Do it yourself, Sactown
Sometimes it seems like the entertainment options in Sactown are relatively passive: We go somewhere, have a drink and watch a performance or show of some sort in silence. The performing artist may or may not engage with the audience, and the members of an audience may or may not be encouraged to bob their heads or dance. This week, however, there are plenty of chances to change the way we interact with our entertainment. A handful of pretty cool events—all featuring DIY arts or some sort of interactivity—will give Sactown residents a chance to create their own fun and entertainment.
On Saturday, April 11, the second annual Indie Arcade Gaming Expo (www.indiearcade.org) presents a number of local, independently created video games for the public to demo and play. There will also be a number of local guest speakers, retro and current generation video game tournaments, and live music from Petriform and the Reno Video Game Symphony. It happens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at neighboring event spaces Cafe Colonial (3512 Stockton Boulevard) and The Colony (3520 Stockton Boulevard). Tickets are $7 for students and $15 for the general public.
Speaking of home-programming, young and aspiring computer programmers ages 8 to 16 can visit the Franklin Community Library (1055 Franklin High Road in Elk Grove) to learn Scratch (https://scratch.mit.edu), a programming language invented at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The event is free, and so is Scratch, which can be used to create stories, games and animations. This Scratch class happens from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 10, and laptops are provided.
The Verge Center for the Arts (625 S Street, www.vergeart.com) hosts a pair of cool classes this week: one called “Record Making: The Vinyl Revival,” and another called “Mobile Mill.” The former ($20-$25, 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15) shows people the process of vinyl record making—including mastering, pressing, and packaging. And the “Mobile Mill” class is a two-day paper-making class ($65-$85, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, and Sunday, April 12) that’ll teach people how to get pulp from recyclables, and make block prints. It’s taught by Jillian Bruchera of mobile paper-making studio the Mobile Mill.
—Jonathan Mendick
Sacramento Dog Show
Thursday, April 9, through Sunday, April 12
For those who have never witnessed an official dog show, know that this is serious business. The breeders of animals ranging from Afghan hounds to Icelandic sheepdogs are very much involved with their canine friends and spend all year grooming and tending to their little friend’s every need. This is an all-day event so bring some extra money for food and drink. $7.50, various times at Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Boulevard; http://sacramentodogshow.com.
—Eddie Jorgensen
Fight for the Climb
Saturday, April 11
A different kind of fundraiser with high-rising aspirations will raise money for the American Lung Association of California. The annual Fight for the Climb “vertical road race” will test participants’ own lung capacity as they ascend the stairways of the 34-floor, 423-foot Wells Fargo Building, the Capital City’s tallest. Early registration is recommended, but climbers may also register on the spot. $25, 8 a.m. at the Wells Fargo Building, 400 Capitol Mall; www.lung.org/pledge-events/ca/sacramento-climb-fy15.
—Alan Sheckter
Slow Art Day
Saturday, April 11
So often at museums, there’s so much to see, we breeze by each piece after giving it maybe 10 seconds of our time. But is that enough time to soak in the intricacies of the artwork? Slow Art Day, a global event which Crocker Art Museum is participating in, intends to combat this impulse by inviting people into various museums and savoring five pieces of art for 10 minutes each, and then meeting with other attendees afterward over lunch to discuss their experiences. $10, 10:30 a.m. at the Crocker Art Museum, 216 O Street, www.crockerartmuseum.org.
—Aaron Carnes
The Sacramento Ball Sack and Beer Fest
Saturday, April 11
The name might sound a little crass, but it’s actually a family-friendly event, and for a good cause: raising awareness and money for the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation. The event has an old-timey country-fair theme (but with appropriately silly games, like pin the ‘balls’ on the donkey and potato ‘sack’ races), and of course for the adults, lots of craft beers to sample. $10-$30, noon at Wake Island Watersports, 7633 Locust Road in Pleasant Grove; www.sacramentoballsackandbeerfest.com.
—Aaron Carnes
Coronation Ball
Saturday, April 11
The annual events hosted by The Court of the Great Northwest Imperial Empire on behalf of the LGBT community begin on Friday. The main attraction is the Coronation Ball on Saturday when Emperor XLI Matthew Bunch and Regent Empresses Paul Domemoore Crouch and Kristara Chastain end their reigns and pass their crowns to the next Emperor and Empresses. $40, 6 p.m. at Sacramento Inn and Suites, 1401 Arden Way; www.cgnie.org.
