The push to bring added safeguards to city hotels was fueled by conversations with members of the Unite Here labor union and the Sacramento Hotel Association. Shelly Moranville, incoming president of the hotel association and vice chairwoman of Visit Sacramento, told the committee her industry is supportive of the panic button proposal, but added local operators don’t want to be mandated to blacklist guests who violate the hotels’ policies. She said hotels also don’t want to be required to conduct additional sexual harassment training. The Law and Legislative Committee advanced the proposal to the full City Council. (Kyler Alvord)

12.20.18 | SN&R | 7

building a

HealtHy

Sacramento

City Depa rtment Expa nds to Focus on Youth by Edgar SanchEz On January 1, 2018, the City of Sacramento reorganized its parks department with a new focus on youth and a new name: the Department of Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment. The change resulted from conversations involving the Sacramento City Council, the City Manager’s Office and pro-youth advocates, including Councilman Jay Schenirer, who sought not only a new department focused on youth but increased investments in the city’s youngest residents, including more internships. “We should value our young people” by giving them opportunities to succeed, Schenirer said early last year, after teenagers spoke to the council in support of creating a centralized youth department. The council instead created a Youth Division within its Department of Parks & Recreation, which had run most of the city’s youth programs. The council also established five new full-time positions, to support citywide youth programs. Last January, one of those jobs, Youth Division Manager, was filled by longtime city parks employee Kim Mohler. “With the finite resources that were available ... it made more sense to expand a youth division rather than create a new department,” Mohler said recently. “Council decided it could do more by putting any additional resources directly into youth programming rather than create a new infrastructure.” Simply put, Sacramento “got more bang for the buck,” said Lindee Lane, who arrived from

Oakland this summer to become the city’s Youth Development Policy Manager, also a new post. Lane works in the City Manager’s Office, ensuring that city youth programs, including those outside the Youth Division, align with a new youth program policy framework unveiled last December. The non-Youth Division programs include recreational programs run by the Police Department and an internship effort administered by the Mayor’s Office in partnership with local employers.

“any rESourcES that can bE gIvEn to youth, ESPEcIally youth who arE ovErlookEd and undEr-rEPrESEntEd [arE grEat].” nayzak ayzak waliwali-ali Sacramento youth y commission member

The Youth Division has its own employment readiness programs, with 520 young people in internships and paid employment yearly, Mohler said. One program, Landscape and Learning, teaches gardening skills and maintenance to youngsters who clean city parks. They also learn conflict-resolution tactics and how to be good employees.

From left, Kim Mohler, Youth Division Manager, Nayzak Wali-Ali, a Sacramento Youth Commissioner, and Lindee Lane, Youth Development Policy Manager.Photo by Edgar Sanchez

“Landscape and Learning employs 220 youth every year, and it’s a first job for almost all those kids,” Mohler said. The mere idea of a youth department “definitely excited” Nayzak Wali-Ali, 18, a member of the Sacramento Youth Commission, an advisory group. “Any resources that can be given to youth, especially youth who are overlooked and underrepresented [are great],” said the Sacramento native who now studies political science at UC Davis. The California Endowment supports Sacramento’s pro-youth efforts.

Your zIP code shouldn’t predict how long you’ll live – but it does. Staying healthy requires much more than doctors and diets. Every day, our surroundings and activities affect how long – and how well – we’ll live. Health Happens in Neighborhoods. Health Happens in Schools. Health Happens with Prevention.

paid with a grant from the california endowment 8

SN&R

12.20.18

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

For more information, visit www.cityofsacramento.org and click on YPCE under the “Living Here” section of the sitemap at the bottom of the page.

www.SacBHC.org

immigrants and refugees,” said Dr. Carolee Tran, a Vietnamese-American psychologist in Sacramento who fled during the 1975 fall of Saigon as a little girl. Tran said the news is being met with concern throughout the region.

Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese were turned into refugees after the United States pulled out of their country in 1976. archival photograph

The fall of sympathy Fear spreads among Sacramento’s Vietnamese refugees as ICE looks to change deportation rules by Scott thomaS anderSon

A national alert to Vietnamese-American communities is causing anxiety for refugees in Sacramento, many of whom worry that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is renegotiating an agreement with Vietnam to allow more deportations. While DHS is staying mum about whether the negotiations are underway, a recently filed federal lawsuit suggests that Trump officials have a direct motive for changing their arrangement with the country that a U.S. war battered four decades ago. The fear in Sacramento started in early December when the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, or SEARAC, sent out a national alert that DHS officials were meeting December

s c o t t a @ne w s re v i e w . c o m

10 with the Vietnamese government to renegotiate a 2008 memorandum of understanding. The current accord states that Vietnam will only accept deportees who came to the United States after July 12, 1995. “Now, the US government seeks to continue its policy of separating families, this time putting all Vietnamese community members with final orders of removal at risk,” SEARAC wrote, while also circulating a petition sponsored by six national nonprofits to stop the talks. “This renegotiation of the 2008 MOU with Vietnam is another example of this administration’s willful, calculated, inhumane and hate-filled efforts to dehumanize and mistreat non-European

Homeland Security didn’t return phone calls and emails from SN&R, but a class-action lawsuit filed this year by Asian Americans Advancing Justice outlines exactly why Immigrations and Customs Enforcement might want to change the agreement. The civil action from AAAJ was filed on behalf of a handful of refugees who’d legally entered the country after the war, lived in it most of their lives and were now being held in “unwarranted and indefinite immigration detention” based on minor run-ins with the law. Those plaintiffs included Hoang Trinh, a 41-year-old baker who lives in Orange County and came to the United States in 1980 when he was 4. According to the suit, ICE issued a final order of removal against Trinh after he faced a simple drug charge in 2015 and then was caught with a marijuana plant. Another plaintiff from Orange County, Vu Ha, came to the United States in 1990 when he was 10. Ha had a few arrests in his youth but stayed out of legal trouble in his adult life. He’s now facing final orders of removal for not paying a traffic citation. Under the current agreement, detainees such as Trinh and Ha cannot be deported because Vietnam won’t accept nationals who emigrated before 1995. The suit from Asian Americans Advancing Justice emphasizes the significance of that date. “The end of the Vietnam War caused hundreds of thousands of South Vietnamese refugees to flee to the United States by boat or by air to escape political persecution and death,” attorneys Phi Nguyen and Laboni Hoq wrote in their filing, adding these were often refugee families “with close ties to the United States military.” The attorneys also referenced another legacy from the war. “Abandoned children of American soldiers and Vietnamese women— known as ‘Amerasians’ and pejoratively referred to as ‘the dust of life’ in Vietnam—were also among the waves of Vietnamese immigrants who resettled in the United States before July 12,

1995,” the attorneys wrote. “In addition to growing up fatherless, Amerasians were roundly shunned by Vietnamese society for being mixed race and born out of wedlock and, in many cases, rejected by their own mothers.” The suit alleges that in 2017 ICE began changing its procedures around Vietnamese refugees with legal issues, suddenly issuing final orders of removal against them. “ICE has undertaken its detention campaign without any evidence that Vietnam will accept pre-1995 immigrants,” the suit reads. Two months ago, after AAAJ pressed its case, Homeland Security officials briefly relented. In a sealed portion of the case reportedly obtained by NBC News, its attorneys wrote they were releasing pre-1995 Vietnamese refugees from ICE holding facilities because deportation talks in August between U.S. and Vietnamese officials had broken down. Government leaks to The Atlantic now have Southeast Asian advocacy groups convinced Homeland Security is taking another crack at changing the rules with Vietnam. For Holly Cooper, an immigration attorney who teaches at UC Davis, that move would fall in line with a broader pattern from ICE. Cooper notes that a renegotiation between Homeland Security and Cambodia in 2002 is now allowing ICE to round up and deport Cambodian refugees all over the country—the change in terms suddenly exploited in the last two years. “The fear that’s going through the Vietnamese community right now is because another Asian community just had this happen to them,” Cooper noted. “And the negotiation process often happens in a very mysterious way that’s clouded from the public.” For Hoang Chi Truong, a Vietnamese-American author who lives in Sacramento, the recent move to deport members of her community is building solidarity with other targeted groups of refugees and migrants. “We didn’t choose that war, and that’s what people are choosing to forget now,” Troung said, referencing child refugees and her own story she wrote about in her memoir Tiger Fish. “No one wants to be a refugee. … What the administration is doing right now is dangerous—and America, to me, is not this.” Ω

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Don’t dump McKinley Park in the sewer Instead of building a sewer “vault” under the East Sacramento park, the city should modernize its sewer system by Kathleen Mclean

McKinley Park is an incredible is showing illustrations of the “new” resource to Sacramento. This year, McKinley Park. The plan includes it was nominated for the National much cement, small crepe myrtle Register of Historic Places. If one trees and one large covered canopy, were to take the pulse of the park on such as the one now at the edge of the any given day in summer, winter, playground. It seems no one remembers spring or fall, you would find people that cement generates heat during our running, walking, celebrating and long summer days, whereas trees and playing. earth assist with cooling. The City Council has chosen to tear There is an alternative that would up the park’s baseball field and build an actually solve the street flooding underground vault problem, but the to store as much as 1 city will not focus million cubic feet of on this solution. sewer and stormwater Sacramento is one overflow. The arguof only two cities in ment in favor is that it California that still will keep sewage and has an antiquated rainwater from floodcombined sewer ing our streets. system. This means The city has our sewage and designed the $30 rainwater travel million vault for a together in a single small 10-year storm, pipe, then split off one that has a 10 later for treatment. Kathleen McLean has lived in East percent chance of Other cities such Sacramento since 1967. happening in any given photo courtESy of KathLEEn McLEan as Berkeley made the year. Yet, the project choice to convert their could still leave between 0.8 inches and old system to a split system. Through 1.2 inches of sewage and stormwater in many studies over nearly 45 years, the streets of East Sacramento. Sacramento has been advised to do the To build this ineffective vault, same, but has never had the political much of the park will be turned into a will to spend the money and think of the construction zone. Large canopy trees future. that provide shade and give character to Jeff Harris, the City Council member the park will be in jeopardy. The city’s for the area around McKinley Park, Environmental Impact Report is not supports continuing a combined system. consistent in determining how many trees A split system could have been finished will actually be removed. Since a large many years ago. Instead Sacramento segment of the eastern side of the park continues to invest millions of dollars will be turned into a construction zone, in the antiquated combined system that many trees will likely be damaged. There will ruin a historic park and not solve the is no written documentation promising problem. that the large canopy trees will be Sacramento again has the opportunity replaced. to correct this problem if Harris and The city Youth, Parks & Mayor Darrell Steinberg will support Community Enrichment Department change. Ω

12.20.18

SN&R

a conFederacy oF

id you ever have a non-voting friend or relative try to justify their lack of civic engagement by saying that it didn’t really matter who ran the country? Allow us to present 2018 as our rebuttal. “Shithole countries.” Children in cages. Plotting against transgender identity. Standing with Vladimir Putin against America’s intelligence agencies. Choosing Saudi oil over thousands of Yemeni lives and one journalist’s. Call it trickle-down behavior-nomics, but this was the year the president’s moral rot took hold like herpes. Things just felt meaner this year. Even public figures who front progressive values were hiding some hypocrisy. That election two years ago may have been one small step for a tax-dodging snot who hoarded his dying father’s wealth, but it’s been one giant leap backward for humankind. Because here’s the thing: Presidents set the tone for the country. They’re like the nation’s dads (so far anyway). And when you have an abusive one, the kids act out. Here’s the other thing: If these United States are to survive this radioactive period in history, we’re going to have to set the example from here on out. It may be too late for these 25 Grinches (one for each day of Christmas!), but it isn’t too late for the rest of us. See you in 2019. (Raheem F. Hosseini) 12 | SN&R | 12.20.18

This was T he year when a merica’s hearT hear T —and borders—TT hrea borders— hreaTT ened T o shrink T hree sizes T oo small

by Scott thomaS anderSon, raheem F. hoSSeini, rachel leibrock, rachel mayField, maxField morriS, Foon rhee, Steph rodriguez and mozeS zarate illuStrationS by Sarah hanSel

Fight For your alt-right “The time is now. We’re gonna have to get some swollen fists. We’re gonna have to fight.” That’s what Gabe silva, sacramento Proud Boys leader and “America first” bro said after returning from the far-right group’s clash with antifa in Portland this June. All amped up and ready to rumble, Silva immediately took to Facebook and live-streamed a 30-minute rant. Highlighting perceived social ills such as “gender fluidity,” he frequently concluded that violent retaliation is the only way to win back the country from the commies. It wasn’t long before Facebook took down the video. If I were him, I’d be less concerned with gender fluidity and more concerned with the fact that the Proud Boys organization accidentally doxxed their own elders last month after they failed to properly redact the names from their public bylaws. The bylaws also revealed a mandatory “no wanks” rule, which honestly explains a lot. (Rachel Mayfield)

oFFseason incumbents Sheriff Scott Jones banished independent oversight of his department after he won his third term in June. Likewise, District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert absolved the deputies who shot Mikel McIntyre in the back across a rush-hour freeway only after her reelection. And yet, Sacramento’s most hard-line politicians aren’t to blame for remaining true to their natures—that’d be like blaming a scorpion for stabbing a frog in the back. It’s our elections, stupid.

The county schedules important local races during primary elections when most voters don’t vote. Worse, runoffs aren’t automatic, and are only triggered if none of the candidates surpasses 50 percent of the vote. The county could shift to a system that automatically advances the top two vote-getters in local races to November runoffs, but that would mess with incumbents’ grip on power. This fakakta system especially benefits countywide electeds (shocker), who eke into office again and again because of their paltry name recognition and low voter turnout. This is how Jones and Schubert prevailed at a time when Stephon Clark’s name became a global cry for law enforcement accountability. Please don’t tell us Clark’s needless death mattered more to the world than to his hometown. (RFH)

sacramento’s premier schoolto-prison pipeline Still think systemic racism isn’t a thing? Black boys can’t pretend, especially if they’re in a sacramento City unified school District classroom, where they’re more likely to be suspended than in any other district in California. A recent study showed that in the 2016 school year, SCUSD suspended around 20 percent of its black male students, hundreds more than even Los Angeles Unified, the second largest district in the country. What about white male students? Guess. Kids who are suspended or expelled from school are more likely to see the inside of a juvenile courtroom. These children deserve teachers, not wardens. (Mozes Zarate)

the Fruit Fly epidemic oF 2018 Sacramento farmers markets looked like something out of a science fiction movie at the peak of summer harvest with rows of fruits and vegetables hidden beneath protective netting. That, and 123 square miles of land, was quarantined all thanks to the oriental fruit fly. A real pain in the you-know-what for farmers and consumers alike, the invasive pest forced farmers, who owned land within quarantined areas, to spray vulnerable crops for at least 90 days before they were given the all-clear to sell their produce at markets. More than 230 different “host plants” such as cucumbers, summer and winter squash, tomatoes, eggplants and peppers attract this particular breed of fruit fly. And it really harshed summertime’s bountiful mellow. (Steph Rodriguez)

soccer punch Some days it feels like this city keeps getting headbutted by Don Garber, the commissioner of Major League soccer. We’ve been contenders for a grovelworthy MLS expansion franchise for years now—but with 26 out of 28 franchises filled and franchise fees rising steadily, we’re dealing with some moving goalposts. Look, in 2015, Garber told The Sacramento Bee that our town was a shoo-in for a spot. In 2016, Garber visited the city and we threw him a damn block party. Now, amid concerns over funding and leadership, who knows when we’ll get our due. We’re a proud people here in the state capital. We think we’re a major league city—so give us a major league franchise, Don! (Maxfield Morris)

cold heart, colder cases

the boardwalk (only) rocks

Speaking of Jones, his sheriff’s department is the largest California law enforcement agency with the worst record at solving rapes, bottoming out at 3 percent in 2016 and never recovering. When we asked why, we got inaccurate information. This department has smart, dedicated investigators. But the sheriff and his leadership team own an assortment of sexual misconduct and gender discrimination allegations. Could the two things be related? (RFH)

Why did you ruin it for everyone? In this case, we’re not talking about the folks who shot up a Lil Darrion concert at the Boardwalk in Orangevale in June, injuring three people. We really mean Mark earl, the Boardwalk’s longtime owner, who decided that in response, there’d be no more hip-hop or rap shows booked at the venue. Nothing against the two vastly different styles of music, he told SN&R, it’s just, “the crowd, you can’t anticipate what they may or may not do.” Mark, if you think banning whole genres will keep criminals with guns from attending your shows, you’re missing a lot of genres. Instead, you’ve created a new issue by shutting out artists (and audiences) who already struggle to put on shows in Sacramento due to the same implicit bias. (M.Z.)

property over people Look, no one’s saying that property and business owners shouldn’t discuss ways to improve their shared blocks. But then there are property and business improvement districts, or PBIDs, poorly regulated members-only clubs that have run hog wild in Sacramento and other California cities. In September, the UC Berkeley School of Law’s Public Policy Clinic reinforced what many here already suspected: Using taxpayer dollars, local PBIDs work behind the scenes to run homeless people off public corners—and harangue the police into doing their bidding. The Downtown Sacramento Partnership, whose board includes Mayor Darrell Steinberg, City Councilman Steve Hansen and high-ranking members of the Kings organization, even got the police to realign a patrol beat with DSP’s boundaries. Rather than hold secret meetings to conspire against the hardest to help, this dime store illuminati could and should use its resources to create districts for everyone, not just themselves. (RFH)

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continued on page 15

nestlé quit Given that it’s one of the five most profitable brands in the country for bottled water, Nestlé Pure’s water deal with the city of Sacramento makes the corporation, like the mean one himself, “as charming as an eel.” SN&R asked the city’s Department of Utilities in August just how much water Nestlé pulls from Sacramento’s rivers and groundwater wells and was told that the data is “considered confidential.” However much water the company is sucking and selling back to us, it’s worth noting that Nestlé pays the same rate as any other water customer. Ain’t that somethin’? (S.R.)

“feature story” continued on page XX

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“ a confeDeracy of GRI NCHES”

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DMV for VIPs News of a “secret” DMV office in the Legislative Office Building made the rounds in August this year—touted by media outlets as a locale for legislators to leave the long lines at the DMV behind. It’s a Grinchy tale: Our own elected officials using their constituents as stepping stones to special privileges, leaving the downtrodden masses to suffer the torture of Saturday morning DMV lines. The Sacramento Bee reported that the office serves the needs of current and retired legislators and other officials. It also serves as a locus for civilian DMV complaints forwarded by legislators—but the special privileges remain. Seven Grinches out of 10. (M.M.)

#MeToo’s false allIes The cultural touchstone of a reckoning, unleashed in 2017 with sexual assault allegations against film mogul Harvey Weinstein, certainly didn’t let up in 2018. Consider Eric Bauman, the former nurse and first openly gay person to lead the California Democratic Party. He resigned November 29 in the wake of multiple sexual misconduct allegations. Yes, that’s the same Eric Bauman who, according to a 2017 Los Angeles Times article, declared that his party exercised a zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment. What. The. Actual. Hell.

creePy Men gonna creeP. eVen The ones We TrusTeD. The once-self righteous Bauman now stands accused of making sexually explicit comments as well as inappropriately touching or intimidating co-workers, party staffers and political activists. We should be surprised. But honestly we’re not—not anymore anyway. Not ever again, probably. Because creepy men gonna creep. Even the ones we trusted. For every ridiculous Brett Kavanaugh frat boy of a cliché, there’s an Eric Bauman who thinks he can hide behind a liberal facade. For every cartoonishly villainous Les Moonves, there’s an Eric Schneiderman who believes progressive goods atone behavioral bads. No, no and hell no. We see you smug, creepy, liberal men. Beware, in 2019 you’re officially canceled. (Rachel Leibrock)

DeceITful leafy greens

The olD guarD

As of December 6, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as public health and regulatory officials in several states and in Canada, were still investigating an outbreak of E. coli infections linked to none other than romaine lettuce. At least 52 people in 15 states, including this writer, were affected after eating contaminated romaine. Just when a girl tries to meal prep for the week and be healthy, but no! The CDC continues to advise consumers to avoid the devious tall head, especially if its harvested anywhere near the Central Coast growing regions of California. Because of this, SN&R advises readers to make New Year’s resolutions that include eating more spinach or kale, unless those otherwise innocuous greens are next on E. coli’s hit list. (S.R.)

Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Nancy Pelosi

have both been trailblazers for women in politics and have records of accomplishment that are the envy of many politicians. But isn’t it getting close to the time they make way for new, younger leaders? By running for a fifth term, Feinstein, 85, scared off potential challengers who could have been stronger candidates than state Sen. Kevin de Leon, whom she defeated handily in November. If she serves out her new six-year term, it’ll be at least 2024 until ambitious pols in California can aim for this Senate seat, creating a logjam of potential new leaders, especially on the Democratic side. As for Pelosi, 78, in Congress since 1987, it appears that she’ll become House speaker again in January. After 32 Democrats voted against her nomination, to seal the deal she announced December 12 that she will serve no more than four years as speaker. While it’s understandable that our nation’s first female speaker wants the job back, it means the holdover Democratic leadership team is basically the same old, same old—and we do mean old. For a party that needs younger voters, that’s a recipe for political disaster in 2020—and for the unthinkable prospect of four more years of the Grinch-in-chief. (Foon Rhee)

Who WoulD Jesus Pooh-Pooh? You’ve got to hand it to Courage Worldwide founder Jenny Williamson. She believes

The Man behInD The MaIlers

VoTIng agaInsT roofs oVer our heaDs

It’s an American tradition when members of a community get involved in their hometown politics, especially if they’re trying to protect the future and character of place they love, right? Not in the eyes of Chris Norem, direc-

Proposition 10, the ballot measure to repeal the 1995 Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act and put rent stabilization authority back in the hands of local governments, seemed like an obvious way to chip away at California’s growing affordable housing crisis. Nearly 60 percent of the state’s voters disagreed, however, stingily shooting down the proposed law. What’s to blame? An effectively misleading campaign on the part of the real estate and developer lobbyists? Genuine confusion about what Prop. 10 would actually cover (rental homes, and duplexes, for example, would have been exempt)? Or was it Scroogy voter apathy over the state’s prohibitively expensive rents and mortgages? Even Charles Dickens wouldn’t write that unhappy ending. (R.L.)

tor of government and political affairs for the Northern California Building Industry Association.

When 30-year Folsom resident and planning commissioner Aaron Ralls ran for City Council this year on a controlled-growth platform, Norem and the BIA spent $105,000 in attack ads, leveraging everything from rumors and innuendo to blatant stereotypes around the barber’s arm tattoos. Norem also had the BIA spend tens of thousands on supporting Ralls’ pro-development rivals. Money talks and voters who weren’t paying attention (again) handed the city of Folsom’s future over to developers like Norem to do with as they please. You’re a mean one, Mr. Chris. (Scott Thomas Anderson)

her own hype. Once the media and state regulators got wise that her evangelical anti-human trafficking charity was actually a cha-chinging empire that never delivered on its promises and petered out amid scandal, did Williamson do the Christian thing and seek forgiveness? Hell no. Like all charlatans of the modern age, “Mama Jenny” rebranded, twisting her fall from grace into a business opportunity. Now running an unlicensed room-and-board for adults, Williamson tells prospective donors her “Courage House Two” is a sanctuary for her formerly trafficked charges. But her exploited clientele has to pay rent and perform chores for the privilege of shelter. Meanwhile, Williamson, lathering on the Southern schmaltz like Paula Deen at an NAACP mixer, makes no mention in her donate-a-thon social media blitzes that the state practically shut her down for turning survivors into marketing material. Sweet Christmas. (RFH)

“ a confeDeracy of GRI NCHES” conTInueD on Page 16

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a stark reminder of climate change’s disastrous effects. While a certain chump of a president may naively blame California’s fires on poor forest floor management (!), scientists know otherwise. The recently released National Climate Assessment report, a congressionally mandated document released by the Trump administration, draws a direct line between drought, rising temperatures and decreasing humidity, and deadly wildfires. Climate change, the report says, presents urgent “challenges to human health and quality of life.” Even the thickest of smoke can’t cloud California’s most urgent crisis— climate change deniers be damned. (R.L.)

too fiery to fail While it hasn’t been definitively proven that PG&E’s power lines caused the Camp Fire, distressing evidence is pointing in that direction—again! If PG&E ends up being linked to the disaster, that will tie its operations to both the first and second most catastrophic fires in California history, not to mention the deadly San Bruno pipeline explosion in 2010. More than 130 people have died between those three events, yet California lawmakers seem determined to protect the utility giant at all costs, apparently convinced it’s too big to fail. The Legislature’s latest move was to grant PG&E a bailout for the Tubbs Fire and relax culpability for future fires. In a state ravaged by flames, it’s not just about the message lawmakers are sending PG&E; it’s about the tone deaf and extremely Grinchy message they are sending the rest of us. (STA)

if 2018 was a Dart boarD, we coulD throw blinD anD still hit an event that maDe our stomach Drop. Drowning in current events This was the year where: Things. Kept. Happening. If 2018 was a dart board, we could throw blind and still hit an event that made our stomach drop. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting shook the world in February, only to be followed by several other tragic mass shootings. The Mendocino Complex Fire and Carr Fire swept through California in July, leading up to November’s historically bad Butte County fires. Hey look, this was also the year we couldn’t escape our frenzied commander-inchief. Presidents shouldn’t be able to stress out their citizens this much. Someone give the guy a double dose of Nyquil PM and let reporters all around the world sleep for like a month. (M.M.)

con Despair Hey, you know how everyone loves firefighters? Well, about that: Around 1,500 prisoners helped contain wildfires such as the Camp Fire this year, for a day’s pay of $2, two days off their sentences per shift and an extra dollar per hour on the fire line. We might decry that as worker exploitation, slave labor maybe, but the state bills it as a major cost savings, so much that when it came time to discuss lowering the state’s bloated prison population in 2014, it was the rebuttal of choice by lawyers at the former attorney general’s office. But we’re actually helping the inmates, Cal Fire says. Except when these firefighters leave prison and reenter society, Cal Fire generally disqualifies ex-cons who apply for the work they’ve heroically done. Thanks for applying (and really, thank you for your service), but no thanks. (M.Z.)

raising self-awareness In an ironic lack of self-awareness, Vice President Mike Pence gave a speech commemorating World AIDS Day without once mentioning the 2014 HIV outbreak that happened under his governorship in Scott County, Indiana. Instead, he announced increased federal funding for faith-based organizations, all while deftly skirting around certain high-risk groups, including people who inject drugs, sex workers, trans women and men who have sex with men. Because we all know the best way to prevent HIV is to never talk about needles or condoms. Here in Sac, we’re fortunate to have organizations such as Harm Reduction Services, the Sacramento LGBT Center, the Sex Workers Outreach Program and Golden Rule Services, all dedicated to talking about needles, condoms and other safe practices. Hopefully, they’ll continue to do good work in our community long after Pence is gone. (R.M.)

what a twit Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is a double-wreath winner this year for being a Grinch with putrified garlic in his soul. Dorsey’s business is based in San Francisco, yet when it came time for his multibillion-dollar operation to help homeless residents, Dorsey quickly ended up on the greedy side of the Twitter-sphere. That’s because he actively campaigned against San Francisco’s Measure C, which put a 0.5-percent tax hike on corporations earning more than $50 million a year, all in an effort to raise $300 million for combating the city’s homeless crisis. Not only did Dorsey bash the measure, he publicly castigated Salesforce CEO and founder Marc Benioff for supporting it—i.e., for being a rich person with a sense of social responsibility. Ironically, Dorsey’s tweets didn’t carry that much weight and Measure C passed with 60 percent of the vote. Dorsey’s antics came on the heels of a banner year for Twitter—allowing white supremacists and neo-Nazis to run riot on its platform, while prominent voices who rose up against them were kicked off. One temporarily silenced progressive was TV writer and former journalist David Simon, who—upon his second Twitter account suspension—penned an elegant meditation on Dorsey’s place in history called, “A Fuckbonnet for Our Time.” (STA)

“ a confeDeracY of GRI NCHES” continueD on page 19

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ThE UN-SOCIAl NETwORk

CRASh AND bURN

Scene: Fall 2016. Office building, St. Petersburg, Russia. Shot of shadowy people tapping at a bank of computers. Cut to Americans wearing MAGA caps and watching video ads on Facebook. Scene: April 2018, Capitol Hill. Close-up of Mark Zuckerberg testifying to Congress, nervously drinking water. Quick cuts of lawmakers wagging their fingers at him. Scene: May 2018, San Jose. Wide shot of adoring Facebook developers cheering Zuckerberg. Footage of him showing off new virtual reality technology. Scene: November 2020, undisclosed location. A darkened airplane hangar with a private jet parked in the background. Zuckerberg studies his Android. His customized Facebook app shows a headline, “Trump wins second term amid concerns of widespread Russian election hacking, disinformation plot.” It’s been eight years since The Social Network dramatized the litigious rise of one of the most diabolically addictive companies in history. Now that we’re all living through its dystopic aftermath, we’re paging Aaron Sorkin to write Facebook’s darker second act. Zuckerberg, Facebook’s CEO, has long been the boy wonder of Silicon Valley. His No. 2, COO Sheryl Sandberg, authored Lean In, a best-selling guide for women to climb the corporate ladder. As much as they would like us to give them a pass, we can’t let them off the hook for the damage they’ve done to our privacy and democracy. More and more revelations are emerging about how Zuckerberg and Sandberg ignored warnings and then tried to conceal how they let Russian troll farms hijack the 2016 presidential election. If Facebook doesn’t take these problems more seriously, it could get hit with more privacy regulations, similar to ones in Europe. That’s assuming politicians act before the 2020 election, which the Kremlin is already reportedly gearing up for. Or maybe Facebook would really get the message if more users just deleted their accounts. At this point, that may be the best movie ending to this ripped-from-the-headlines saga. (F.R.)

Elon Musk is often lionized as a tech genius and visionary. If you’ve seen his SpaceX rockets land back on Earth after launching satellites into orbit, it’s wondrous. Then 2018 happened. It was bad enough that his electric car company Tesla is struggling to meet production goals, and some pro-union workers are accusing Musk of retaliation. He literally threw gasoline on the fire with his $500 flamethrowers, a publicity stunt for his tunneling company—and a tragedy waiting to happen. Then he got in an ugly Twitter feud with a British diver who dared question Musk’s last-minute offer of a mini-sub to rescue 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Thailand. Musk apologized for calling the diver a pedophile, and the boys were extricated safe and sound without a submarine. Maybe Musk should have a lawyer review all his tweets. In a big sin for a corporate leader, he hosed his own shareholders by claiming he had secured financing for a private buyout of Tesla. He settled with federal regulators, paying a $20 million fine and giving up his role as board chairman. In an interview on 60 Minutes on December 9, he was hardly apologetic, saying, “I do not respect the SEC.” Musk may still amaze us with his next invention, but we’ll never be quite as star-struck. (F.R.)

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hARD PIll TO SwAllOw You probably, unfortunately, know by now what incels are. A portmanteau for “involuntary celibates,” the word largely refers to an internet culture of heterosexual men who claim they can’t get laid, blame it on immutable traits such as thin wrists, direct their sexual frustration at women and disseminate violently misogynistic rhetoric in online forums. An extension of “red pill” ideology (taken from The Matrix), incels get high off the belief that they know what the world’s really like—a social hierarchy driven by sexual capital, where less-than-average-looking guys are despised and excluded. While their jargon is absurdly laughable (femoids— really?), the philosophy behind it isn’t. It’s what fueled Elliot Rodger’s killing spree in 2014 when he murdered six students before committing suicide in Isla Vista. Angry that he was a 22-year old virgin, he doled out revenge on those he felt represented everything he was owed. Fast forward to 2018, and we saw Rodger continue to inspire incels, with deadly effect. In April, Alek Minassian rammed a van into a group of pedestrians in Toronto, killing 10 people. Just before, he praised Rodger on Facebook, referencing an “incel rebellion.” In February, Nikolas Cruz murdered 17 people at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. In November, Scott Beierle shot up a yoga studio in Tallahassee, Fla., killing two women and injuring four others before killing himself. Both killers made reference to Rodger in their online activity. Terrorist acts like these force us to examine the underlying causes that allow incels to flourish, including the harmful myths surrounding male sexuality and the unreasonable expectations patriarchy has placed on masculinity. It’s not an easy conversation, but it’s necessary if we want to prevent future tragedy. (R.M.) Ω

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The cast and crew of Finn and Marco shoot the climax at Lincoln Regional Airport.

Photo courtesy of jack dever

Sac getS

Reel can the city tranSforM a vibrant aMateur filM Scene into a legit induStry? by RaChel MayFIeld rac helm@ n ewsreview . com

t’s a busy night at the Crest Theatre. Chatty folks mill about the lobby. Audio-video technicians scurry around, presumably to answer two questions: Is my equipment working, and will it for the next five days without catching fire? Movie-goers flood the main theater. Lights dim. The curtain rises. The projector clicks, and photon particles beam across the room. On screen, a Brian Setzer-esque jazz orchestra closes its act to enthusiastic applause. For bandleaders Finn and Marco, performing is their passion. But they learn that their club is shutting down, and a series of events lure the pals down a dark spiral of Sac-noir, full of corruption, murder and a nail-biting climax at what looks strikingly like Lincoln Regional Airport. 20 | SN&R | 12.20.18

To director Jack Dever, Finn and Marco is much more than that. For the cast and crew, the screening culminated hundreds of hours spent writing, shooting, directing, acting, editing. As a local director, Dever was limited to his immediate resources. It’s a common situation for many Sacramento filmmakers, where shooting a Hollywood-level blockbuster has always been a far-off dream. Then Lady Bird fever struck. It has been more than a year since the Oscar-nominated film sparked interest in developing Sacramento’s film economy. The City Council recently approved an arts and culture revitalization plan called Creative Edge, which cited Sacramento native Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut as a major factor in its goal to transform the city into an arts hub. The movie, set mostly in the city, “advanced the story of Sacramento, both locally and nationally.” Another filmmaker with Sacramento ties, Ryan Coogler, has also become a household name after Fruitvale Station, Black Panther and Creed. He even finished No. 6 for Time magazine’s Person of the Year 2018. But can Sacramento’s amateur film scene capitalize and shoot for Hollywood stardom?

Roll the tape After Finn and Marco’s screening, Dever told the audience he first sent the script to an agent who said it wasn’t “shoot-ready.”

The final scene of director Javier Fernandez’s short film Afterimage.

Photo courtesy of javier fernandez

But having worked in television for over blind and struggles toward acceptance. Others 30 years, Dever disagreed. With $20,000 of his were humorous, including a music video for own money and borrowed equipment, he set out local band Abandon Theory’s song “Always to prove the agent wrong. Late,” which featured an adorable turtle puppet His film premiered in September at the 19th suffering from alcoholism and depression. annual Sacramento Film and Music Festival, The event showcased the range, depth and a showcase of Sac-related features, shorts and passion of Sacramento’s film community. But music videos. Nathan Schemel, the festival’s is it all enough to create a thriving local film director, said its purpose was twofold: industry? to screen great films and inspire Flickers of local filmmakers. “When I graduated hope from film school, nobody Sacramento’s film was telling me to make scene is full of talent anything, so I didn’t,” and enthusiasm, says said Schemel, 41, Matthew Gilliam, who has produced the a TV producer and Sacramento Kings’ filmmaker who was sports broadcast House recently appointed Party Live and a reality to the Sacramento TV show called Turf Metropolitan Arts War. “I’m giving people Commission, which a deadline just so they will Christy Savage votes on city-funded arts local filmmaker create something.” projects. This year, Schemel’s fest “I personally am advocating stoked filmmakers in three ways: for the Sacramento film community “Frankenfilm” saw short adaptations of to move into being a film economy,” he Frankenstein, “Sac Music Seen” paired directors says. and bands to make music videos, and a 10X10 Currently, Gilliam says, the film scene shorts competition challenged contestants to bust consists mostly of hobbyists and amateur out a 10-minute film in 10 days. filmmakers learning the ropes. In a film Some produced serious films; in Afterimage, economy, he says, local movie-makers directed by Javier Fernandez, a young man goes would make a living in Sacramento, working

“Making a feature film in Sacramento is probably not the most lucrative thing to do. a lot of [crew] make their living doing commercials.”

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on big-budget productions and getting the experience necessary to form stable careers. Dever, who considers himself a hobbyist, says Sacramento’s vistas are what might draw more Hollywood productions, such as Flying Horse, starring Gary Oldman, which is set to shoot here soon. “Sacramento has to offer them something they can’t get in L.A.,” he says. “But I think our biggest advantage is locations that can look like anything.” Sac is also home to veteran DIY filmmakers including Darin Wood and Christy Savage. But even after nearly 30 years making low-budget monster movies (Planet of the Vampire Women; Badass Monster Killer), they say shooting locally is challenging. “There’s a smaller talent pool than there would be in a larger city,” Wood says. He uses their current sound guy as an example. “There’s probably 10 or 15 of him in L.A., but there’s only one of him in Sacramento.” At the moment, the pair are shooting a Conan the Barbarian-inspired fantasy feature, Grunk the Smasher. A tale of violence and romantic rescue, the film’s crowd-funding campaign raised $5,265; the production has used mostly a volunteer cast and crew. “Making a feature film in Sacramento is probably not the most lucrative thing to do,” Savage says, laughing. “A lot of [crew] make their living doing commercials.” Acting isn’t exactly lucrative, either. Sacramento-based actor Jordan Potch (Marco from Finn and Marco) says you have to be aggressive, checking local casting websites such as Saccasting.com (since Sacramento is not included on the mainstream casting websites), auditioning and networking. Making a living solely in Sacramento isn’t easy, which is why he’ll travel to the Bay Area for gigs, too. “For me to be just in Sacramento, it’s not enough,” Potch says. Gilliam says he hopes to help build a robust film industry to benefit the entire film community, including actors, directors, screenwriters and crew members. He points to what Atlanta did. In 2015, its city government backed training programs for crews so that large movie and TV productions filming in the area didn’t have to fly in a crew from L.A. It worked; producers can now hire skilled workers who already live in the city. In Sacramento, Creative Edge calls for the city to bring in a consultant to assess what resources are needed here, including studios, equipment rental companies and training opportunities. But that’s still pretty far off, says Gilliam.

CIdEr AmoNG BEEr BrEwErS See dISh

More immediately, the city will begin restructuring the Sacramento Film Commission, which operates under the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau and is responsible for overseeing permits and guiding outside productions to the right people and places. The commission has one part-time employee, but Gilliam says that restructuring would involve bumping up the position to full-time. Laurie Pederson, director of the Capital Film Arts Alliance, says that is vital. “Hopefully a full-time film office can be more proactive, not just in bringing in outside films, but also in supporting the local independents who are growing their skills,” she said.

The Crest Theatre showcased a wide selection of Sac-related films at this year’s Sacramento Film and Music Festival.

PHoto courtesy of NAtHAN scHeMeL

FooTBALL CoNCUSSIoN See STAGE

Meanwhile, Sac’s film scene reels forward. The California Film Foundation is currently taking submissions for Fashion on Film, a festival set for February in collaboration with Sacramento Fashion Week. Wood and Savage are hammering away at their medieval epic, which they hope to finish in 2020. Dever is writing a Western. He probably won’t be sending it to that same agent, though. “I don’t think she read past page two, which really annoyed me,” he said. And if Sacramento’s film industry grows stronger, maybe it will not only produce the next Greta Gerwig or Ryan Coogler, but allow them to set up a studio here, too. Ω

PoETrY For GrITTY GIrLS See 15 mINUTES

Café Colonial’s not dead Local musicians and music fans who are bummed about the Café Colonial closure can rejoice: It’s not going

anywhere. Gabriell and Ben Garcia, the husband-and-wife duo who have owned the Blue Lamp on Alhambra Boulevard in Sacramento since 2014, recently took over the lease for the once-doomed dIY venue on Stockton Boulevard. They announced the move via Facebook on December 12, posing for a photo in front of the café with a plastered Public Notice of Application to Sell Alcoholic Beverages. “It’s pretty exciting,” Gabriell Garcia told SN&R. “Everyone’s excited to not lose another space in Sacramento that didn’t get bought up by corporate.” Over the last two years, several other venues have stopped booking live music or closed, including the Starlite Lounge on 21st Street, which reopened as Holy Diver under new ownership last year. Garcia said the new Café Colonial will sport similar features to Blue Lamp: a full kitchen, beer and wine, an eclectic music calendar, trivia, comedy, open-mic nights, brunches and happy hours. She says she and her husband plan to make it a more familyfriendly neighborhood dive. The café and the Colony, both located in the same complex as the Colonial Theater on Stockton Boulevard, shuttered in November. Garcia said the couple is only renting

out the café space. matthew marrujo previously ran both venues. In a Facebook post from September, he wrote that the closures were due to lack of funds. Last year, Marrujo was fined by the California labor commissioner for reasons related to his use of volunteer staff in the venue. He could not be reached for comment.

Both spaces were adored by a sect of Sacramento’s music community, who relied on them as an open house for underage, up-and-coming bands, and where punk rock marathons such as Sac Ladyfest were held. “Without the café, there’s no Blue Lamp,” Garcia said. “Without younger people wanting to see live music and create bands, [the music scene] will die out.” She said the new venue will be “age-appropriate,” depending on the event. Garcia says they were originally hoping to open the new café by January 1. New reconstruction projects, as well as electrical and plumbing repairs to meet safety codes, mean they’re now shooting for a softopening during the winter, possibly early spring, starting with the main café space. Eventually, they’ll open the music room. Garcia says a handful of local promoters have already signed on to book shows, including First Unit Entertainment, Punch and Pie Productions and Atlantean Collective’s Chris Lemos, who books Blue Lamp. Meanwhile, the pair are seeking volunteer help as they tear down and reconstruct the old café, floor to ceiling. “The more the community helps build this, the more they will love it and respect it,” Garcia says.

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The cast of How the Grinch Stole Christ.

Dude, where’s my Christ? The Red Museum puts on a Christmas show with noise rock and an original play by MozeS zaraTe

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Why does the Grinch scorn Christmas? The origin story may have involved a bitter custody battle for baby Jesus—with Santa Claus the presiding judge, and God the key witness. But you won’t find the truth in court filings. You’ll have to settle for three acts of How the Grinch Stole Christ instead. At least that’s the title Anthony Siino and Devon McMindes landed on for their production at the Red Museum. “Is that not just our working title?” Siino asks McMindes in the evening cold, as cast members file into the 15th Street warehouse for the first rehearsal on December 14. “Do you want to change it now?” “No. How the Grinch Stole Christ is fine,” McMindes submits. They are co-writers and directors of the short comedy. (Full disclosure: Siino used to work at SN&R, and McMindes illustrates the Goatkidd comic). The cast includes a chain-smoking Mary, a Randy-Savage-like Herod the Great and the wacky green demon in this theatrical orgy marrying the Nativity with the Dr. Seuss story. In it are biblical characters played by Sacramento personalities, including musician Tre Burt as the narrator and Capital Public Radio host Nick Brunner as one of the three wise men. It performs for one night only at A Very Red Christmas, the Red Museum’s December 21 holiday show. The hilarious middle-school style play encapsulates the entire mixed-art night well: subversive to the holidays, not too planned, and chock-full of Sacramento arts. “Even if people don’t define Christmas in a traditional way anymore, there’s still something

about the gathering part of that holiday that I think is the necessary part, almost like one big family,” says Jennifer Jackson, the Red Museum’s co-founder and the event organizer. Here’s a slice of what to expect: music from the noise rock group Drug Apts., funk-soul troupe LaTour and heavy metal band Tentacult; holiday caroling led by Damien Verrett of the one-man pop band So Much Light; a twisted take on The Night Before Christmas told by local historian William Burg; tables set for local musicians to freely sell merch; visual art by Kyle Mitzel, Natalie Armstrong, David Stone and others; a living Santa Claus and Jesus Christ; and food from Pizza Supreme Being. Jackson says the idea for an arts marathon came after a well-attended Red Museum party held over the summer, which showcased a medley of local performances, different from the typical three-band bill. “We just really liked the idea of doing something collaborative, [where] different types of performers and artists and just characters in our community can all come together,” she said. It’s the sort of event that can easily happen in spaces like the Red Museum, which primarily acts as a rehearsal space where 12 dues-paying members create art and hold band practices. The venue was temporarily shut down last year over building and code violations, but the city and the IBEW Local 340 electrician’s union helped bring the warehouse’s infrastructure and permits up-to-date, and then it reopened for rehearsals and shows. The Red Museum family wants to show Sacramento a good time this holiday season— even if the blocking is loose, and the lines aren’t quite memorized yet. “The entire thing is that we love Sacramento arts,” Siino says. “We want to cross-polinate as much as we can, so if you come out here and you see something that intrigues you, there’s an entire mine of that stuff out there.” Ω

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A ripe time for cider In a beer-booming city, a new tap house aims to stake its claim in the beverage game by Robin EplEy

Julio Peix was hoping to open the Cider TVs and a couple of pinball machines in the corner. House earlier this year—the sign hangWhile Peix hopes there will be plenty ing outside over the nicely enclosed to entice winter customers, he is already patio reads “2018” in the middle of an preparing for summer. He shows off the artfully flowering apple tree. It’s getting custom railing that encloses the porch awfully close to the end of that goal, but Peix swears the soft opening will be later and talks about big plans to add planters, lights and an awning. It’ll also be dogthis month, come hell or high water. friendly, he said. Peix said troubles with the landlord “Summer is great here because it’s and contractors have delayed the opennice and shady,” Peix added, pointing at ing for more than a year, much to his trees that were losing leaves the size of frustration. hubcaps. It is a great location, just a few steps Cider House will focus mainly on from the corner of 24th and K streets in locally brewed ciders, and rotating Midtown, across the street from taps will include offerings Der Biergarten and near a from Two Rivers and slew of other restaurants “The Golden Gate, Common and bars including and Nitty’s, as well Tres Hermanas and combination as Two Towns and The Golden Bear. of good agriculture Stir, among many Peix said he’s others. a little worried and good wine and a good Alex about opening McHardy, who in the winter— beer scene here—it was will bartend at traditionally only a matter of time for Cider House, not a great time said he thinks for a new bar to cider.” cider got its bad start up—but he’s Bradley Yarger rap in the 1980s got a hook no one account manager, Half Pint and ’90s when it was else in town has: Ciders mass-produced. A totally gluten-free “There was just a lot menu and unique, local of sugars and concentrates,” he ciders on tap. said. “I think people will be impressed He plans on installing 20 taps with 14 with how many infusions there can be.” ciders, one dedicated to kombucha and Peix hopes to introduce a happy hour a few beers. There will also be a digital and tastings, in addition to the fixed menu that will list what’s on tap at one menu that will mostly offer gluten-free end of the 26-foot-long wooden bar, two 24 | SN&R | 12.20.18

Julio Peix stands in front of Cider House in Midtown. He says its soft opening will be toward the end of December. Photo by lucas fitzgerald

paninis. (The menu is an integral part of the business plan, as cider is often chosen as a gluten-free option over wheat and grain-based beers.) Peix, who owns Dad’s Kitchen in Land Park and is opening a new location in East Sacramento, used to work for Anchor Brewing, where he learned about craft brewing. He said saw cider growing in popularity in San Francisco and elsewhere and believes the time is right for Sacramento to embrace cider culture, too. Bradley Yarger, an account manager with Half Pint Ciders, a Los Angelesbased cider supplier, agrees. “There’s a whole up-and-coming craft beer movement in Sacramento, it’s

one of the best in the country,” he said. “The combination of good agriculture and good wine and a good beer scene here—it was only a matter of time for cider,” said Yarger, who happened to be in town and spoke to Peix about the ciders to offer on tap. “This new wave has to do a lot with our generation liking what’s new and trying new things,” he added. “Twenty years ago, you were a Miller guy or a Bud guy,” and that’s what you drank. Now, imbibers can try several new drinks in a single night. And if Peix and Yarger are right, a lot more Sacramentans will be trying cider. Ω

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Karma Brew’s owner Anthony Sadeghi toasts to the holidays with a chilled Eggnog Martini.

The spirit of imbibing by Tessa MargueriTe OuTland

Karma Brew pub’s vibe is relaxed and romantic. It has the air of a sundry pirate ship with treasures gathered on its journey across the sea—but with more sangria and hot, boozy cocktails. Every piece of furniture, decorative wall hanging and foundartwork has a story, an identity. Owner Anthony Sadeghi said it took an entire year to design. “Karma decided it would be a corner pub,” he said. “I fell into it.” On the patio, guests sip sangria from a crystal glass while watching passersby traipse through Fremont Park. Inside, under the glow of soft, orange lighting, new and old friends mumble over their beers while a reggae cover of a Pink Floyd song lulls in the background. Karma’s seasonal drink menu reflects the energy of the pub: fresh and artistic. Sadeghi said he encourages creativity in his tight-knit, five-person staff, and that freedom has resulted in some festive and delicious cocktails. This includes the Eggnog Martini and Eggnog Espresso Martini made with eggnog (of course), rum, cream and cinnamon. “The Eggnog Espresso Martini is the best thing,” said Karma bartender Samantha Hodges. “I like how the cinnamon looks on the rim.” The smooth, chilled drink has a distinct dessert attitude. The Boozy Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Hodge’s creation, is simple and decadent, served in a glass mug and topped with a mound of whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon. Other seasonal cocktails include Kahlua Cocoa and a deeply spiced mulled wine.

In addition to its seasonal menu, Karma offers a wide selection of award-winning beers from around the world, including Bavik, a Belgian pilsner, and Weihenstephan Lager from Germany. All these and more are displayed above the bar on artistic pieces painted by Karma’s own bartender/ artist, Amorous. Wine and all varieties of classic cocktails are also available, but one thing you won’t find at any other bar is Karma’s sangria. It’s a sweet concoction of drunken fruit marinated in wine and swirled in a blend of spices such as cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg. A glass is $5, but you’ll want more than one. The deep rose-colored sangria is served with a spoon for easier access to the wine-soaked apples, watermelon and peaches twirling deliciously in the crystal chalice. Guests can also try Sadeghi ’s own creations such as Sakeccino, a warm latte with a shot of sake, and Tea Porto, a cup of tea with a splash of port. If you’re really feeling adventurous, ask for a Logical B.S. and if you’re lucky, perhaps Sadeghi will tell you why he named it that. Karma Brew is a pub for old friends, new love, first dates and thoughtful afternoons. Its intimate and artistic atmosphere will quench your thirst and inspire your soul. Ω

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ReviewS

A Christmas Carol

Full-contact theater by Patti RobeRts

Photo courtesy of B street staff

STC’s production offers a storybook adaptation which revels in party and crowd scenes, succeeding at sweeping up both the audience and Scrooge in their cheerful spirit. The show offers delightfully ominous visions and powerful, direct audience address to caution us all against letting greed crowd out our hope for a better world. Thu

7pm, Fri 8pm, Sat 2pm & 8pm, Sun 2pm, Wed 7pm. Through 12/23; $22-$37; Sacramento Theatre Company, 1419 H St., (916) 443-6722, sactheatre.org. S.K.

A Christmas Carol

B Street Theatre indulges us all in our collective right to “Bah! Humbug!” The show is part of B Street’s Family Series, and caters to younger audiences with ample fourth-wall busting asides. This play offers an impressive number of quick changes and preposterous accents from a cast of five who play the dozens of characters that make up this Christmas tale—and a few new ones, to boot.

Sat 4pm & 8pm, Sun 1pm & 4pm, Mon 2pm, Wed 6:30pm, Thu 12/27, 6:30pm. Through 12/27; $18-$23; B Street Theatre, 2700 Capitol Ave., (916) 443-5300; bstreettheatre.org. S.K.

time for some Pringles, Gatorade and a heartbreaking look at a man left broken by his life’s greatest passion.

Halftime

1 2 3 4 5

thu 8pm, fri 8pm, sat 5pm & 9pm, sun 2pm, tue 6:30pm, Wed 2pm & 6:30pm. through 12/30; $33-$37; B street theatre, Mainstage, 2700 capitol avenue, (916) 443-5300; bstreettheatre.org.

Halftime is about football and the consequences of concussions, and it’s staged during the holiday season. Don’t let the description and timing of the new B Street Theatre offering be a deterrent. Yes, Halftime is about the life of a fictional, star NFL linebacker named Don Devers—giving us a glimpse into his glory days and the heartbreaking present-day damage that the game of football wrought on his body and mind. But you don’t need to be a football fan to appreciate this story of worlds coming apart and the desperate attempts at putting them back together again. We have Devers (Rich Hebert), a lonely, angry man struggling with outward and inward injuries. Entering his life is Ed (Dave Pierini), a lifetime fan and aspiring sportswriter who is struggling with his own failures. Ed answers the request of Devers’ daughter Stephanie (Danielle Mone Truitt) to check up on her dad. Stephanie is pregnant and bonds with Ed’s pregnant wife Sarah (Tate Hanyo). B Street has pulled together a very talented cast, with a powerful performance by Hebert, who realistically conveys the hurt, pain and anger that affects his character both mentally and physically. There are plot threads that feel a bit contrived, including some of the scenes with Stephanie and Sarah, but the performances and the clever set hold everything together. It’s an unusual time of the year for a play to address such weighty issues—not your usual light holiday fare. It is right smack in the middle of major football season, though, with playoffs and the Super Bowl right around the corner. And as one football fan in the Halftime audience noted, it’s getting harder to watch the game without cringing at the tackles. Ω 26 | SN&R | 12.20.18

foul

fair

Good

Well-doNe

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley

Set at Christmas time, two years after the end of Pride and Prejudice, this story brings back the Bennet girls for another round of drama and comedy, leading up to a gala Christmas celebration. A delight for Austen fans and non-Austen fans alike.

Thu 2pm & 7pm, Fri 8pm, Sat 2pm & 8pm, Sun 2pm & 7pm, Tue 2pm & 7pm. Through 12/30; $28-$38; Capital

Stage, 2215 J St., (916) 9955464, capstage.org. B.S.

see the “on stage” section of the calendar on page 31 for more live performances.

short reviews by sawyer Kemp and Bev sykes.

suBliMe doN’t Miss

Photo courtesy of ted WilsoN

4 Delivering the good news The African-American poet and author Langston Hughes wrote Black Nativity in 1961 to retell the story of the birth of Christ from a black perspective—without mention of the fact that people from Bethlehem would have been closer to black than the white-skinned folks normally presented in nativity scenes. Hughes didn’t write too much of this “choreopoem” Christmas story. It’s dialogue and narrative with gospel and spiritual music, assembled from Bible descriptions, linking material and songs Hughes chose but didn’t generate. The narrative is delivered by various members of the 14-person choir who step out to deliver the narrative. Some of this dialogue could use a little amplification, but the singing—ah, the singing can’t be beat. Director James Wheatley assembled the choir from a variety of places. The cast includes a ninth-grade student at Natomas Charter School (Nolin Moss, who also portrays a silent Joseph in act one) and the lead pastor at Living Grace Fellowship Church (Judah Dwight, an imposing, joyful presence), as well as many familiar Celebration Arts actors and singers. The second act is a strong collection of hand-clapping, voice-raising gospel tunes that illustrate the continuing effect that ancient birth has on humanity. It’s a concert and church service all in one, and it is stirring. —Jim Carnes Black Nativity: thu 8pm, fri 8pm, sat 8pm; through 12/22; $10-$20; celebration arts, 2727 B street; (916) 455-2787, celebrationarts.net.

this burlesque show ain’t your kid nephew’s holiday special.

Holiday variety For the past two months, we’ve been promoting wholesome, staged holiday classics such as The Nutcracker, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, A Christmas Carol—well, you’re probably sick of it, so here’s some Xmas fare for the 21-and-over crowd. It’s Merry Scary, presented by Scream Queens Gorelesque. This burlesque show with a bit of a Gothic disposition is coming from Placerville for a monthly show, kicking off with this one. Expect grim burlesque, drag performances, comedy and more. Take a step away from the typical holiday show this year. Fri 12/21, 9pm. $15-$20; Knobs & Knockers, 1023 Front Street; lovehorrorevents.ticketspice.com/merry-scary.

—maxfield morris

fiLm CLiPS

A gentle kick

by DanIEL BaRnES & JIM LanE

At Eternity’s Gate

Roma

The tragic life of Vincent Van Gogh has been realized on film by directors as diverse as Vincente Minnelli and Robert Altman, and there was even a hand-painted animated version of the story released last year. There would not appear to be much meat left on that bone, but if anyone could find new avenues and alleyways in this well-mapped territory, it would be neo-expressionist painter turned biopic director Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly). Starring Willem Dafoe as the tortured Dutch artist, At Eternity’s Gate covers Van Gogh’s productive but difficult last year in the south of France. Schnabel tries to give new life to familiar material through a self-conscious naturalism full of hand-held camera shots, long takes and lens flares. Unfortunately, this breath of fresh air eventually turns stale, and the film is ultimately more academic than tactile. Schnabel coaxes a feverishly potent performance out of Dafoe, but who hasn’t? D.B.

Creed II

The Mule Clint Eastwood picks up a flower, squints, thinking, Is this an Oscar?

by JIM LanE

El Paso and Chicago, under the radar and not fitting any of the usual profiles for drug mules. But two DEA agents (Bradley Cooper and Michael Peña) have managed to leverage Director-star Clint Eastwood’s The Mule is a snitch in the Sinaloa Cartel, and they’ve ostensibly based on a New York Times article by gotten wind of a prolific drug runner in a black Sam Dolnick about one Leo Sharp, who ran drugs pickup whom the cartel has code-named El from Mexico to Detroit for the Sinaloa Cartel for Tata (“The Grandfather”). They little suspect more than a decade before his luck finally ran out in how literal the code name is, preoccupied as 2011, when he was 87. But by the time writer Nick they are with pulling over Hispanic drivers Schenk—who wrote Eastwood’s hit Gran Torino who fit the profile. But they’re getting closer. 10 years ago—got through with the story, it had While the DEA gets closer, Earl’s longmorphed into a movie about Eastwood, the man and neglected family continues to keep its distance. the screen persona. Mary has been hurt too often for too Not that there’s anything wrong with long, Iris refuses to be in the same that. The truth is, the real-life Sharp room and even Ginny grows probably isn’t as interesting as all weary of making excuses for It’s as if that. He certainly doesn’t have him. Earl’s fumbling efforts Sergio Leone’s the history with his audience, or to make up for lost time, Man with No Name with Dolnick’s readership, that contrasted with his smooth Eastwood has with his. And at 88, amiability among strangers, has evolved into a sort it’s no wonder if every movie that make him sympathetic in a of tight-lipped, softEastwood makes has an elegiac, way that the real Leo Sharp, hearted Archie farewell quality to it. (Though with his more straightforward you’d never know: Eastwood seems venality, can’t be. It leads us Bunker. to be going strong, and his mother to overlook his criminality—or made it to 97.) if not overlook, at least shrug off In Schenk’s heavily fictionalized telling, the casual prejudices he dispenses along Sharp becomes Earl Stone, and Eastwood plays him the way. For instance, he calls his cartel handlers with a sort of leathery frailty. Earl gets into drug “beaners,” and even when he stops to help an running first as a way to save his flower business African-American couple with their flat tire, he from foreclosure (it languished when he ignored the calls them “negro folks”—in 2010, no less. It’s threat from online sales for too long), and second as if Sergio Leone’s Man with No Name has in an effort to rebuild his relationship with his evolved into a sort of tight-lipped, soft-hearted ex-wife Mary (Dianne Wiest) and estranged, angry Archie Bunker. And somehow, there’s something daughter Iris (Eastwood’s real-life daughter Alison) strangely comforting in that. Ω by paying for the wedding of his granddaughter Ginny (Taissa Farmiga). Then he learns that his local Veterans of Foreign Wars post needs money to rebuild after a fire, and what started as a one-off becomes a regular gig, with the octogenarian Earl Poor Fair Good Very excellent poking along the interstate highway system between Good

1 2 3 4 5

If there was any hope that after hogging the screen in Ryan Coogler’s 2015 reboot Creed, Sylvester Stallone would cede the spotlight to Michael B. Jordan and company in this tired sequel, it gets dashed quick. We are not two minutes into Creed II before Rocky Balboa begins the first of many long-winded life lesson speeches, and the film never stops obsessing over him. Ironically, most of Creed II deals with Adonis’ concerns that he will never escape the shadow of his famous father, but he’s clearly worried about the wrong person’s shadow. Even the plot of Creed II is recycled from 1985’s Rocky IV, as defeated Russian contender Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) emerges from decades in exile with a vengeance-minded son named Viktor (Florian Munteanu). Whatever you think about Rocky IV, it is inarguably a mid-1980s time capsule. Creed II isn’t a time capsule, but it should get buried. D.B.

The Favourite

After establishing an acridly humanist aesthetic across several singularly suffocating films, there was some question about whether Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos (Dogtooth; The Lobster) could make the leap into the cinematic mainstream while also keeping his unique vision and voice intact. He didn’t exactly inspire confidence with last year’s comparatively straightforward The Killing of a Sacred Deer, a film that was sour and cruel without the restless invention and sucker-punch satire of his earlier efforts. All those fears are put to rest by The Favourite, a piquant costume drama about sexually charged power struggles deep within the inner circle of Queen Anne, the monarch of Great Britain in the early 18th century. Lanthimos takes a lean, sharp, witty script by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara about conniving women and weak men and imbues it with a pitiless absurdism. The result feels like an outrageously opulent cross between Dangerous Liaisons and All About Eve. D.B.

Green Book

In 1962, Bronx bouncer Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen) takes a job as driver and bodyguard for black pianist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) as he tours the Jim Crow South. Take a true story, add a super-smart script (by Tony Lip’s real-life son Nick Vallelonga, with Brian Hayes Currie and director Peter Farrelly), brilliant turns by the two stars, and matching support from Linda Cardellini as Mortensen’s wife, and you get a bullseye crowd-pleaser, one of the feel-good movies of the year. The odd-couple pairing—one cultured, fastidious and circumspect, the other coarse, slovenly and heedless—ripens into mutual respect on common ground by hitting all the expected beats. It might have been painfully predictable, but the central relationship—and the superb actors portraying it—make it a pure pleasure. J.L.

Alfonso Cuarón writes, directs, produces, co-edits and serves as his own cinematographer on the intimately lavish Roma, a semi-autobiographical labor of love set in the Mexico City of his youth. The story centers on Cleo (first-time actress Yalitza Aparicio), the live-in housekeeper in an upper middle-class household torn apart by infidelity. Most of this black-and-white film’s leisurely first hour is devoted to carefully laying out the details of Cleo’s world, especially the stark racial, class and gender divides that keep her on the lower rungs of society, but patient viewing leads to powerful emotional payoffs. Cuarón (Gravity; Children of Men) offers another masterclass in bravura camera moves and the seamless integration of CGI, but as ever the film is so precision-tuned and impeccably timed that it feels a little mechanical and bloodless. That said, Cuarón’s Roma still offers an increasingly rare combination of ambition, imagination, compassion, emotion and execution. D.B.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

It sucks that almost every major motion picture these days is a self-aware pastiche and brand nostalgia compilation, but if the only stories that Hollywood can weave anymore are Easter egg baskets, it would be nice if more of them had the energy, artistry, heart and humor of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This animated feature is directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman, but it feels like the key creative cog is co-screenwriter Phil Lord, who pulled off a similar feat of franchise maintenance with The Lego Movie. The story focuses on Miles Morales, a mixed-race teenager who takes over as Spider-Man following the death of Peter Parker. When a wormhole created by Kingpin brings Miles into contact with a diverse group of alternate universe SpiderPeople, they naturally team up to save the world. Superhero movies aren’t going away anytime soon, and if Into the Spider-Verse is any indication, maybe they shouldn’t. D.B.

Vox Lux

Brady Corbet writes and directs this intriguing but overreaching amalgam of showbiz satire, faux-documentary, epic soap opera and beard-stroking commentary about 21st century American society. The story opens in 1999, with Willem Dafoe narrating a documentary about Celeste Montgomery (Raffey Cassidy), a teenage girl who survives a Columbineesque student massacre. Celeste and her sister Eleanor write and perform a song about the tragedy at a televised memorial, bringing them overnight fame and catapulting them into the arms of a music industry sleazebag played by Jude Law. The second half of the film is set in 2017, with an adult Celeste (Natalie Portman, going for it, unfortunately) now a shaky superstar with a teenage daughter (Cassidy again) and a new unspeakable tragedy to deal with. Vox Lux does not lack for complex ideas and lofty aspirations, but the human drama is muddled and the observations on contemporary culture are obvious and exploitative. D.B.

Widows

When their husbands are all killed in a robbery gone wrong, three women (Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki) are on the hook for the lost money; their only option is to follow through on the robbery the gang planned to commit next. A 1980s British miniseries gets reworked by writers Gillian Flynn and Steve McQueen (who also directed) into an all-American story about organized crime and political corruption in Chicago. It’s like Ocean’s 8 for grownups—with all the stylish fun of a good heist movie, but thickened and enhanced by a real-world desperation that makes the caper more than a simple lark. Davis’ powerhouse presence is complemented by Rodriguez and Debicki (in a starmaking turn), plus an equally powerhouse supporting cast: Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall and Bryan Tyree Henry among others. J.L.

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gift guide

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12.20.18

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30 | SN&R | 12.20.18

foR R the week of decembe decembeR R 20

by maxfield morris

online listings will be considered for print. print listings are edited for space and accuracy. Deadline for print listings is 5 p.m. Wednesday. Deadline for nightlife listings is midnight Sunday. Send photos and reference materials to calendar editor maxfield morris at snrcalendar@newsreview.com.

POSt eVentS OnlIne FOr Free at newsreview. com/sacramento

muSic

the funky Back Alley Buzzards. 9pm, $6. Old Ironsides, 1901 10th St.

wInter waStelanD: This show is being held in

thurSDAY, 12/20

a “colossal new Sacramento venue,” known to locals only as “The Scottish Rite Masonic Center.” Oolacile, Calcium and many other bands will be shattering your eardrums for winter. 6pm, $30-$43. Scottish Rite Center, 6151 H St.

DUSty BrOwn & KrIS anaya: This is Le Twist’s holiday party, with the live dance project from Brown and Anaya, along with music from Gloamie. 9pm, no cover. LowBrau, 1050 20th St.

SunDAY, 12/23

friDAY, 12/21

JIM MartIneZ’S “a CHarlIe BrOwn CHrIStMaS”:

SnOw tHa PrODUCt: It’s the Snow Show,

The music of the famous Peanuts holiday cartoon comes to life with Jim Martinez on the piano and his jazz quartet on the jazz instruments. This is so much more fun than just watching the animated special. 6:30pm, $15-$30. CLARA, 2420 N St.

meaning hip-hop maven Snow Tha Product is leading the evening. Perhaps you caught Tha Product in June, but this time she’s performing with Sab $tory, Soosh*e and Chonnie Gold. 7pm, $25. Ace Of Spades, 1417 R St.

MeSSIaH-DaVIS SIng-alOng PerFOrManCe:

PrOXIMa ParaDa: The soulful San Luis Obispo

Aforementioned in the calendar, this exciting performance of Handel’s master work turns regular Joes into choral Joes. Rehearsals start at 1 p.m., and the performance is at 4 p.m., lasting an hour. 4pm. no cover. Veterans Memorial Center Theatre, 204 E. 14th St. in Davis.

band whose name means “next stop” is stopping at Goldfield, along with the rock group Moonshiner Collective. 8:30pm, $10$12. Goldfield Trading Post, 1630 J St.

SUn

The uglier the sweater, the better.

Ugly sweater season Downtown Sacramento Ice rInk, 6pm, $3-$35 December is fully upon us, and that means one thing—there are so, so, so many events featuring ugly Ugly SweaterS sweaters. Seriously, glance through the calendar and you may be astounded. Take your pick of the ugly offerings—this event, on Sunday, is the Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl, hosted by HOFisbetter. You can buy a wristband

tICKet wInDOw Ari ShAffir Comedian, podcaster, actor? Yes, these three things describe everyone living in L.A., but they also describe funny fellow Shaffir. 1/3-1/5, various times, $23, on sale now. Punch Line Sacramento, concerts1.livenation.com.

Young Dolph Bass-heavy rap is coming to town, in the form of hip-hop artist Young Dolph.

1/8, 7pm, $35-$99, on sale now. Ace of Spades,

tenFOlD: This is a reunion show for Tenfold, and supporting them on this momentous evening are Phallucy, the Snobs, Ghost Mesa and SoulVent. 7pm, $10-$12. Holy Diver, 1517 21st St.

Mylar’S SIng alOng CHrIStMaS SHOw & FOOD DrIVe: Come sing along with William

UnaUtHOrIZeD rOllIng StOneS: Nearly 50 years after the founding of the Rolling Stones in 1962, this tribute band hit the music scene. Ever since, they’ve been making audiences think they’re seeing the real thing. 9pm, $10-$15. Opera House Saloon Roseville, 411 Lincoln St. in Roseville.

$42-$92, on sale now. Harris Center in Folsom, harriscenter.net.

ozomAtli The Los Angelesozom

founded six-piece band has activism in the blood, and they’ll be playing with local group Ideateam Ideateam.

1/18, 7:30pm, $33-$48, on sale now. Crest Theatre, ticketfly.com.

A$Ap rockY Get your tickets A$A as A$AP as possible possible. 2/1, 8pm, $40-$115, on sale now. Golden 1 Center, ticketmaster.com.

DierkS BentleY

eventbrite.com.

Dig deep, Dierks. Dig deep.

The country icon will be performing along with Jon Pardi, Tenille Townes and Hot Country Knights.

2/16, 7pm, $39. 75-$89. 75,

on sale now. Reno Events Center, ticketmaster.com.

Serengeti The Chicago rapper is

performing with So Much Light, Sparks Across Darkness and Comfort Creature. It’s gonna be good. 2/18, 7pm, $10$15, on sale now. Momo Sacramento, ticketfly.com.

Joe JAckSon The new wave singer-

songwriter will be touring his soon-tobe-released album, FOOL. 3/3, 7:30pm, $38. 50-$76. 50, on sale now. Crest Theatre, ticketfly.com.

AlAn pArSonS live proJect

Yes, you can get tickets to that “Eye in the Sky” guy and innovating rocker, Alan Parsons. 4/7, 7pm, $55-$65, on sale now. Jackson Rancheria, tickets.vendini.com.

Mylar, and bring some non-perishable or canned foods for food banks. 5pm. no cover. Hideaway Bar & Grill, 2565 Franklin Blvd.

tHe SaCtOwn tHrOwDOwn: It’s the second day of the Throwdown, and if you neglected to throw on the first day, you can make up for it with the second day of this event, featured on page 32. 7pm, $17. 50$27. 50. Holy Diver, 1517 21st St.

SAturDAY, 12/22 BIZ MarKIe: He’s got what you need—it’s DJ Biz Markie, with DJ Bobby Brown, running you through some of the most danceable hits of the 1980s and the 1790s. Wait, I mean the 1990s. 7pm, $15-$20. Ace of Spades, 1417 R St.

feStivAlS thurSDAY, 12/20

ClUB SeanCe: It’s britpop and shoegaze night

Ugly CHrIStMaS Sweater Party: The first of

at the monthly séance. DJ Chat Noir will be sharing some dark music sounds, along with DJs Callum, Sage and Dire Delorean. 9:30pm, $5. Midtown Barfly, 1119 21st St.

lOCKeD-n-lOaDeD: Country cover music is

Dear reader: i hope this message finds you well. got tickets? XoXo.

DAviD SeDAriS

American humorist and satirical writer, Sedaris is coming to Folsom and taking to the stage. 1/15, 7:30pm,

that grants you access to specials at local establishments, including Punch Bowl Social, The Pizza Press, Malt and Mash and more. Proceeds from the wristbands go to Sacramento Self Help Housing, and you’ll get a chance to dust off your worst duds. You’ll be walking around downtown in style—well, a lack of style, anyway. 701 K Street, facebook.com/hofisbetter/events.

snr c a le nd a r @ ne wsr e v ie w.c o m

headed your way, Rosevillians! They’re more than ready to share their takes on your favorite twangy oldies. 9pm, $7-$12. Opera House Saloon Roseville, 411 Lincoln St. in Roseville.

DaVIS VOCal wOrKSHOPS & reHearSal: Handel’s “Messiah” is set to be performed by regular people with regular voices on Dec. 23. Stop by this workshop to rehearse for the sing-along. It’s a BYOS event—bring your own score. 1pm, no cover. Veterans Memorial Center Theatre, 204 E. 14th St. in Davis.

tHe SaCtOwn tHrOwDOwn: Want two days of fun music, lots of it local? Get excited for this event, featured on page 32. 7pm, $17. 50$27. 50. Holy Diver, 1517 21st St.

wHat tHe FUnK!: This 11-piece band is guaranteed to bring the funk. Their lineup is huge! 9pm, $7. Strikes Unlimited, 5681 Lonetree Blvd. in Rocklin.

wHOVIlle, BaCK alley BUZZarDS: The music of the Who comes to Old Ironsides, along with

many ugly sweater parties this week, New Helvetia’s party encourages the ugliness that comes in knit form. Show up in a festive outfit, drink some beer, eat some food and listen to some jazz. 4pm. no cover. New Helvetia, 1730 Broadway.

Ugly Sweater Party: This ugly sweater party takes place at Coin-Op Sacramento. Get squeezed into your ugliest baggy garment and get ready to compete. There’s a prize for the best ugly sweater, there will be a toy drive at the door, and music and drinks. 8pm. no cover. Coin-Op Sacramento, 908 K St.

friDAY, 12/21 annUal Ugly Sweater CHrIStMaS Party: This ugly sweater party, held at Pine Cove Tavern, features a number of different categories for you to compete in. There’s best, most original, sexiest and ugliest sweater contests. You bring the ugly, they’ll serve up the bubbly. 9pm, call for cover. Pine Cove, 502 29th St.

CalenDar lIStIngS COntInUeD On Page 32

12.20.18

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See more evenTS and SubmiT your own aT newSreview.com/Sacramento/calendar

CaLendar LiSTinGS ConTinued From PaGe 31

CHriSTmaS in THe ParK aT THe roberTSon CommuniTy CenTer: Billed as a familyfriendly holiday event, this Christmas celebration features music, choirs, snacks and more fun, running daily through the end of the weekend. 6pm, no cover. Robertson Community Center, 3525 Norwood Ave.

Saturday, 12/22 100 CHriSTmaS ParTy and dinner-For-aCauSe: This Christmas party, a collaboration of 100 Black Men of Sacramento, One Love Travel Club, Cultural Vibrations and Sacramento Black Professionals, makes for an evening of dancing, dinner and fun. 7pm, $20-$25. Parkwest Casino Cordova, 2801 Prospect Park Drive in Rancho Cordova.

FeLiZ navidanK ParTy: Blue Lamp hosts a holiday party in the spirit of the season— letting loose and sharing time with good people. Show up and join in the festivities, with music and more. 9pm, no cover. Blue Lamp, 1400 Alhambra Blvd.

GLobaL LoCaL merCado-HoLiday ediTion: Time for some local goods and gifts with a global worldview—el mercado is here for the holidays. With music from DJ Mike Colossal and all kinds of goods, development of the local creative economy has never been this much fun, except for that one time. 10am, no cover. Sol Collective, 2574 21st St.

Handmade HoLidayS: This is the “tin

“With increased traffic online, as well as,

through the door WE COULDN’T BE HAPPIER

anniversary” for this holiday craft fair, meaning it’s the 10th year of it running. Show up for some creations and a party atmosphere. 11am, $2. Beatnik Studios, 723 S St.

revivaL HoLiday ParTy: DJ Kaos is making this party have music. The theme of the party is “Wearing White Clothing,” so dress in white to get in for free. 9:30pm, no cover-$20. Revival at the Sawyer, 500 J St.

SuGarLoaF STaTion FoundaTion winTer CamPFire: The Sugarloaf Station Foundation is raising money for their fine arts camp scholarships. Show up for music, dance and performance. 7pm, $15-$20. Studio

”

81, El Dorado High School, 561 Canal St. in Placerville.

Sunday, 12/23 CHriSTmaS KirTan and FeaST: Celebrate the storytelling, musical experience that is Kirtan, featuring a vegetarian Christmas dinner and fun. This family-friendly experience is donation-based, and RSVPs are encouraged. 5:30pm, no cover. San Juan Mason’s Lodge, 5944 San Juan Ave. in Citrus Heights.

uGLy SweaTer bar CrawL: Do you have an urge to wear your ugliest sweater in public somewhere? Well, you’re in luck. Check out the event highlight on page 31, and get ready to walk around downtown in lackof-style. 6pm, $3-$35. Downtown Ice Rink, 701 K St.

wedneSday, 12/26 2018 SaCramenTo KwanZaa umoJa CeLebraTion: Celebrate the holiday season with this Sacramento Kwanzaa celebration. It’s an event that explores the history of the holiday and the flow of ancestors to the present. 3pm. no cover. Valley High Laguna Library, 7400 Imagination Parkway.

Food & drinK Friday, 12/21 TemPLe CoFFee PubLiC CuPPinGS: Like coffee? Like to try it for free? And do you like to gain insights into that free coffee? Well, well, well. It looks like I’ve got information that’s valuable for you. The coffee cupping is at Temple Coffee—now you can’t say I never do anything for you. 2pm. no cover. Temple Coffee Midtown, 2829 S St.

Saturday, 12/22 amador CiTy winTer wine waddLe: Waddle around to five different wine locations, including Wine Tree Farm, Hotel Imperial, End of Nowhere, Binz Tasting Room and

CaLendar LiSTinGS ConTinued on PaGe 33

with the outcome.

“Before we met with the SNR team we were looking for ways to expand our business beyond our online presence. Micheal & Anthony suggested a multi-week ad campaign to work hand in hand with our online activities. With increased traffic online, as well as, through the door we couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”

JACKSON STEWART

BLACK ROCK AUTOMOTIVE

SN&R

12.20.18

Saturday, 12/22 & Sunday 12/23

The Sactown Throwdown Holy Diver, 7pm, $17.50-$27.50

Sacramento music listeners will be privy to two days of largely lo-fi, indie, surfy music. Holy Diver’s shindig boasts local and semilocal bands on the lineup. The muSiC first day features headliners Dog Party, Animals in the Attic, So Much Light (pictured), MLEO and Cugino, and the second is stocked with SadGirl, Honyock, Paul Nicholas Slater, Münechild and Sophie Seng. The artists will be throwing down music—but will you pick it up? Can you even pick up music? 1517 21st Street, holydiversac.com.

PHoto courteSy oF anti recordS

Friday, 12/21

Interfaith Homeless Memorial Service TriniTy Episcopal caThEdral, 7pm, no covEr

December 21 is the longest night of the year. For many, it’s a time to celebrate the changing season, but for those living without a home, it can be a deadly Take acTIon threat of PHOTO COUrTESy OF SaCramEnTO rEgiOnal cold weather to come. This COaliTiOn TO End HOmElESSnESS service pays tribute to the many people who have lost their lives while living without a home in Sacramento. This nationally recognized event seeks to bring attention to this untenable situation. 2620 Capitol Avenue, srceh.org.

caLenDaR LISTInGS conTInUeD FRoM PaGe 32

LaUGHS UnLIMITeD coMeDY cLUB: Michael

Small Town Wine Bar. 1pm, $20-$50. 14202 Old Highway 49 in Amador City.

PUncH LIne: 5th Annual Christmas with Leaf.

BURnInG BaRReL BReWInG coMPanY HoLIDaY eXTRaVaGanZa: Get your share of some holiday beer pourings at this holiday event, featuring live music by Jason Weeks and an ugly sweater contest. 6pm, $30. Burning Barrel Brewing Company, 11210 Sun Center Drive in Rancho Cordova.

SUnday, 12/23 BRUncH.aF UGLY SWeaTeR PaRTY: Arguably the brunchiest of the week’s ugly sweater offerings, this second year of the party kicks off and features bottomless mimosas, eggs Benedict made to order and more indulgences. Bring your ugliest sweater and your holiday-est appetite. Register on Eventbrite. 11am, $10-$32. Knobs and Knockers, 1023 Front St., Suite A.

TUESday, 12/25 cHRISTMaS DaY aT caPIToL GaRaGe: Want some Christmas plans that don’t involve spending the holiday with your pastor? Come have some brunch or a dinner with Capitol Garage. Make a reservation, and you can invite your pastor if you really want to. 4:30pm, $50. Capitol Garage, 1500 K St.

Calvin Jr. Cris Sosa joins the enthusiastic and fairly open Michael Calvin Jr. Through 12/23. $10. 1207 Front St. Leaf does comedy about being a marijuana enthusiast, and his comedic name might be derived from that plant. The mellow demeanor of Leaf is in contrast to the material. 8pm. Through 12/20. $20. LOL! A Christmas Comedy Show! If all you want for Christmas is a holiday-inspired comedy show, then your gift will only cost $16, as that’s how much this event costs. Featuring Frank the Tank, Nicole Eichenberg, Robert Berry and many more, this show has a lot of comedians. 7pm. Through 12/23. $16. 2100 Arden Way, Suite 225.

STaB! coMeDY THeaTeR: Digging Up. This improv adventure features Cristopher America Carlson as a time-traveling musician protagonist, as well as Dylan Thomas Fox on bass and Jesse Jones. Saturday 12/21, 8pm. $7. 1710 Broadway.

SacRaMenTo coMeDY SPoT: Comedy Spot Holiday Show. If all you want for Christmas is a holiday comedy show, and you’ve weighed all the options and decided this one is the right one for you, then come see Robert Berry, Billy Anderson, Squad Patrol and many more, along with $2,000 worth of gifts for the audience. Saturday 12/22, 9pm. 1050 20th St., Suite 130.

SoMeWHeRe In THe R STReeT coRRIDoR: Don’t

Film SaTUrday, 12/22 WHITe cHRISTMaS: The classic holiday movie released in 1954, featuring Bing Crosby and the most popular holiday song ever, will play on the screen at Crest Theatre. 7:30pm, $7.50-$9.50. Crest Theatre, 1013 K St.

COmEdy caPIToL GaRaGe: Dinner & A Comedy Show. Sometimes, you need to laugh. Other times, you need to eat dinner. Still other times, you wish you could have both of those things at once—and this event fills that niche, with hosts David Shapiro and Suzette Veneti making funny. Thursday, 8pm. $5. 1500 K St.

Tell Sacramento. One of the biggest elements of comedy is repetition. Speaking of repetition, see the highlight on page 34. 8pm. Through 12/22. $20. Location provided day of event.

ToMMY T’S coMeDY cLUB: Comedian Ricco Da Great. The rapping, impersonating comedian who’s been featured with Kevin Hart comes from the Bay Area bringing gifts of laughter. Through 12/22. $15-$25. 12401 Folsom Blvd. in Rancho Cordova.

On STagE 24TH STReeT THeaTRe: Grinchmas Remixed. Get the Seuss-inspired dance that you didn’t know you needed. There will be

caLenDaR LISTInGS conTInUeD on PaGe 34

12.20.18 | SN&R | 33

see more events and submit your own at newsreview.com/sacramento/calendar

saturday, 12/22 calendar listings continued from page 33 food, vendors and performances by KAST Academy of the Arts. On an unrelated note, this issue of SN&R is the Grinches issues— but is legally distinct from any Seuss intellectual property. saturday 12/22, 3pm & 7:30pm. $8.71-$50. 2791 24th St.

blue prynt restaurant: The Dinner Detective

Halal Way or the Highway ning

capital stage: Miss Bennet Christmas at Pemberley. The imagined sequel to the Jane Austen work, Capital Stage’s holiday offering follows the exploits of Mary Bennet around Christmastime at Pemberly. through 12/30. $25-$42. 2215 J St.

capitol garage: Dinner and a Drag Show.

raps, ∙ Award win ∙ Burgers ,&wm ore fels platters

Murder Mystery. Hungry for mystery and a meal? This evening won’t disappoint, as a murder has taken place, and it’s up to you to have good table manners and find out who did the murder. friday 12/21, 7pm. $59.95. 815 11th St.

Have some dinner and take in a drag show. It’s an ideal Saturday night, and shef Raphael will be making sure your taste buds are delighted. saturday 12/22, 7:30pm. $5-$25. 1500 K St.

fala

celebration arts: Black Nativity. “Black Nativity” is a gospel song play about the birth of Jesus written by Langston Hughes. 8pm. through 12/21. $20. 4469 D St.

Open Mon-Sun 11am-9pm 3620 North Freeway Blvd #305, Sacramento l (916) 891-0375 2690 East Bidwell Street #300, Folsom l (916) 817-1184

Eat. Drink. Be Merry. Repeat.

Harris center: Ballet Folklorico de

Thank you for voting Kupros! ’18

Sacramento. This production, featuring 25 dancers, musicians and performers, is a vibrant, family-friendly, loud and lively evening. It covers a processional, the three wise men, a pinata, traditional music and dance choreography that you will adore. friday 12/21, 7:30pm. $26-$46. 10 College Parkway in Folsom.

K street between front and 2nd street: Theatre of Lights Performances. These free shows in Old Sacramento are still going on, featuring rooftop performers, lights, sounds and more seasonal spirit than you can shake a stick at. through 12/23. no cover. K St.

Knobs & KnocKers: Merry Scary by Scream Queens Gorelesque. Have a wild, out-ofthe-ordinary holiday time at this burlesque show mixed with the darker side of life. It’s a whole lot of raunchy entertainment packed into one show. friday 12/21, 9pm. $15$20. 1023 Front St.

tHe community center tHeater: The

1217 21st St • 916.440.0401 | www.KuprosCrafthouse .com

60% 0FF

Park. See the best dang ballet/rap CD story/ freestyle performance in the Sacramento area. Show up and check out this delightful take on the classic ballet. through 12/24. $10$20. 2828 35th St.

tHeatre in tHe HeigHts: The Ultimate

ORIGINAL COUPON ONLY • NO COPIES

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1402 Broadway 916.930.0888 Sun-Thurs 11am -10pm • Fri & Sat 11am -10:30pm

PARTY ROOMS AVAILABLE • NOW SERVING BEER & WINE

SN&R

12.20.18

One of the biggest elements of PHoto courtesy oF don’t tell comedy comedy is repetition—but that’s not important right now. What is important is the comedic element of surprise, especially for this event that comedy features comedians and a venue that aren’t revealed until the day of the event for those who register. I don’t even know who the performers are, or any really valuable details. Does that make you question the value of this calendar? … Naw. I do know that it’s a BYOB event. Location revealed day of event, donttellcomedy.com.

music, all in British Panto style. through 12/23. $5-$15. 1075 W. Capitol Ave. in West Sacramento.

wilKerson tHeatre: Enfrascada. Teatro Espejo shares a story about a girl’s night out, a romance gone wrong and the power of actual magic. through 12/22. $18-$23. 1725 25th St.

China Buffet chinabuffetrestaurant.com

Christmas Show (abridged). Three different churchgoers are responsible for the holiday pageant show after all the performers flake. through 12/22. $15. 8215 Auburn Blvd., Suite G in Citrus Heights.

west sacramento community center blacK boX tHeatre: Moby Dick, the Panto. Want to get the inside scoop on what Moby Dick is really about? Come see this zany take on the literary classic, with puppets and

california museum: Sikh Project. Learn about the Sikh American experience in this exhibit that details the group that has been targeted for racial profiling, hate crimes, discrimination and more since 9/11. Meet several Americans who have been victims of bigotry, and get to know the people who are American Sikhs. through 1/27. $6.50-$9. 1020 O St.

crocKer art museum: Sketch-A-Movie: The

art beatniK studios: Voice: The Art of Eric Stevens and Ginger Thompson. Stevens’ wood carvings come from tree stumps, and Thompson’s paintings come from acrylic paint containers. through 12/26. no cover. 723 S St.

pence gallery: Holiday Market. We’re really getting down to the wire here, presentwise. If you’re still behind, check out this holiday market, open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through 12/24. no cover. 212 D St. in Davis.

verge center for tHe arts: Art Gallery Storytime. Arts and crafts meet stories at this event for younger kids. Nate will be reading, kids will be participating in activities—it’s a veritable shindig. friday 12/21, 10am. no cover. 625 S St.

wareHouse916: Warehouse916 presents Contact. This inclusive art show features an Andy Warhol soup can tribute, with work by Gabby Ledesma and Angela Weddle. through 2/8. no cover. 9072 Elk Grove Blvd. in Elk Grove.

tHe guild tHeater: The Nutcracker in Oak

BUY 1 ADULT BUFFET AND 2 DRINKS GET 2ND ADULT BUFFET 60% OFF

1 coupon per table. Not for parties of 10 or more. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Expires 01/03/19.

Nutcracker. Get the nut-cracking-est experience you can get at a local ballet production—it’s time for The Nutcracker. This year, Amy Seiwert brings new artistic direction to the stage and mixes up the typical story. The music is still Tchaikovsky, though, and it can’t be beat. through 12/23. $25-$100. 1301 L St.

don’t tell sacramento Somewhere in the r Street Corridor, 8pm, $20

museums california automobile museum: Hitting the Road Special Exhibit. See what the big deal is with America’s fascination with road trips in this exhibit. You’ll see the birth of the pastime and its development over the years. 10am. through 2/25. $8. Charles Phoenix-Retro Holiday Jubilee. Step back in time with Charles Phoenix, vintage connoisseur extraordinaire, at the Cal Auto Museum. It’s a party with food, all kinds of holiday fun, interesting things to see and nostalgia. 6pm. through 12/21. $25-$30. 2200 Front St.

Nightmare Before Christmas. Get drawing and watching this classic claymation movie. You’ll get a chance to draw some of the iconic characters, like Jack Skellington and Oogie Boogie, then watch the film and sketch to your heart’s content. thursday, 12/20. 6pm. $8-$16. Crocker Art Camp What’s Up! Skyscrapers, Jets and Birds. Kids will get an experience walking through the art galleries, learning about art and even getting a chance to create some in the presence of educators. through 12/28. $150-$195. 216 O St.

mcKinley library: Knit and Craft. Hop into the knitting circle to get your fiber art on with some new friends. wednesday 12/26, 10am. no cover. 601 Alhambra Blvd.

sacramento Zoo: Pajama Party Christmas Eve. The zoo will become a seasonal wonderland—but with a very noticeable twist. Everyone will be wearing pajamas, and admission is free until 1:30 p.m. It’s a perfect way to ring in the holiday season, especially if you don’t feel like changing out of your sleepwear. monday 12/24, 10am. no cover. 3930 W. Land Park Drive.

all aGes monday, 12/24 free admission day: Get into Fairytale Town for free on Christmas Eve. All the fun of the park without any of the cost! 7am, no cover. Fairytale Town, 3901 Land Park Drive.

calendar listings continued on page 35

cALENDAR LiSTiNGS cONTiNuED FROM PAGE 34

good thing. 2pm, $30-$35. Sacramento Yoga Center, 2791 24th St., Room 6.

SPoRTS & oUTdooRS THURSday, 12/20 HOLiDAY LASER LiGHT SHOW AT DOcO: Time to stare at some lasers. This show runs thrice daily on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, a DJ will be providing the soundtrack, and it’ll be a true hoot. Don’t actually stare directly at the lasers, though. 6pm, no cover. DOCO, 660 J St.

TaKE aCTIon FRIday, 12/21 5TH ANNuAL iNTERFAiTH HOMELESS MEMORiAL SERVicE: See the event highlight on page 33. 7pm, No cover. Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 2620 Capitol Ave.

CLaSSES

MAGicAL cHRiSTMAS TRAiN: It’s just about time for the holiday train to leave the station—and if you’re not on it, you’re getting left behind. If you are aboard, you’ll have the locomotive experience of the season. 6:30pm, $39-$54. Sacramento RiverTrain, 400 N. Harbor Blvd. in West Sacramento.

SiLENT DiScO SKATE: You can skate if you want to—and if you want to spend an extra $5, you’ll be part of the Silent Disco, which grants you the opportunity to hear one of three music stations in a pair of headphones. Everyone else will be hearing music too—but there won’t be noise complaints from neighbors! 7pm, $6$13. Downtown Ice Skating Rink, 701 K St.

SaTURday, 12/22 ANiMAL TRAcKS AND SiGNS: Did you ever look out into the woods and think, “Hey ... there might be animals out there!” Well, there are, so come and learn the clues that tell you what animals have passed by. 10:30am. No cover. Effie Yeaw Nature Center, 2850 San Lorenzo Way in Carmichael.

SUnday, 12/23 FALuN DAFA MEDiTATiON: Spend time in the park practicing Falun Dafa exercises. Consider bringing a mat, and definitely consider having a good time. 9am. No cover. McKinley Park, 601 Alhambra Blvd.

RESTORATiVE YOGA iNFuSED FOR THE HOLiDAYS: Need a break this holiday season? I know I do. Come to this class with therapeutic oils and yoga for your soul. De-stressing: It’s a

FRIday, 12/21 cANVAS PAiNTiNG: Want to paint the “Christmas Kitty” with everyone else in this class? Of course you do! Come be a true artist and paint a cat with friends. Register in advance. 6:30pm, $38. Gather Studio & Marketplace, 8870 Auburn Folsom Road, Suite. B in Granite Bay.

cHRiSTMAS SALSA & BAcHATA PARTY: Want to get a little spicy this holiday season? Take a salsa and bachata dance lesson, complete with live band and live DJs. 8:30pm, $15$20. Midtown Barfly, 1119 21st St.

KiDS & TEENS iN THE KiTcHEN HOLiDAY TREATS: Kids ages 10-17 can get some holiday baking experience, making cookies, baklava and more. It’s about time they caught the baking bug. If there are extra cookies, send them to the calendar editor at SN&R. 4:30pm, $49. Community Learning Center & Cooking School, 2820 R St.

WEdnESday, 12/26 WiNTER cAMP AGES 10-14, iLLuSTRATiON: Do your kids want to learn to illustrate? Or do you want your kids to learn to illustrate so they can provide free art for your young-adult fantasy novel? Send them to this camp for ages 10-14 and have them gain expertise in technique, textures, patterns, character design and more. 10am, $150$185. Verge Center for the Arts, 625 S St.

When it comes to crafting real taste in our blends, two ingredients are all we’ve ever needed. Tobacco Ingredients: Tobacco & Water

Use your smartphone to request paperless gift certificates at AmericanSpirit.com*

Monday, 12/24

Drumline Live Holiday Spectacular Harris Center, 4pm & 8pm, $38-$72

If you’re feeling low-energy this season, Drumline Live will perk you up, almost guaranteed. It’s an electric performance of gospel, jazz and soul mixed MuSic with “The Nutcracker Suite,” performed with unbeatable power by a historically black college marching, and it’s coming to the Harris Center. It’s from the musical team that brought you the movie Drumline, and it’s a vibrant experience. 10 College Parkway in Folsom, harriscenter.net.

PHoTo CoURTESy oF THE HaRRIS CEnTER

12/11/18 5:21 PM

THURSDAY 12/20 ArmAdillo music

207 F ST., DAvIS, (530) 758-8058

BAdlAnds

Poprockz 90s Night, 7pm, call for cover

2003 k ST., (916) 448-8790

FRIDAY 12/21

SATURDAY 12/22

Corduroy, 7pm, no cover

The Macks and Novacane, 5pm, no cover

Fridays are a Drag, 8pm, $5-$20

Spectacular Saturdays, 7pm, call for cover

SUNDAY 12/23

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 12/24-26

B.P.M. & Sunday Funday Remixed, 4pm, call for cover

Trapicana, 10pm, W, call for cover

BAr 101

Open-Mic, 7:30pm, W, no cover

101 MAIN ST., ROSEvIllE, (916) 774-0505

Blue lAmp

Streetlight Fire, Juliet Company and more, 8pm, call for cover

Feliz Navidank Party, 9pm, call for cover

1500 k ST., (916) 444-3633

Capitol Fridays, 10pm, no cover before 10:30pm

Dinner and a Drag Show, 7:30pm, $5-$25

cresT TheATre

Love Actually, 7:30pm, $7.50-$9.50

White Christmas, 7:30pm, $7.50-$9.50

It’s a Wonderful Life, 7pm, $7.50-$9.50

Absolut Fridays, 9pm, call for cover

Naughty XXX-Mas Party, call for time and cover

Toy Drive and Fundraiser Show, call for time and cover

The Teds, 8pm, call for cover

Sickey Betts, 8pm, call for cover

Gavin and Ollie, 9pm, $5

Camp Fire Benefit with Lisa Phenix Band and Darci Phenix Trio, 8pm, $5

1400 AlHAMbRA blvD., (916) 455-3400

The BoArdwAlk

Selenatron, 9pm, $5

9426 GREENbAck lN., ORANGEvAlE, (916) 358-9116

cApiTol GArAGe PHOTO cOURTESY OF ATlANTIc REcORDS

Snow Tha Product with Sab $tory and more 7pm Friday, $25 Ace of Spades Hip-hop

1013 k ST., (916) 476-3356

FAces

Faces Karaoke, 9pm, call for cover

2000 k ST., (916) 448-7798

FATher pAddY’s irish puBlic house 435 MAIN ST., WOODlAND, (530) 668-1044

Fox & Goose

Michael B. Justis, 8pm, no cover

1001 R ST., (916) 443-8825

Golden 1 cenTer

Grizzlies vs. Kings, 7pm, $20-$300

500 DAvID J STERN WAlk, (888) 915-4647

GoldField TrAdinG posT

Proxima Parada and Moonshiner Collective, 7:30pm, $10-$12

1630 J ST., (916) 476-5076

hAlFTime BAr & Grill

5681 lONETREE blvD., ROcklIN, (916) 626-3600

College Night, 10pm, call for cover

The Winter White Experience, 9:30pm, $15

2708 J ST., (916) 441-4693

Pelicans vs. Kings, 3pm, $30-$300 The Darling Clementines Variety Show: Dark & Dirty Disney, 7pm, $15-$20

Let’s Get Quizzical, 7pm, T, no cover; Cornhole, 6pm, W, no cover Jerry Perry Benefit w/ Little Guilt Shrine, The Rat Pack Christmas Show, 5pm & 99 Tales and more, 3pm, $25-$30 8:30pm, $23-$28

hideAwAY BAr & Grill

The Macks with Novacane 5pm Saturday, no cover Armadillo Music Rock

Paint Nite, 1pm, $45; Hippie Hour Jam, 5pm, no cover

2565 FRANklIN blvD., (916) 455-1331

hiGhwATer

holY diVer 1517 21ST ST.

Winds of Plague, Spite, Entheos and more, 6:30pm, $16-$18

JAckson rAncheriA

Queensrÿche, 7pm, $35-$45

12222 NEW YORk RANcH RD, JAckSON

Tenfold, Phallucy, the Snobs, Ghost Mesa Sactown Throwdown 2018 w/ Dog Party, and SoulVent, 7pm, $10-$12 So Much Light and more, 7pm, $17.50

Voted best dance club in Sacramento by KCRA A LIST 2016-17-18

live MuSic

James Harkins

ONLy $10 Bucks before 10pm ($15 after)

$1 draft & $3 Jack Daniels 8-9pm • Free late night breakfast • Open til 3am VIP tickets available • North Forty live music in front bar Country dancing in back!

1320 del paso BlVd in old north sac 2 STePS FROm DOwNTOwN | 916.402.2407 STONeyINN.COm FOR NIgHTLy DRINK SPeCIALS & eVeNTS

36 | SN&R | 12.20.18

Sactown Throwdown 2018 w/ SadGirl, Honyock and more, 7pm, $17.50

love actually 12/22 • 3:00 PM & 7:30 PM White christmas 12/23 • 7:00 PM it’s a Wonderful life 12/21 • 7:30 PM

Fri dec 21st

12th annual new Years eVe Bash

Shitshow Karaoke, 8pm, M, no cover; Record Roundup, 8pm, T, call for cover The Trivia Factory, 7pm, M, no cover; Geeks Who Drink, 6pm, T, no cover

Cuffin’, 10pm, $5

1910 Q ST., (916) 706-2465

Every Damn Monday, 8pm, M, no cover; Noche Latina, 9pm, T, no cover

Open-Mic Night, 7:30pm, M, no cover

Vagabond Brothers, 9pm, call for cover

hArlow’s PHOTO cOURTESY OF SARAH NORTHROP

Christmas Eve Dinner, 4:30pm, M, $50; Christmas Day Dinner, 4:30pm, T, $50

12/29

turnbuckle blues band

12/28 • 7:30 PM

rosemary’s BaBy

12/29 • 7:30 PM 1/4

todd morgan

1/5

guero

1/11

octomalien

1/12

bongo furys

1/18

dylan crawford

1/27

steve stizzo trio

101 Main Street, roSeville 916-774-0505 · lunch/dinner 7 days a week fri & sat 9:30pm - close 21+

/bar101roseville

die hard

1013 K street downtown sacramento • (916) 476-3356 • crestsacramento.com

Monday Music Mania! Get your band on the air.

Every Monday in January, GridFM will play your music during our Monday Music Mania! Find out more about this show and how your band can participate by going to thegridfm.com.

Check us out www.thegridfm.com

submIt your CAlendAr lIstIngs for free At newsrevIew.Com/sACrAmento/CAlendAr THursDay 12/20 Kupros

friDay 12/21

saTurDay 12/22

Luna’s Cafe & JuiCe Bar

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

1414 16TH sT., (916) 737-5770

momo saCramento 2708 J sT., (916) 441-4693

oLd ironsides

Open Acoustic Jam, 7pm, no cover

1901 10TH sT., (916) 442-3504

on tHe Y

MOnDay-WeDnesDay 12/24-26

Kupros Quiz, 7:30pm, no cover

Dylan Crawford, 8pm, no cover

1217 21sT sT., (916) 440-0401

sunDay 12/23

Proxy Moon, You You You and Araceli Collazo, 8pm, $8

Charlie Marvin, Lorne Smith Duo and Frank Joseph G, 8pm, $6

Fashen and DJ JB, 10pm, $10

Comedy Burger presents Festivus, 7pm, $10

Feva in the Funk House and more, 9pm, $15

Whoville and Back Alley Buzzards, 9pm, $6

Orphans Show w/ Kepi, Kevin and Allyson Seconds and more, 8pm, T, no cover

Open Til 3pm, M, no cover; Open-Mic Night, 7:30pm, W, no cover

Open-Mic Comedy/Karaoke, 8pm, no cover

670 fulTOn ave., (916) 487-3731

pLaCerviLLe puBLiC House

3 Gs and Friends, 8pm, call for cover

414 Main sT., Placerville, (530) 303-3792

porCHLigHt Brewing

O’Connell Street Band, 8pm, call for cover PHOTO cOurTesy Of carOlyn eicHer

Maddy Jolie Acoustic Jazz and World Fare food truck, 4pm, no cover

866 57TH sT., (916) 476-5384

powerHouse puB

614 suTTer sT., fOlsOM, (916) 355-8586

Cliff Huey and 27 Outlaws, 9:30pm, call for cover

tHe press CLuB

Everything Crash, 9pm, no cover

2030 P sT., (916) 444-7914

sHadY LadY

Harley White Jr. Orchestra, 9pm, no cover

1409 r sT., (916) 231-9121

Thunder Cover, 10pm, call for cover

Proxima Parada

The Guitartionist, 6pm, call for cover; Inspector 79, 10pm, call for cover

Mick Martin’s Santa Bash, 3pm, call for cover; Xmas Bash, 7pm, call for cover

Pop 40 Dance with DJ Larry, 9pm, $5

Sunday Night Dance Party, 9pm, no cover

Santa’s Girlfriend, 10pm, no cover before 11pm

Romeo Reyes, 10pm, no cover before 10:30pm

stoneY’s roCKin rodeo

Hot Country Fridays with James Harkins, 7pm, $5-$10

Stoney’s Saturday, 5pm, no cover before 9pm-$5

Stoney’s Staff Holiday Bash, 7pm, no cover-$10

The Nibblers and the Gold Souls, 9pm, $15

Big Earl and the Cryin Shame, 9pm, $8

You Front the Band, 8pm, no cover

Lucy’s Bones, 6pm, no cover

According to Bazooka, 6pm, no cover

Yoga at Yolo, 11am, no cover

1320 Del PasO BlvD., (916) 927-6023

tHe torCH CLuB

Watt Ave. Soul Giants and FMK, 9pm, $7

904 15TH sT., (916) 443-2797

YoLo Brewing Co.

1520 TerMinal sT., (916) 379-7585

College Night Wednesdays, 5pm,

All ages, all the time aCe of spades

Snow Tha Product, Sab $tory, Soosh*e and Chonnie Gold, 7pm, $25

Biz Markie and DJ Bobby Brown, 7pm, $15-$20

1 cOllege ParKWay, fOlsOM, (916) 608-6888

Sacramento Master Singers, 7pm, $19-$39

Light in the Darkness Winter Solstice Tour, 7pm, $15-$50

An Irish Christmas 2018, 7pm, $18-$48

sHine

The Shine Jazz Jam, 8pm, no cover

Anton Barbeau and Allyson Seconds, 8pm, $8

August and Jazz-ination, 8pm, $10

1417 r sT., (916) 930-0220

Harris Center

1400 e sT., (916) 551-1400

with Moonshiner Collective 7:30pm Friday, $10-$12 Goldfield Trading Post Rock

Nickel Slots, 9pm, no cover

soCiaL nigHtCLuB

1000 K sT., (916) 947-0434

Scarlets, 8:30pm, T, call for cover; 98 Rock Local Licks, 9pm, W, call for cover

PHOTO cOurTesy Of THe Harris cenTer

An Irish Christmas An Irish Christmas 2018, 7pm, $18-$48

Drumline Live Holiday Spectacular, 8pm, M, $38-$72

7pm Sunday, $18-$48 Harris Center Traditional Irish

If you love to save, you’ll love Rockin’ savings on shows and events up 50%! Visit snrsweetdeals.newsreview.com to take advantage of today’s deals! Rock on.

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snrsweetdeals.newsreview.com 12.20.18 | SN&R | 37

LocaL cannabis RetaiLeRs offeR HeLp foR tHe HoLidays S

acramento’s cannabis retailers are giving back this holiday season by hosting various drives and fundraisers.

Hugs Alternative, River City Phoenix and Metro Cannabis began a toy drive for the UC Davis Children’s Hospital. They seek new, unwrapped toys for toddlers to teens. Customers can play secret Santa by visiting the dispensaries to view a specific list of requests. “We also have a donation drive for the Butte County fires,” said Matt Z’Berg of MWG Holdings, which represents the three dispensaries. In January they will serve breakfasts for the homeless, and “all year long we help the Shriners Hospital and the ASPCA,” said Hugs budtender Brittany Dyke. A Therapeutic Alternative supports a dozen charities throughout the year, from Amnesty International to the Sacramento LGBTQ Community Center. Owner Kimberly Cargile said, “Every Christmas for the last few years, we have donated to Heifer International, which provides farm animals to families in povertystricken countries.” A Therapeutic Alternative donated toys and jackets to children in homeless shelters this season. “We take our responsibility of making this world a better place seriously,” said Cargile. Bloom Farms continues its “1 for 1” campaign, which donates a free meal for every cannabis cartridge sold. “It’s our way of healing the planet and people,” said CEO Michael Ray. Bloom Farms has donated over 1.4 million meals since launching the program during the holidays three years ago.

“We wanted to do something for kids, and st. John’s is a great organization.” tonia foster, owner, foster’s Clothing

Tonia Foster with Fosters Clothing held a toy drive benefiting the St. John’s Program for Real Change.

Sacramento’s Prop 215 medical collectives are also targeting Camp Fire victims. Their “Presents for Paradise” drive asks visiting members to donate gift cards or cash at any upcoming sesh, until Dec. 23. Foster’s Clothing, a cannabis-themed clothing line, and its Flintstoned brand began a toy drive to help St. John’s Program for Real Change, a transition shelter for women and children. “We wanted to do something for kids,” said owner Tonia Foster, “and St. John’s is a great organization.” Members who attend any Royal Dab Show or 1130 Club sesh can donate at the Flintstoned booth until Dec. 23.

Green Solutions dispensary is seeking donations for Camp Fire victims in Paradise. “We contacted Goodwill and Cal Fire to work with them on items that are not readily available,” said manager Alex Lucero. Green Solutions is accepting baby items, canned and non-perishable food, bottled water and hygiene products. “For a select weekend last month, we pledged 5 percent of sales to the American Red Cross,” said Director Forrest Heise, “which ended up being nearly $1,000.”