OakParkNow

A Day In The Life of Oak Park

2010-01-08T16:50:00.000-08:00

In January, Viewpoint Gallery will be working with local photography curators to present an exhibit of images documenting a day in the life of the Oak Park neighborhood. Hundreds of amateur and professional photographers spent a day in Oak Park in 2008; the resulting images are moving testimony to the vibrant life of one of our city's oldest neighborhoods.

Viewpoint Gallery

2015 J Street

5:30 - 9:00 PM

Second Saturday Reception

January 9th, 2010

5:30 - 9:00 PM

DIY's House Crashers Invade Oak Park

2009-12-02T09:21:00.000-08:00

The DIY Network will feature one of Sacramento's very own on the Wednesday, December 3rd episode of House Crashers. Eli Bob, a bartender and native Sacramentan is the owner of a loft at the 4th Avenue Lofts development in Oak Park which was recently the focus of a "crash". Eli's loft was inundated with droves of contractors, production crew, friends and host Josh Temple back in October for three days during the remodel.

The upcoming episode is entitled, "Rock N Roll Loft Lounge" and the shows website describes the crash as follows: A single young bartender transforms his plain loft into a place to mix up drinks, fun and edgy style. With a stone covered wall, mounted stainless fireplace, diamond plate dining room table and leather flooring, the living area becomes a hip hangout for entertaining.

House Crashers is ambush renovation at its best. Host and contractor Josh Temple stalks a big-box home improvement store looking for unsuspecting weekend warriors, then follows them home with a large crew of experts in tow. Watch as stunned homeowners who journeyed into the store to fix a simple leaky faucet end up winning the remodeling lottery with dramatic, eye-popping room transformations.

Tune in at the following times (Check local listings for times and channels):

December 02, 2009 - 10:00 PM e/p
December 02, 2009 - 1:00 AM e/p
December 16, 2009 - 10:30 PM e/p
December 16, 2009 - 1:30 AM e/p

Old Soul at 40 Acres - Food Drive Thanksgiving Day

2009-11-25T15:12:00.000-08:00

"Soul of the Soul" Food Donation Drive

Thanksgiving Day 2009

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Old Soul at 40 Acres in Oak Park

Broadway @ 35th Street

12:00 - 3:00 PM

***All are invited, FREE T-shirts, coffee, pastries & yummy food from Rick Mahan of The Waterboy!***

Old Soul Co. Holds Open House In Oak Park

2009-10-15T14:55:00.000-07:00

Local Coffee Roaster and Baker to Occupy Former Starbucks Location In Oak Park

Old Soul Co., a local roaster, baker and coffeehouse currently operating at two locations in midtown, announced it will be opening its third location at the 40 Acres Art Gallery and Cultural Center in Oak Park. The community and local media are invited to an Open House, where the Mayor and local civic and business leaders help Old Soul Co. celebrate the growth and renewal of a vibrant and vital neighborhood.

With a proven track record of investment and commitment to the community they live in, Jason Griest and Tim Jordan are proud to bring the Old Soul Co. brand to another corner of the central city that they love and admire; with renewed investment of time, energy and financial resources, these owners are excited about all that the Oak Park community has to offer, and are thankful to St. Hope Development for sharing in their vision of creating "THE" community gathering spot for the area.

WHO: Owners – Tim Jordan and Jason Griest
Mayor Kevin Johnson
Council member Lauren Hammond
Oak Park Business Association President Terre Johnson
Community members and supporters

WHAT: Open House; Meet-n-Greet; Coffee and Pastry Giveaway

WHEN: MONDAY, October 19, 2009 at 11:00am – 4:00pm

WHERE: 3546 3rd Avenue, 40 Acres Art Gallery and Cultural Center (former site of Starbucks Coffee Co.)

Green Oak Park and Green The Block !

2009-09-04T16:29:00.000-07:00

Date/Time: September 11, 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Hosted by: Ubuntu Green, Oak Park Neighborhood Association, Oak Park Weed and Seed, Oak Park Business Association, Oak Park United Methodist Church

Location: Oak Park Methodist Church (Parking Lot) 3600 Broadway

Contact: (916) 669.0671

Green The Block is a national movement to Green the Block events in communities nationwide on September 11 (National Day of Service)

Community members will participate in creating a green community art project.

Join us and help educate Oak Park residents on how they can continue to green their lives and community.

Music, healthy food, fun activities, FRESH the movie, giveaways, education on green lifestyles, tree planting and more...for the entire family!

Oak Park Crop Swap Tonight in McClatchy Park

2009-07-06T09:43:00.000-07:00

Here come the crop swappers: (left to right) Neil Thomson, Kara Thomson and Bill Maynard.
PHOTO BY COLE ALLEN

The Oak Park Crop Swap runs every Monday night from 6 to 7 p.m., July 6-September 28 at McClatchy Park (5th Avenue side). For more information, visit www.oakparkcropswap.org.

Recent article from the Green Guide section of Sacramento News & Review:

Crop swap fever
Oak Park program means produce won’t go rotting
By Sena Christian More stories by this author...

Here come the crop swappers: (left to right) Neil Thomson, Kara Thomson and Bill Maynard.
PHOTO BY COLE ALLEN

The Oak Park Crop Swap runs every Monday night from 6 to 7 p.m., July 6-September 28 at McClatchy Park. For more information, visit www.oakparkcropswap.org. The Colonial Manor Crop Swap runs every Wednesday night from 6 to 7 p.m., July 22-September 16 at Bill Bean Jr. Memorial Park.

Oak Park has deep backyards, and in some of these yards, residents grow their own food. Sometimes they have too much, and edible produce ends up rotted on the ground and tossed into the garbage.

But a group of neighbors figured out how to prevent the waste while improving their own variety of fruits and vegetables, through a practice known as a crop swap.
“I’ll have all these people ask me how we do it,” said Kara Thomson, coordinator of the Oak Park Crop Swap. “It’s really very simple.”

For a crop swap, neighbors trade unwanted or excess produce grown in their own yards. No money is involved. Organizers of the Oak Park swap only require that the produce be organic, grown without the use of pesticides or petrochemicals.

With Oak Park’s crop swap entering its second season and a new swap starting in Colonial Manor, Sacramento’s local-food movement is at an exciting juncture on the eve of the inaugural Food Independence Day (July 4), say members of the swap. The city has so much food capacity, they claim, let’s use it.

In January of 2008, two groups met in hopes of developing a community garden for Oak Park before one group branched off to establish something much more immediate—a crop swap. The small group of five neighbors, including Thomson, held two community meetings and more than a dozen people showed up at each one.

“We couldn’t believe so many people were interested,” Thomson said.

Between five and 25 households gathered at the park each week last year, and by the end of the season, 363 pounds of produce had been traded.

Because crops have different values, the group devised a trading guide based on organic prices. Organizers weigh the food then convert that number into units. For instance, 1 pound of tomatoes might equal three tradable units. The system basically operates under an honor code, but Thomson said last year the group had plenty of leftover food, which would be redistributed at the end of the evening. Each person usually takes home about one grocery bag full of produce.

Neighbors in the Oak Park group will meet at McClatchy Park every Monday night for an hour to trade vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers when the swap starts next week. It runs through September.

As part of the weekly gathering, speakers will present on such topics as composting; beekeeping; cover crops; solar ovens; and how to can, dry and preserve food at home.
The swap featured chard, tomato, cucumber, zucchini and eggplant last year, Thomson said. The swap system allows for residents to barter for produce they either don’t or can’t grow themselves. For instance, people with shady yards might produce leafy greens and blueberries, and those people with sunny yards might more easily grow tomatoes and watermelons.

The simple premise of a crop swap has already caught on. The Colonial Manor Neighborhood Association has started its own crop swap, which will run every Wednesday evening from July 22 to September 16 at Bill Bean Jr. Park, according to association president Diana Portillo.

Meanwhile, another group of neighbors in Oak Park and East Sacramento called Harvest Sacramento recognized last year that there was an abundance of fruit trees underutilized. So they knocked on residents’ doors and asked if they could harvest some fruit off the trees. Workers take a cut and then donate the rest to the Sacramento Food Bank. Davis residents recently started a similar program.

For many participants in the crop swap and Harvest Sacramento, the goal of their activities is to reclaim and fix our food system, while building a community in which food is a focal point.

Members of the Oak Park Crop Swap recently canvassed their neighborhood to expand the group. Eight volunteers recently planted raised flowed beds for an elderly neighbor so she could also participate in the swap. It doesn’t matter if people don’t have food to exchange; they can still attend to learn about gardening and hang out with neighbors.
“I have met so many of my neighbors through this,” Thomson said. “It’s so cool.”
Crop member Jaclyn Hopkins has lived in Oak Park for three years now, and she and her husband call their house with its large backyard and multitude of crops their “urban homestead.” She grew up in an agricultural area of Kentucky and always wants producing her own food to be part of her life.

“From the beginning, it was a very social endeavor,” Hopkins said. “It’s not just about food, but about building community. It’s a hoot. It’s a lot of fun. Hopefully, eventually, every neighborhood will have something like this.”

FOOD, INC. Screening At The Crest: July 3rd

2009-07-01T13:09:00.000-07:00

This Friday, July 3rd, Pesticide Watch Education Fund will host a special opening-night screening of the new film Food, Inc. And we hope to see you there!

Local advocates and leaders will share their perspective and provide solutions to many of the problems raised in the film, hailed as the next Inconvenient Truth. Learn more about the event at our website.

WHAT: Food, Inc., lifts the veil off our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that's been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of the US Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration. A handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment now control our nation's food supply. Food, Inc. reveals surprising -- and often shocking truths -- about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are headed.

The Sacramento Valley is home to a number of the largest industrialized agri-businesses in the country, growing crops such as olives, rice, nuts, and citrus as well as cattle-raising. However, the region is also home to an emerging movement of local and sustainable agriculture.

Following the film, chefs, academics and activists will participate in a lively discussion on how the region, state and country can tackle the challenges facing farms and the food system.

WHERE: The Crest Theatre, 1017 "K" Street, Sacramento

WHEN: 8:00-9:30pm Film; 9:30-10:30 Panel

WHO: Ann Martin Rolke, chef, blogger, author; Gail Feenstra, Food Systems Analyst, UC Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program; Jaclyn Hopkins, coordinator EAT Sacramento; Elizabeth Martin-Craig, Pesticide Watch Education Fund community organizer.

COST: $12.00

OPNA IS MOVING

2009-07-01T11:52:00.000-07:00

Starting THURSDAY AUGUST 6TH

OPNA MONTHLY MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE

SACRAMENTO FOOD BANK
3333 3rd Ave. Sacramento, CA 95817
Corner of 3rd Ave and 34th Street
(Enter from the 34th Street side)

Same Time new Location…….

www.oakparkna.org

2009-06-28T09:16:00.001-07:00

At the Tower Bridge for the Bikeramento morning ride. See you on the road.

2009-06-27T18:41:00.001-07:00

Arden Park Roots covering Michael Jackson's Billie Jean!

2009-06-27T17:22:00.001-07:00

The Other Poets are sick! True Sacto hip hop and they're handing out free disks.

2009-06-27T17:01:00.001-07:00

Music fest is rockin'. Just heard Be Brave Bold Robot, great set. Silver. Darlings on now. Lots of shade so don't fret the sun and warm temps. It's great down here at Ceaser Chavez park. Going till 9pm. Oh, it's free for everyone!

2009-06-14T11:56:00.001-07:00

Back at good old Coffee Garden again today studying for the LEED exam I am scheduled to take in two 2 weeks. It smells like coffee and bacon!

2009-06-13T18:03:00.001-07:00

Come check out the art exhibit at the AIA Central Valley on 14th and S street. The work is incredible!

2009-05-28T14:22:00.001-07:00

It was another great turnout for last night's design dialogue series at the AIA/CV discussing the Broadway corridor. Stay tuned for next month's topic.

MOB in Oak Park!

2009-05-22T15:39:00.000-07:00

(Movies On a Bigs Screen)

MOBS presents independent films playing every Sunday night starting at 7PM in the historic Guild Theater in Oak Park. The theater is located at 2828 35th Street in Sacramento, just off of Broadway.

Admission is just $5.00 and they have snacks including popcorn, soda, candy, air conditioning and lots of parking.

This weekends feature:

Go For Broke!

Robert Pirosh wrote and directed this little-known World War II drama that commemorates the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a squad of loyal, Japanese-Americans who had to battle prejudice as well as the Axis enemy. Van Johnson stars as their contemptuous top-kick, whose bigotry gives way to respect in the crucible of war. Supporting Johnson is a cast of veterans, all former members of the highly decorated 442nd.

About MOBS: Movies on a Big Screen is an ongoing film festival/microcinema that started in September of 2006 in Sacramento, CA. We show independent films, documentaries, shorts, host community based special events and on occasion have late night audience participation screenings. Many screenings have had filmmakers and guest speakers in attendance for Q&A. We do digital projection onto a large screen (not a big screen TV). We don’t give out awards in the "traditional" festival sense, but any filmmaker in attendance is welcome to one free can of Pabst (by request).

Urban Hive's New CoWorking Space

2009-05-20T08:06:00.000-07:00

(not actually an urban hive)

The Urban Hive will be open tomorrow from 10AM - 5PM providing a FREE coworking space. They're located in the former Green Living Center at 20th & H Street. Here's the latest post on the groups website.

So we decided early on that we weren't going to do a bunch of open (you know, free) coworking events. And yet, here we are with our second one in two weeks. The fact of the matter is that we want people to be able to get a sense of the unique work space that we have here and the remarkable way in which we are able to work independently as well as collaborate within the space. We realize that the best way to do that is to spend some time here and cowork with us. So, yep, we will be holding a couple more of these over the next few weeks before calling a halt to them. This Thursday we will be starting at 10am (after Cereal Creative) and going until 5. Then join us after for Buzz Night (bring some cash to kick into the beer fund for a beer)!

Think Outside the Cubicle!
The Urban Hive is a community of creative independent professionals sick of the status quo, sick of working in the isolation of a home office or the social disconnect and noise of the urban coffee shop, people who want a place to refresh and be stimulated creatively and to find like-thinking individuals with whom they can collaborate. They long for something more, but, until now, they haven't been able to put their thumb on what that actually is. For this person, our little community provides a sanctuary of sorts, for the independent that has successfully escaped (or simply avoided--bravo!) American office culture.

Being an independent is often a solitary existence. The Urban Hive gives that independent a place to go--an un-office, if you will--to work, create, collaborate, refresh and (yes) play. Think of it as a great company culture, just without the company. We believe that we should all want to go to work, that the place that we work should enhance the work that we do. And we believe that there is a value in working alongside other creative professionals and entrepreneurs that share our values.

We are located in an amazing renovated 1930s brick warehouse in the heart of Midtown Sacramento. The industrial modern space includes two conference rooms, retail space, art and design studios, and even an occasional traditional office. More than the space, though, Creatives benefit from the community environment where spontaneous brainstorming stimulates idea exchange, fosters networking and even provides opportunities for project collaboration.

We are membership based, and our memberships range from $50 per month to $275 per month. All memberships include a seat in one Sacramento's coolest workspaces, free wifi, free coffee from Old Soul (feel free to add to the coffee kitty if you are an excessive consumer like us). Some memberships include use of our conference room, brainstorming room, private offices, and general use of our space for events (with special pricing). Need an entire office or design studio? We have some of those available, too.Still need more info to get a better feel for what we are about? Well, we encourage hands-on research. Come on by and give us a try, for free!

The Urban Hive is:
VOX Sacramento
ROMP Creative
Kidaround Magazine
Boniform Graphic Design
Janna Marlies Santoro
Airbag Radio
Capital Creative Collective
Glenn Weatherson
Ballentine's Records
Green Sacramento
Pinerworks Architecture
LJ Urban

Why Aren't Chickens Legal?

2009-05-19T14:07:00.000-07:00

Well, it's up to you...

I just wanted to send you a quick reminder about a meeting on Wednesday (tomorrow) night. A press conference was held a few weeks ago to start the conversation with the City Council, and now its time to take the campaign to the next level. Join members and friends of Environment and Agriculture Taskforce (EAT) Sacramento as we formulate our plan, and join in the discussion on May 20th.

For those of you who can't make it, and even those of you who can, please contact your city councilmember and urge them to update the chicken laws.

Contact info@eatsacramento.org or www.EATsacramento.org for more information.

WHAT: Update Chicken Laws Organizing Meeting
WHERE: Coffee Garden, 2904 Franklin Blvd (Franklin at 4th Ave)
WHEN: Wednesday, May 20th, 6:30pm

Please forward widely!

This coop holds four hens

Four laying hens

Don't You Dare Miss Ricky Berger

2009-05-11T11:49:00.000-07:00

My wife and I had the pleasure to hear Ricky Berger perform last Friday at the Coffee Garden for the first time (yet another reason I love that place). We may have been the only two people in the whole room who had never heard her set. It was a packed room of about 50 people or so, standing room only.

She was fantastic! I had no idea what to expect but was guessing it would be really good based on some of the comments overheard in the audience not to mention all the great press she's received over the past year.

We were pleasantly surprised to say the least. She is an amazing performer, very sweet and sincere in her delivery and a really-really nice person. She even took time after her acoustic performance to sign copies of her CD and to meet the fans. Her new disc is cleverly titled, "Ricky Berger's First Album"

I must say, we are now big fans and hope to catch her again soon. And it just so happens we'll get that chance this Friday, May 15th as she performs at Luna's Cafe in Sacramento. If you can't wait until then, check out this video and her other show dates below.

Upcoming Shows:
May 15 2009, 8:00P, Luna’s, Sacramento
May 16 2009, 8:00P, The Fox and Goose, Sacramento
May 20 2009, 8:00P, The Blue Lamp, Sacramento
May 26 2009, 6:00P, R5 Records, Sacramento
May 30 2009, 8:00P, Private Party, Sacramento
Jun 4 2009, 8:00P, The Fox and Goose, Sacramento
Jun 5 2009, 8:00P, The Coffee Garden, Sacramento
Jun 7 2009, 8:00P, Amnesia, San Fransisco
Jun 13 2009, 8:00P, The Vox, Sacramento
Jun 26 2009, 8:00P, Luigi’s Fun Garden, Sacramento
Jul 10 2009, 8:00P, Plea for Peace Center, Stockton
Jul 18 2009, 8:00P, Quarry Ponds Center, Granite Bay
Jul 24 2009, 5:00P, Concerts in the park, Sacramento

So Much To Share...

2009-05-10T19:55:00.000-07:00

This was an amazing weekend in Oak Park. Here are a few photos from the weekend. I'll follow up with stories about some of the weekend highlights

Wing Sculpture at 35th & Broadway

Bud Gordon Art Exhibit at 4th Avenue Lofts

40 Acres Fiesta Night

Sojourner Mural off Broadway

Sojourner Mural Detail

Celebrate Oak Park - Taiko Drumming Performance

LJ Urban on NPR's Insight.

2009-05-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

Check out LJ Urban's own Levi Benkert on the NPR program "Insight" on Friday explaining the Ethiopian Orphanage he helped established earlier this year. Levi, his wife Jessie and their three kids will be leaving later this month and heading to Ethiopia for the next year to help save children from certain death. LJ Urban will be putting their developments on hold until the market improves. You can read more about the orphanage here, Drawn From Water.

CPR/NPR: Insight - Ethiopian Orphanage

Levi has been a mentor to me personally over the last few years and he and his family will be missed here in Sacramento but he's vowed to come back and pick-up where the left off.

Best of Luck!

2nd Saturday - Celebrate Oak Park & Fiesta Night!

2009-05-08T15:10:00.000-07:00

There are two fabulous events taking place tomorrow,

Saturday, May 9th in Oak Park!

12:00 - 6:00 pm

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

3rd Annual "Celebrate Oak Park"

The Oak Park Neighborhood Association, Oak Park Business Association, and Weed & Seed have come together to bring you a day full of fun for adults and kids in McClatchy Park!

The event will feature live music, DJ, a “kid’s zone” with a mobile rock wall, bounce house and many other activities, dancing, Chalk it up, resource tables and food.

They are also partnering with UC Davis Medical Center to provide a health and fitness component for kids. This will include fun activities and information on nutrition, health and fitness.

Live music and events throughout the day are sponsored by some of the businesses that serve Oak Park daily.

We are kicking off the Oak Park weekly Farm Stand and farmer's Market too.

"Fiesta Night"

The 4 0 Acres Art Gallery, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services/Women’s Wisdom Program, the RCAF and others are working to present an evening of festivities celebrating the art, culture, business, and civic life of Oak Park! The street festival, similar in style to the booming Second Saturday art walk atmosphere that exists in mid-town Sacramento, will serve to highlight the unique characteristics of Oak Park’s multiculturalism through art exhibits, public art site installations, food, live music and performances, and slide shows of Oak Park’s rich history.

Opening Ceremony, including breaking a piñata in commemoration of Cinco de Mayo at 5pm

Stage outside of Starbucks at 35th Street and Broadway, featuring live music and performances all evening

Temporary kinetic public art installation by artist Bryan Tedrick, featuring work exhibited annually at the Burning Man Festival

Low-riders, courtesy of Family First Car Club, on view along 3rd Street in front of the 40 Acres Art Gallery

Women’s Wisdom Program art exhibit with food, live music and dance; and hands-on community tile project at Sacramento Food Bank& Family Services

Best of Sac High 2009 exhibit on view at the 40 Acres Art Gallery;

RCAF (Royal Chicano Air Force) will present a repeating slide show of Oak Park’s history, and will have on view Native American and Chicano Art

Art Cars and fire dancing by Obsidian Butterfly on view at Brickhouse Studios

Historical tours of Immaculate Conception Church and grounds as they celebrate their 100-year anniversary

And a host of other events and businesses keeping their doors open late in celebration of the Fiesta.

I Really Like This Place

2009-05-06T21:06:00.001-07:00

I really like Coffee Garden on the corner of Franklin Blvd. and 4th Avenue. There's lots of room with several different types of spaces to spread out both indoors and out.

I'm finding myself here more often as I've scheduled a test every two weeks or so through the end of June. I'm finishing up the ARE's followed by the LEED exam.

I will be getting my life back in July...Hooray!

...And Then There Were Eight

2009-05-06T08:53:00.001-07:00

New Face #1

New Face #2

New Face #3

New Face #4

I walked over to see if any progress had been made last night on the mural and it has nearly doubled in size and another 4 faces have been added bring the total to 8. I'm not sure when "they" came last night as I didn't see any activity. It's going to be quite an amazing piece once complete at nearly 100' long and probably 12' high. I'm completely amazed at what can be done with a can of spray paint, a vision and a lot of talent.

On a side note, I took a little heat yesterday from some of the Sacramento Press readers for my posting regarding the presumably illegal mural being created.

I understand that to some, my actions are supporting illegal activity and in hindsight I see that my decision to allow these "artists" to complete their mural is setting a double standard. I realize that if this was on the side of someones home or even a "nicer" business I would have likely intervened, but the issue for me is that was not. It's being created on the side of a warehouse style building on a vacant lot.

This same lot has been graced with several abandoned cars, homeless loitering, drug users, prostitution, dumping and a host of other illegal acts. As I stated in my response to some of the comments in the Sacramento Press article, this type of activity is really the least of my concerns.

I am still a little unsure how I feel about not reporting it initially, however my gut says to just go on about my day and hope it enhances the lot and adds some cheer to the neighboring business. I know full well that I will be responsible for the backlash, should one come.

Guerrilla Art - To Be Continued...

2009-05-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

Shrouded in a bit of secrecy as it was started late last night at about 10pm, The artists came in with little more than a flashlight, ladder and a can of blue spray paint. I contemplated approaching the duo to see what they were up to, but instead allowed them to continue working as it appeared time was of the essence.

To my delight, I walked over this morning to discover this...

Overall View

Detail 1

Detail 2

Detail 3

It appears to depict 4 figures total, 3 females and 1 male. One of the figures appears to be spraying someone or something while the other three are closer to one another.

I'll keep you updated as the mural develops. While I don't condone illegal behavior and would have definitely questioned this on any other building, I think this will end up being something positive in the neighborhood; guerrilla art, not gang tags.

If I'm wrong, I'll be the first to give Sacramento's 311 a call.

2009-05-01T14:23:00.001-07:00

The title of current seminar: public architecture-mobilizing architects to change the world discussing architecture for social responsiblity. 1% devoted to probono work.

2009-05-01T11:23:00.001-07:00

Live from the Aia conference: Optimist- glass is half full. Pessimist- glass half empty. Rationalist- glass is twice as big as it needs to be!

2009-05-01T10:59:00.001-07:00

One of the panelists just spoke of the importance of urban farming in our cities. This is a global issue. Sacramento include. Walkable nutrition!

2009-05-01T10:53:00.001-07:00

At the aia national covention in san francisco. Mayor Gavin newsom greeted the attendees. Thousands of architects from around the u.s. and the world discussing the global impacts of architecture. It's powerful to be here in the same room with many of the worlds leading designers and architects.

Orphanage Fund Raising at Old Soul

2009-04-29T09:04:00.000-07:00

The following article was published on LJ Urban's blog. Please watch this touching video and attend Thursday evening's fund raiser. The children in this video we're quite literally saved by Levi and the other that make up this dedicated team.

Stepping Up
LJ Urban has always been about seeing a need and stepping up to meet it. Sometimes there are needs too big to ignore outside the world directly in front of you, and you have to use your passion to do some good for people in another place.

You may have read recently on the blog about a new orphanage for children who were literally sentenced to death by their parents. The children come from a tribe in Ethiopia with very superstitious beliefs and we are going to rescue these kids and help give them a future. I visited there last month and have been writing about what we're doing to help out.

Here is a video we put together that tells the story about how this all came together.

Drawn from Water from Drawn From Water on Vimeo.

We're having an event at Old Soul to help raise funds for these kids and we want you to come! Today there are 10 kids who have been saved and we expect that there will be many more over the next few months. It's an understatement to say that your help is needed...the orphanage is a month old right now and is in desperate need of support in every way.

We want to get as many people as possible to hear this story. If you Click here, you can invite friends who you think might come. Let's see if we can't work together to make this a success! Here are all the details:

Where - Old Soul on the alley between L and Capitol on 18th St [map]

When - 7 PM on Thursday April 30th

How Much - The event and the Ethiopian coffee made by Jason Griest from Old Soul is free. We just ask that you consider supporting the kids in the orphanage.

Taxes - Yeah, we can help with that too! We are partnered with a non profit organization and can give you a tax receipt for your donations. Where does the money go? 100% of everything raised goes straight to the kids. Nothing goes to admin or staffing or any of that junk. Just plain good stuff!

Scooter - You could win a 2009 Honda Metropolitan Scooter! We started selling raffle tickets on the blog yesterday and will be announcing the winner at the event!

What kind of event will this be? Well you don't need to rent a tuxedo or anything stuffy like that. There is going to be live music and plenty of photos and information about the kids and their stories. We ask that you leave your own children with a sitter.

Hope to see you there!

- Levi

Thank you Levi for your amazing efforts, they have not gone unnoticed.

S.O.S - Save Our Starbucks

2009-04-22T15:33:00.000-07:00

Just one more cup a week - that's all we ask.

North Oak Park only has one coffee shop and it serves as
the central meeting place for the community.This is where neighbors gather, groups meet, business meetings are held and where friendships are made. We need this Starbucks because we cannot guarantee a replacement will open soon.

You can make it happen by signing this pledge to buy one additional drink per week.

That's all we ask!

Please, help us reach 1,000 signatures; click on the coffee cups or the link below and sign our pledge and help us show Starbucks.

WE MEAN BUSINESS! I'll sign the pledge!

It's Earth's Day!

2009-04-22T14:55:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day...see you on Sunday!

Urban Cycling Clinic at HLA‏

2009-04-20T16:11:00.001-07:00

This Thursday, April 23rd from noon to 1:00 pm, HLA will be hosting a lunchtime Urban Cycling Clinic, presented by Erin Reschke of the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen. The clinic is intended to provide useful information both to beginners and more experienced urban.

This lunchtime presentation and discussion will address issues relevant to both seasoned commuters and new cyclists.

Topics covered include:
Legal rights and responsibilities
Positioning yourself in traffic
Common collisions and strategies to avoid them
Communication skills
Route Planning Skills
Necessary Equipment

HLA is located at 1050 20th Street in the MARRS building.

Please RSVP to echandler@hlagroup.com by Wednesday, 5:00 pm

Sacramento's Catalyst Developments

2009-04-20T12:42:00.000-07:00

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS - CENTRAL VALLEY (AIACV)
PRESENTS: 4th WEDNESDAY DESIGN DIALOGUE

Join your neighbors, colleagues and friends for the 4th Wednesday Design Dialogue series returning monthly in 2009. Each even numbered month this year, the AIACV will present an Architecture related topic while each odd numbered month, UDA-Sacramento will be presenting a Planning related topic.

April’s AIACV Design Dialogue will focus on CATALYST DEVELOPMENTS with a panel presentation by:

Ron Vrilakas, Principal, Vrilakas Architects
Michael Malinowski, Principal, Applied Architecture Inc.
Desmond Parrington, Infill Coordinator, City of Sacramento

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Location: AIA/CV Gallery – Enter on 14th Street

Light refreshments will be provided.

“Catalyst Developments” will consist of a panel discussion and a facilitated question & answer session. Panelists Ron Vrilakas along with Michael Malinowski, will briefly present and discuss their experiences in creating some of Sacramento’s most recognized infill developments. City of Sacramento Infill Coordinator Desmond Parrington will also be on hand to shed some light on Sacramento’s plans for future infill and some of the challenges architects and developers are facing. A dialogue between attendees and panelists will follow to discuss the influence development has had on Sacramento’s urban neighborhoods.

Transportation & Parking: Bikes are welcome -- bring your own lock. The AIA facility is 1-1/2 blocks from the Light Rail station on 13th between Q & R. On-street parking is available and some of the neighboring businesses allow shared parking in their empty off-street lots in the evening.

In May, the topic for UDA's 4th Wednesday Design Dialogue will focus on the Broadway Corridor in Sacramento. We have an exciting lineup of topics planned for this year’s series. Design Dialogues will occur on the last Wednesday of each month, so check

Questions:

Dustin Littrell

Associate Director AIACV

dustinlittrell@hotmail.com

Information about AIACV:

http://www.aiacv.org

The Om-bama's Rock!

2009-04-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

I love this, create your own Obamicon print.

The Obama's want you to "Get Out & Play!" Try yoga...if it's good enough for the "First Family", isn't it good enough for you?

Check out the latest Sacramento Bee article written by Bob Shallit:

Presidential poses

Some political connections paid off for a local yoga studio, whose staffers found themselves volunteering at Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll.

"It was an awesome, amazing experience," says Anne Marie Kramer, head of Zuda Yoga, which has studios in midtown Sacramento and Folsom.

From 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Kramer and five staffers took groups of 50 children through half-hour classes on the White House lawn. It was yoga-basics for kids: Bark like a (downward-facing) dog. Balance – on one foot – like a mighty oak tree.

Of the hundreds of kids who went through Zuda's paces Monday, almost all were new to yoga, Kramer says.

Zuda was apparently the only yoga company invited to the Washington, D.C., event – where thousands of kids hunted for eggs, engaged in physical activities and listened to President Obama read "Where the Wild Things Are."

What was Zuda's "in?" One of its teachers, Leah Cullis, is engaged to the head of a Texas-based events company, C3 Presents.

Which happened to be the organizer of Monday's festivities.

2009-04-16T08:17:00.001-07:00

Good morning everyone!

You've Got To Be Kidding Me?

2009-04-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

The DOC's done it again. They've manage to schedule conflicting meetings regarding the proposed merger of the Design Commission and Planning Commission at the same time!

Both meetings beginning at 5:30PM tonight, one at the New City Hall and the other at 300 Richards Blvd. It does not get more blatant than that. This is a ridiculous move on the part of the DOC to limit the amount of public participation and I don't see this as a mere coincidence. It's also my understanding that numerous neighborhood leaders did not receive appropriate advance of this important meeting with the DOC.

I know it's late notice, but please notify your council member in protest of these proposed meetings and the prevalent "backroom" politics taking place. This does little to encourage transparency in politics or the public's trust.

Kevin Johnson - Mayor/ Mayor's Office , 916-808-5300

Ray Tretheway - District 1, 916-808-7001

Sandy Sheedy - District 2, 916-808-7002

Steve Cohn - District 3, 916-808-7003

Robert King Fong - District 4, 916-808-7004

Lauren Hammond - Vice Mayor/District 5, 916-808-7005

Kevin McCarty - District 6, 916-808-7006

Robbie Waters - District 7, 916-808-7007

Bonnie Pannell - District 8, 916-808-7008

Tonight's Meetings:

Design Commission

M09-017 Merger of Planning and Design Commission Location: (Citywide) Recommendation: Review and Comment- on the proposed merger of the Planning and Design Commission. Contact: Matthew Sites, Associate AIA, Design Review Staff, (916) 808-7646; William R. Crouch, AIA, FRAIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Urban Design Manager, (916) 808-8013; David Kwong, AICP, Planning Manager (916) 808-2691

Development Oversight Commission

DOC Subcommittee for Commission Streamlining and Process Improvements (Oral) Location: Citywide Recommendation: Report out regarding outreach and next steps for recommended process improvements. Contact: Roger Valine, DOC Commissioner; Darryl Chinn, DOC Vice Chair, John Packowski, DOC Commissioner, Brian Holloway, DOC Commissioner, David Kwong, Planning Manager, (916) 808-2691

How can David Kwong be in two places at once?

2009-04-15T15:26:00.001-07:00

Testing capabilities from my mobile device. Can now post from text message. Cool.

Sacramento's Zuda Yoga Teaches First-Ever Yoga Classes On The White House Lawn

2009-04-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks to John, Leah, Anne Marie, Bill, Corri, Jessica and Tyler for making us all so proud!

DOC's Report to Design Commission - April 15

2009-04-10T15:27:00.000-07:00

The Development Oversight Commission (DOC) will be returning to the Design Commission on Wednesday, April 15th to present its finding following its public outreach campaign.

The following is an excerpt from the Staff Report submitted to the Design Commission:

By the time this paper is presented to City Council for review, public outreach will
have been conducted at seven locations between February 24, 2009 and the report
back date of April 30, 2009.

These locations and groups include NAG#1, Preservation Roundtable, East Sacramento Improvement Association, Sierra-Curtis Neighborhood Association, Oak Park Community Association, and two city staff initiated community meetings: South Natomas Community Center on April 6th and Sam Pannell Community Center on April 13th.

Background
In early January 2009, the Development Oversight Commission delivered a letter to the Mayor and City Council regarding the need for improvements to the Planning Commission and Design Commission processes. Among the suggestions was the idea of merging the Planning and Design Commission hearing bodies. As a result, development projects that require both planning entitlements from the Planning Commission and Design Commission level design review would go before a single commission, as opposed to going separately to the Planning Commission for entitlements then to the Design Commission on a later date to review building design and materials.

At the February 24, 2009, City Council meeting, Council heard public testimony on the merger topic and directed staff to report back to the entire City Council, as opposed to the Law and Legislation Committee, with a workshop to focus on the issue of merging the Planning and Design Commissions.

Since that time, staff attended a series of community meetings, in many different City neighborhoods, to present the Design-Planning Commission merger idea and to receive community input. The merger concept has evolved over the course of these meetings to incorporate constructive feedback and to respond to concerns. Staff is attempting to strike a balance between neighborhood interests and the evolution of our Commissions to better serve the development process.

The Staff Reports notes several common themes that have been heard during the
course of public outreach on this issue:

1. Combining the two Commissions would limit public involvement in the review of development projects and ruin the democracy inherent in our current process.

2. There needs to be more transparency with the City’s development process. The current process is not transparent as it exists and is already abused.

3. The current process does not allow for early input into the process for a quality outcome and as a result a number of subpar projects have been allowed.

4. What are the levels of thresholds that would “pushed down” to staff?

Staff is recommending the following measures to City Council:

1. Staff believes the proposed process can be designed to address all public concerns

2. Staff proposes that any cost savings achieved due to the merger of the hearing bodies be reallocated to fund an expanded, citywide Design Review program

3. Staff recommends a nine-seat hearing body with five of those seats being “atlarge” members

4. Staff recommends that following the appointment of a newly merged commission, the new commission members should work with a DOC subgroup, planning staff, and City Attorney’s Office to craft appropriate code change recommendations.

The compete "Report To Design Commission" can be found here

Design Commission:

April 15, 2009 - 5:30 PM

New City Hall

915 I Street, 1st Floor - Council Chambers

Can You Imagine This Along Side The Velobahn

2009-04-07T16:52:00.000-07:00

But instead, imagine it not only stopping at the Sacramento Convention Center, but continuing down Capitol Ave. and along side Bikeramento's proposed Velobahn, down to Alhambra Blvd and on to Broadway where it could once again return to Oak Park and loop around what was once Joyland, now known as James McClatchy Park. This could be our future...

Below is an excerpt from a story line originally posted on Sacramento Press written by Michael Zwahlen. I posted a comment about the inclusion of Oak Park along the proposed trolley line, here's what Sacramento historian William Burg had to say:

The park was originally called Oak Park, and was more of a garden park when the first horse-drawn streetcars arrived. The land company that developed Oak Park also owned the streetcar line, and provided the park as an amenity similar to East Park (now McKinley Park,) the then-private park that sat on the end of their competitor's streetcar line. Joyland was built after electrification and the consolidation of the city's streetcar lines under the Sacramento Electric, Gas & Railway Company: as an electric utility, the electrically powered "Joyland" park served as a destination to drive streetcar traffic, a customer for electrical services, and a great advertisement to residents about the benefits of electricity.

To run streetcars to Oak Park today, the easiest way would be to utilize Light Rail lines from the Gold Line. One could either run a new streetcar line down 34th Street (which is wide enough to handle the traffic) to Broadway, or from 29th onto Alhambra (which is also wide enough: Alhambra Boulevard once carried freight trains, and short segments on its north and south ends were streetcar routes) to Broadway.

Running from the Blue Line would be more problematic, as once again you have to cross the WP mainline, which means a bridge. The old alignment through Curtis Park to Oak Park went down 21st to 2nd Avenue to 24th to 5th Avenue, so those are probably the only sufficiently wide streets now.

However, if one wanted to serve Southside Park and Land Park, it would be pretty easy to run a streetcar line south from Capitol through Southside and into Land Park: the old PG&E line ran down 10th Street past the cemetery and Edmonds Field (where Target is) and then down Riverside to the old public baths and William Land Park.

DOC Proposal: Eliminate Design Review - Oak Park Neighborhood Assoc.

2009-03-31T12:39:00.000-07:00

The Oak Park Neighborhood Association's next meeting (April 2, 5:30, Oak Park Community Center, 3425 MLK Jr. Blvd) will include a presentation by Brian Holloway and other DOC and City Staff discussing the proposal to eliminate the Design Review Commission.

We are inviting other Neighborhood Associations, groups and communities to attend as to get a good cross section of our community as a whole and to document the response. The idea is to bring this back to the city council, showing the public outcry for the entire Design Review process.

Our objective is that we get as much of the surrounding communities to show up as possible and to ensure that our response is not misrepresented by either city staff or DOC members when they return to council with their report.

The meeting will be on April 2 at 5:30 pm, Oak Park Community Center, 3425 MLK Jr. Blvd.

UDA's 4th Wednesday Design Dialogue - Alleys!

2009-03-23T13:38:00.000-07:00

ALLEYS IN SACRAMENTO'S FUTURE
UDA's 4th Wednesday Design Dialogue , March 25, 2009, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
AIA Conference Room: 1400 S Street (wheelchair accessible)
FREE EVENT...please come early if it's convenient, as there will be several displays to view!

Panel Presentation -- UDA has asked the two developers on the panel -- Jeremy Drucker and Aaron Zeff -- to describe what they initially saw, including where, that inspired them to come up with a comparable development concept for an alley in Sacramento. Tom Pace, the City of Sacramento's Long Range Planning Manager, will comment on alley concepts he has seen in a variety of locations; in addition, he will provide information on the "density bonus for alleys" that is included in the recently approved General Plan.

Visual Presentations -- UDA will provide a continuous slide show comprised of alley photographs from around Sacramento, California, other cities and states, and other countries. *** Developers Drucker and Zeff will display renderings of the concepts they are in various stages of proposing. *** Terry Green (Williams+Paddon) will display boards that depict a color-coding scheme for alley ID-&-safety. *** Ron Vrilakas (Vrilakas Architects) will display boards that depict alley landscaping and traffic management concepts suitable for alley-fronting retail and residences.

Dialogue -- UDA encourages attendees to arrive early in order to have time to view the displays prior to the opening presentation. Following the panel, Brian Fischer, Director of Business Development, Sales, and Marketing for Midtown Grid, will facilitate a dialogue that ensures everyone an opportunity to ask a question and/or offer a comment on the presented concepts and information.

Light Refreshments -- water and snacks (e.g., pretzels, crackers)

Questions: Deanna Marquart, UDA Vice President, marquart-policy@comcast.net, (916) 444-2042

Information about UDA: www.udasacramento.org [recently reconstructed and updated]

City's 2nd Public Hearing on Alley Naming: Thursday, April 2, 2009, starting at 6:00 p.m. Location: New City Hall, 915 I Street, 2nd Floor Mezzanine, Conference Room 2105.

A "Public Servant" Announcement from Commisioner Bartholomy

2009-03-13T09:36:00.000-07:00

I was forwarded this email from Panama Bartholomy today. Panama currently serves as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Sacramento and has done a great job keeping the community abreast of the latest developments related to the Elimination of the Design Review Commission. Below is the complete email.

The City, and potentially members of the Development Oversight Commission (DOC), are expected to present to the Preservation Roundtable on Saturday March 14 (http://tinyurl.com/bg2939) the DOC's proposal to eliminate the Design Review Commission, move the majority of planning decisions to the staff level and overhaul the membership of the planning commission so that it contains only two non-development community members.

Please come out to the event to see if the City or DOC has prepared the requested analysis that identifies what problems the DOC’s recommendations are attempting to fix, what the costs and assumed benefits of the changes will be and how the City will preserve neighborhood input in development oversight.

This presentation is not posted on the City website and there are no other identified presentations to be found on any City website before the rumored late-April City Council workshop on this issue. This may be one of your last chances to provide input into this incredibly important proposal to overhaul the City’s development oversight public input process. Please come out an let your voice be heard to call for an elegant development review process that is efficient for our developers and City staff, inclusive of our neighborhood concerns and will enable us to continue to strive to be the most livable City in America.

The meeting will be held in the New Shady Lady Saloon at the corner of 14th and R Streets, 9:00 AM, Saturday, March 14.

The meeting will include a presentation from Capitol Area Development Authority (CADA) on the latest projects & plans for the 18th & N / O Street Area and a tour of the new Shady Lady Saloon.

Please note that there is a $5 donation requested by the Preservation Roundtable to cover the costs of food and beverages.

I had the opportunity to express my concern regarding this specific issue last night at the Mayors "Open Office Hours" at the Sierra 2 Center. Mayor Johnson did his best to assure me that this initiative was based squarely on the idea of efficiency, a time and money savings to everyone involved, and not intended to remove the public from the process. He expressed that sufficient opportunities for public input would be available at the various Neighborhood Associations and Redevelopment Advisory Committee's (if one exists in your neighborhood) as well as during the Staff Level Review. These counterpoints did little to appease my concerns because this was the exact process that the proposed Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market went through, and still we arrived at an appeal to the Design Commission, which in the current proposal will be eliminated. Now I realize the neighborhood review process for the proposed market had some unique flaws, who's to say that this won't happen again. Please try to attend in my absence, unfortunately I have a previous engagement I can't reschedule and spread this email amongst your peers

...and Thank you for your public service!

Sacramento DA: 2009 Citizen's Academy

2009-03-11T14:22:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of the Sacramento Bee from March 11, 2009

From Andy Furillo

The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office is now taking applications for its ninth annual Citizens Academy, a 10-week course designed to promote a better understanding of the local criminal justice system.

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department and the Sacramento Police Department also participate in the program formed in 2002 by District Attorney Jan Scully and sponsored by her office.

Applications will be taken through March 27 for the course that begins April 14. The classes begin at 6 p.m. and run through 8:30 p.m. Sheriff John McGinness and Police Chief Rick Braziel will join Scully on the opening night of the course.

Defense attorneys and community groups also participate in the program.

To enroll, call Kelley Wilson at the DA's office at (916) 874-6722. For more information go to http://www.sacda.org/citizensacademy.

This sounds like a great opportunity for some of our Oak Park neighbors. You can download the application here and it must be returned by March 27th.

I'm Officially Obsessed With The Scraper Bike

2009-03-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

There are so many reasons why this is a great thing:

1. Inexpensive
2. Expressive
3. Non-violent
4. Mentoring
5. Promotes bikes
6. Do It Yourself
7. Local - Oakland, CA
8. Sense of belonging
9. Reuse of old bikes
10. Recycle materials

It's been rumored there's a Sacramento Scraper Bike Crew but I've never seen them? I need to contact someone for the Annual Bike Hood Hop coming back in 2009!

Scaraper Bikes - Any In Sacramento?

2009-03-10T12:04:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: Scraper Bike piece on NPR from September 13, 2008. listen here

(note: video contains a few inappropriate references and behavior)

Found this story on a twitter feed from bikehugger. As it's stated on the Scraper Bikes website, "My bike goes hard, don't need no car!"

Similarly to that of an art bike, used bike frames can be modified as little or as much as possible and the cost could range from free to hundreds of dollars. The idea behind the scraper bike is taking a small BMX frame and replacing the stock wheels with large 22 or 26 inch ones and add brightly colored spray paint. The next step involves covering the spoke with found items like gold foil, tape or even candy wrappers, giving the bike a uniquely colorful appearance meant to resemble the "spinners" on scraper car wheels. The term "scraper" was the name given to the colorful, big-rimmed, four-wheeled cousin popular in many areas of the country including Oakland where the idea originated. The pioneer, Tyrone "Big Champ" Stevenson, a nineteen-year-old native of East Oakland and self proclaimed “Scraper Bike King”, has played a major role in popularizing the movement. His bikes have sold in places as far away as Germany. Tyrone also teaches people the skills it takes to build a scraper bike from his makeshift backyard workshop. There's even an online store that sells t-shirts as well as complete scraper bikes.

According to Wiretap, Stevenson recently applied for a small business grant and is working to patent his design. He hopes to eventually open a shop where he can continue to teach bike-building skills. “If we had a center, where a lot of kids could just come, I feel deep in my heart that would really reduce a lot of the crime,” he says. Last Halloween Champ amassed some fifty bike riders to ride from East Oakland to West Oakland on their splashy vehicles. He promoted the event on radio and proclaiming it the inaugural "Scraper Bike Day" celebration.

I think Sacramento could use a little more of this mentality, ditch the car for the bike. Can you image the last Friday Critical Mass ride with dozens of Scaper Bikes!

Go hard and ditch the car!

City Council Meet-up Party: Democracy 101

2009-03-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

Come join your fellow neighbors, entrepreneurs, activist and (you fill in the blank) to see Democracy in action. The 100 Minds group, an Oak Park based Think Tank, is hosting a City Council Meet-up Party: Democracy 101 at tomorrow's Council meeting.

Participants are encouraged to wear your Bikeramento shirt, LJ Urban shirt, Sacramento Park(ing) Day shirt or whatever cause you're passionate and a laptop for live twittering, blogging or transcribing of the evenings discussion.

You'll have the opportunity to see how democracy works on a local level and the steps necessary to take action. We'd like to show the City Council that we mean business with a large turnout of local leaders. This is Crowdsourcing in action!

When: Tuesday, March 10th @ 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Where: New City Hall, 915 I St., Sacramento, CA

What to bring: Your favorite shirt and your laptop!

Agenda: Tuesday, March 10, 2009

See you there!

This Is Why I Live In Oak Park

2009-03-07T11:17:00.000-08:00

Drumline Practice

The traveling group of percussionist from LA will be performing tonight at the church just East of the 4th Avenue Lofts in Oak Park at 8:00 PM I believe. It's amazing how people follow the music and what started as a 10:00 AM practice session turned into a community concert with the likes of Tom Sumpter, Rebecca Keehner, Pastor Jones, Elder Perry and many others listing to the amazing sounds these young people were creating. As pedestrians walked past, many found themselves stopping to listen. I even saw one woman with groceries in hand get off the bus very near where they were practicing and listen for several minutes. I met a neighbor of mine named Dave from the alley, a drummer himself, as well as a couple from McGeorge Law School interested in buying a home in the neighborhood.

Forget emails, fliers and expensive marketing campaigns - get a drumline!

And as the saying goes around here, "What do you expect, it's Oak Park...The Best!"

What does infinity look like, Seriously?

2009-03-06T22:17:00.000-08:00

This classic film by Ray (Sacramento's own) & Charles Eames offers an amazing look at the power of 10

An Intro To Bikeramento's Agenda

2009-03-06T16:38:00.000-08:00

PLEASE SHARE THIS VIDEO, embed it in your blog and put it up on your twitter feed. We truly need a critical mass to accomplish big ideas like this and we have the opportunity with readily available technologies to crowdsource like minded people and groups who are up for the challenge.

You have the power to help make Sacramneto the most bikeable city in the world!

Citizen Architect (or Design Professional)

2009-03-05T15:51:00.000-08:00

More than 800 Architects are currently serving in elected and appointed positions nationwide including mayors, city council and planning commissioners. Here are a few of the latest examples of Architects getting in the game on the heels of Obama passing of the $819 billion dollar American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

The American Institute of Architects: Washington, D.C. – February 4, 2009 – As part of a commitment to increasing the number of architects running for political office or serving on appointed boards/commissions, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) passed a resolution honoring and supporting “citizen architects.” At this year’s AIA national legislative Grassroots Conference there will be a Citizen Architect panel focusing on the importance of civic engagement for the architecture profession. A recently completed AIA survey revealed that there are at least 850 architects – more than one percent of total membership – who are serving in an elected or appointed role.

Examples of the level of engagement:
• 6 mayors
• 36 environmental board members
• 48 Community Development commissioners
• 51 Building Codes Board members
• 53 city council members
• 54 zoning board members
• 84 architectural design review board members
• 92 Historic Preservation commissioners
• 158 planning commissioners

San Diego Union-Tribune: Architects Step Up To Public Service
At least 850 architects nationally are mayors, city council members, county supervisors and planning and historic preservation commissioners or hold other appointed and elected positions, according to the American Institute of Architects.
A survey of AIA chapters showed that at least 1 percent of the membership hold key positions at the local level. The Washington-based organization is developing a citizen architect directory and will hold a citizen architect exchange at its national convention in San Francisco in April.
In San Diego, Libby O'Malley, the local chapter's executive director, said her survey of more than 750 members in November indicated that about 10 percent serve on community planning committees and other local boards and commissions. The number might jump to 20 percent if the 100 normally very active emeritus members were counted.
– ROGER SHOWLEY

The New York Times: Architects Push for Space at the Table

IF, for lack of better vacation planning, a visitor to New York were to attend a community board meeting at which plans for a new project were being discussed, the visitor could not be faulted for observing that those in opposition can, on occasion, resemble an angry village mob. The boards, which have largely advisory responsibilities, are a project’s first stop in the city’s long review process. The meetings variously offer intelligent discussion, spirited debate and occasionally, in the words of Margery Perlmutter, who used to serve as co-chairwoman of the landmarks committee of Community Board 8 on the Upper East Side, a bit of “torch bearing” and “pitchfork wielding.”
“There was one I was at where the applicant was a priest who happened to be a property owner in the case, and they called him all kinds of names in public,” said Ms. Perlmutter, an architect and a land-use lawyer. “People were calling out, ‘Shame on you!’ And I thought, well, the poor guy is a priest.”

Ms. Perlmutter is also the public director of the American Institute of Architects’ New York chapter, which is encouraging its members to apply to join their local community boards before the Manhattan deadline for applications at the end of this month. On Friday the group sponsored a breakfast to answer questions from prospective applicants and help them fill out their applications. About 30 architects attended, and most said they planned to apply.

The goal is to bring more architectural expertise to the boards, which consider matters of development, land use and zoning. The profession is underrepresented, Ms. Perlmutter said, and architects who make presentations before boards often draw a chilly reception. When she joined her board’s committee, in 2001, the body had a reputation for “mistreating applicants,” as she put it.

The Manhattan borough president, Scott Stringer, who like all borough presidents appoints community board members, said occupation is an important factor in his decisions.
“We want people with diverse backgrounds but also diverse professional qualifications,” he said. “You want to encourage an architect to apply, but you also want a schoolteacher, and a parent with a kid in public school, and a lawyer with knowledge of land use and zoning, and a retiree with a little extra time on his or her hands.”

Community boards can only benefit from additional expertise, added Simeon Bankoff, executive director of the Historic Districts Council, a preservation group. Still, he pointed out, certain developers tend to work with certain architects. “And,” he said, “some of the more egregious new developments in the city over the last real estate cycle have been due to architects’ particular readings of the zoning regulations.”

In the opinion of Sherida Paulsen, president of the local A.I.A. chapter and a former landmarks preservation commissioner, the fact that the Obama administration has articulated a desire to focus on infrastructure makes this is an opportune time for architects to get involved in local issues. And she sees another incentive.

“With the economic downturn, architects will have some time,” she said. “People won’t be spending 24 hours a day in their offices.”

So Mr. Architect, what are you doing for Sacramento?

The Power of Twitter & Social Media

2009-03-05T11:31:00.000-08:00

Found this video over on Cool Town Studios:

A lot of people like to poke fun of the Twitter craze, including The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and the proliferation of all forms of social media but it's hard to deny results like this example. A mentor of mine once said, "survival is not mandatory". But if there is one thing I know well, change is constant.

Tweet me at OakParkNow!

Sacramento's Ranks 21st in Energy Star Buildings

2009-03-04T10:25:00.000-08:00

According to the latest edition of the Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento ranks 21st in the country behind cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Huston for number of energy efficient buildings achieving the EPA "Energy Star" rating. Sacramento has 45 Energy Star rated buildings while Los Angeles has a whopping 262. According to the article, these buildings typically use 35% less energy than average buildings and produce 35% less greenhouse gases.

Looks like Sacramento still has a ways to go to crack the top 10.

If You're A Pedal Pushers...

2009-03-04T09:47:00.000-08:00

I was on the Citizen Hotel's Twitter page this morning and found this great little quiz created by Southwest Airlines Spirit Magazine, kind of a "choose your own adventure" sort of thing. My answers to the quiz led me to discovering that I was a true "Pedal Pusher". The following is an excerpt from the article:

Pedal Pusher
Though trails.com once named the American River Parkway (msa2.saccounty.net) the country’s best biking trail, the best thing about the 32-mile route is the stops. Only Lance Armstrong wannabes would disagree. Here’s where to catch your breath:

Mile 0: First, you need a bike. You can rent a road or mountain bike from City Bicycle Works (citybicycleworks.com) for $20 a day. Ask a staffer to give you directions to the nearest trail access point, only about a half-mile away from the shop.

Mile 3: Forage for walnuts from the grove of trees lining the path. Keep your eyes on the trail, though; I had to swerve to miss a rafter of wild turkeys.

Mile 13: Feeling hungry? Take a left out of William B. Pond Park toward the suburb of Carmichael to Bella Bru Café (bellabrucafe.com). Bikes outnumber cars in the parking lot. “It’s packed in the mornings with bikers,” waitress Chelsea Inderbitzin says. “They usually just order a lot of coffee, but that’s fine.”

Mile 23: Spot Sacramento State co-eds sunning themselves on the shore near the Nimbus Fish Hatchery in the late spring and summer, or watch salmon do their spawning in the fall.

Mile 32: Take a triumphant picture at the Folsom Dam turnaround. Pedal back to the bike shop, then make a final coffee stop at the Naked Lounge (thenakedlounge.com), where the name is not to be taken literally.

Trailside Attractions
Go behind bars at Folsom State Prison, located about three miles from the trail. Johnny Cash made the correctional facility famous in “Folsom Prison Blues.” cdcr.ca.gov
Avoid taxi fees by getting around town on a Bikes and Bites cruiser bike. bikesandbites.com

Drive 12 miles west to see true bike culture in Davis. The small town boasts Davis Wheelworks and five other bike shops. daviswheelworks.com

SAC-TOWN STATS
1) Capital Idea: Sacramento did not become the state capital until 1854—following Monterey, San Jose, and, briefly, Benicia.
2) Arbor Play: The tree-filled city collects 90,000 tons of leaves each fall.
3) Flower Power: Sacramento earned the moniker “Camellia City of the World” in the 1920s.
4) Superhighway: Highway 50 starts here and goes across the entire country. One sign reads, “Ocean City, Md., 3,073 miles.”

Sam McManis savors locally grown tomatoes and works as a staff writer at The Sacramento Bee.

Give it a try and see what adventures awaits you in Sacramento!

Lots to think about...

2009-03-02T13:46:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest video from Death Cab For Cutie, Grapevine Fires

A remarkable video, what does is say to you?

LJ Urban reaches 600!

2009-03-01T12:14:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest post over on the LJ Urban website. Levi and the gang have been through a lot of ups and downs over the past few years and have been willing to share their thoughts and feelings with us all along the way.

The LJ Urban blog was the main reason I created the OakParkNow blog. I saw the difference they were making and wanted to do a little more for the neighborhood and the community of individuals I surround myself with. The loss of Jason Presley last year, one of the co- creators of LJ Urban, was a huge blow to us in the eco-urban community. Jason left a legacy of social responsibility and implored us to do the same.

He is still greatly missed but those of us in the community are doing are best to live up to his expectation of what a great city and can be if we all contribute. Congratulations to LJ Urban and your 600th post.

I'll be checking in tomorrow for #601!

Loves it!

2009-02-27T19:04:00.001-08:00

The Bikeramento Gang - Tour of California 2009

Pick it, nobody's looking

2009-02-26T11:35:00.000-08:00

(click on image for larger view)

Biking the Grid?

2009-02-24T13:12:00.001-08:00

Check out this beautiful urban cycling video/advertisement I found over on the GOOD blog. Makes me want to get out and ride right now! Great song too.

It's Your Ride from Cinecycle on Vimeo.

Go Fast!

So how many Neighborhood Associations are there?

2009-02-23T21:22:00.000-08:00

New Oak Park Community Center

On the heels of the TOC - May is Bike Month!

2009-02-23T10:32:00.000-08:00

Mark your calenders and start making plans to join the greater Sacramento bicycling community for May is Bike Month. The aim is to advocate for bike friendly cities and to reach at least 1 million miles pledged and ridden in the month of May. We surpassed that mark last year with 1,242,215 miles ridden and want to build upon the successful event. Bikeramento will also be participating in this years events.

How's this for a measure of success:

Air Quality Impact

The number of commute and errand miles ridden last May saved 366,551 pounds of global-warming CO2 and 5,092 pounds of other air pollution from our atmosphere. The cyclists also saved 18,854 gallons of gasoline (worth about $65,047). Source: SMAQMD

Now those are results!

Amgen TOC at the Hot Italian

2009-02-21T13:06:00.000-08:00

I just received the following email from SacBikes.com online Bicycling Community:

Watch the Amgen Tour of California on the wall TV at HOT ITALIAN on Sat. From 2-5 PM. 16th and Q St. in midtown. Great bike friendly access and parking. See ya there!

So if you're looking for a place to watch today's Stage 7 from Santa Claritia to Pasadena, join other cyclist over at the Hot Italian.

Yes We Act!

2009-02-19T13:01:00.000-08:00

Please stop by and join the movement this Sunday, honoring those who have continuously served the people of Sacramento and sparking other to do the same. Sponsored by St. Hope Hood Corps, this is an open forum with prominent community members that will dialogue about the importance of service and the effect of OBAMA’s presidency on national service.

If you are part of an organization or nonprofit, please bring your groups information including pamphlet/flyers/etc. to hand out as there will be a table where people can stop by and sign-up to get involved.

It is this Sunday from 2-4pm at the historic Guild Theater in the 40 Acres Complex on 35th and Broadway. Get the word out!

Mark your calendar - Community Clean-up

2009-02-19T12:46:00.000-08:00

South Oak Park and Fruitridge Pocket Community Clean-up Day

A joint Community Clean-Up Day is happening on Saturday, March 21, 2009 from 8 am to 12 noon. This collaborative clean-up event is being organized jointly between the City of Sacramento and the County of Sacramento. Volunteer opportunities are available for a variety of tasks that will support this one day project.

This project is a great opportunity for residents, volunteers and others to pitch in and help each other clean up properties, neighborhoods and the community. Lets work together to make a change! All registered volunteers will receive a complementary t-shirt & lunch. Volunteers under age 18 must bring the City of Sacramento Short-Term Volunteer Information and Agreement (download at www.sacvolunteers.org or send request) signed by a parent/guardian and must be accompanied by a registered adult supervisor/volunteer.

Project Leaders (groups welcome) also needed. For additional information or to sign up to help, contact: Kris Wimberly at 808-6172 or kwimberly@cityofsacramento.org.

The Bee got it wrong

2009-02-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

McClatchy Park Masterplan

The timeline and accuracy of yesterday's story in the Sacramento Bee was thankfully incorrect, the following email was forwarded to me by a member of the community from Matt Hertel, Associate Redevelopment Planner with SHRA:

There were never any plans to “fence” McClatchy Park. Once the Park Safety Implementation Plan was completed last year, there were two tiers of improvements recommended, the first of which included minor improvements to the parking area to increase safety. One of the safety improvements was to put a gate at the entry of the parking lot to be used after park hours to discourage folks from partaking in undesirable behavior in the parking lot after hours.

The second recommended Tier of improvements was a Master Plan. The first tier was immediate improvements and the second tier was long-term improvements to be implemented once funding was identified. Due to the fact that SHRA was able to fund the Master Plan, the Tier II recommendation (Master Plan) was expedited. Now that there is a Master Plan that outlines all of the improvements and will correct the safety issues, there is no longer a need for Tier I Improvements (parking lot upgrades) and the money ($85,757) that was reserved for Tier II Improvements has been allocated toward the money Parks and Recreation is allocating to Phase 1 of the Master Plan.

Hooray, no fencing planned for McClatchy Park!!!

...and a word to the wise, you can't believe everything you read.

McClatchy Park - Fencing in Oak Park, but not that kind of fencing...

2009-02-17T17:12:00.000-08:00

In today's Sacramento Bee, an alarming article discusses the possiblity of adding fences and automatic gates at a cost of $86,000 to address the illegal drug use plaguing the neighborhood park. McClatchy Park is one of 38 parks determined by the city to have immediate safety concerns.

Are these measures concerning to anyone else? Can you imagine a "PUBLIC" park that is entirely fenced off from the surrounding neighborhood?

This sounds like a horrible idea and not what we in the community have been fighting for over the last year. If the city is wants to even further lower the number of park visitors to McClatchy Park, they are doing the right thing. But if their hope is to attract new visitors, they're definitely going at this the wrong way.

One of my neighbors even jokingly suggested that if fences are eventually erected around the perimeter of the park, the city should go ahead and put up a few watch towers with gunman as well. A joke at comparing the proposed park safety measures to that of a prison yard.

What an Amazing Race

2009-02-15T09:57:00.000-08:00

The Amgen Tour of California Prologue far exceeded my expectation and the City of Sacramento was an amazing host for the opening day. I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with my good friends at Bikeramento near Buckhorn Grill on the corner of 18th & L.

Winner: Fabian Cancellara - Saxo Bank, 4:32:00

Second Place: Levi Leipheimer - Astana Cycling, 4:34:00

Third Place: David Zabriskie - Garmin-Slipstream, 4:35:00

Ninth Place (4 way tie): Lance Armstrong - Astana Cycling, 4:37:00

Thank You to the "Oak Park Effect"

2009-02-13T14:05:00.000-08:00

A Big Thank You goes out to my neighbors in Oak Park, as many of you showed up to last night's City Planning Commission meeting and expressed your concerns regarding the elimination, or "stream lining" if you will, of the Design Review Commission proposed by the Development Oversight Commission (DOC). By yesterday's turnout of community leaders from each of the various Sacramento neighborhoods, the issue seemed to have struck a nerve with many others communities as well.

Keep up the amazing work, the "Oak Park Effect" as I'm calling it, will have a positive and lasting effect on our historic neighborhood.

I'll be attempting to post a link to the hearing as soon as it's available.

Eliminate Design Review - NO!

2009-02-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

The following emails were sent out yesterday morning from Owen Howlett, President of the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA) and Panama Bartholomy, neighborhood activist and Planning Commission Board Member:

Howlett - This issue was brought to my attention and it relates directly to your organizations. On Thursday the Sacramento Planning Commission will have a public hearing on a proposal by the Development Oversight Commission (DOC), a City-appointed group of development interests, to eliminate the City's Design Review Commission and change the development approval process in the City so that City staff will make most planning and design decisions administratively, leaving no opportunity for public input.There has been no vetting of this with Community groups. There will be an opportunity to testify against this change at Thursday's meeting. Please review the attached and consider whether you want to encourage your groups to oppose this change.

Bartholomy - The reasons you and members of your association should come to the hearing at City Hall on Thursday February 12th at 5:30pm to testify against this proposal:

1. This attempt to reduce citizen and citizen-commission input and oversight of development in our community has undergone no public vetting from community groups that will be affected by such a fundamental shift in our City's development.

The proposal was developed and sent directly to the Mayor with no input from the Planning or Design Review Commissions. More importantly, the proposed ordinance was not brought to any neighborhood association or other community-based organization that normally comments on development in their communities.

This is not the kind of transparency and open government practices that should be an essential part of such a fundamental change in our community's development approval process.

2. The proposal will greatly reduce opportunities for Community input

The proposal will eliminate the City's Design Review Commission and fold its responsibilities into the Planning Commission and shift “…the majority of decisions to the staff level..”. The movement of “…the majority of decisions to staff level…” will likely reduce community involvement from the development review process. Communities have a right to be able to comment on projects that will be built in their neighborhood.

Even after moving most decisions to the staff level, by eliminating the Design Review Commission the public loses one of the two opportunities they have left to comment on development projects proposed in their neighborhood. The recommendation would squeeze all public input on a project into one meeting where every issue with design or planning will have to be settled. This will almost certainly create the types of extremely long meetings that discourage public involvement and will force complex decisions that have long-term impacts on communities into unreasonably short decision-making time frames.

Reducing opportunities for citizens to be involved in projects in their neighborhoods decreases transparency, will cause more projects to be appealed to the City Council and will increase the likelihood of lawsuits to block projects. This will decrease the effectiveness of the development review process.

Please come to the Planning Commission hearing and comment on this item and let the City know that you think the public should have a role in development decisions in our City. Please distribute this email to other residents who would come to testify in support of preserving the role of the citizen in our city's development.

This important omission to the process could have serious implications on the built environment within Oak Park and through the city. With out the Design Review process, we'll potentially have a more difficult time influencing good design in our neighborhood, as was the case with the Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market chain proposed for Oak Park last year. While Fresh & Easy was a very lengthy process, it was well worth the efforts and will ultimately yield a better project for the community, once the economy improves as it will.

As a professional in the field of Architecture and serving on the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architects - Central Valley Chapter (AIACV), my decision to oppose the proposed elimination of the Design Review Commission will likely not be popular with my colleagues. However, I feel it's my obligation as a leader in the community to "do the right thing". I can't help but feel that this will be a detriment to the design process and will have a lasting effect on the look and feel of the city, taking us in the wrong direction and away from community involvement.

The are several arguments being made by the Development Oversight Commission (DOC) to further streamline the process. In my personal opinion, the process has already been abbreviated to the point that the community has little opportunity to responded as it is. There is a good reason that design takes time, It has a lasting presence and we, as neighbors, are forced to live with the results of the process every day!

The previous emails have made their way around to many of the City's community leaders urging them to attend tonight's meeting and express their concerns about the proposed elimination. If you believe in this process, please do your part and try to attend this important TONIGHT, February 12, 2009 @ 5:30PM - New City Hall (915 I. Street). It will likely have a lasting impact on the city and our voices need to be heard.

Click on link for tonight's meeting agenda (Item #3)

Academic Excellence + Social Responsibility = Imani Fencing

2009-02-07T15:40:00.000-08:00

The Imani Fencing Foundation is hosting a fencing tournament at the Oak Park Community Center today, Saturday-February 7th. Stop by and check out the future Olympians!

Location

3415 MLK, Jr. Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Class Schedule

Monday and Thursday 4-6pm

Friday 7-8:30pm

Saturday 9-11am

As posted on Midtowngrid.com the organizations founder, David Williams, describes the purpose of the Foundation.

The Imani Fencing Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to creating a healthy community, support and promotes education, and teaching the art of fencing at the highest level for both the competitive and recreational fencer. The Olympic fencing component of the Imani Foundation is currently held at the Old Park Community Center.

Inspired by the story of the Peter Westbrook Foundation and their success with developing National Champions, Olympic fencers and college graduates from inner city New York, the Imani Fencers Foundation was formed. Our goal is to provide a number of programs aimed at developing community oriented self-conscious individuals.

We look forward to working with you and your family by providing the best fencing opportunity for both recreational and competitive fencing. Our staff is eager to get you started on a path that can lead to good wholesome fun, exercise, and fulfillment of Olympic dreams and a college education.

Sweeping Change in Oak Park

2009-02-06T13:26:00.000-08:00

Come out on every 2nd Saturday in 2009 for the Oak Park Cleanup and join your neighbors, business leaders and our youth in helping to make Oak Park a beautiful place to live, work and play!

Feb. 14 - Food Bank Parking Lot
@ 3rd Avenue and 34th Street off Broadway
Historic Business District

Mar. 14 - Jack in the Box Parking Lot
@ Stockton and Broadway
Stockton Blvd

April 11 - Sac High Parking Lot
34th Street and Y Street
(breakfast and lunch served)
Sac High & Christian Brothers

May 9 - McClatchy Park
5th Ave and 35th Street
Celebrate Oak Park Festival

June 13 - The Guild Theatre
Off Broadway at 35th Street
Next to Starbucks/Underground Bookstore
Sweeping Change Day

Contact Info:
Mo Elmi – melmi@sthope.org or grain_elmi@yahoo.com 916-275-9635
Brian Fischer brian@midtowngrid.com or 100minds@gmail.com 916-996-8655

Property For Sale & A Little "Goodwill"

2009-02-05T12:38:00.000-08:00

"Goodwill" Site Proposal

Two of Oak Park's most recognized historic commercial properties are up for sale including Primo's Swiss Club at 3402 Broadway($550,000) and Esther's Bakery at 3408 3rd Avenue ($150,000)

According to today's Sacramento Bee, the Mayor is unloading as many as 10 Oak Park properties including two commercial buildings. The reason, as the newly elected Mayor of Sacramento, Johnson is no longer eligible to receive subsidies from the city. This is good news for the residents of Oak Park as potential investors within the neighborhood now have the opportunity to purchase some "prime" real estate along the Broadway commercial corridor, not previously made available. If you remember late last year, an additional 1.6 acre vacant lot at the corner of 34th & Broadway was also sold by KJ's Kynship Development Company to the Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market chain for $1.1 million.

The two commercial properties for sale are with in one of the city's Redevelopment Areas which SHRA oversees. Being in a redevelopment area means city subsidies could become available in the future, enticing developers to the neighborhood like Johnson once was. Two other very popular projects in close proximity that were both developed using redevelopment funds are in fact Johnson's 40 Acres mixed-use project as well as Ron Vrilakas' 4th Avenue Lofts.

In addition to this latest news, the Oak Park Redevelopment Advisory Committee (RAC) has an informational item on its Wednesday, February 11th agenda regarding the "Goodwill" site on the corner of Broadway and 2nd Avenue, directly across the street from one of Johnson's listings. Sacramento Architect-turned-Developer, Ron Vrilakas, will be personally presenting his latest ideas to the community which will undoubtedly bring some much needed life to the empty corner. In previous proposals for the site, the multi-storied, mixed-use project will have retail space and live-work units on the ground floor as well as offices and apartments on the upper floors. Based on renderings obtained from a presentation Vrilakas made in July last year, the corner will be dramatically transformed welcoming visitors to the historic neighborhood. The Oak Park RAC meeting begins at 6:30 in the Oak Park Community Center on MLK Jr. Blvd.

Stay tuned for more information.

Bikeramento Week & the "Velobahn"

2009-02-04T10:46:00.000-08:00

Imagine a city full of bikes; community rides, workshops, bicycle fundraisers, food specials and racing. Now imagine Sacramento as that city! This is just what Midtowngrid.com founder Brian Fischer and his group plans to do. Beginning Monday, February 9th and continuing through Saturday, February 14th ending the week in a grand fashion: The Amgen Tour of California opening stage - The Prologue!

As stated on the groups website, Bikeramento's mission is to propel Sacramento into the most bikeable city and region in the world including the introduction of the Sacramento Velobahn, a Central City Bikeway and potential greenbelt that could lead to a dynamic Sacramento Central Park that cuts through the heart of Downtown and Midtown and ultimately connects cyclists and pedestrians from river to river, Old Sacramento to East Sacramento and Sac State. Very simply, it is the Midtown-Downtown street bridge to the American River Bike Trail, the urban bikeway. The goal is to facilitate bicycle commuters, casual biking, and bicycle tourism by minimizing confrontation between cyclists and cars.

And this is what it might feel like, courtesy of Street Films:

Bikeramento event schedule:

Monday, February 9th - Bike Safety Night at The Bicycle Kitchen in Midtown - 7-8:30 pm. Taught by Chris and Ed. This class will teach basic safety when riding and is sure to help those who feel less than confident riding through town. Class Free

Tuesday, February 10th – Bicycle Crawl – meet @ Temple Coffee - 1014 10th St. – 5:30 pm. We will start the crawl promptly at 6:00 pm and will visit different bars in downtown and midtown. Stay with us for the duration of the crawl and participate in raffle and prizes

Wednesday, February 11th - Bike Mob – Stay tuned up for details

Thursday, February 12th - Bike Tune Up Day - details to follow

Friday, February 13th - “1000 Spokes of Light” Bike Ride and Fundraising to benefit needy youth in our area. Followed by the “1000 Spokes of Light” Festival at 2321 P st. alley (behind CapSity Offices).

Saturday, February 14th – Valentine’s Day and the Amgen Tour of California Prologue

So finish up on your "fixie" build, get out and ride. If you need a little inspiration, check out Velospace for more than 10,000 bike pics. See you on the road!

A Call to Action

2009-02-03T15:20:00.000-08:00

Spend "First Thursdays" with the Oak Park Neighborhood Association and help to shape the neighborhood. Tomorrow night's meeting is especially important as we'll be electing a new OPNA board, maybe even you! As always, this meeting will be preceded by "Cops and Coffee" starting at 5:30pm, a monthly meeting coinciding with OPNA where community members and local law enforcement, POP (Problem-Oriented Police) officers, can discuss specific neighborhood issues one-on-one.

What: Cops and Coffee / Oak Park Neighborhood Association

When: First Thursday's, February 5 at 5:30 - 8:00pm

Where: Oak Park Community Center, 3425 MLK Jr. Blvd

Good Neighborhoods = A Great City!

2009-01-29T14:28:00.000-08:00

The Neighborhood Summit 2009

The purpose of the City of Sacramento Neighborhood Summit 2009 is to promote communication and partnership between city staff, residents, neighborhood associations and business owners to help maintain, revitalize, and promote healthy communities.

Date: Friday, March 6, 2009

Time: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Place: Sacramento Convention Center, 1400 J Street, Grand Ballroom

Cost: FREE

There will be a limited number of spots available for each of the eight city council districts.

Please Note: City of Sacramento neighborhood associations and business group representatives will be given priority consideration. Applicants who do not live or own a business within the City of Sacramento are not eligible.

Workshop Schedule and Descriptions

You will be allowed to attending three (3) workshop sessions in addition to the resource and health fair.

Workshop Schedule:

09:50 am - 11:00 am Session A

11:10 am - 12:20 pm Session B

01:10 pm - 02:20 pm Session C

02:40 pm - 03:50 pm Session D

Listed below are the Summit Workshop descriptions. Please review the list then make your selections.

1. Outreach and recruitment strategies: How do you reach and attract others to your neighborhood group and neighborhood concerns? We’ll discuss ways to “get them in the door and keep them coming back.”

2. Working with the media: How do the media work and how can your group effectively respond to their inquiries? Find out from those who are familiar with Sacramento’s diverse media.

3. Twelve ways to improve your neighborhood: Not sure where to start? Come hear twelve ways that you can make a difference.

4. Developing strong leadership skills: How do you bring people together? Learn about building relationships, motivating others, and managing conflict.

5. Emergency preparedness: Are you prepared for an emergency? Learn how to plan for your family and how to partner with your neighbors to ensure your emergency-preparedness.

6. Strategies for effective organizations: What’s the secret to an active, engaged group? And how do they stay that way? Learn how to work with others to improve your neighborhood.

7. Community Burnout: Keep the fires burning! Find out how other groups remain active and open to new ideas and energy. We’ll discuss how to share workloads, use volunteers, and remain fresh.

8. Building effective partnerships: Many hands make light work. Increase your group’s effectiveness by learning how to collaborate with the City, businesses, schools, nonprofits, and others.

9. Foreclosures: How to fight the blight in your neighborhood: Vacant houses, foreclosure signs, unkempt property: do you see this in your neighborhood? Learn how to partner with the City, banks, property owners, real estate agents, and your neighbors to address these issues.

10. Fundraising: From bake sales to nonprofit status: what’s right for your group? Find out how other groups have successfully raised funds and what might work best for your group.

11. Involving youth: 37 percent of Sacramento’s population is under 24. Does your group reflect this? If not, learn how to improve your youth-friendliness by inviting young people’s participation. Many of their concerns are not so different from your own!

So go online and completing the Neighborhood Summit 2009 registration form! If you have any additional comments or questions, please contact the Neighborhood Services Department at 808-6789.

The Neighborhood Summit 2009

The AIA Central Valley and one "Hot Italian"

2009-01-26T17:52:00.000-08:00

2009 AIACV Board Installation and Member Appreciation Night

Come out and spend an evening with me and a HOT ITALIAN, the pizza & panini bar soon to be the first LEED Certified restaurant in the city. We will be formally installing the Chapter’s 2009 Board of Directors and thank our sponsors and members who keep our chapter active and vibrant. Afterwards, learn more about the project from creator Andrea Lepore, project architect Ed Mojica, AIA of MAS Mojica Architecture Studio, general contractor John Johnson of JC Builders, and LEED AP Scott Blunk of Green Built Construction.

Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Time: 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Location: HOT ITALIAN, 16th & Q, Sacramento, CA
Cost: $20 AIA Members / $15 Associates and Students $15 / $35 Non-Members

Includes appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages. Wine and Beer are available / no-host.

Please consider taking Light Rail. Light Rail Arrives on Q & 16th. For more information visit www.sacrt.com

CES LU’s: AIA Members will receive 2.5 HSW credits for attending.

Grassroots Movement, MC Yogi & Starbucks

2009-01-23T10:39:00.000-08:00

If you recall my post a few days ago about President Barack Obama and the MC Yogi connection and how a brighter day has finally come, well Starbucks has tapped MC Yogi to be part of their Pledge5 campaign. He's created a new song and accompanying video, a call to action directed at all of us...and Starbucks wants to reward you with a cup of joe for your efforts.

Starbucks poses the question:
What if you gave 5 hours to help your community?
What if we all did?
Your small commitment could add up to something big.

You in?