An Open Discussion: Second Saturday Shooting

By Alexander on Sep 15, 2010 | Reply

More bands! Preferably blues, swing, and cover bands.

By olivia coelho on Sep 15, 2010 | Reply

The monthly Midtown Business Association is meeting tonight at 5:30 at the Regional Transit Building. We have dedicated time on the agenda to discuss this issue. I encourage anyone who would like to join the discussion to come. They are always open to the public. I think we all want Second Saturday to be good for the entire community. Let’s think creatively about this!

By Aja on Sep 15, 2010 | Reply

Ideas I’ve heard so far: 1) eliminate all music on-street except blues, swing.. “mellow” music (determine a particular BPM threshold allowance), 2) play only classical music on the streets 8pm to 2am (studies show this decreases crime) 3) Eliminate vendor booths on public right of ways, move to parking lot areas only, 4) change 2nd Saturday on street hours from 5-10pm to 4-8pm, 5) ticket/cite groups who are loitering… I look forward to learning more ideas!

By mike flanagan on Sep 15, 2010 | Reply

If anyone is interested in helping Victors family pay for the cost of his funeral, I am hosting a city wide fundraiser for Octobers 2nd Sat.
We will have donation drops located at most gallerys on the walk, there will be a art auction at Running Stream Gallery located at 1115 21st between Lucky Cafe and Club 21 (anyone who would like to donate art can contact me), also we will be having a benifit concert.

Any bands who would like to play, or people who want to donate art, or galleries that would like to host a donation drop box can contact me at 9163087189

By Tim Jordan on Sep 15, 2010 | Reply

I think the ideas Aja has gathered are worth considering. I think that the City can/should also budget if needed to keep this regional attraction/phenomenon something that continues, much like it would/does for other entertainment specific to the city.

By Matt Brown on Sep 15, 2010 | Reply

As someone suggested earlier move the hours of Second Saturday. Start the event earlier in the afternoon and end it closer to 8. This way people in the area can still stick around and have dinner. I think the main problem is Second Saturday ends to late. Being a young Midtowner myself having the event end at 10 is to close to the normal time the young crowd heads out to the bars and clubs. Secondly removing the amount of bands and djs playing on the street will help with the loitering. The city should enforce a permit procedure in order to have live music. If the band, dj, or business does not have the proper permit for the music a ticket is issued.

By DanQ on Sep 15, 2010 | Reply

they should eliminate the whole thing…here’s why…the art exhibitions have become very diluted with an attitude of commercialism that was never there before. Every little boutique has some kind of art exhibit which ideally sounds cool. However it all revolves around placing specific types of art work in specific places simply to generate sales for that particular boutique. Most of the art you see in the small businesses is not displayed to show off the self expression of the artist but rather to get the small shops included in the incredibly tedious current hub-bub-douche-fest that has become the current Sec-sat.

By Darin on Sep 15, 2010 | Reply

Two things: first, move Second Saturday hours up even earlier than others are saying. Make it noon to six pm. Keep allowing all the same music, street vendors, etc., but all that has to stop at six pm, period. That’s early enough that Saturday night on the streets & in the bars becomes just another Saturday. Heck, have all that other stuff every Saturday, so it’s even less of a super-special event.
Second, look at the bigger picture. The reason these young surbanites mob events like Second Saturday, or the Thursday night market, or clubs in Old Sac., is because there is not enough for them to do. It’s simple suppy & demand. Twenty-somethings want to go out at night to drink & socialize. When a place or event comes along, they’ll find out about it & go there. I bet the percentage of knucklehead jerks is always the same, but that small percentage becomes a big problem when 10 or 20 thousand people turn out in the same place all at once. If there’s more to do every weekend, there will fewer mob scenes anywhere. And if more dance clubs & such opened up out in the burbs (in all those decaying strip malls, maybe) the drunks would not have to drive so far.
I get that people want downtown to be the entertainment district, but it can’t be the only game in town for a region as large as ours.

By Lisa on Sep 15, 2010 | Reply

Second Saturday is not the problem, not the hours or music. This is about violent crime and criminals, gang members and wannabees, moving into midtown-downtown in the last few months, marking territory first with graffiti and now murder. We need to support law enforcement in the coming days and the actions they will need to take to get a handle on this.

By scott on Sep 15, 2010 | Reply

I tend to see AJA’s thoughts/comments as woth serious discussion.Time change,music played are options which sound solid.The event if not dealt with very soon will only attract worse behavior & crowds.

By Megan on Sep 15, 2010 | Reply

@DanQ, I disagree. I don’t see why they should punish everyone by eliminating the entire event. In regards to the art displayed, it’s a great opportunity for local artists (like me) to get their work on out in the public eye. Sacramento needs events like this to bring the community together and away from the suburbs. As far as the shooting goes, I can guaranty the person who shot Victor was not someone who came for the event…they came to cause trouble. If the timing of 2nd Saturday is moved up, and certain aspects are more contained so it’s not like some drunken frat party every month, then the point of 2nd Saturday (which is to check out art) will be brought back.

By Janie Brice on Sep 15, 2010 | Reply

I agree with earlier hours no vendors on public right of ways and classical music after a certain hour. would like to add we need to give kids something to do at this type of an event. something they develop and own. glad to see it is being addressed NOW.

By M on Sep 15, 2010 | Reply

I’d like to suggest changing the hours to 2-7 (following Midtown Bazaar.) The hours will encourage people to stay after for dinner, or even begin the afternoon with lunch, and shut down before it gets dark — long before the bar crowd starts to amass. The hours might also help bring in a more family orientated demographic as well.

By Stephen Picanco on Sep 15, 2010 | Reply

I think moving the hours to noon to 6 would be a good idea. That way by the time all the partiers come out, the Second Saturday folks will be long gone.

By Carmen Hirkala on Sep 15, 2010 | Reply

I honestly refuse to go to 2nd Saturday altogether, and have done so for at least the last two years because of the “block party” atmosphere. I totally understand there is an interest and a need, but it’s just not why I found the event to be so enjoyable when it first began. It would be wonderful to have an earlier time slot, so that more galleries were interested in opening earlier, but ultimately, I want to see art, not people. I know that sounds harsh, sorry

By Brian Fischer on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

There are many ways to deal with violence. Allowing isolated incidents to undermine social and economic development of a city is a horrible response to a tragedy. Becoming proactive and even more imaginative about the event itself and how it can serve… and work for the public, the artists, and the businesses is the proper response.

A few years ago when it grew to 15,000+ folks a task force was formed. Wrongly, the task force, like other city event bodies, was dictated to by police input and cost of services. This created a wooden process and that’s why I dropped out of it as Chair at the time. (For example, police wouldn’t even allow us to extend the closure of streets on 20th all the way to Capitol Ave nor would the police allow us to close 18th Street from K to Capitol Avenue. These were compromises in lieu of creating a much larger walkable footprint.)

The best investment remained what was asked for then by people who used to love and thrive on 2nd Saturday. Wrap it in a bow. Have the will to close off more streets to traffic, including from at least 21st to 16th and from J Street to Capitol Avenue. Consider a 2nd bow from 21s to 25th Street and make the cars go around. Drivers will figure it out within a couple of months.

The bow would allow people to spread out much further facilitating a more pedestrian and alternative vehicle-centric event that is safer for everyone involved and creating less stress on particular hot zones that can overheat.

Find effective, social methods of transitioning the event from 2nd Saturday the Art Walk and clearly now a street bazarre into 2nd Saturday Nightlife. Study models of major weekend art festivals like Palo Alto’s that are mostly annual. But 2nd Saturday simply demands the attention on a monthly basis that most cities contribute toward an annual festival.

More attention from a good mix of great folks advocating for artists, galleries, musicians, retailers, and restaurants, would meet the needs of public safety and cultural and economic development.

Events evolve. Let’s just deal with the reality of it while also supporting innovative new ways to bring art into public life and people to the Central City every day of the week, not just on 2nd Saturday. Leverage 2nd Saturday’s success (and taxes) to invest in new creativity and approaches.

By Darby Flynn on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

I am relieved so far that there is no major buzz to kill the event entirely. Hopefully we’ve learned that severe reactions such as what shut down the K St. Thursday night farmer’s market of some years back is not a solution that moves our City forward, both economically and socially.

Love that we’re having a discussion as a city about this topic and would encourage people to also join the Community Conversation gathering of City neighborhoods tomorrow (Thursday, Sep 16th at 6pm) as well. There are 8 coffee shops hosting discussions about “what should the government do for you,” where this topic of discussion would fit in perfectly (www.communityconversations.net). Glad to see the thoughtful responses and ideas for improving the safety and enjoyment of Second Saturday for years to come.

By Ahsan Awan on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

I think there are several issues that merit consideration. First, the time of the event. The purpose of the event, insomuch as MBA supports it, is to benefit Midtown businesses. Therefore, the event should take place during regular business hours. The additional cost of security, added employees, and extra hours only puts more pressure on businesses to actually complete transactions and do business in order to cover the additional business cost. Thus, move the event to 9am-5pm, or whatever regular business hours are for the majority of art/gallery businesses in the district.

The next issue oi that of who participates. Street vendors and musicians are not necessarily a detractor per se. They do increase traffic and bring people in who otherwise might not know what sorts of things are available in Midtown. While many of those people likely do not buy art from the galleries, they may generate revenue for the district’s other establishments. However, there are issues as to the tone and content presented. This is not a free speech zone. Rather, there are reasonable time, place and manner restrictions that should be enforced. Unlicensed, improper, or disruptive conduct or content should result in citation not only of the people presenting, but of the establishments and property owners sponsoring their presence and activity through the assumptive invitation and/or license to use premises, power, light, or other equipment and facilities. In other words, all parties in the stream of specific violative activity should be subject to citation. This may lead to greater business/property owner compliance and self-policing.

A third issue is security. There must be increased security resourcing on site during the event. There must be a formula for the number of guards, leads, and supervisors per geographic block, as well as per unit of population. Clearly, the present resource allocation is insufficient. Participating establishments, whether actively open, passively facilitating activity on their premises, or reasonably on notice of activities on their premises, should be responsible for bearing the cost associated with the security resourcing needed to ensure public safety relative to the measurable impact of their participation.

Additionally, there has been mention of fewer street closures. While that may appear to cause a decrease in on-street foot traffic, it may also increase the public safety risk to both people on foot and passing motorists. What may be more effective is the exact opposite: more sign and snow fence-based street closures creating a larger zone in which the public may disperse.

Furthermore, through support from MBA and their ability to create group purchasing discounts, district businesses should be encouraged to increase the use of surveillance technology. More cameras should be employed for the purpose of documenting conduct on and around their premises, and footage should be stored and subject to random quality control review by MBA, the city of Sacramento, and all law enforcement and public safety organizations.

Along similar lines, a quick dial hotline should be created for immediate reporting. While the 911 system is already in existence, it is not only already over-utilized, but it was not necessarily designed with the intention of supporting these types of events. MBA and the City of Sacramento should invest in the creation of a simple 3-digit event incident reporting line with a call center and dispatch function.

Finally, there is the issue of area residents in general. Property owners, rental agencies, and landlords should be placed on notice that people found to accumulate violations in the district are not only unwanted, but also present a reasonable threat to public safety. In that regard, the aforementioned parties should be encouraged not to rent to such individuals, to terminate or not renew leases to such individuals, and they should be served notice that once aware of such residents in privity of contract with them, they may be held facilitatively and contributorily liable for reasonably foreseeable public safety costs associated with dealing with the acts and omissions of those individuals.

If that doesn’t reduce the incidence of violation and crime below a reasonable event average for events of similar size and in communities of similar size, then perhaps the event should be canceled.

By Nora on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

So appreciate the reasonable tone of this discussion thus far. Yes,
2nd Saturday is suffering from some serious growing pains. I firmly believe that with faith, determination and logic, we can find a way to both manage the inherent problems and expand upon all that is good with this event.

By William Burg on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

Nobody is calling for an end to Second Saturday, but it definitely has to change. It has grown far beyond its current constraints. Los Angeles, for example, has a Second Thursday event that draws 8000-10,000 people per month, over a wider area (and there have been concerns about how it is too much of a drunken party and not enough of an arts event, too.) So instead of drawing a box around Second Saturday, let’s expand it in time and space.

In space–bring back the Del Paso and Downtown elements. Second Saturday started downtown, and recent projects have brought more light to K Street, especially east of 10th Street. Extending Second Saturday downtown would create linkage across the imaginary line between Downtown and Midtown, and give more potential destinations for people to visit. Del Paso used to have a whole separate set of destinations on Second Saturday, and it’s time they were brought back into the fold. Venues like the Cosmopolitan, the Crest, the Citizen Hotel, Ambrosia, Ella, and even the mermaid bar would benefit from the increased foot traffic, and maybe some of the great lunch places that normally close at 3 PM would find a reason to stay open later. Who wouldn’t love going to Bud’s Buffet at 10 PM?

In time–It’s time to bring elements of Second Saturday to every Saturday. Street busking, food carts, and vendors need to be an everyday part of central city life, not just once a month at a pre-selected date. It should be regulated and properly managed, but the process should be simple and straightforward. You shouldn’t have to check your calendar to know something interesting is happening downtown.

A higher overall level of weekend activity, say 3000-5000 extra people 8-10 days a month (every weekend day, plus the occasional “school night”), means a greater total economic impact than 15-20,000 extra people once a month. But because they aren’t all there at the same time, traffic is less, parking impact is reduced, and pedestrian levels are less likely to reach the point where a crowd starts acting like a mob.

Gallery openings don’t have to be synchronized to a specific date anymore. Monthly “art walks” a useful marketing tool in nearly-vacant city centers where people are loath to visit and terrified to live. But we don’t have one of those anymore. Let galleries plan their openings as they will–perhaps on the second Saturday if that works, but the street scene won’t look that different from any other Saturday in downtown Sacramento: lively, interesting, entertaining, but not a dangerous mob scene.

By Jackson Griffith on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

Agree with a lot of the suggestions. I think that as much as I think certain forms of music work well in clubs, perhaps this event needs a musical curator. And dammit, I hate permits, and I’m more a fan of aesthetic anarchy than setting up someone who will coordinate the permit process or do the booking, because, well, certain bookers have an annoying tendency to book the same acts over and over and over and I think that this art event would benefit from having an infusion of outsider musicians who can’t get booked by the usual suspects, I believe we’re at a place where there needs to be some oversight for a while. So, book only jug bands. No DJs unless they’re blasting dub; sorry, but the noise level tends to dominate whatever corner they’re occupying to the detriment of anyone else trying to play, and especially no DJs if they’re doing some DJ Pauly D imitation best confined to a club. No overamplified blues bands, either. To me, the epitome of cool is what Mike Blanchard does at the Barber Alfa Romeo shop; it’s a sweet little scene that doesn’t intrude on its surrounding environment. And conga lines and Mardi Gras rambles should only be initiated by people who can prove Midtown residency; any suburbanites doing the same should immediately be deported to Walnut Creek or Danville with no ride back. Also, no clown costumes. And bring back Art Lessing & the Flower Vato; clone them and put them on every corner. I probably can think of more stuff later.

By William Burg on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

So you don’t use a booker. You sign up for a spot, first come first serve, and pay a nominal fee. Basically the same system one would also use for a street vendor or food vendor. I agree about the DJs, but don’t agree with the idea Aja mentioned about musical formats. I’m a rock & roll guy, for me it’s not so much the musical form as the volume level.

And the classical music idea is just bad–it only works in places where people DON’T live, playing classical music would clash with music coming from clubs and drive residents crazy. I’d be bashing the speaker in with a baseball bat within a few days.

The other thing we need is our public transit system back. Racist dorks who comment on Sacramento Bee assume that every troublemaker rode to Second Saturday on Light Rail, but Light Rail and every other bus stops at 9 PM. Anyone who took transit to Second Saturday is basically stranded there until morning. If we can figure out a way to fund transit in the central city and run it past 2 AM, we can reduce traffic overall, especially drunk driving.

By Susan Moll on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

There’s a reason most of us in Midtown hate Second Saturday: Drunk out-of-area people screaming and yelling at 3am and leaving garbage everywhere. Traffic congestion and blaring music and assholes vandalizing property, pissing and vomiting in the alleys. And how about street brawls? How about pedestrians and cyclists being run over by motorists turning the wrong way on one-way streets? Out-of-area troublemakers have no interest in art. They’re more interested in befouling our neighborhood and acting like animals. Major John$on only cares about dollar $igns and has no regard for the safety of this neighborhood. Second Saturday has turned into a meat market and many Midtown residents are tired of suburbanites, high-school kids and Jersey Shore wannabee bro’s clogging our streets and disrespecting our neighborhood. It’s not our problem that there’s nothing to do in the ‘burbs. That doesn’t give suburban scum the right to start sh*t in our community. Second Saturday has long outlived its original intention and purpose. So do Midtown a favor and cancel it already! We got sick of it a long time ago.

By Dane Henas on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

It got way out of control for me about 2 to 3 years ago, so other than going to a few specific “real” art openings, I’ve stayed home or gone home early. I’ve never been a crowd person. The last time I went I specifically went to hear Alkali Flats at the Bicycle Kitchen, and there were so many paper beer cups on the sidewalk and D.B. hipsters, I turned around and went home. Maybe I’ll try it one more time at Barber’s Shop–it’s hard putting the genie back in the bottle. Whatever you do, be careful.

By Vivian on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

Many, including the Mayor, are saying ‘growing pains’ and that is not true. We are a big city with big city problems. When we say ‘growing pains’ we undermine the reality that our residential neighborhoods are beseiged by 20,000 people every month. It’s twice the size of the Los Angeles Art Walk in downtown LA, also considered a bit too big for its own good at times. Many residents stopped going to Art Walk a few years ago when the event turned from being about art to being about the street party. The dude bro’s showed up and it has gone downhill from there. We either stay home entirely or get home by 10 PM to stand guard at home and protect our property. It’s kind of absurd that any neighborhood has to do that. We have suffered several incidences of vandalism and my neighbor had to break up a street brawl. Crazy stuff. I have not heard anyone say the Art Walk needs to be cancelled but the night time issues that reach a fever pitch on Second Saturday must be addressed. I really want to see less push to market Midtown as party central and more efforts to market the wonderful unique shops and variety of fine and casual dining. Bars are fine, nightclubs too but they need to be well managed, regulated and respect the neighborhoods they inhabit. All cities deal deal with stuff like this and I remain optomistic we’ll figure this out and return Second Saturday to the artists. The Community Forum on September 25 will give residents and other stakeholders a chance to vett various ideas. Some include limiting or eliminating street vendors, limiting and turnind down the volumne on the street musicians and maybe altering the hours slightly. These are just a few ideas and I am looking forward to a robust discussion on Second Saturday and how to get the other night time issues under control and keep Midtown a place we want to live and hang out.

By Marion Millin on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

@Jackson and Bill, whatever the process for setting up outdoor music turf, one concept is to avoid a mess of loud overlapping musics. Like Jackson says, Barber’s Shop has “a sweet little scene” but the folks who live across the street might argue the statement “that doesn’t intrude on its surrounding environment.” Even so, at Barber’s you hear their band and if you’re lucky, get to see Scott Moon’s movies. On that corner, though, Barber’s plus Crepeville plus Bows and Arrows plus the busker with a guitar and amp at St. John’s turns into cacaphony and overkill. “Aesthetic anarchy” didn’t work for the band hired to play at MARRS when some hip hop outfit set up in the street so loud they couldn’t play.

The magic word in all these issues and ideas is balance. The event doesn’t need to end. A lot of overkill needs to get dialed back. The type of music isn’t as important as the place and adjacent uses. And Jackson, I agree about congas and clowns. Maybe Ringling Bros. has an opening.

By Kevin L. Santos-Coy on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

What would Michael Himovitz do? After all, didn’t this whole 2ndSaturday thing begin with a small group of fine art galleries that decided to stay open ‘late’ one weekend night per month in order to generate a litte more foot traffic?
As a lifetime perpetuator of fine art I cannot agree more with eliminating everything that does not directly benefit the education and collection of fine art. And yes, live music directly benefits fine art by seeing a human actually do something besides push buttons on electronic devices or flipping discs.
Why do we continue to debate how big the rings in the circus needs to be when there are no “animal” behaviors in fine art to begin with.
Yes, it is time to regroup as arts administrators and ask our sculptors how we can reshape this tremendous opportunity to evlove our community understanding of the relevance and importance of fine art (now that we have all our full attention).
Because perhaps if our approach was more educational than short lived fanfare, the “idle” hand that pulled the trigger may have prefferred to beat clay into submission to express his anxieties instead of destroying a living breathing one of a kind masterpiece, a human being.

By Tony King on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

Dane, The Bike Kitchen is open to all, and all are welcome.

I regret that you felt the majority of the folks there (many of whom are part of Sacramento’s thriving – and accepting! bicycle community) were “D.B. (I’m going to go ahead and infer that this stands for “douche bag”) hipsters.”

Hip? Sure, but douche bags? Far from it. The volunteer staff at The Bike Kitchen are part of a dedicated network of bicycle mechanics, teachers and enthusiasts whose top priority is to educate and assist Sacramento-area bicyclists and encourage bicycling not just as a hobby or and exercise tool, but also an everyday way of life.

I find your claim of paper beer cups strew around the sidewalk of the Bike Kitchen dubious at best, seeing as how not only are The Bike Kitchen’s staff adamant about alcohol NOT being consumed outside their front doors (and thus not attracting the undo attention of authorities or other forces that could potentially threaten to shut this vital community-based operation down), but the nearest sidewalk is located several hundred feet away from The Bike Kitchen’s main entrance.

I understand your frustration with the Second Saturday Block Party (this event has regrettably faded from being about about art, artists and the creative community years ago, and has seemingly surrendered to the low-brow party-mob mentality imported into Midtown from the outlying suburbs), but there is absolutely no need to sully the reputation of a community-based, all-volunteer-run organization and the efforts they put into the betterment of Sacramento’s bicycling culture. Nor do you need to alienate or stereotype those that rally around The Bike Kitchen’s events with shallow and unwarranted flippancy. Personally, I find your cavalier remarks to be a slap in the face to the efforts the Bike Kitchen puts forth on a daily basis.

Sacramento is exceptionally lucky to have this institution, plain and simple. I would hate to think of how dismal this town would be without The Bike Kitchen.

I understand that being around people who are different than you are may elicit a negatively knee-jerk reaction based on insecurity or preconceived slights, but such is not the case within Sacramento’s bicycling community. I encourage you to come out to another event hosted by The Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen and get to know us (most of us are, if anything, bike nerds and love talking shop). The Bike Kitchen’s staff and patrons are not judgmental; you don’t even need to show-up on your bike (but it is, for my money, the best way to get there). I encourage you to come as you are and give The Bike Kitchen another go.

By Beerzie Boy on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

While I agree that the event has morphed into a block party rather than an art event, I can’t agree that it should be shut down for what are essentially aesthetic reasons. It may not be your thing, and yes, there a lot of jerks, but unless you are proposing a velvet rope event where only the Cool Kids are allowed, you may have to endure some people you don’t like for a few hours. Or you could just stay away for those few hours a month…

By livmoe on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

I abandoned the idea that 2nd Saturday was about fine art years ago. Once the t-shirt vendors and jam bands arrived the bloom was off of the rose. That said there is an undeniable value to the event as it stands now fine art or no. Addressing the event for what it currently is as opposed to what it was intended to be (an artwalk) or should be (nice polite playtime for families) is a futile exercise.

Successful community events develop organically as 2nd Saturday has. Now the challenge is managing that growth responsibly. Unfortunately, up until this point the city has seemed to take a feast or famine approach to event management. Something either grows unabated until it’s unmanageable or gets shut down (Thursday Night Market). Instead of closing 2nd Saturday or doing as one commenter suggested above, force it into some sort of unrealistic daytime schedule – which BTW no restaurant or bar would ever agree to because it would be pointless – let’s figure out how we can preserve what we have and make it work.

One of the reasons I’m involved in so many things in this city is simple….. I want something to do. The more activity and culture that exists the more fun it is to live here and I am pleased the mayor and other city officials aren’t panicking but are rather engaging in sane discussion to see how this can be worked out.

When Verge was still operating at 19th at V we saw steady crowds who were there specifically to see the art. My guess is that this was due to our distance from the corner of 20th and J Streets. Now is the time to reclaim our own thing, building off the original energy that was started by Michael Himovitz some 15+ years ago now. To Himovitz’s credit the event he founded has built a buzz around art that did not exist when I moved down here in ’94 which is a boon to all involved.

In regard to the art situation, I have now been at multiple discussions regarding how fine art can be brought back to 2nd Saturday and in short I don’t believe it can. That said things like the Thursday before 2nd Saturday are showing promise and what we as artists and curators need to do is let go of the safety net of that insta-crowd and forge a new night for ourselves.

Lastly, perhaps in tandem to the talks going on amongst city officials about this event a “summit,” for lack of a better way of putting it, amongst our local art leaders would also be in order…..

By Marion Millin on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

Tony, I can’t speak for Dane Henas, whose Sacramento street cred and vocabulary need no approval from today’s bike geeks and db hipsters. I didn’t read his comment as being about folks at Bike Kitchen. It sounds like he tried to get there — the fact that his description was of the sidewalk, which as you point out is not at BK, seems a clue. So does “I turned around and went home.” Sounds like he never got there, so if your “cavalier comments” were meant as a “slap in the face” it may have been misguided.

I related to it as being on your way, maybe as close as 20th St. with BK visible, surrounded by the scene he described. Depending on how far you have to wade through the (early) mobs and (later) mayhem, sometimes even The Alkali Flats may not feel worth it.

Sounds to me like he is describing the reason that so many artists, art lovers, gallery owners, non “crowd people” and residents have bailed on Second Saturday. Most of my neighbors (and many who’ve spoken up in these discussions) either stay home (some to defend property) or stay out of the area altogether.

I headed for Body Tribe last month for Paul Imagine’s brilliant Rock Art Posteralooza. Coming back was when it was clear that critical mass mayhem was about to lead to tragedy. In September, around 18th and K around 7:45, even tho it wasn’t paper cups and douchebags or faux hipsters that did it, the mobs and already hyper energy just didn’t seem worth swimmiing upstream to see what’s up at B. Sakata Garo.

So please consider that the comments were about trying to get to a righteous show in a cool space and finding the surrounding craziness not worth the trouble.

By Marion Millin on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

Liv, 2nd Saturday has not developed “organically” unless by that you mean like a mushroom blooming from the intoxicated mulch of Midtown development that the city did not manage responsibly, despite years of engagement and work from residents and neighborhood associations.

Your point about dealing with what is, is well taken. City and business leaders acting as if we are now starting from square one is blatantly false. This suggests that devoting time/energy to working with them — which requires some sacrifice from those not paid to be there at meetings that are usually held in the daytime — has also been “a futile exercise.”

By jackson griffith on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

Tony, thou protesteth too much. Dane’s entitled to characterize so-called hipsters as “D.B.s” if he feels that way. Knowing Dane, he wouldn’t frame them in that light without a repeated ewitnessing of douchebaggy behavior on their part.

And you may want to rethink your spirited defense of the Bicycle Kitchen, too. Dunno about “D.B. hipsters” there, but “F.G. hipsters,” as in fixed-gear snobs, abound. If the Bicycle Kitchen is such a great community resource, why won’t some of us, who could and should be availing ourselves of that supposedly great resource, go there?

For me, it was the way I was treated when I went to ask some simple questions; I got the malocchio and hipster sneer from a couple of F.G. snobs, and a snarky comment to boot. I’m sure if I went to one of the local hipsterdasheries for a Mr. Rogers cardigan and paste-on Dixieland jazz mustache, I might have better luck.

And I could use it, too, as I’ve got to replace some frayed brake cables, and I’m not quite up to the task, even though I have the tools and the parts. But damn me if I’m going to go to that place just to get insulted because I’m a fiftysomething non-hipster guy with an uncool bicycle.

By jackson griffith on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

Well, Tim, the Bike Kitchen does feature live music on Second Saturday. But I prefer the more open, inviting and comfy vibe of the Alfa shop, even though the two venues are similar physically.

By livmoe on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

Actually, 2nd Saturday has developed organically in that it was not a singular event spawned by one organization or individual. The success of 2nd Saturday can be attributed to several individuals and organizations lending their voices and efforts over the years to get us where we are today.

Tim and I have both been invited to brainstorm event development with different groups who want to try and recreate the success of 2nd Sat and to do so wouldn’t be possible. It is very much an event of the community.

As an aside here is the article I wrote on this very subject two years ago:

http://www.midtownmonthly.net/art/how-sweet-it-is/

By Vivian on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

The event has grown far beyond the Art Walk for myriad reasons and for many that’s OK, but 15-20,000 people descending into Midtown once a month is too intense for the area. The event as-is has outgrown its venue. The idea of better management is crucial and not taking the feast/ famime approach is essential. Rather than one night of good business every month, how about 4 or 5 spread more evenly that can be managed. But please no outside music after ten, that is oppressive to adjacent residential neighborhoods. The event now has reached a point that controlling it is very difficult or impossible even with increased ABC patrol and police and private security. The new years ball drop attracted 25,000 people downtown and police plus all the private secuity had a really hard time controlling that crowd. That is almost what we’re experiencing every month and it’s just too much to have all on one night.

By Vivian on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

Forgot to say; very few, are calling for Art Walk to end – to the contrary, many of us want to see it continue -but in manner our neighborhoods and shops/ boutiques and galleries can withstand.

By William Burg on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

Second Saturday started organically, but in recent years they received a very strong dose of artificial fertilizer. A “hands off” approach to things like public drinking and things not related to the artistic mission of Second Saturday (sunglass boutiques, conga lines, etc.) has resulted, much like chemical fertilizer, in abundant growth with often unpredictable and undesired effects. It’s time for a gardener to tend this patch of weeds–not to rip it up and start again, but a thoughtful gardener who can bring form and beauty to what is rapidly becoming unkempt and overgrown.

By Mari on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

Lovely that the city is so strict with food cart permits, but anyone who calls themselves a ‘dj’ can set up on J Street and blast crappy music, attracting crappy crowds of people who decide to open fire on a whim.
Oh wait, I’m sure it was gang-justified retaliation.

Those of us who used to attend Thursday Night Market can draw parallels between what happened to that now defunct event and what 2nd Saturday is turning into.

By Marion Millin on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

A plant that is grown with toxic fertilizer turns out different than one grown in a healthy environment. The fruit of that process ended in death last weekend.

By Jeremiah Mayhew on Sep 16, 2010 | Reply

To blame this on the music or a certain BPM is absolutely ridiculous. You might as well blame Saturday. The shooting happened after midnight, so technically this happened on Second Sunday. “Second Saturday” is over way before then anyways… Second Saturday is NOT the problem, and neither is the music, its the low life pieces of shit who come to midtown to be bad asses and feel good about being tougher than everyone else. There will always be some trouble makers who try to spoil it for the people who really care… You must stop this war on music and Second Saturday it will not be tolerated.

By Marion Millin on Sep 17, 2010 | Reply

Jeremiah, is that what you — um — think?

Try to guess which of these aren’t real:


MBA TALKING POINTS APPROACH FOR SHOOTING

• Youth violence is bad. Very bad.

• The shooting in the crowd loitering after Second Saturday had nothing to do with Second Saturday

• Second Saturdayers should do their excessive drinking inside the bars, not at their cars

• Art doesn’t kill people. People kill people.

• The huge Second Saturday crowds were in the wrong place at the wrong time

• Midtown. Live or Let Die

• Shootings happen all the time — Second Saturday’s only once a month

• Keep Midtown Gansta

• The Streets of London is not technically in Sacramento

• Rich drunks are better than homeless drunks

• It didn’t happen on Second Saturday — it was Second Sunday!!

By Rick on Sep 17, 2010 | Reply

I’ve been telling folks from far away that 2nd Saturday is the one day per month where Sacramento seems like it’s approaching the same echelon of vibrant citylife as Austin or Portland. But like W. Burg said earlier here, this is only one day per month, and it would be more manageable for residents and our public servants if Sacramento was maybe 1/3 as vibrant eight times more often. Or, if more sectors of the city were viable as vibrancy epicenters, to take the strain off of Midtown, and particularly a certain 8- or 9-block area.

When I was at the new Verge Gallery at 7th and S Streets earlier that day, it felt like I was at the first 2nd Saturday, where it was all about the art, there were families and retirees strolling casually looking at a variety of art, including some wonderfully whacked-out stuff, while hearing a band play a sauntering barrage of quasi-Eastern guitar, icy synths, and finger-tapped electro drumbox that swirled together to sound like a drum-circle of thumb pianos in a cavernous sewer drain. Not everyone liked it, I’m sure, but I’m sure that very nearly everyone applauded, even if only on principle. If someone seriously wants to propose standards for music at 2nd Saturday, then I’d like to nominate the audience at that event to be the committee. Classical-only? What is this? Larkspur? Calabassas? Florence during the Rennaissance? (Actually, you can count on there having been variety there.)

I’d really love it if every weekend was a happening time with music and theater and food in so many varieties, so that a monthly art-walk could be all about art and maybe also good food and drinks and music, but especially about what makes the artists, chefs, and musicians of Sacramento worth recognizing or celebrating, and the fun-starved people of greater Sacramento wouldn’t hafta complain that it’s so boring here 29-30 days per month, and Midtown residents wouldn’t rue that one day per month when the fun-starved overcompensate for the last few weeks of boredom.

Maybe if every other Sacto weekend wasn’t just a typical bar/club scene, there’d actually be somewhere besides Lyon’s or Del Taco to eat after the bars close. Maybe the Lucky Cafe wouldn’t close at 2pm at such a drastic opportunity cost. Or even Pancake Circus at 3pm. Even if those beacons of mediocrity didn’t try any harder, the money would roll right in, and Sacto would have more vintage neon lit up at night. Or the former Eppie’s on N and 30th could be the new best all-night diner between Portland and L.A. It could save me so many trips to South-South-South Sac for Original Perry’s. The race to make 2nd Saturday implode is limiting our vision for Sacto the other 29-30 days of the month.

How morbid is it that the watershed 2nd Saturday that “we will never forget” also happened on 9/11? Maybe not as morbid as everyone fretting more over the future of the monthly event than the victim’s family and friends. I hope justice will be served…but that brings up the question of how the police behaved on that particular night. I think there really might be something to Nick Miller’s question regarding how much the police tactics regarding curfew enforcement and crowd control may have contributed to the demeanor of the street scene when the violence erupted. It’s been noted that people would like to see more police on patrol during the event, but if they’re gonna be busters, it will inevitably lead to more violence and a poorer image of the police.

By Jennifer Keller on Sep 17, 2010 | Reply

The key here is safety. Sandwiching the hours of Second Saturday between lunch and dinner will allow for several benefits.
1. The art walk will be lit by the sun to and from the event making it safer for solo and group walkers.
2. Restaurants will gain higher traffic for two meal rushes.
3. Parents can bring their children without having to leave early for bedtime. Exposing children to the arts has unlimited benefits.
4. Partiers can still party – after. Good for the bars without having drunk people at the art receptions. Less loitering is important. Go to Second Saturday, then eat, then drink, then go home.
5. Graffiti will diminish due to brighter daylight hours.
6. Boutiques and and other non-gallery businesses can operate during their regular hours and still benefit from higher traffic.

I would be sad to see the venders and musicians not be able to participate on the street. I highly doubt that they were directly correlated to this violence. If this were a day event, it would be that much safer for everybody, including the street performers and vendors.

I tried to keep this short, but got carried away. Cheerio!

By livmoe on Sep 17, 2010 | Reply

I have to admit there is a grain of truth in Jeremiah’s plain speak. I suppose I’ve grown used to music being the communal whipping post in this town for most of my adult life and as a result my hackles no longer raise as they used to when folks wail on live music.

Music is not the problem, nor is staying up after dark, assholes are the problem. My hope is that one group’s bad behavior doesn’t prevent the rest of us from living like grown ups.

By William Burg on Sep 17, 2010 | Reply

One question to ask is: who really should be in charge of Second Saturday? If it is supposed to be about art, why isn’t an arts organization the controlling authority for things like street music, vending, public events and promotion?

By livmoe on Sep 17, 2010 | Reply

That’s just it… it’s not about art and hasn’t been for a long time. A lot of the communal art nights I’ve attended in other cities are pretty hoppin’ but they’re specifically hoppin’ with art goers, period. No t-shirts, no bands, no incense and hemp jewelry vendors. Zilch. Just art.

When I brought this up at a roundtable discussion about second Saturday about a year ago a hush went through the room. At the time the consensus I seemed to get was that all us gallerists are getting tired of this but none of us want to leave the safety net of the built in crowd and move on.

The truth of the matter is that at this point I would venture to say that the galleries could say screw it and roll up their sidewalks and there’d still be activity on 2nd Saturday. A colleague said that only about %20 of the bodies on the street actually came into the gallery she was at this past weekend. Of those even fewer did much looking around once inside.

From a music perspective my main complaint has been the doubling up of bands in one block to the point where things just sound like muddy noise. The stuff that Barber’s and the Bike Kitchen puts on is brilliant. It would be great to walk around to various pop up venues every weekend to catch different acts. I was stoked when folks were setting up in different alley’s around town for a while there too selling tacos and what not.

Really I think this falls under a city task force or MBA type thing. As someone who works in the arts I can’t say I’d want to make it my job to address musical programming for an “art” event where I don’t sell any art. On the flip side from a community activist standpoint helping to coordinate and facilitate a string of happenings that contribute to the overall vibrancy of our city has a lot of appeal.

In the meantime I think 2nd Sat should reestablish itself, just for art on another night of the month. San Francisco does Thursdays which seems to work just fine especially in the wrapping it up early department given that it’s on a weekday.

By William Burg on Sep 17, 2010 | Reply

Well then–if that isn’t a good argument to detach the vendors and street music from Second Saturday and start spreading it around the month, I don’t know what is. The crowd that shows up for Second Saturday is mostly not interested in art–they are there to see people and be seen, to enjoy the city from the street level. That activity is not very important to the arts community, but essential to a city’s day-to-day street life.

As to who should regulate the street life (and despite my own appreciation of anarchic abandon, I do feel it should be regulated) I suppose I’d rather see an organization that has both business and residents as its priorities. I have my doubts about whether MBA should be that organization.

Of course, for some folks Midtown will never be quiet enough, just as for some people Second Saturday isn’t wild enough for them. The compromise point will be somewhere in between, odds are at a point where most parties are equally uncomfortable. Art will probably be a secondary effect of the street scene and city life, which is as it should be.

By livmoe on Sep 17, 2010 | Reply

One last thing on this programming issue before I lose steam…. If there is a said task force helping to guide the vision of this event my hope is that this group would genuinely have just that… a vision. A vision guided by some sense of culture that helps maintain the flavor of a vibrant event.

I was around when the city and the Downtown Partnership tried to work together to manage the Thursday Night Market once it started getting unwieldy and all they managed to do was morph the event into something so milk toast and weird that no one wanted to attend anymore.

One of my big beefs with it was this whole “let’s make it family friendly now” campaign and indie bands were replaced with Dixieland and church groups were allowed to set-up and preach in St. Rose of Lima Park through these bizarre reality plays. In short it stunk IMHO.

By Craig on Sep 17, 2010 | Reply

This is a very difficult problem to solve. Large groups of 20 somethings or younger, alcohol and late night / early morning hours is a combustable mix in any public gathering. Perhaps, if Midtown gathering were promoted as a continuing cultural tradition instead of a one time “Second Saturday” event focus, the block party culture would disappear. Why not have a “Weekends in Midtown” focus where shops, food and other kiosks are open throughout the weekend, every weekend? If you desire to be like St. Helena, then this is what you do. Otherwise, another incident like this and everything will die because it doesn’t take many of them to scare away the paying customers you want in Sactown.

By William Burg on Sep 17, 2010 | Reply

liv: And that’s why we have the “Keep Midtown Janky” brand. Even Burning Man has rules these days, even if it’s still “Safety Third.” I see no contradiction between encouraging creative weirdness, being able to bring the kids, and some level of civility.

I do agree–I remember how lame the “Fringe Arts Festival” ended up. Although it’s not exactly a popular event, I try to run the Noisefest using the same principles–despite the level of sheer weirdness at the Noisefest, every one has been held at an all-ages venue, and we even held dozens of Sunday matinee “Audio Waffle” events to encourage all-ages crowds. Past fests included performers as young as 11 years old.

Craig: Eeeexactly. If Second Saturday is getting too big for its britches, perhaps the answer is bigger britches.

By Dane Henas on Sep 18, 2010 | Reply

Folks…to set the record straight I parked in the alley next to the Bike Kitchen. The sidewalk I referred to is the concrete area in front of the buliding. The alley and sidewalk area had a bunch of empty Guinness or other British beer paper cups. I didn’t smell them to see if it was beer–could have been Kool Aid. There was a guy pissing in the alley next to a dumpster. I was really there! It was after 9:30 and Alkali flats wasn’t playing. And I made a typo–t was actually “DJ” hipsters! Get rid of the DJs and let’s have more old timey bands like Alkali flats! Tony–don’t be so damn thin skinned–you read too much into everything–sheesh! Ask Tim and Jackson–I’m a cool old guy! I’ve got 3 bikes myself, but no fixed gear–sorry!

By William Burg on Sep 18, 2010 | Reply

I can verify this. Dane was a hipster back when they still said “daddy-o.”

By Dane Henas on Sep 18, 2010 | Reply

We actually used the term “hep”.

By livmoe on Sep 18, 2010 | Reply

You sirs have made the old man laugh out loud. Good show!

By Marion Millin on Sep 18, 2010 | Reply

Dane was a hipster back when Mike Palmer had a Ramones haircut.

By Diane Heinzer on Sep 18, 2010 | Reply

9/11/10 Second Saturday was great, art, music not too loud, the businesses and eateries full, people of all ages including families with kids and strollers, a wonderful scene that lasted until 9:30, no one screaming on the streets. Loved it. Then came the young loud ones who just party, drinking out of the trunks of their cars, screaming and laughing at their own outside parties in parking lots, alleys, streets, sidewalks. I don’t believe they even enter the bars and night clubs. The noise level only goes up AFTER Second Saturday closes the galleries and street vendors leave. I like the point Jeremiah Mayhew made that the shootings happened on Sunday, not Second Saturday. Don’t we have codes that prohibit drinking & having parties outside on the streets and on parking lots without permits?

By Diane Heinzer on Sep 18, 2010 | Reply

I sent this email to Steve Cohn and Rob Fong.

On 22nd and L we and our neighbors watch and frequently report people at night who drink & urinate in parking lots and alleys and sidewalks around our houses between 10 pm and 3 am. Some come to their parked cars on the street and get intoxicants from the trunks of their cars and imbibe on the streets, loudly with screams and shrieks. The city must already have codes against this kind of behavior. If the police would give these people tickets for that behavior it would keep the violators from coming back and back again week after week especially after Second Saturday. That would also deter groups from congregating until we have a tragic uncontrollable situation as occurred last Sunday morning at 12:30. The tickets given to parking violators has really helped the parking situation in Midtown. If we ticket these other “small” code violations I’ll bet we could prevent the behavior that we all hate, loud drunken parties and pedestrians disturbing the peace of our neighborhoods and possibly scaring off customers who come to enjoy our small businesses and entertainment venues.

By Dane Henas on Sep 19, 2010 | Reply

Good letter Diane! That same Second Saturday I also saw some kids with an open ice chest on their tailgate in front of Butch & Nellies. Premeditated public drinking! Just the other night I was at Luigi’s Slice and 4 or 5 young ladies come waltzing in with cocktails from Azul–is that allowed? I’m not into any kind of Police State, but with so many stupid people around, maybe they should beef things up a bit in that part of town. Also, there is absolutely no use for DJs on the street. The music is usually awful and it just takes up space where some real musicians could be. Second Saturday should screen, arrange and space out the music venues. Yes, I am a music snob.

By Sterling Running Stream Phillips on Sep 19, 2010 | Reply

I couldn’t agree more with Kevin Santos Koy.Thank you for bringing the truth to light…. we have wasted our opportunities (as ‘artists’) to truly engage the construct of this social experiment. One glance at the glimmer of fame and our ethics , morals, and beliefs evaporated like summer rain.It is our responsibility (‘artists’) to guide the people to a higher place. IT is time to take that mission seriously… the one we all spoke about around ‘bongs’ and over kegs… the one that said “I will do MORE than my part and i will use the ARTS to do it.” It is time to teach this world how to LIVE TO LOVE TO LIVE. All proceeds from the event on the 25th will go directly to the family to cover funeral costs and to establish a scholarship in Victor Zavala’s name. This is all being done with the approval and participation of This inspirational young man’s family.

By Matt T. on Sep 22, 2010 | Reply

I lived in midtown for three years before leaving the country. Second Saturday (S.S.)was always a great time, yet it always got out of hand. The shooting is tragic yet it does not surprise me: it was bound to happen at such an event with a vast collection of individuals with their own personal agendas. My friend last year during the July S.S. my friend’s head was bashed into a light pole, all for laughing at a joke I told him. This Marine thought we were laughing at him, next thing I know my friend is knocked out, I’m pushing people out of the way, then I get hit in the back of the head while trying to make sure he is okay. I do not know who tainted the S.S. Kool-aid, but it is a gathering of slobs and drunks who cannot hold their booze nor enjoy a night of art and music. Part of the problem, as many of the long time Midtown residents have/can/will agree on, is the hours, also what S.S. has become. It ends too late, has nudged is ugly head right into peak bar trips, and the music…well…sucks. Keep it mellow Sacramento, let the douche’s go to Roseville where they belong and keep midtown the chill, relaxed, enjoyable-by-all feel that it lost some time ago. Only now, living on foreign land, and hearing about this, does my understanding of S.S. thicken and deepen. RIP young soul that was lost on a night that did not need to be.

By Rick on Jul 10, 2011 | Reply

I have to say that I think it’s time for Second Saturday to be shut down completely. It’s not just the gangs that are a problem. It’s the booze. Too many people get a few free drinks in them and go out to cause trouble. I was attacked tonight by three men for riding my bike on the sidewalk in front of them. I’m going to dedicate as much time as I can to shutting this thing down. What was a nice event to hang out at and participate in has turned into a way for trouble makers to cause problems for those of us who are just out to have fun.

By Susan Moll on Sep 16, 2011 | Reply

I heard there was another shooting last Second Saturday and a SCC student was killed, caught in the crossfire. This shit needs to stop. It’s making the neighborhood dangerous. But since all Mayor Dickhead John$on cares about is greenbacks for a new arena for our lousy basketball team, he’s unlikely to care. There’s plenty to do in/around Midtown without Second Saturday assholes clogging streets, starting fights and polluting the neighborhood. Things clearly aren’t getting better. They’re getting worse. Shut the damn thing down!