PMA-Team

Maya Angelou wisely once said, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.” The idea is, with the right frame of mind, one can accomplish anything, and with a negative mindset, negativity comes back to you.

If unfailing positivity makes you want to barf, you better get a bucket ready.

JM Knudsen is a Sacramento-based artist who paints, tattoos, creates clothing, does graphic design and pretty much any form of art he can get his eager hands on.

But he’s not just in it for himself. As coordinator of American Gypsy Apparel and project manager of Sacramento Free Art Drop, Knudsen endeavors not only to create art, but to create new channels for other artists to share their art and collaborate.

Sacramento Free Art Drop consists of a painted box that shows up in various locations throughout Sacramento and is filled with donated art, free for the taking to anyone who sees beauty in it. Participant Arturo Romero says he was, “… very intrigued by the idea of creating an art hub in the middle of an ‘art desert.’ This city needs color!”

Another participating artist, Ahlo the Alchemist, shares that, “It feels amazing to be a part of such a unique and positive project. It’s cool because you don’t know who is behind the artwork, unless you’re familiar with the local art scene, and [as an artist] you have no idea who can end up with your art.”

Knudsen’s own artwork can be found throughout Sacramento in public areas, free from the monetary ties associated with galleries. This is not because the artist does not accept payment for his art, but because there are other forms of intrinsic payment that Knudsen also values. Much of this artwork consists of paintings on wood that are held up with chain, temporary adhesive or U-lock.

As Knudsen explains, if you don’t like your local art scene, change your attitude and watch the scene change, too.

Why do you think this project was started?
The SFAD was created to spread local art throughout the community of Sacramento in a unique, new way. It was created to get the art we create as Sacramento residents in the homes of our own people, to cover the walls of Sacramento homes with Sacramento art. To inspire artists young and old to create again, to create for the first time, to inspire future artists of Sacramento and instill a sense of pride in what we can do as people here. To create networking opportunities between artist and admirer. To create a platform for unknown artists to be discovered. To give those without the ability to afford a priced piece of artwork an opportunity to own art.

Artists of all skill levels and mediums are welcome to contribute. Not a single person knows how one drop can affect the course of their lives or the City of Sacramento, so no limitations should exist with who can participate. You truly never know the outcome when you give art without expectation.

And last but not least, you can inspire another to create. No dollar can match this … Without a doubt, art saves.

Have there been any issues with the project so far, or complaints? How is the project being received by the community?
To date, there has been only one real complaint, in regards to a single local artist stating that he wouldn’t drop art in the chest because he felt doing so would devalue his art. But besides that, this project has received nothing but praise from the community.

Describe other artistic endeavors in which you’re involved—from your own artwork, to other collaborative projects.
Outside of the SFAD I am the Creative Director/Artist for American Gypsy Apparel “One of a Kind,” an artistic collaborative involving more than 150 artists, including participation in several other U.S. cities and countries. The focus of this group is promoting the idea that we are all “One of a Kind.” The Instagram account has grown to more than 20,000 followers. Some people confuse AG with a brand, AG is not a brand.

For instance, a person in Germany will commission me to design a “One of a Kind” vest with a guitar on the back. I would create that item, text my friend James Cavern for a photoshoot with the vest, and post the photo on Instagram so people can see what James does through tagging him on Instagram, then I would ship the vest.

If an artist shot photography with me for AG, I would pay them with a “One of a Kind” item. Tattoos for sculptures, drawings for haircuts, playing music at an art show for a painting—we find a way to avoid using our currency and trade skills.

In 2016 I have a project with Peace Market around 18th and O streets, with more painting and murals, making art present inside and out. Working with local artists Goop Massta, BAMR and Arturo Romero, we completed a mural on Peace Market the first week of January and we have a group art show at Peace Market together in April.

How does tattooing integrate into your experience as an artist?
Tattooing is a major part of the artistic culture. Midtown Sacramento is saturated with artists and many residents are heavily tattooed. Things I want to express the most, I get tattooed.

What is the state of the art scene in Sacramento currently, in your opinion? What’s going well and what’s lacking? How would you like to see it change?
In my opinion, the state of the art scene in Sacramento is stronger than it has ever been since I’ve lived here. Artists are really starting to come together to do tremendous things, and it’s beautiful to witness—holding events like Launch and TBD Fest that bring in big name artists to our city, and show our artists off to the city. This is bringing us forward in a major way.

The Warehouse Artists Lofts are a great addition to the community as well, a place where artists can afford to live, create, thrive and collaborate. Establishments like the Hacker Lab are a valuable resource where we can learn the tools that can get us to the next level as an artist.

Murals are popping up all over downtown where businesses are becoming more accepting of the artist’s ability to attract through art. Coffee shops like Old Soul and Insight are giving artists a chance to showcase art for 30 days.

With technology, times have changed drastically for artists—many artists who don’t use Instagram are missing out on a free platform to showcase their ability, to network with other artists, to sell their craft and to see what other artists are doing around the world.

How can people find out where the art box is going to show up and when?
To track the whereabouts of the Community Art Chest, follow the Instagram account @sacfreeartdrop. The Chest is set to be at Peace Market on 18th and O every second Saturday of the month for the Art Walk. But the chest can pop up anywhere in Sacramento.

Follow Sacramento Free Art Drop on Instagram (@sacfreeartdrop) to find out where it may pop up next! You can also learn more about American Gypsy Apparel at Americangypsyapparel.com or on Instagram @americangypsyapparel.

Get the Spins

As my friends know all too well, when I drink, I like to DJ. So when I heard about a new dive bar in Midtown called B-Side, where you could play your own records, I wondered why I hadn’t thought of this brilliant concept myself.

B-Side is operated by the time-tested trio that brought Shady Lady to the forefront of Sacramento cocktail culture. But unlike Shady Lady, B-Side has a laid-back dive-y atmosphere. There’s no velvet damask wallpaper and moody lighting; there aren’t even drink menus. It’s the kind of place where you’re not going to be out of place in a hoodie and can get anything from a $3 Oly on tap to a fancy you-call-it cocktail with its corresponding high price tag.

“As much as we all love cocktails, there’s something to be said for a simple bar with no frills,” says Garrett Van Vleck, one of the managing partners at B-Side. “People seem a little surprised when we tell them there’s no cocktail list but they also quickly realize how nice it is to order whatever they want. We wanted a back-to-basics dive bar, but if you order something like an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan, you’re going to get the same quality drink you would at Shady Lady.”

While Shady Lady’s decor is decidedly prohibition-era themed, B-Side has a sleazy ‘70s audiophile vibe. Rope lighting lined the bar shelves with record sleeves serving as the sole non-alcohol bar adornment. A collection of antique audio equipment backed the prominent DJ booth while a Russ Meyer film played scenes of gratuitous nudity of mod babes with blue eyeshadow and big hair. Between the patrons and DJ Roger Carpio spinning an eclectic mix of vinyl, it was very loud.

“We started with the idea of doing a vinyl record-centric concept and the ‘70s vibe sort of developed as an extension of that,” explains Van Vleck of the inspiration for the bar concept.

Sacramento DJ veteran Shaun Slaughter heads up the event booking at B-Side. During one of the regular events, “Loose Change,” the DJs pass out request books and people can pick from a selection of 45s. At another event, Vixens of Vinyl, female DJs headed up by DJ TrashEpiphany spin psychedelic, garage, punk, glam and trash. Open turntable night encourages anyone to bring a couple of their favorite records and take turns DJing.

Slaughter enthusiastically describes his approach to B-Side’s entertainment.

“My idea is that all the DJs should make it feel like a house party,” says Slaughter. “Each night has its own theme, but the only instruction I gave them was to have fun and don’t think about it too much … Originally I thought about booking only ‘70s-sounding stuff to align with the bar concept, but Garrett really emphasized doing all kinds of music. We’ve been having a blast!”

Bret Bair, known locally for his ownership of Ace of Spades and part ownership of Goldfield, also owns the building in which B-Side resides, along with its liquor license. The building formerly housed the defunct, but legendary, Monte Carlo.

Van Vleck explains how the Shady Lady gents (which includes Jason Boggs and Alex Origoni) came to lease the B-Side space.

“Bret Bair from Ace of Spades bought the building a couple of years ago and kept it running for a little while as the Monte Carlo,” says Van Vleck. “Then he shut it down and started doing some rehab on the building. About a year ago we reached out and inquired about teaming up to do a project. We all felt like the B-Side concept was a good fit for the space and moved forward from there.”

{Alex Origoni and Jason Boggs}

Origoni, Boggs and Van Vleck have their hands in many regional projects, including Brewster’s in Galt, Fieldhouse in the Arden area and upcoming establishments Amaro (an Italian bistro slated to open in the R Street Corridor and partly owned by Deftones’ Abe Cunningham) and Sail Inn, which will revamp an existing bar on the West Sacramento riverfront.

One would think that working so closely together on so many diverse projects would wear on their friendship, but Van Vleck divulges that they get along better as time goes by.

“The three of us have polar opposite personalities and that works to our advantage,” says Van Vleck. “There’s no yes men and you never have to worry about getting an honest opinion. We argue all the time about every detail of every place, but in a constructive way. At the end of the day there are no egos, we just debate the ideas until we settle on the best one, then have a shot of whiskey.”

While good music and libations flow freely at B-Side, one thing you won’t find—yet—is a bite to eat. But times will change.

“We are going to add on a patio and do a food truck program as often as possible,” says Van Vleck. “Right now, we’re just concentrating on getting the bar running smoothly, but hopefully the food side will come along soon.”

So far, B-Side seems to be a neighborhood bar in terms of the clientele. And that’s exactly what the partners are going for—although time will tell what kind of crowd will become regulars.

One thing’s for sure: these guys know what they’re doing and have a track record of successful execution of their bar and restaurant concepts. Pair that with a unique idea like B-Side and open up shop in a city full of music junkies, and you’ve got yourself a dive bar that is sure to stick around for a long time. B-Side is solid gold.

{Local artist Jose Di Gregorio hanging his art work inside B-Side}

B-Side is open at 1430 S Street from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week. Find them on Facebook to view the full events calendar.

The Ins and Outs of Nailing Thanksgiving in Sacramento

Regardless of its sordid connotation with American Indian displacement, it’s hard to deny that Thanksgiving is one of the most enjoyable holidays. It is a prime opportunity to slow down, contemplate and express gratitude, spend quality time with family and loved ones, show off your culinary skills and stuff your face.

Turkey Day has also come a long way from its Norman Rockwell-era canned green bean casseroles and cranberry sauces, stuffing from a box and overcooked frozen turkeys. These days, and in America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital, Sacramentans have a cornucopia of resources close at hand to make this year the best Thanksgiving ever. The list below is limited by word count constraints, and is by no means inclusive of the many other inspired local businesses, for which to be thankful.

FOR THE CHEF

This is the year: you’re going to prepare a feast for the record books. But your carefully concocted provisions are only as good as the ingredients with which they were prepared. Here are some places to stock up or learn something new, so you can bust out a meal that will put Suzy Homemaker herself to shame.

Branigan’s Turkey Farm
39621 Co Rd 24A, Woodland
Braniganturkey.com

In addition to the obvious fact that fresh, local food just tastes better, did you know that big business meat-packing companies use shady ingredients like saline to beef up weight so they can further profit from a cut of meat, while upping your sodium intake? And utilize low doses of arsenic, which is a poison, to make the color of the meat appear fresher? Play it safe, get a better tasting bird and keep your money within our local economy by supporting Branigan’s Turkey Farm. Family-owned and operated since 1942, their turkeys are available at stores throughout the area, or you can order from the farm directly.

Preservation & Co.
1717 19th Street, Suite B, Sacramento
Preservationandco.com

Originally launched into the limelight with his award-winning Bloody Mary recipe, Jason Poole is no one-trick pony. His sauces, seasoned salts, pickled goods and cocktail mixes put the special in specialty. Preservation and Co. also carries other regionally made goods for spicing up your kitchen cupboard, offers cooking classes and sells cool aprons so you can look the part while giving your guests the performance of a lifetime.

Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op
1900 Alhambra Boulevard, Sacramento
Sacfoodcoop.com

If you ain’t got time for shopping around all over the place and need a one-stop market to get everything you need for Thanksgiving, the Co-op is your go-to. Boasting the first 100 percent organic produce department in the nation, SNFC also has a no-GMO, all-natural food buying policy. The robust meat, cheese, wine, beer, bulk, grocery, deli and kitchenware sections cover all your bases, while natural medicines in the wellness section will help you digest after overeating. Additionally, fun and affordable cooking classes broaden your skillset in the kitchen.

FOR FRIENDSGIVING (OR THE LAZY)

Invited to a Friendsgiving potluck or a family Thanksgiving where you aren’t responsible for cooking the whole shebang? Show some manners and bring something fancy, but effortless. Or maybe you’re not interested in getting out of your pajamas, socializing, cooking or washing dishes, but still want to feast? That’s cool, we’ve got you covered.

Corti Brothers
5810 Folsom Boulevard, Sacramento
Cortibrothers.com

You can hardly call yourself a Sacramentan if you haven’t paid a visit to this local main staple. Famed for their beer, wine and specialty foods selection, Corti Brothers is a homegrown grocery store and deli in East Sacramento founded in 1947. Their aforementioned deli is killer, and makes for a great place to order a charcuterie or veggie tray that is far and away on another level than what you’d get at Safeway. Impress friends, family or yourself with your good taste, and shop Corti Brothers’ unique craft beer and artisan wine offerings.

Selland’s
5340 H Street, Sacramento
Sellands.com

Selland’s is, in this writer’s opinion, Sacramento’s best place to get breakfast, lunch or dinner without going for broke. And—shut the front door—they have a full Turkey Day catering menu. You can sit on your ass while you piece together your perfect meal from the catering options menu, get off your ass and go pick it up, then go right back to sitting on your ass the whole holiday while you go in on the top-notch cuisine Selland’s serves up. Orders must be placed by the Friday before Thanksgiving at 3 p.m., and picked up by appointment the day prior. Bonus! Thanksgiving catering orders entitle you to 15 percent off all bottles of wine in Selland’s Wine Shop, too.

Ikeda’s
26295 Mace Boulevard, Davis
Ikedas.com

My best friend turned me on to Ikeda’s by appointing it our pre-hike meeting spot in Auburn this summer on our way to Stevens Creek Trail. I was so impressed with their pie selection—I mean, they have every kind of pie you can think of—that I made a mental note to stop at one of their regional locations prior to Thanksgiving. I like to cook on Thanksgiving, but I leave the baking to someone else. The expression “easy as pie” is a lie and must have been coined by some smug asshole. You can plan on Ikeda’s selection of well-executed pies getting picked over leading up to the holiday, but the good news is that they welcome you to call ahead early in the day, order your favorite, and they’ll bake and hold it for you.

BEST WAYS TO EARN THOSE EXTRA CALORIES

Turkey Day doesn’t have to mean your pants aren’t going to fit anymore. Pig out, guilt-free with these two annual events. In fact, research shows that aerobic exercise curbs appetite, so you’re less likely to overeat if you start your day by getting your juices flowing.

Run to Feed the Hungry
Register at Runtofeedthehungry.com

Entering its 22nd year, this annual fundraising event is now the largest Thanksgiving run of its kind in the country—around 30,000 people participate each year. Managed by and benefiting Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services, this 10K run or 5K run/walk will make you feel good spiritually as well as physically as you race through East Sacramento.

Sacramento Appetite Enhancement Thanksgiving Bike Ride

Friend “Sacramento Appetite Enhancement Thanksgiving Day Bike Ride” on Facebook

Celebrating its 28th year, the Appetite Enhancement Thanksgiving Day Bike Ride is as much a party as it is a workout. In fact, it’s usually wrapped up with many of its participants plunging into the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers. Rad bikes, raffles, ciders from local brewer Two Rivers and more are part and parcel of this grassroots ride.

TIME TO DITCH THE FAMILY

OK, we love our families, but after a while, they get on our nerves. That’s why we all moved out. You’ve paid your dues, suffered through your dad telling the same damn story for the umpteenth time, lied through your teeth that you adored your grandma’s fruitcake and appeased your mom by watching the passage of oversized, inflatable banal that is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Now, it’s time for a drink. These few bars below are known for staying open on Thanksgiving. A lot of bars play it by ear each year, so we suggest asking your favorite haunts what they have planned for this Thanksgiving.

The Porch
Grange
Ten22
de Vere’s Irish Pub
Capitol Garage

Art School

TBD Fest 2015 will pop up in the Bridge District from Friday, Sept. 18 through Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. The festival’s impressive three-day music lineup will be paired with local food, beer and wine vendors, handmade good vendors, amusement park rides and a number of noteworthy art exhibits and installations.

Here are three artists to keep a look out for at this years TBD.

MISTER ROBOTO

TBD Fest Artist-in-Residence Matt Brown

Unassuming in a white T-shirt, dirty black jeans and a nondescript brown haircut, 28-year-old Matt Brown is kind of a big deal in Sacramento’s thriving artscape. Or, anyway, he’s getting a lot of work. Committed to art life, Brown foregoes many creature comforts in order to create rather than punch a clock—to a point where he’s been known to live in his van, outfitted with a rooftop projector.

Attendees of last year’s TBD Fest will unanimously recall his iconic laser cube art installation. This year, TBD dubbed Brown Artist-in-Residence, and he plans to up the ante by incorporating his newfound knowledge of robotics into his contributions to the festival atmosphere. Among the captivated crowds and surging excitement, Matt Brown will be low-key exhibiting his strange brand of art that combines absurdity, beauty and a healthy dose of his enjoyment of fucking with people.

In regards to the cube, Brown recounts, “Holy fuck. I think I met with Clay, and we were talking about projection stuff, and he was like, ‘I need something iconic. I want to project on the lily pads on the river,’ and I was like, ‘That doesn’t really make sense, I don’t even know how to do that. And then I thought it would be so cool if there was this giant laser cube!”

With the help of Matt Byrd, the cube was created. “I had no idea people were going to like it so much,” Brown smiles. But the smile fades as he remembers, “Somebody would draw a dick on it constantly, just one after another, and I don’t know why.”

For the upcoming TBD Fest, Brown has a couple of projects underway. “I am doing a robot that will move around and talk to people. I’ll be remotely controlling it in the distance and I’ll be talking to people through it. It will have a fog that it will emit if people get too crazy,” says Brown mischievously. Welded metal, dryer pieces and car stereos are among the fodder being employed in the creation of this marauding cyborg.

And then there’s the Ice Bear. “It’s going to be giving people motivational help and philosophical speeches, and it will be playing This Mortal Coil. There will be a fog machine near it creating a haze, and I’m thinking about having a laser shoot out of its mouth every once in awhile. It will be wearing gold jewelry, like bling, you know?”

Of the music lined up for this year, Brown says, “I am the most excited to see Death Grips. I’m also super stoked to see Tears for Fears; they got me through a really hard time.”

Brown has been making art for over a decade, and has been commissioned to create a body of work—from sculpture to paintings, films and video projections—for high-profile organizations like TEDx, Blackbird Kitchen + Beer Gallery, the Sizzling Sirens burlesque troupe, Sacramento Electronic Music Festival and more. Throw a rock in any direction in Downtown Sacramento, and you’ll likely hit one of his murals (often not commissioned). “A lot of my art is temporary, just happening in real life,” explains Brown.

Brown was also literally an artist-in-residence at Exhibit S, a 12,000 square-foot art space that garnered squatting rights at Downtown Plaza in 2013 and housed other artists such as Danny Scheible (known for his Tapigami art) and Maren Conrad.

“I was moving out of my house at the time, so I was totally sleeping at the mall,” says Brown of his Exhibit S tenure. “I would shower in Assembly when it was open. It was really hard for me being in a public space trying to make art, so I had to wear a mouse mask.”

Currently residing at the Warehouse Artist Lofts on R Street, Brown is ready to go back to living in a van down by the river. “I prefer just living in a car, and I think I’m going to move to Auburn where there’s nobody around for miles. It’s very insular.”

But R Street hasn’t seen the last of Matt Brown. He’ll have an indirect hand in the R Street Block Party on Oct. 3, along with a host of other Sacramento artists, musicians, businesses and vendors.

The basement at WAL, which is a rehearsal and jam space, will be open during the R Street Block Party. “There will be a Jacob’s Ladder and some robotics, and Shaun Burner and Franceska Gamez are painting the walls,” describes Brown. “I want it to look nothing like the rest of the building at all, for people to go down there and feel like they’re going into a totally different world.”

In a totally different world, where all that matters is art and wonder—that’s where Matt Brown resides, regardless of the roof or lack thereof over his head.

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?

Arielle Robbins and Laura Marie Anthony Challenge Your Viewpoint

Arielle Robbins and Laura Marie Anthony seek to challenge the way people think about what it is to be social and beautiful at TBD Fest by way of their ViewMaster Interactive Art Installation, which will be a series of red retro slide viewers placed on tripods throughout the festival space.

“We hope the installation will make people think about how beauty is a vast and flexible thing, changing from person to person and group to group, but even among perceptual differences, core similarities in how we all experience beauty underscore that we connect with it in remarkably similar ways,” the duo explains.

Anthony’s artistic background is in visual art, while Robbins’ is in writing, concept art and music. Both recently founded an artist collective called Retrograde Collective. In the coming year, they will premiere two important projects—a short film, Sutro Ruins, and a periodical, Venus in Furs.

MOVEMENT IS ART

Amanda Prince-Lubawy

Having performed over the past five years in museums and galleries throughout Europe, Amanda Prince-Lubawy will showcase how movement can be art at TBD.

“My piece for TBD Fest is called rolling on the riverfront,” describes Prince-Lubawy. “The choreography proposes repetitious, durational movement that requires the body to endure time and mimic the ebb and flow of the Sacramento river.”

Lubawy’s three-hour performances will commence at 7 p.m. each night of the festival.

“I am a dance artist,” explains Lubawy.

“I am interested in the body and conversations that directly approach the body as a movement medium. I like to explore dance in a minimal sense— everyday movements, not overtly stylized. I want Sacramento to view dance as more of an experience rather than entertainment.”

Summer Space Camp

I had no idea what the hell ‘Ghostplay’ means so I’ll admit—just like with a lot of text acronyms that I can’t interpret—I looked it up on Urban Dictionary so I wouldn’t have to ask when I interviewed the local band using said moniker. Apparently it’s when you put a white sheet over your head like a ghost and dry hump someone till … you can guess what comes next.

After giving it some thought, Ghostplay is a pretty fitting name for this band. When I finished listening to the band’s soon-to-set-sail debut EP, I felt like I had been surprise attacked by a shrouded spectre that made me climax and left me disoriented. It was kind of awesome and weird. These were the perfect, aptly timed jams for another restless summer, too. Add Ghostplay to your summer playlist, and your list of local bands on whom to keep a watchful eye and listening ear. You can thank me later for the wham-bam.

Ghostplay’s first release, 33, is a five-song EP that the band has been writing and revamping for a couple years now. The band is a tight-knit, funny and endearing three-piece, consisting of facetious frontman Jason Hess on synthesized bass, guitar, keys and vocals; super sweet babe Leticia Garcia on guitar and vocals; and newcomer drummer Armando Gonzales. Ghostplay’s music features complex layers of sound, created by an equally complex assortment of audio equipment.

“The only part that’s a little confusing—and some people have questions about—is that I use a baritone guitar which is split into two audio signals,” elaborates Hess. “One signal feeds to a guitar amplifier, and the other signal is processed by a computer to make it sound more like a bass guitar. Then that signal feeds to a bass amplifier. That same computer is also used to simultaneously create live effects, looping vocal tracks and keyboard sounds.”

Hess describes a collaborative songwriting process rather than a single member bringing the seeds of an already-formed song to the table. “A lot of times songs are born just from the three of us being in a room together” says Hess. The band’s camaraderie and egalitarian take on the band dynamic is palpable throughout our conversation.

Although they’ve been jamming songs into fruition and playing shows for a while, they only recently got to work on a more focused recording effort. “It’s really difficult when you don’t have anything recorded to promote yourself with,” says Garcia. “For this EP, we got to work with a really cool producer, Monte Vallier from San Francisco, so we’re really looking forward to having the EP to help promote ourselves.”

33 is being released by Noise Loves Audio, a Davis-based radio show and label specializing in analog for its sound character—particularly cassettes, although the EP will also be available in digital formats. The corresponding EP artwork by John Conley creatively correlates to the dark and dreamy feeling of the music.

Ghostplay has been twice nominated for the Sacramento News and Review’s local music awards, the Sammies, in the “post-punk” category, but to try to better pinpoint their sound or genre, it takes a mouthful. Gonzales tries summarizing with, “Post-punk shoegaze-y space rock, you know … dark pop,” to which, personally, I’d add beachy surf rock dance-y dream-pop with a pinch of goth.

The opening track on 33, “Too Much,” sets the tone with a spacy, sleepy beach soundscape over which Garcia sings lazily and soothingly. A muffled, echoing Hess melodically chimes in over the ringing, rolling guitar riff. The beat begins to escalate, and suddenly the pace is dance-y, then again takes a breather and slows to a Sunday stroll on Xanax. Just when you think the song is over, you stumble back into the same dream.

My favorite track, “My Halo,” is breathy and uplifting with rad timing changes; on “New Monday,” tremolo-altered voices oscillate, tonality climbs and the cadence pulses; “Science” is haunting, metallic, interstellar, pounding and echoing; “Patience” is full of angst, feedback, strange voices, layered atop traveling arpeggios and a steady pace that builds and erupts into a space cruise.

If all of that sounds great to you, then don’t miss the band’s upcoming EP release show at trusty Old Ironsides on July 10, 2015 (plus Mall Walk is playing!).

When it comes to where the members of Ghostplay want to take the band in the future, according to Hess, they’re happy with things just the way they are. “We have a lot more songs to record now,” ruminates Hess. “Music is something that we really enjoy. Shows are fun whether or not there’s a lot of people there, like this one at this art collective in Davis … it was a great experience, you know? It’s just interesting, getting to collaborate with other artists.”

“I want to do a lot more recording, because that’s what lasts,” Garcia adds.

Spinal Tap was afflicted with a curse of having to frequently replace their drummers due to untimely deaths, such as spontaneous combustion. But Ghostplay, although currently on drummer number three, feels blessed rather than cursed about their own game of musical chairs.

“I’m really grateful that we’ve been lucky enough to find three drummers,” explains Garcia. “Mark Rocha was our first drummer who really helped us get started playing shows and helped shape the songs. Then Michael Couloures, he came in on a whim and learned all the songs in a month to record them.”

Following guest drummer Couloures’ contribution to the EP effort, Gonzales fell right into place. “I feel super lucky. I mean, it was love at first Craigslist,” gushes Gonzales. “This band is so practical and sincere. If I had to use two words to describe Ghostplay it would be those two words.”

Help Ghostplay celebrate the release of their debut EP, 33, at Old Ironsides on July 10, 2015. Get there early, because the first 50 people will receive a free copy of the album. Also performing will be Mall Walk, Silver Spoons and Subculture. This 21-and-over show will cost a $6 cover. Doors open at 8 p.m.

COOL AS ICE

Remember, when you were a kid, how awesome it was having a flavored snow cone or shaved ice while wandering around an amusement park or fair on a blazing hot mid-summer day? Well, kind of awesome.

It was really great for the first few bites, and then the neon colored FD&C Red 40 that is blamed for a host of health problems started its descent to the bottom of the container; meanwhile, the ice at the top, now snow white, had all the fun sucked out of it. You ended up eating plain-ass ice, and then bottom-feeding on the nauseatingly saccharine syrup, and you were ultimately rendered a sticky mess. At least the debacle cooled you off and gave you a temporary sugar high.

There’s a right way and a wrong way to do things in some cases. Shaved ice is one of them, and usually it’s done the wrong way. Osaka Ya, Sacramento shaved ice veterans, get the picture and have a line backed up 10th Street all summer.

Enter Vampire Penguin, another ice master. But it’s differentiated from Osaka Ya, in that rather than wait in line and take a snow cone to-go, you can sit in an air-conditioned, cutesy establishment while you enjoy your artistically crafted “shaved snow,” which has all the frills and flavor of an ice cream sundae.

Vampire Penguin first opened its doors on Stockton Boulevard in South Sacramento on Halloween 2013. It quickly garnered copious popularity and needed to spread its flightless wings further to feed the need Sacramento had expressed for VP’s addicting and vegan-friendly shaved snow (they also carry a smattering of other little treats such as macarons).

So in January 2015, locations opened in Davis on G Street and in downtown Sacramento on K Street. Shortly thereafter, the Elk Grove location opened in mid-February. Another location is slated to open in Berkeley soon.

Submerge photographer Evan Duran and I hit up Vampire Penguin’s downtown location on our way to the first pool day of our unofficial summertime, the temperature having exceeded 80 degrees. It was a perfect day to sample the snow. We poked around the lengthy counter area to see all the goods, scoped the menu and decided on four different items to share.

The Twix was a mound of chocolate shaved snow, topped with graham crackers, caramel sauce and chocolate sauce. Mexican Candy was an all-the-flavors mouth party of mango shaved snow, piled with fresh watermelons, rich caramel sauce and a salty chili spice mix. Cookies and cream shaved snow, crushed graham crackers, Oreos, marshmallows, chocolate syrup comprised the S’moreos dish. Subtly sweet and bitter at once, the Snow Tiger was made with Thai tea and milk tea shaved snow, paired with oreo crumbles and a condensed milk sauce.

The snow itself is unlike any shaved ice I’ve ever tried. It’s closer to sorbet, sherbet or ice cream in texture. Even my 9-year-old son, an ice cream connoisseur, said it tasted just like ice cream. To me it’s the missing link between shaved ice and sorbet—fluffy yet dense, and very much like eating newly fallen snow.

Paolo San Luis, who co-founded Vampire Penguin with his brother Leo, weighed in on what Vampire Penguin is all about, what it’s been like to see skyrocketing growth of the company and where the Vampire Penguin is headed for its next act.

How did you come up with the menu and concept for Vampire Penguin? 
Shaved ice has been around for a long time. What I hated about it was the ice would always be crunchy and the syrup would always pool up at the bottom. We thought, why not infuse the flavor in the block before you shave it, and then shave it finer so it’s not crunchy? And so we ran countless experiments, tried out numerous combos along with fresh fruits and other toppings to come up with inspired presentations. The concept and menu just naturally evolved as we grew. Each combo actually has a backstory, but they are all scattered in little manifestos and will take some digging to find.

Where does the name Vampire Penguin come from? 
I always think of our shaved snow as a hybrid between ice cream and shaved ice… So we thought since we were in the shaved snow business, penguin will be a good name because penguins live in snow. But since our shaved ice is not really “shaved ice,” we thought it would be funny to make the penguin a vampire, making the idea of a penguin cute, but not cute (because vampires are also badass), just like our shaved ice is shaved ice, but not really.

How do you make the shaved ice? Its texture is unlike any shaved ice I’ve had before—almost like ice cream!
Proper technique and execution, and lots of trial and error!

The Mexican Candy is my favorite. What was the inspiration for such an awesome and unconventional mix of flavors?
Love Mangonadas! We thought it would be cool to deconstruct it and translate it to shaved snow.

How do you foresee Vampire Penguin growing in the future? Expanding the menu, more locations, etc.? 
I definitely want to keep growing, covering all of Sacramento before the end of the year. Our Berkeley location is opening in about a month and half, and we are looking to cover the Bay Area as well. Menu-wise we have new flavors coming out around summer, like black sugar, lychee and mocha. I also want to expand on the desserts side of the business, branding popular baked goods and putting our own twist on them.

How would you describe the experience you want your customers to have? 
In a romantic sense, I want our customers to be intrigued by the whole idea of Vampire Penguin, to create their own associations and to identify with Vampire Penguin. In the end, I want the customers to feel welcome.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced as a company so far, if any? 
The primary challenge we continue to face is being able to sustain our growth, but I think we all face that challenge in one form or another.

What has it been like to enjoy such rapid growth for the business? 
It’s definitely interesting—I am nervous, scared, anxious, and paranoid at the same time as calm, collected, excited, and having fun. I am also very grateful, but always impatient.
This is my first business, and we didn’t think our first store would be received so well. We would have lines out the door, and it was challenging to keep up with the demand. This propelled us to focus on building a strong team and to create systems and adjustments with the goal of being able to provide the highest quality of service. Every day is a learning experience, and we do have ambitions of growing bigger in the next couple of years.

As things begin to really heat up in the Sacramento area, you know you’re going to want to gorge yourself on frozen treats. Check out Vampire Penguin online at Facebook.com/vampirepenguin916 for updates on menu items and other tasty tidbits.

California is one of the most geologically diverse places in the world, and Sacramento is in the center of it all! There are endless places to explore close to home. To get you started, we’ve put together a good range of easy to difficult hikes, both east and west of Sacramento, and all within a couple hours’ drive. Of course, you’ll want to further research your trip ahead of time and be prepared by packing appropriately. Below are some ideas to get your wheels turning. Special note: The stats provided below have been culled from some great online hiking resources such as Everytrail.com, Eastbaytrails.com, Summitpost.org and Tahoebackcountry.net as well as, most importantly, personal experience from getting out there and walking those trails. Distance ain’t nothing but a number. Get out there and hike! Happy trails!

San Bruno Mountain

Mileage: 3.5 miles via the Summit Loop Trail
Elevation gain: 500 feet
Summit elevation: 1,314 feet
Difficulty rating: easy
Driving distance from Sacramento: about 95 miles west

The lowdown: This hike is a get in/get out breeze, at the top of which await old, dilapidated radio transmitters and a Nike Missile launch site, as well as panoramic views of San Francisco, Mount Diablo and Mount Tam. From the parking lot, the trail leads through chaparral and seasonal wildflowers and meanders gently to the top, which you’ll reach hella quick, affording you time to frolic around or whatever it is you do on a mountaintop. San Francisco and all its rad bars are a short drive from the trailhead—offering lots of great choices for your post-summit watering hole.

Mount Diablo

Mileage: 6.2 miles via the Grand Loop
Elevation gain: 700 feet
Summit elevation: 3,849 feet
Difficulty rating: easy to moderate
Driving distance from Sacramento: about 85 miles southwest

The lowdown: Although you can park a quarter mile from the top, why do that when you can get a great workout and circumnavigate this awesome mountain, exploring its vegetation, geology, and surrounding views? We suggest the Grand Loop as your route to the summit, which is crowned with obsolete radio transmitters that used to talk to Sutro Tower in San Francisco. Mount Diablo is the tallest mountain in its vicinity, providing clear 360 degree views of the Bay Area.

Mount Tamalpais

Mileage: 15.4 miles via Stinson Beach
Elevation gain: 1,500 feet
Summit elevation: 2,571 feet
Difficulty rating: easy to moderate
Driving distance from Sacramento: about 102 miles west

The lowdown: There’s myriad ways to the top of Mount Tam, but we like to start at Stinson Beach. Although it will be difficult to not just plop yourself into the sand and gaze at the ocean, keep going past a gate that will lead you to the Matt Davis trailhead. The trail snakes ever closer to the top while sweeping views of the ocean dazzle you at every turn. On the top of Mount Tam is a fire lookout, on the stoop of which you can sip on your summit beer and take selfies (or climb around its boulders). Take the Steep Ravine trail route back down to see a lush redwood forest, laced with babbling brooks and bridges. This is another summit with a parking lot right near the top, allowing you to be a total lazy ass peak bagger or cut the long trip in half by way of leaving a second car in the near-summit parking lot.

Pyramid Peak

Mileage: 7.4 miles via Rocky Canyon/Southeast Ridge
Elevation gain: 4,083 feet
Summit elevation: 9,984 feet
Difficulty rating: difficult
Driving distance from Sacramento: about 80 miles east

The lowdown: Easily visible from Sacramento on those clear days when you can see all the way to the glorious snow-capped Sierras, this massive mountain is a hard-won peak to bag. Climbing through a lovely coniferous forest and rambling meadows, your thighs will feel like they’re on fire while your eyes stay fixed on what you believe to be the prize. After arduously bouldering to what you think is the top, you will arrive at—gasp—a false summit. You’ll shake your fists in the air, lumber to the real top (aptly named for its pyramid shape made of sketchy talus), and at long last, enjoy an unbeatable eyeful of the grandeur of Desolation Wilderness.

Mount Ralston

Mileage: 7 miles
Elevation gain: 2,735 feet
Difficulty rating: moderate to difficult
Driving distance from Sacramento: about 88 miles east

The lowdown: A real booty-blaster but to a lesser degree than Pyramid, this trail similarly leads through a gorgeous pine forest peppered with glacial erratics and delicate alpine meadows past tree line. Then, the final ascent has you huffing and puffing up steeply inclined talus until you reach your granite throne! The view of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding stone wonderland is worth the hard work, and is a place we like to call CHURCH!

Pacific Crest Trail: Donner Pass to Benson Hut
Mileage: 5.5 miles to Benson Hut via PCT/Donner Pass
Elevation gain: 1,800 feet to Benson Hut
Difficulty rating: moderate to difficult
Driving distance from Sacramento: about 100 miles east

The lowdown: A great hike whether or not you are able to snag a reservation overnight at the Sierra Club-managed Benson Hut. But how we like to do it is to hike to the hut from Donner Pass along the world famous PCT, spend the night in the shadow of Anderson Peak in the magical backcountry dwelling, then bag Granite Chief and Tinker’s Knob on your way to the Squaw Valley Tram, where you’ll bum a ride down to the parking lot (you’ll need a car parked at both trailheads). On the way, you’ll pass through places that will make you want to have a The Sound of Music moment, twirling and singing in the flowers, no matter how hard you are.

Pacific Crest Trail: Mount Judah Loop and Donner Peak

Mileage: 5.5 miles
Elevation gain: 1,700 feet
Summit elevation: Donner Peak: 8,019 feet; Mount Judah: 8,243 feet
Difficulty rating: moderate
Driving distance from Sacramento: about 91 miles east

The lowdown: This is one of our favorite high country quick and dirty hikes. The Mount Judah Loop affords not only 2 miles on the famed PCT but two-for-one peak bagging with stunning views of Donner Lake and the surrounding Sierras. The first mile follows switchbacks along the PCT, then breaks left to Donner and Judah peaks. The Summer trail use paths are easy to follow but the trail often has snow in early summer and can be a true backcountry adventure. (Call Sugar Bowl to check trail conditions in the early season.) Don’t forget your summit beer and a sweater, it can be chilly in the high country even in the summer months. 

Mount Tallac

Mileage: 9.6 miles
Elevation gain: 3,255 feet
Difficulty rating: difficult
Summit elevation: 9,735 feet
Driving distance from Sacramento: about 105 miles east

The lowdown: Mount Tallac is a true beast of a mountain that towers over the Lake Tahoe basin. The hike enters Desolation Wilderness and does require a free day-use permit that “may” be found at the trailhead. Permits are often out. We recommend a visit to a local ranger station to get a good map and a stack of permits for you car, cause you will surely be back! The hike starts near Camp Richardson and follows along the ridge above Fallen Leaf Lake. You’ll pass Cathedral Lake—enjoy the view and take a break at the lake, because the real work is about to begin. Mile three has a heart pounding 1400’ of elevation gain. Once you reach the ridgeline you are hiking into a FALSE SUMMIT. Power past it, for soon the real Tallac Peak enters your view. The heart-wrenching final half-mile pays off in spades with unforgettable views of the Sierra Nevada and major trail cred.

**This article first appeared in print on pages 24 – 25 of issue #188 (May 25 – June 8, 2015)**

Mamma Susanna’s

5487 Carlson Drive • Sacramento

If I were feeling particularly lazy and succinct, I could sum up my recent experience at East Sacramento Italian restaurant Mamma Susanna’s in a two-word review: FUCK YEAH. But, I’ll elaborate, as I’ve been revived from the lovely Italian food coma into which I slipped after devouring quite the spread at this hidden local establishment. And I’m assuming you’d like some details before deciding to go check it out.

First, has anyone else noticed that there are a bajillion Thai, sushi, pizza and barbecue joints in this town, but hardly any full-blown Italian restaurants? Buca di Beppo and Il Fornaio are both chains, and Biba is freaking expensive, although I’ve heard it’s awesome; Michelangelo’s, my locally owned Italian go-to, closed. Newly opened Adamo’s is good, but doesn’t have that family dining setting or romantic, European atmosphere that strikes me as Italian; it’s more in the vein of an Italian-inspired menu in a no-frills modern setting.

I’m forever on this tirade that that’s what Sacramento could use: not another restaurant of the abovementioned types, but a good, affordable, Sacramento-grown Italian place. So how Mamma Susanna’s escaped my awareness for so long is a welcome surprise—it’s a seasoned eatery that’s been around for a decade, tucked away in a dated shopping plaza near Sac State. I’d say it’s more along the lines of the family dining setting I alluded to earlier—and bring a family I did.

We were rolling nine-deep when we showed up at Mamma Susanna’s, with a common goal to each order something different, and all share everything. So we sat down at a long booth with a plastic red and white gingham tablecloth and ordered what can only be described as a ton of food.

At Mamma Susanna’s, while you wait for your grub to arrive, they bring you this killer rosemary focaccia bread to dip in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. By the time the food came, I was already getting full.

As an appetizer, we got the Caprese plate, in the center of which was an assemblage of layered buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes and fresh basil. It was sandwiched between two mounds of mixed green salad tossed in a simple, yet flavorful, vinaigrette. We also tried the bruschetta—the crunchy ciabatta toast was piled high with a tart and tangy tomato, olive, feta, basil and red onion mixture. At this point, I had satisfied my hunger, but couldn’t wait for the main courses to be paraded out of the kitchen.

Then, seemingly the entire staff was called upon to expedite our food to the table. Fettucini Milanese, Risotto Oceanica, Penne Norcina, Potato Gnocchi Sorrento, the Bronx Calzone, Penne Rustica, Spaghetti Affumicato and spaghetti and meatballs were all ushered out to our eager group of high-carb dieters.

Every last morsel of every dish was delicious—an epic feast that completely satisfied my craving for good Italian food in a comfortable and homey setting.

The Fettucini Milanese was a seafood lover’s slice of heaven, with scallops, mussels, clams and prawns on a bed of noodles, swimming in a slightly spicy saffron and white wine sauce. The Risotto Oceanica was a spicy wine marinara arborio rice dish laden with salmon, prawns and scallops.

“One of the No. 1 entrées on the menu is our Penne Norcina,” says Michelle Gully, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Bob. “It’s a penne pasta with a creamy marinara, Italian sausage and red peppers.” I agreed that this was one of my favorite dishes I tried, although to be honest, it was all kind of a blur with the abundance of wonderful food, wine and conversation being passed around the table. The Penne Rustica was topped with grilled chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts and a white wine sauce, and also stood out as a particularly palatable plating.

Perfectly chewy yet yielding, the expertly cooked Potato Gnocchi Sorrento, in a delectable pesto sauce, seemed almost to top one of my all-time favorite comfort foods, spaghetti and meatballs. And on that note, Mamma Susanna’s meatballs were dauntingly large, good and garlicky—and on top of the spaghetti, they didn’t skimp on the hearty marinara sauce and grated parmesan cheese. With a different take on a spaghetti dish, the Affumicato relied on smoked chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, feta cheese and a tangy and smoky wine sauce to set it apart from the classic spaghetti dish.

Lastly, on a plate that seemed to weigh about 18 pounds when handed from one happy homie to the next, was the Bronx Calzone, stuffed to blimp status with pepperoni, ricotta, mozzarella, garlic, mushrooms, marinara and pomodoro sauces.

As you can imagine, by now, we were all ready to be rolled out on stretchers, and my son had fallen asleep with his head on the table, his little dome dwarfed by the mountain of food in front of him. Nary a frown was to be seen throughout the restaurant, for as the sign hanging over our table reminded us, “The fondest memories are made when gathered around the table.” (Well, many of the fondest memories anyway.)

The restaurant has always been, since its beginning, a gathering place for friends and family. Recently purchased by the Gullys, it has long maintained its reputation among those who are aware of its existence as a feel-good, family-oriented haunt. “That’s why I purchased Mamma’s—the relationships I’ve built with some of the amazing people that continue to return,” explains Michelle. “I started there as a server a few years ago, then became the manager, then had the opportunity to purchase… my husband and three kids work here, as well as the great staff that stayed on with me.”

She’s kept the menu and prices intact, a wise move considering the restaurant’s renowned Italian classics are set at a reasonable price point. The only change she’s considering is adding some less calorie-rich options to the menu, and if so, I hope the additions are with Italy’s simple recipes—comprised of fresh, quality ingredients—in mind.

The following morning, I had trouble zipping up my pants, but as they say in Italy, “Chi mangia bene, vive bene”—he who eats well, lives well. I ran it off later that day. It’s possible that the decline in Italian restaurants has something to do with Americans’ trendy low-carb diets in response to our cultural obsession with being skinny to an extreme. However, when I went to Italy, everyone was fit, beautiful and exuded calm and happiness, in spite of eating a lot of pasta.

Everything in moderation—a little starch will make you smile.

Mamma Susanna’s is located in the River Park Shopping Center at 5487 Carlson Drive in East Sacramento. For hours, more info or to make a reservation call (916) 452-7465 or visit Mammasusannas.com.

Sticky Gator

2322 K Street • Sacramento

In a city like Sacramento that is teeming with competing top-notch restaurants, it’s essential to their survival for restaurateurs to carve a niche—either by doing something completely different than anyone else, or by focusing on being the best at one aspect of what they offer.

Take, for example, Sticky Gator, a recently opened barbecue and soul food eatery on 24th and K streets next to Golden Bear. Throw a rock in any direction, and you’ll hit Sandra Dee’s, Tank House BBQ and Bar, T&R Taste of Texas or other barbecue spots that seem innumerable as the stars. It’s a sticky situation.

So what makes Sticky Gator stand out in a crowd? In this writer’s opinion, it is not that they have the best barbecue food available in the land (although it was good), but their speedy service, heaping portions and great location that shine.

Having recently visited New Orleans, I had the opportunity to try the best Louisiana Cajun, Creole and soul food in the world, so in fairness to Sticky Gator, their barbecue and soul food is delicious, but just doesn’t compare with Mr. B’s Bistro on Royal Street, or even locally, Tank House. But Sticky Gator does make for a good feast in Midtown where the parking is easy and your food is delivered almost instantly.

Additionally, what first struck me as expensive resulted in four filling meals, making for a good investment. I ordered the Lil Sticky Platter, which comes with two regular side choices and the daily special, which was chicken and sausage gumbo served with cornbread, totaling about $25. The initial sticker shock subsided when I quickly was served enough food to feed a family.

Although the ambiance is clean and comfortable, the plating of the food ain’t fancy. Everything is served in biodegradable to-go containers—no china for you—but that makes it all the more speedy to dip when you’ve had enough, without having to ask for a box, because chances are, you won’t be cleaning your “plate.”

Going back to the look and feel of Sticky Gator, the outside is garishly blanketed with bright, alarming colors (much like a restaurant in the French Quarter), and their mascot, Sticky (a gator), is painted on the front and the side of the building. Patrons can either sit inside at spacious booths amid a red, yellow and green color scheme and check out walls lined with photographs of blues singers and gig posters; or they can chill in the sunshine at patio tables between the sidewalk and bustling K Street, and people watch.

I sat down at a booth by a large sunlit window to go in on this massive mountain of grub. My Lil Sticky Platter choices were the barbecue tri-tip (ordered spicy), mashed potatoes with gravy and collard greens. The tri-tip was thinly sliced and a little fatty for my tastes, but juicy and flavorful, and the homemade spicy barbecue sauce wasn’t crazy-spicy, but had some kick and was well-balanced with tartness. Mashed potatoes with gravy is what I would want as my last meal before I went to jail or died, and I was happy with these—nice and lumpy, chunks of beef in the gravy, and savory without being overly salty. The collard greens were underwhelming, soaked in an oily liquid and seemingly only self-flavored, but I like my greens so I ate ‘em up.

Everyone does gumbo differently, and I did not prefer the Sticky Gator way. It was super chunky, with just a hint of broth, riddled with okra and also comprised of corn, celery, tomatoes, onions, chicken and sausage. The accompanying cornbread was again, a lion’s share, and was a bit dry.

Other entrée options include barbecue pulled pork, ribs, hot links, andouille sausage and fried chicken or catfish. Sticky Gator boasts a plethora of side choices from black-eyed peas to mac and cheese, and also offers a list of sandwiches.

And if your gut ain’t busted yet or you brought your sweet tooth along, there are a ton of dessert options in a display case just beyond the primary ordering counter. Like Sticky Gator’s predecessor, Rick’s Dessert Diner, which used to be housed in the same spot and has since changed locations, Sticky Gator attempts to lure you astray from your New Year’s resolutions with everything from chocolate mousse to French toast bread pudding, cookies to pies, cheesecakes, lemon bars, cakes…enough eye candy to give you diabetes just looking upon it. The desserts are made by Vesela Peneva, owner of Desserts by Vesela.

The owners of Sticky Gator, Lisa Nannini and Rodney Ray, are also its chefs, and are responsible for all of the cooking. Ray is also the owner of T&R Taste of Texas on Broadway, and Nannini, along with her husband, also owns Delta Restaurant Supply and Party Rentals, which provides catering services. The trio has know each other for a long time, has worked together in the past at catering events and decided to team up Nannini’s soul food skills with Ray’s barbecue expertise. Nannini also fell in love with soul food on a visit to New Orleans.

Says Nannini, “We consider our restaurant to be a fast casual place. Our customers are able to see all of the food and so they know exactly what they are getting. We also allow our customers to taste samples so they are sure to love their choices… I think what makes us different from other barbecue restaurants is the number of our home-cooked soul food sides. Many of our sides are recipes handed down from our families. We truly offer ultimate comfort food.”

I’m not sure if any of you readers noticed, but when the paint first went up at Sticky Gator, the painted-on signage above the entrance read, “Sticky Fingers.” Having a dirty mind and an eighth grade sense of humor, I immediately connoted the restaurant name with you-know-what. So I wondered, when I saw that they’d changed the name to Sticky Gator prior to their grand opening, did they do so because I wasn’t the only person whose mind went straight to the gutter?

But nah, I came to find out it was a cease and desist, as there is already a Sticky Fingers chain on the East Coast. Nannini looks on the bright side: “I worked on our alligator mascot, ‘Sticky’ for a long time to get him just right for our New Orleans, Louisiana swamp-themed restaurant, and so it actually worked out great because our customers love our alligator and our T-shirts.”

Sticky Gator is sure to stick around with its impossible-to-miss exterior in the heart of Midtown, and its daunting mounds of fast and hearty barbecue and soul food fare. And if you’re having a bad day, Sticky Gator is the perfect place to eat your feelings.

Sticky Gator is open Monday – Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. Visit Facebook.com/stickygator or call 382-9178 for more info.

Samuel Horne’s Tavern

719 Sutter Street – Folsom

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. Most of you readers will recognize that line from the theme song to Cheers, and Samuel Horne’s Tavern, although I’d never been before, has that same welcoming, cozy and low-key vibe as the famed sitcom Boston bar. But Samuel Horne’s beer game is strong—clearly craft beers are their focus although they also have a full bar and serve great food. Situated on Sutter street in Folsom, an already old-timey location with rows of Gold Rush-era historic buildings, Samuel Horne’s Tavern nails it with their beer list and gives even a new customer that second-home feeling.

At the end of this month, Samuel Horne’s celebrates its fifth anniversary, and has planned a five-day celebration chock-full of beer-centric events (at the bottom of this page). Judging by the great experience I had there, Sam Horne’s is here to stay, and well worth the trip.

Before even entering the tavern, I was in love with the atmosphere surrounding it. I’ve never ventured to Old Folsom before, and I was gushing to photographer Liz about how freaking rad it is. Once inside, they had me hook, line and sinker.

There are brown leather booths lining the side walls, and two high tops that seat six apiece down the middle. There are only three stools along the wooden bar that butts up against the kitchen at the back. The decor feels homey, like an old world tavern. On the side wall by the bar, each beer has its own square chalkboard sign, listing the beer name, place of origin, ABV percentage and a spectrum of how pale, malty and hoppy the beer is. Other signage throughout the tavern describes “How to Enjoy Your Beer Without Being a Beer Snob,” and explains how seating and ordering works.

The bartender was a cool brunette named Bri who was helpful, informative, to the point and had a good sense of humor coupled with a twinkle in her eye. Her business card said “RHBOW” as her title. I asked her what that meant, to which she replied, “We had a bad review on yelp once, and I used to be a redhead, and they called me ‘Red-headed Bitch on Wheels.’”

It was difficult to decide what to order, because everything from the food to the beer looked amazing. We finally decided on the bartender-recommended Cootie Burger, which has pepperjack cheese, raw spinach, serrano aioli and fiery roasted serrano chilies, all topped with an over-easy egg. It was served with perfectly crisp, slightly greasy and plenty salty shoestring fries. We also got the mac and cheese with jalapeño bacon, and a soft pretzel with basil aioli, garlic aioli, lemon aioli and pub cheese dipping sauces. To drink, we had the Old Republic Frontier from Nevada City, an ale on the pale and malty side; the Lagunitas Born Yesterday fresh hop IPA from Petaluma; and two shots of tequila (the finest well variety), always a good jump start to a girl’s night out.

Old Republic’s Frontier is a smooth, mellow ale with distinguishable yet not overpowering hoppy and malty notes. Lagunitas’ Born Yesterday is in-your-face hoppy and sweet, and was akin to drinking a wet bag of nugs—like some good ass weed, not bammer shit.

The gluttonous Cootie Burger was medium rare, and the drippy fried egg oozed down the salty assemblage. The mac and cheese with added jalapeño bacon was gratuitously delicious, and the pretzel was cooked perfectly and livened up to gourmet status by the accompanying dips.

I was duly impressed with the food; but most of all, the energy of the place and the beer is what really sold me and will keep me going back.

Behind the bar, the “Buy a Pal a Pint” chalkboard hangs, listing the names of people for whom someone has paid it forward and shelled out for a friend to enjoy a beer on them. Explains owner Dylan Mauro, “People love it, they love to see their names up there, and if someone buys them a beer, they love buying a beer for someone else. It’s something that works in with what the feel of the whole place is about.”

Just about every week, Sam’s hosts some kind of event focused on a different brewery. A representative might come and feature a few different local beers, encouraging customers to try something new. Whenever possible, a charity benefits from these events, something that furthers the feel-good nature of the tavern.

In spite of its charm and super tight location, Sam’s went through some tough times. “We went through the whole revitalization of historic Folsom, and that was a huge challenge,” Mauro says. “It was tough to get down here, and that kind of turned people off. Then the way that a tavern runs, too—no table service. It takes our clientele getting used to, it’s not the norm in the United States. You can finish your food and don’t have to leave; we’re not turning over tables like a traditional restaurant.”

Mauro weighs in on why he opened up shop, and what it means to be celebrating Sam Horne’s fifth year. “The idea was to have it be based on a European home-away-from-home kind of feel. I’ve always been in the beer business, and this was something that I’d always wanted to do. The timing was right; I started it up at the newest wave of craft beer taking off. The people that come here are anyone looking for that kind of atmosphere. It’s attractive to the younger crowd who wants to have quality beer and hang out, but we get a more mature clientele too because they don’t have to deal with loud music and people getting crazy. Our passion is for local craft beers. For our fifth anniversary, we want to say thanks to the people that have gotten us here.”

5 ways to celebrate Sam Horne’s big 5

Sunday, Nov. 30
Sam Horne’s bartenders will compile a list of their favorite cocktails and a dollar from each one sold will benefit the Folsom Cordova Partnership charity.

Monday, Dec. 1
Sam Horne’s love those who love great beer, so bring in a receipt from another local beer joint and they will give you 10 percent off your bill.

Tuesday, Dec. 2
BBQ Appreciation Day. Regulars, locals, brewery folks, distributor folks—everyone is welcome to enjoy some BBQ.

Wednesday, Dec. 3
Sam’s trivia with trivia about Sam’s, with awesome prizes.

Thursday, Dec. 4
Sam’s big blowout!!! Guest bartenders (carefully chosen from a list of past employees), will pour rare, specialty beers that Sam’s has squirrelled away, as well as some local beers Sam’s staff brewed together.