Author: CoolDMZ

"X-ray vision to see in between / Where's my kimono and my time machine?"

Unnamed British boy wizard themed fun [PHOTOS]

The Game Guy pointed out that unless Fairy Tale Town has extremely deep pockets or lots of political firepower, their “Harry Potter” night is a bazillion dollar licensing lawsuit waiting to happen. Despite the threat of legal action, a good time was had by all.

Lots of kids ran around in Hogwarts robes and Gryffindor ties, which was cute. Some cosplaying grownups, including a Snape/Voledemort/Tonks/Mad-Eye Moody family, a Dobby mask, and awesome Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy couple’s costume. The trivia contest game show was a hoot; the showing I attended was won by an 8 year old in Quidditch robes, sitting on his dad’s lap. A few photos after the jump.

Continue reading “Unnamed British boy wizard themed fun [PHOTOS]”

Think Big not thinking about the little people?

from thinkbigsacramento.com

Not too proud about that headline. Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy’s poll about the use of City funds to bankroll the new arena showed overwhelming public support for going to the ballot box, the Bee reports today. However, Think Big Sacramento, the Mayor’s initiative aimed at making the arena happen, calls the poll suspicious. Apparently they have their own poll that contradicts Sheedy’s:

Chris Lehane, head of the mayor’s Think Big Sacramento commission, pointed to a poll his group commissioned in August that found majority support for selling some city land, and for leasing city parking garages as part of a potential financing plan.

Supporting putting it to a vote and supporting some of those uses don’t seem to be diametrically opposed, but I’d have to see the questions on both polls. The Bee doesn’t supply those.

Continue reading “Think Big not thinking about the little people?”

Wilco @ Mondavi Center, February 1

WILCO
Creative Commons License photo credit: planetadelcangrejo

American rock god Jeff Tweedy and his band Wilco will be making an appearance in Davis at the Mondavi Center next year. The show on February 1 is part of their U.S. tour this Winter for “The Whole Love,” their 8th studio album, which was released last month.

I’ve given “The Whole Love” a few spins and it is a big, bad-ass record. The tickets for the Mondavi show are $45 and they go on sale Friday (pre-sale starts Thursday) … Is that a lot? I haven’t paid for a concert ticket in ages. But Wilco coming to town is enough to get my to break that trend.

Wilco
with White Denim
Wednesday, Feb 1 2010 @ 8:00 PM
Mondavi Center for the Arts
Davis, CA
Tickets: $45 at Another Planet Entertainment
WilcoWorld.net

“Activist Mayor” sees no need to discuss City business?

Apparently Mayor Johnson is dealing with some flak about his less-than-stellar attendance at city council meetings. However, I don’t think he should deal with this situation by letting his campaign spokesman Steve Maviglio do any actual spokesmanship:

“Kevin Johnson puts more energy, time and enthusiasm into the mayor’s job in a week than his predecessor did in a year,” Maviglio said. “There’s a lot more to being an activist mayor than banging a gavel at a dull City Council meeting where minutia is discussed.”

As the great Dirk Calloway said: “With friends like that, who needs friends?”

Harry Potter themed fun at Fairytale Town!

If you’re looking for the nerdiest holiday gathering around, look no further than Fairytale Town’s “Safe & Super Halloween: The Magical World of Harry Potter.” The event, which starts Friday and runs Friday & Saturday of this week and next, not only has Hogwarts themed candy hunting and special guests, but there is also a Harry Potter trivia contest in the puppet theater stage. Now there’s a trivia night I can win without bringing a posse!

My daughter only recently caught the Potter bug, so we are still way into this stuff. If I have time after constructing working Quidditch player’s uniforms for the kids you’ll catch me there in a kickass Mad Eye Moody cosplay outfit. But now that I think about it, maybe I’ll convince Mrs Cool to go as Tonks and show up as tweedy werewolf Remus Lupin?

Safe & Super Halloween: The Magical World of Harry Potter
Friday & Saturday
October 21 – 22 & October 28 – 29
5PM – 9PM
Tickets are $7 for members and $10 for nonmembers, children 1 and under are free.
Ticket prices increase on October 21 ($9 members/ $12 nonmembers).
Trivia contest is an additional $1 for members and $2 for nonmembers.

Family art festival this weekend


Harley White Jr. Orchestra, via MySpace

Saturday afternoon at the MARRS building it’s the Midtown Modern Arts Festival, featuring performances and exhibits from a dozen local arts groups. Pretty much every artistic medium will be represented: visual artists; improv comedy by Sacramento Comedy Spot; Sacramento Ballet and B Street; even creative writing is getting in on it.

I heard about it from my old pal Jeff Musser, a local artist, who will be showing off some of his edgy work. There will be live music and dance, and hopefully wonderful weather as well. I guess Third Saturday afternoon is the new Second Saturday? It sounds fun!

Central city alleys to get street names

After a five year (!) process, the alleys in the central city are finally going to get street names (whats going on withthat URL?)

City officials are beginning to develop the grid’s alleys and hope to one day have cafes, housing and shops lining some of the corridors

But again, just naming them took 5 years, so don’t hold your breath.

The names will reference different aspects of our city’s history and character, like Jazz Alley, Solons Alley, and Dorothea Puente Alley. (That last one might not be real.) The alley between I and J will be named Improv Alley either after the city’s strong improv comedy scene, or as its status as the birthplace of Wayne Brady. (Also made up.)

Anybody got some alternative names that were not considered, but have comedic value?

Sac Press lays off two, including Barton

Yesterday David Watts Barton reported on Sacramento Press that he had been let go by the new media company, in a story RanSACkedmedia.com had reported the day before. Also let go was Director of Events and Marketing Denise Coleman, according to RanSACkedmedia.com.

Barton, who before his stint at Sac Press was a longtime Bee entertainment writer, was the guy who interviewed me in November of 2005 and I’d say that kind of put us on the map. (“Heckasac calls bullshit.” Ha, good times.) He has some interesting things to say in the piece, about the growing pains at the Press and its commitment to citizen journalism. I think it is reasonable to speculate that a cost cutting move like this could/would be done in pursuit of a major outside investment, as DWB suggests.

This citizen wishes both of these folks good luck in the future.

See food inspection placards on your smartphone

All greens for Midtown... from this height at least

Remember how much fun we had 6 years ago talking about food inspection results? Yeah, I do too. Good times. Well now there’s an app for that. Except it’s not an app, it’s a mobile-friendly website. But it does use the GPS feature of your phone to show you the placards of restaurants near you. Pretty neat!

Six years ago was before there was a phrase “there’s an app for that” right? Good times indeed. By the way, Rice Bowl seems to be back in the green.