Sacramento Restaurants, Nightlife and Entertainment

[TowerDistrict]

Tires to trendy - $6 million metamorphosis
By Bob Shallit - Bee Columnist
Published 12:00 am PDT Saturday, August 4, 2007



After three years of planning, owners of downtown's Firestone Building are set to begin a $6 million conversion of the iconic structure into an entertainment complex. Tenants will be the area's first Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, California Pizza Kitchen, DeVere's Irish Pub and, upstairs, a lounge operated by the owners of Mason's Restaurant.

"I really think this notches up the quality of design downtown and takes us a step closer to being a 24-hour city," says Ken Fahn, whose Metro Properties is teaming up with Mark Cordano and the Wurster family on the project, located at the prominent intersection of 16th and L streets. The partners asked project designer Vrilakas Architects to preserve the historic Art Deco look of the building, which was occupied by a Firestone tire sales operation from 1929 until 2004.

Some of the building's distinctive terra cotta columns will remain, along with the ornamental Gladding McBean clay tiles that run along the exterior. The existing covered parking area, where the tire company's customers drove in, will be enclosed by glass.

That prime 5,800-square-foot corner site will be occupied by the gourmet pizza chain. Fleming's will take 6,700 feet on the building's 16th Street side. And DeVere's pub, which will be operated by UCD Cancer Center Director Ralph deVere White and his sons, will move into 3,700 feet on the L street side. Mason Wong says his family's 7,400-foot space upstairs will be a place "to go for great wine, a martini and small plates," along with live music.

The Fahn-Cordano-Wurster team started working on the project three years ago. Removal of asbestos and underground tanks caused delays. They also had some false starts in determining the building's best use, at one point trying to include apartments or condos. But, Cordano says, "city money for that just wasn't available."

Now the project -- to be called "The Firestone" -- is going forward as a pure entertainment destination with no city subsidies, the developers say. Plans are to begin construction this fall with a grand opening by early 2009.

[DesertJester]

Looks like its gonna be a nice place, cant wait for it. I lived in mid-town for a few years, glad to see its starting to head in the right direction.

[wburg]

Midtown has always been in the right direction, most people just didn't think to look that way until recently.

[LandofFrost]

Hmm, seems like a lot of wasted space to not add more above the firestone building, but I guess the corner across the street is just some surface parking so I can’t complain too much…..still some more housing couldn’t hurt.

[innov8]

This Friday is the last Friday Night Concertin the Park at Cesar Chavez Plaza.

The Eighth Annual Sacramento International Film and Music Festival starts today.

Location
Crest Theatre
1013 K St.
Sacramento
600-7029
sacfilm.com
Aug 8– 12

Cost
Tickets $10, $50 passes

[sugit]

Convention Center manager is a natural for entertainment biz
Sacramento Business Journal - August 10, 2007


A little more than two years ago, Judy Goldbar was formally named general manager of the Sacramento Convention Center after seven months of being the interim manager. That was the good news.

Among the responsibilities she assumed was finding a way to fund an estimated $75 million worth of improvements to the Community Center Theater. That was the not-so-good news.

"We have put together a plan to finance the work that's needed to renovate the Community Center Theater," she said. "It will be for roughly half of the $75 million needed for a full-scale renovation.

"I don't want to provide details now because we're in the process of showing it to the mayor and to individual City Council members, and it would be disrespectful for a member to read it in the paper before we have explained it personally."Goldbar expects to make a formal presentation to the council on Aug. 28.

The fundraising challenge and a few others notwithstanding, she said, she loves her job.

"The Convention Center, Community Center Theater and Memorial Auditorium are absolute jewels," Goldbar said, "and Sacramento is very fortunate to have them. They're all doing well financially, and attendance is gradually rising and very stable."

What can you say about the renovation plan for the theater?

One of the things we want very much to do is provide better seating, including in the front third of the orchestra, for the disabled, people in wheelchairs. Right now wheelchairs are limited to the back of the orchestra area and to the upper levels.

The appearance of the theater from L Street will definitely be enlivened and be more attractive. There will be improved landscaping and other features.

The loading dock was originally designed to accommodate two trucks, but usually only one at a time can unload there. That's obviously a problem when we have a show like "The Lion King" that requires 20 trucks to transport its scenery. Our plan will allow two trucks at a time to use the old loading dock and two trucks to use another dock nearby.

How does the Convention Center keep up with the shows and conventions that are available?

Bryan Chatterton, the theater/auditorium manager, is constantly on the lookout for shows. There are conventions, workshops, trade shows and performing arts seminars that he goes to, so we know what shows and artists are available.

Our 2008 schedule is pretty well filled, and we're booked through 2009 on the big stage productions and fine arts performances. The concerts by currently popular performers and groups are not usually booked until six to nine weeks ahead. We're working out as far as 2015 for conventions.

Has the Mondavi Center at the University of California Davis hurt business at the Community Center Theater?

Mondavi has not hurt at all. It was never designed to take business from Sacramento. It was built as a performing arts venue and doesn't really do well as a Broadway house, with big productions such as "The Phantom of the Opera," "The Lion King," opera, those sorts of shows. Our theater was designed to accommodate a diversity of productions and performances.

The existence of our theater and Mondavi combine to increase the opportunities for people in the area to enjoy quality performances.

What path did you take to get where you are?

When I was at McClatchy High School, I wanted to go to medical school. I took all the college prep courses. I was working during the summers as a lifeguard, and that's where I met the man who became my husband. I went to (Sacramento) City College for a semester, and we got married, and everything got put off until later on, when my children were older.

I had gone to American River (College) to pick up some classes I needed to enroll at Sacramento State, and I got a job as a waitress part time. Through that job I met Ron Dorman, who had a catering company, and I went to work for him full time and eventually became a manager. We did a lot of work for the Convention Center, so I got to know the people here.

By that time my husband and I had divorced and I was raising my daughters, but the catering hours were crazy and time-consuming, so I was looking for something with regular hours, and I applied at the Convention Center for a part-time coordinator's job and got it. That would have been about 1982.

Two years later, I was hired full time and just worked my way up until in December 2004, I was named interim general manager, and the following June I became the general manager.

I'm only the third general manager, and the first woman.

[otnemarcaS]

Originally Posted by innov8

This Friday is the last Friday Night Concertin the Park at Cesar Chavez Plaza.

What I don't get is that Sacramento still has nice summer like weather until at least October. Why end this event on August 10th? Last year, I think, was supposed to end last Friday in July until they added two additional dates. Does ending in early August have to do with conflicting with the State Fair? Back to school? Sponsorship? Money?

Also with the success and crowds for Second Saturdays, why not make it 2nd and 4th Saturdays, at least during the summer months? I believe this event is 12 months a year. Having lived here long enough, it's just amazing to see how this thing has evolved and the size of the crowds it continues to generate every second saturday monthly.

[snfenoc]

Originally Posted by otnemarcaS

What I don't get is that Sacramento still has nice summer like weather until at least October. Why end this event on August 10th? Last year, I think, was supposed to end last Friday in July until they added two additional dates. Does ending in early August have to do with conflicting with the State Fair? Back to school? Sponsorship? Money?

Also with the success and crowds for Second Saturdays, why not make it 2nd and 4th Saturdays, at least during the summer months? I believe this event is 12 months a year. Having lived here long enough, it's just amazing to see how this thing has evolved and the size of the crowds it continues to generate every second saturday monthly.

Well, if there is one thing I know, it's that you CAN have too much of a good thing, especially in Sacramento. Believe me, you don't want to over do it.


Sincerely,
John Saca

[wburg]

Originally Posted by otnemarcaS

What I don't get is that Sacramento still has nice summer like weather until at least October. Why end this event on August 10th? Last year, I think, was supposed to end last Friday in July until they added two additional dates. Does ending in early August have to do with conflicting with the State Fair? Back to school? Sponsorship? Money?

Also with the success and crowds for Second Saturdays, why not make it 2nd and 4th Saturdays, at least during the summer months? I believe this event is 12 months a year. Having lived here long enough, it's just amazing to see how this thing has evolved and the size of the crowds it continues to generate every second saturday monthly.

Second Saturday is almost redundant now--it might as well be every week. Day to day street life is better in the long run than staged events--it means you can go downtown just about anytime and see somethng cool going on.

[econgrad]

Originally Posted by wburg

Second Saturday is almost redundant now--it might as well be every week. Day to day street life is better in the long run than staged events--it means you can go downtown just about anytime and see somethng cool going on.

I AGREE WITH WBURG!!!!!!!!!


It would also improve it I think, more variety in events and showings because people would get sick of the same thing every weekend...

[otnemarcaS]

In-n-Out Burgers. Got to say they are one of the better hamburger chains in town. It's interesting that there is only one In-n-out burger restaurant in the city limits of Sacramento at Truxel road in North Natomas. I know there are others in Davis, Rancho Cordova, Elk Grove and Roseville.

Well, they've started site work for construction of a second In-n-out restaurant in the city of Sacramento and it's located ......... 5 mins away from the other In-n-out store in North Natomas. This one is now on Del Paso road. I would have thought they'd put a second store around Arden Way or even midtown before another Natomas location with the abundance of restaurants in Natomas. Although I must say that that restaurant on Truxel is consistently packed and busy. But then again Panera Bread also has two Natomas restaurants in locations similar to In-n-out.

[reggiesquared]

I live right by the one they are building now. I gotta say though, as far as the valley is concerned and even parts of the bay area (along 680 and 101) most in n outs are right along major interstates or freeways. Anyone have urban in n out links? i know theres one in westwood...

Upside: Best burgers.

Downside: that area of del paso is drunk heaven on late nights after the bars. I cant imagine what its going to be like now. Lines for Jack in the box now are about 30 minutes on friday and saturday nights.

[wburg]

It's not like you can't get some of the best burgers on the planet in the central city now. I just instinctively recoil from chain anything in the central city.

[TowerDistrict]

I'll bet Suzie Burger is gonna be cool. Even though it's a different product, SRO's renovation of the Riverside Clubhouse wows me everytime i go. They do good work, and that building has a lot of character to work with.

[wburg]

well, yeah, I have high hopes for Suzie Burger. They even found one of the original Suzie Burger chefs to ensure that they got the recipe right. I'm pretty sure that Suzie Burger will also have a lower price-point than most of the "high-end, upscale" stuff that is opening lately! There are crews out there working now, they replaced the back fence (although the replacement is just cheap dog-ear, hopefully they'll at least paint it) and it looks like they're getting ready to clean stuff up for the rehab and renovation of the site.

[TowerDistrict]

I think at this point, they should consider working that little, white junker car into the design. It feels a part of the site after all this time.

[arod74]

Yeah all things point to Suzie burger definitely being a huge success. I don't think we should be getting our hopes up about enjoying some grub there this fall like all the information mentions though. It doesn't look like much has happend on-site except a fence and port-o-pottie going up. Looks to me like a more realistic target opening date might be around Christmas unless they haul ass with a good construction crew.

[otnemarcaS]

Originally Posted by reggiesquared

I live right by the one they are building now. I gotta say though, as far as the valley is concerned and even parts of the bay area (along 680 and 101) most in n outs are right along major interstates or freeways. Anyone have urban in n out links? i know theres one in westwood...

Upside: Best burgers.

Downside: that area of del paso is drunk heaven on late nights after the bars. I cant imagine what its going to be like now. Lines for Jack in the box now are about 30 minutes on friday and saturday nights.

I live in North Natomas too and craving a quick eats on the way home from a night out last Friday night, the line of cars into Junk in the Box on Del Paso Rd was quite ridiculous. Good thing standby McDonalds and Del Taco on Truxel are also open 24 hrs.

Y'know a place like Suzie's may or may not turn out great burgers. Taste is in the eye of the beholder. One of my favorite burgers is actually at Cafe Bernardos. Even Jaspers is not so bad. There are actually many good burger places in town.

While the central city may have it's own flavor of restaurants, I don't think that chains like In-n-out will not be welcome out there. Not all midtowners hate every kind of chain restaurants, y'know.

[otnemarcaS]

Bob Shallit: Downtown club exudes Euro flavor
Couple from Zimbabwe opens eclectic spot
By Bob Shallit - Bee columnist
Last Updated 1:44 am PDT Saturday, August 25, 2007
Story appeared in BUSINESS section, Page D1


Parlare Euro Lounge next to 10th and J streets in downtown Sacramento offers small plates at lunch, and is a lounge at night with a full bar and entertainment.



A couple from Zimbabwe has quietly opened downtown's newest hipster hangout: Parlare Euro Lounge. The name comes from the Italian verb "to speak" and there's plenty to talk about the new lunch place and nightspot, which sits beside and above Rodney's cigar shop at the corner of 10th and J streets.

There's a wall of roses in the downstairs bar. The stairway leading to the upstairs dining and music venue features a 17-foot waterfall sculpture depicting downtown Sacramento. The place is a happy mix of upscale furnishings, modern art, cowhide rugs, antique bottles and ornamental bamboo stands.

Asked to describe the interior: "Well, it's eclectic, how's that?," says Dale Robertson, 28, who -- along with wife Sheena Stirling, 26 -- spent nearly two years readying the place for its "soft" opening two weeks ago. Parlare's grand opening is Thursday.

It offers a "small plates" menu, along with a full bar and a diverse helping of musical entertainment.

"It will be a showcase for all the talent we have (in Sacramento)," Robertson says, noting that recent performers have ranged from The Bennys, a local rock band, to jazz vocalist Ricky Berger.

Robertson, who most recently worked in home construction, says he's wanted to develop a downtown "locus" since arriving here four years ago and finding the entertainment choices underwhelming. He first leased a 1,000-square-foot space next to Rodney's, then opted to take the vacant upstairs, too.

Making tenant improvements took 14 months and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars of family money, he says. Robertson, whose work background includes his family's restaurant business in Africa, had a hands-on role in completing Parlare.

"I was the designer, the general (contractor) and floor sweeper," he says.

[travis bickle]

I live right by the one they are building now. I gotta say though, as far as the valley is concerned and even parts of the bay area (along 680 and 101) most in n outs are right along major interstates or freeways.

Part of the In-n-Out business plan prefers locations to have easy freeway access. I will occasionally drive all the way to Pacific Beach (more than 10 miles from Del Mar) for my fix. Of course, it's still no Hodads...