Gingerbread castles, oh my.
Have you ever built a castle out of graham crackers? a gnome home out of gum drops? a fairy dwelling out of Sweet Tarts? Well, now’s your chance! Camellia Waldorf School invites you to build a gingerbread house or other architectural curiosity to be displayed at the school’s Winter Faire on Saturday, December 12.
Join other local architects and nonprofit organizations — such as Mercy Housing, Tubman House, and My Sister’s House — in this fun community event. You can create something from your imagination, copy a famous architectural wonder, or stick with the classic “gingerbread house” form. Just be sure to HAVE FUN and commit to turning in your gingerbread creation on or around December 11th, the day before the Winter Faire.
Participation is free, and we can help provide basic supplies if needed.
Please see attached flyer for details. Thank you.
Nancy Ciraulo
Parent Volunteer
Camellia Waldorf School
ciraulo@stanfordalumni.org
Idea Fair at the 12th Annual State of Downtown Breakfast.
The Capital Creative Collective will be hosting the first ever Sacramento Idea Fair in partnership with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. The Idea Fair is a new annual event that is designed to showcase the best breakout ideas for the greater Sacramento region. The Idea Fair will be displayed at the Annual State of Downtown Breakfast, for all the major stakeholders in the downtown region including elected officials, private developers, property owners and other prominent community members. The Idea Fair will be held on two separate dates, the first being a social Tweetup on December 15th, at the MIX Downtown from 4-6pm. The second and main event will be held on January the 19th, 2010 at the Memorial Auditorium from 8-10am.
If you would like to participate in this event and submit one of your concepts for entry or for more information, please contact Jake Favour at Jake@rompcreative.com. The final display format is limited to one (1) presentation board set on a easel. Presentations should be mounted on a board 24″ x 36″. You will be required to be present for setup and tear down before and after each event as well as be present during the event for discussion. The Idea Fair is seeking unique new concepts for architecture, landscaping, art, design, installations and other conceptual proposals geared towards improving lifestyle and culture in the greater Sacramento region.
Presentation materials can be found at:
1612 Howe Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 641-6400
2601 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 443-5721
Printing can done at:
- Brownies Reprographics
- 1322 V Street
- Sacramento, CA 95818
- Phone: (916) 443-1322
- Fax: (916) 443-4370
- central@browniesrepro.com
RE: ANNUAL STATE OF DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO
Please join us for the 12th Annual State of Downtown Breakfast as we identify opportunities and nationwide trends to accelerate downtown revitalization featuring keynote address from Mayor John Hickenlooper of Denver, CO.
| When: | Tuesday, January 19, 2010 8am – 10am |
Add to calendar |
| Where: | Memorial Auditorium 1515 J Street Map |
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| More Info: | $600 – Reserved table for 10, floor seating (includes breakfast)$60 – Single seat, floor seating (includes breakfast)$35 – Gallery Seating (program only)
To purchase tickets, call 916-442-8575 or email dsp@downtownsac.org. |
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ABOUT THE STATE OF DOWNTOWN BREAKFAST
Produced by the DSP, the event attracts an audience of 500 business professionals and community leaders. The State of Downtown previews downtown revitalization initiatives and projects, and serves as a catalyst for exchanging ideas and prioritizing goals for the central business district. In 2006, the State of Downtown earned distinction from the 1400 member IDA Association (IDA) and was presented a Merit Award for Organizational Communications at the annual IDA conference. The International Downtown Association has honored exemplary projects in the field of downtown revitalization for 23 years.
Business Volunteers for the Arts Training program.
Hello,
We are hosting a training for professionals who are interested in volunteering some time for regional arts organizations. A special feature of next month’s training is a project management overview for both arts clients and prospective volunteers. If you would be so kind, please pass this on to your associates and sign up to attend on December 2nd. You can simply reply to this email to RSVP if you like. Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving!
Love the Arts? Play a Part!
Business Volunteers for the Arts Training
Wednesday, December 2nd
3pm – 7pm
2114 P St., 2nd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95816
Featuring an optional special project management refresher course for arts managers and volunteers!
The Arts and Business Council is holding a Winter ‘09 volunteer training and project management refresher course for the Business Volunteers for the Arts (BVA) program. New volunteers are needed in the areas of marketing, fund development, IT, accounting and more.
Project Management Refresher Course: 3p-5:30p
For Arts Organizations AND new Volunteers
Maximize BVA project collaboration, efficiency, effectiveness and impact
Learn simple project management techniques that anyone can apply professionally or personally
$15 for materials and resources
Business Volunteers and Arts Client Networking: 5:30-6p
Jump start potential projects by meeting fellow volunteers and arts managers
Enjoy pizza provided by ABCS pARTner HOT ITALIAN
Business Volunteers for the Arts Training: 6-7:30p
For new volunteers who want to learn about contributing their expertise to the arts community
Learn about the BVA program and how the “matching” process works
Hear from current volunteers and arts clients about their experiences
Get to know the Arts and Business Council
Free to attend
Please join us! RSVP to megan@sacabc.org by DECEMBER 1ST. Pre-registration is required. More information is available http://www.sacabc.org or by calling 916-442-2005.
Best,
Michelle Alexander
Arts & Business Council of Sacramento
Executive Director
Phone: (916) 442-2005
Email: michelle@sacabc.org
Web: www.sacabc.org
Mail: 2030 Del Paso Blvd.
Sacramento CA 95815
*Please note our new phone number is 916.442.2005
Gary Hustwit’s Objectified film on PBS [Friday]!
US television premiere on PBS!
We’re pleased to announce that Objectified will have its US television debut (a shortened version, 53 minutes versus the original 75) this Tuesday, November 24th on PBS, as part of the Emmy Award-winning series Independent Lens. Check your local listings for exact show time/date in your city. PBS has launched an Objectified mini-site and come up with yet another cute game (remember What Font Are You? for the Helvetica broadcast?) to go along with the film’s premiere: play Which Object Are You?
**My bad…it is actually this Friday at 8pm. Sorry for the mix-up

Herd behavior
I have seen this sign at the Freeway Farmers Market every time I have visited in the past few years. It appears to be the same sign reused every week, over and over again. Every time I see it, I get that sinking feeling like there is a terrible wrong being done and something should be done about it. Mind you, it’s not like a violent act is being committed (other than on the English language), but there it is, on display, people pass by, or look, many not realizing what they are seeing. This time I took a picture with my cellphone. What I see is what happens when people don’t care or get lazy. I’m not talking about the creator of the sign. Their concern about the sign is only that it conveys the limited amount of information necessary to sell the product. And it does, in its own quirky way. Everyone knows what the product is- it’s not an exotic vegetable and it is bound in bunches, not intended to be separated and sold as individual units. It’s price point is clearly within the range of a dollar, not as much as five or as implausible as fifty. But there is a disconnect.
Droves of intellectuals and creatives that pass this sign on a weekly basis allow this sign to perpetuate. I know this sign bothers you, as it should. It should bother you because you know that good design makes a difference in the happiness and well-being of a society. But you turn your head and ignore it. There are no signs like this at the Ferry Plaza Market in San Francisco, and our local produce is as good or better than what you find in the City. The difference is the culture. San Franciscans have a sense of pride that extends into the realm of design. I argue that if ‘c50 oninos’ were on sale in San Francisco, one of their bright minds would make a stink. It’s time for Sacramentans to step up and do the same.
Will you be that one to make a difference and help a hard working farmer improve their business, maybe just a little, by providing a replacement for this cardboard and sharpie debacle? Maybe there is something else in your environment that is easy to change and that change would make life just a little better?
Designer Pint Night – November
Tomorrow night is Designer Pint Night for the month of November. I wanted to extend a special invitation for this months pint night as a lot of things have been culminating over the last few months. This month is special for a number of reasons. First off we had a very small turn out last month due to the huge storm that came the night before. It was dark and stormy and all a bit ominous and the only people that came out were the die hards. So I wanted to push for larger attendance. Secondly, we wrapped up a three night Pecha Kucha event on Saturday ngiht and had our best turnout ever with well over a hundred attendees gatthered in the dark cold night in front of the MARRS building.
We also have a number or things taking shape as a direct result of the Capital Creative Collective. We’ve been tentatively asked to host an Idea Fair. We’re also working on some creative new art installation pieces around Sacramento and some other very progressive new development projects. We’re also working on launching the new CCC website with a whole host of features that you my find valuable. I will be discussing these things and more tomorrow night, so i’d like to make a special request and ask that you come out tomorrow night and bring your friends with you as we will be asking for volunteers and the submission of ideas. Come one, come all and participate in a wonderful collective movement to reshape our city into a design mecca, and it starts with a beer and a conversation.

Pecha Kucha Night(s)
This week Sacramento experienced a whirlwind three night long Pecha Kucha extravaganza. It began at Level Up Lounge on Thursday night, it was a beautiful fall night and a few dozen people showed up for the show. We heard from Brian Schmitt, Scott Vaughn, Laura & Justin Wood & Claire Obenson and the topics ranged from sculpture, fishing, illustration and the Panama Canal. Night two was slightly different scene, held at the Urban Hive in midtown. PK Night two had over 70 people turn out to hear from the likes of Ian Merker, Dennis Don, James Lane, Travis Sheridan, Angie Coughlin and Mr. Coughlin. The momentum was building and each night was getting progressively better. The third and final evening was held outside at the MARRS building. We presented in front of the main space, and saw well over a hundred spectators stopped in to hear our message. The final lineup included Mike Malinowski, Marvin Maldonado, Parker Scott, Robyn Waxman, Don Button, Aaron Winters and Alex Trujillo.
All three night Alex Trujillo from Visao Media laid down the tracks. The energy was high and we all had great time. The presentations were really exciting. We learned about the history of skate parks, urban farming, graphic design as fine art, artwork, urban infill architecture and the resurrection of the historic Stockton Hotel. PK Night was an absolute blast this time around and if you missed it. Fear not because it will be popping up again very soon.

10th & K Street Hotel Project
It looks as though Toni Giannoni will continue to pursue building a 165-room hotel in downtown Sacramento at the corner of K & 10th Street even though the 8th & K hotel proposal is still moving forward. It’s anticipated to be an urban style Marriot designed by the renowned hotel designer Marc Hornberger who has also designed the W hotels in San Francisco. This hotel concept includes a pool, approximately 8,000 square feet of meeting space, and downstairs bar and lobby area with grab and go food service, as well as ground floor retail along K Street. The proposed Courtyard by Marriot would be a 12-story, upscale, select service hotel with a sophisticated urban design.
The development team is the 10th and K Street Hotel Investors, LLC, which is a partnership of local developers with a strong track record of development in Sacramento. The partnership includes Brian Larson who was part of the development team for the Citizen Hotel, Jim Brennan who recently completed the office condominium project at 1001 K Street, and Toni Giannoni who has a long development history in Sacramento including Meridian Plaza and the recently completed Marriott Residence Inn at 15 th and L Streets.
The total development cost is estimated to be $43 million. In today’s capital market this project can expect to attract an estimated $22 million in conventional financing and $11 million in equity investment, leaving a development gap of $10 million. City staff has begun researching public funding options to assist in the development of this project.
On Tuesday November 3rd, the city will authorize city staff to evaluate several options to fund the gap of $10 million with the posibility of a Transit Occupancy Tax (TOT) fund or to also use the Recovery Zone Facilities Bonds made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The bonds allow for lower financing rates, but require some sort of financial backing from the City or the Agency. City staff is working with the City Treasurer, the Budget Office, and the City Manager to investigate the possibility of utilizing this unique bonding opportunity.
Another option is a HUD 108 loan for approximately $4.7 million combined with a second loan for the remaining $5.3 million. City staff would also investigate potential resources within the City and Agency that could be utilized as capital for the second loan.
In either financing scenario, the City or Agency issued bonds or loans would be repaid or the payments pledged would secure the developer’s financing.
If the City Council approves the recommendations to move forward, this will allow city staff to further investigate the financial feasibility of the hotel project so that more formal business terms can be presented at a later date. With this authorization, the developers would expend funds to further refine the hotel concept and result in moving the proposed project forward. Via Livinginurbansac
1024 Squares installation | flylyf
Another amazing example of light, technology, imagination and space.






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