Archive for the 'Blog' Category

Bacon Fest Sacramento: January 20-22

Chocolate covered bacon at the State Fair…Bacon as a beer garnish at Pangaea…It’s hard to tell if bacon is gaining popularity these days, or if it’s always been this popular and people are just starting to get more creative about showing their bacon enthusiasm. Either way, the idea of a Sacramento Bacon Fest seems totally awesome. The “Inaugural Bacon Fest Sacramento 2012” will be held from January 20th-22. Here are the events scheduled:

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20
8PM: Kevin Bacon Tribute Night at Luigi’s Slice Fungarden (1050 20th St.), features a special bacon supreme pizza, bacon in beer, and live music from Jem & Scout, Aaron King, the FoxtailsJohn Conley, 50-Watt Heavy and others performing songs from Kevin Bacon movies.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21
7:30AM till it’s gone: Baconfest breakfast presented by Magpie Café, 1409 R St.

4PM to close, Bacon-in Beers and special bacon bar menu presented by Pangaea Two Brews Café, 2743 Franklin Blvd., Sacramento

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22
10AM: Baconfest brunch at The Golden Bear, 2326 K St.

1-5PM: The first ever BACONFEST CHEFS COMPETITION at Mulvaney’s B&L Pig Next Door (1215 19th St.). Celebrity judges, bacon small plates, beer and wine. ($20 at the door)

 

For more info, go to the Baconfest Facebook or the Baconfest Twitter. RSVP to the Facebook Event Here.

Enjoy!

Head of For Arts’ Sake Resigns

Deborah Edward, head of the Mayor’s For Arts’ Sake initiative, is leaving Sacramento to head Portland’s Business Culture for the Arts.

Edward was hand-picked to run Mayor Johnson’s arts program barely a year ago.  Coming from Austin, Texas, Edward boasted an impressive resume in the arts, including experience as the Executive Director of the Austin Children’s Museum which she also co-founded.  Edward arrived in Sacramento with big plans and high hopes saying, “I am inspired by the can-do attitude of the Mayor and his team as well as the creativity and commitment of artists and arts organizations. Sacramento is to be commended for not only making a plan to grow the arts, but also putting resources behind the implementation.”

The reality has been a bit different.

For Arts’ Sake has struggled to find its place in the region’s art scene.  The mission of FAS has often found itself butting up against the mission of SMAC, the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Council – an organization with a 30+ year history, and a long record of successes in the region.  While Johnson has clearly put energy into promoting FAS,  active participation from the local arts community has been dwindling, and many say that the program has failed to live up to its billing.

Edward’s departure for greener pastures leaves a big hole in the program – it will be interesting to see what’s next for For Arts’ Sake.

Betty Inada: A Sacramento Flapper on the Silver Screen

Betty Inada: A Sacramento Flapper on the Silver Screen

By William Burg

How did a Sacramento girl become the most popular jazz singer in Japan? The little-known story of Betty Inada began in Sacramento’s Japantown. Like many Nisei, the first generation of American-born children of Japanese immigrants, her life was caught between the traditions of her parents and the culture of their adopted country. Born on November 10, 1913, her parents named her Fumiko but gave her the nickname “Bessie,” which she disliked and later changed to “Betty.” This independence characterized her life, and by her teens she fell in love with jazz. In the 1920s, jazz was wild, disobedient music considered responsible for the downfall of American morals, but kids like Betty loved it. Adopting flapper fashions, short hair with celluloid barettes and short skirts with rolled-down stockings, Betty’s style shocked her parents and more traditional Nisei youth but made her a popular figure in the local jazz scene. Read more »

Michael Thiemann to be New Executive Chef at Ella

It might seem like a stretch for a guy who put out a record called “The Kids are All Fucked Up” to get hired as executive chef at one of Sacramento’s fanciest restaurants, but not for Michael Thiemann.

Thiemann, who was part of some of Sac’s best punk bands like “Crash and Britany” and “The Pretty Girls“, has just been named the new executive chef at Ella.

Ella

He’s leaving Wayfare Tavern in San Francisco to move back to his hometown. He’ll start at Ella on February 1st, replacing Kelly McCown, who will be moving to new restaurant Goose & Gander in St.Helena.

Maybe being back in Sac will cause Thiemann to reminisce about his music days and we’ll finally have that gourmet restaurant-slash-punk-venue we’ve all been waiting for.

GIANT Bows and Arrows Sale! Today – Tomorrow!

Who can argue with 25% off E V E R Y T H I N G ?!?!?!?!?!? (except food and drink…) Get down to Bows and Arrows RIGHT NOW…………………………………….

 

Daniel Trudeau’s “G” Hum Parade: January 7th

***Full Disclosure: Sarah  Hansel works at Bows & Arrows as a retail girl/blogger***

Daniel Trudeau, AKA Pregnant, is planning a “G” Hum Parade on January 7th. What this means is that he’s trying to get at least 100 people with instruments together to walk through the streets of Sacramento playing the chord of “G”.

The Parade will start at Bows and Arrows (1815 19th st.) at 1 PM and end at Southside Park around 4. Once the parade reaches Southside Park, there will be various group musical exercises and fun experiments.

Daniel has about 56 people confirmed so far. To join the G Hum Parade, email him at trudeau.daniel5@gmail.com.

RSVP to the Facebook Event Here.

Read the blog I posted on the Bows&Arrows site for more info/questions with Daniel about why he’s doing this.

 

Incoming! CSUS Winter Jazz Festival, Sat, 12/10

Read more »

Incoming! Charles Albright, GGreen, Pierced Arrows Sat, 12/10

Read more »

Incoming! Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter, the Soft White Sixties Fri, 12/9

Read more »

WIN DINNER AT MULVANEY’S!

We’ve got another ‘Find the Ad’ Contest in this month’s issue of Midtown!  To enter just pick up a copy, find the ad referenced on the announcement on page 38 and then submit your answer either by mail (Midtown Contest, 980 9th Street #175, Sacramento, CA, 95814) or email (contest@midtownmonthly.net).  Submissions MUST be received by Noon, December 19.

Good luck!