Events & Activities

Like beauty being in the eye of the beholder, art is all about perspective. Kennedy Gallery's new exhibit of art in the styles of neomod and cubism is a true conversation starter.

Neomod and Cubism features works from over 20 resident artists and three floors of open studios in the heart of Midtown’s entertainment district. Second Saturday extended hours feature a full-service no-host bar.

In August, Viewpoint Photographic Art Center is proud to present three new photographers to the gallery: Juliet Haas: Marionettes and Other Ghosts of Vision, Jing Lin: Solitary, Michael Kelly-Dewitt: Off Kilter.

Juliet Haas’ Marionettes and Other Ghosts of Vision reflects a vintage noir aesthetic with saturation of color and realism in a modern digital capture. Her imagery is reminiscent of a somber ballet menagerie complete with solo portraits of dancers, mad scientists, doctors, civilians, and Elliot Ness look alikes depicted in abandoned lofts and hallways. Film scenes and gritty cinematic locations fastening with the character portraits hints at what role these souls might have played in this space, the "Ghosts" of this seemingly haunted, former railroad employee hospital, rumored psyche ward, that are now instilled in dismal terrains perpetually. Each character portrayal represents the artist in one instance in each scene, as they tell their own story while encapsulating her feelings of melancholy, isolation and dynamic identity.

Jing Lin’s series Solitary showcases nature in an innocent yet fragile grayscale landscape. Vanishing park paths into darkness, a broken chair left along a shore, unkempt angel statues. Jing created a world wherein the parks are not lively and colorful but lonely and desolate. Her interest in this project grew from the tension between documenting nature landscapes and the fictional stories they tell. Using the gum bichromate process Jing subtracts the realism of the photographs to enhance the narrative of a world that doesn't exist. Her objective is to evaluate the prominence of being unique individual captive in her own consciousness.

Michael Kelly-Dewitt photographs his subjects in a high resolution digital process complete with portraits, nature, and architecture. His use of the macro lens focuses on the details of architectural anatomy. Labyrinth patterns of the stacked bricks, pattern mosaics of roof tiles, the shining stratified windowed walls of a skyscraper, or the curvaceous rotunda of Capitol Building validating his appreciation of detail.

Kristy Peet photographs Objects Collected from various friends, family and other participants. Kristy takes stunning images of eclectic objects in the space they are hosted in. The images demonstrate common characteristics between the owners and the objects themselves. The relationship between environment and object formulate an impression of the person who owns the object. For example, do artists choose aesthetically interesting objects? Do older people choose something sentimental ? Do introverts have more colorful walls? The objects serve as a totem or punctum of the owner’s life.

It is the semifinals of the U.S. Open and rising Russian tennis player Sergei faces the former six-time champ, aging All-American Tim Porter. In Anna Ziegler’s incendiary play, witness the entire match through the minds of these fierce warriors. As each point is played, we learn what goes on in the heads of the players, the relationships and life decisions that focus them to win or cause them to stumble.

In this exciting and whip smart play, the tennis match becomes more than just a game and becomes an insight into the mind of the elite athlete.

The Midtown Association is partnering with Humani Pilates Studio to offer free Pilates classes to the public on the 3rd Wednesday of the month on the north lawn of Fremont Park. The classes will feature an instructor who will guide a class through various Pilates movements. This event is open to members of the community of all skill and experience levels.

The Midtown Association and Yoga Moves Us are pleased to offer a one hour free yoga class each Tuesday and Thursday evening, April through September on the north lawn of Fremont Park. Rotating Yoga professionals will guide you through an hour long class where you can build your yoga skills.

Midtown’s yoga classes are free and open to guests of all ages and ability levels. Attendees are encouraged to bring yoga mats, water bottles and a friend or two if they choose.

B Street brings the Anna Sewell classic, Black Beauty to the stage for the first time this summer! As we embark on a journey through Beauty’s eyes, we see that all creatures deserve our kindness, respect, and love. One of the best-selling novels of all time, Black Beauty, will be an unforgettable theatrical experience for you and your family.

Note: This performance is recommended for Ages 5 and up.

Short Cuts is a fast-paced, game-based improv show similar to Whose Line is it Anyway?. Fun, short-form improv games and a great cast of performers will ensure that this is one show that you won’t want to miss!

Claire has a rare form of psychogenic amnesia that erases her memory whenever she goes to sleep. This morning, like all mornings, she wakes up a blank slate. Her chipper husband comes in with a cup of coffee, explains her condition, hands her a book filled with all sorts of essential information, and he disappears into the shower. A limping, lisping, half-blind, half-deaf man in a ski mask, pops out from under her bed and claims to be her brother, there to save her. Every twist and turn in this funhouse plot bring Claire closer to revealing her past life and everything she thought she'd forgotten. It's one harrowing and hilarious turn after another on this roller coaster ride through the day of an amnesiac trying to decipher her fractured life.

YOU! The Musical is a completely improvised musical inspired by your suggestion of a title. Everything in the show is made up on the spot—lyrics, music, dancing -- everything. Each 60-minute performance features a full story with heroes and villains, sidekicks, and allies.

Eric Roberson is a singer, songwriter and producer from Rahway, New Jersey. He is sometimes referred to simply as Erro, the name which he later used as part of his label Blue Erro Soul.

Hosted by the Midtown Association and managed by Unseen Heroes, this free, family-friendly market takes place year-round, every Saturday, on 20th street between J and L streets.

The Midtown Farmers Market showcases local agriculture, prepared foods, artisans and crafters, while providing an opportunity for Midtown residents and business owners to discover regionally grown foods. Anchored in the heart of Midtown, the market serves as a lively and fun gathering place where Sacramentans can come together to shop and enjoy the community with neighbors and visitors alike.

Join Fitness Rangers for free Bootcamp classes in Midtown's Parks! During the month of August, they will host Pop-Up Bootcamp classes in a different park.

Transform your mind and body in this signature Bootcamp class. A mixture of calisthenic exercises, body weight, interval, and strength training, this Bootcamp is designed for all fitness levels. This class will push you further than you thought you were capable of with the help of knowledgeable instructors.

Schedule:
-8/3: Winn Park
-8/10: Sutter's Fort Park (Southwest Lawn near 26th & L Streets)
-8/17: Marshall Park
-8/24: Fremont Park

All participants must complete a participation waiver. Download the waiver here.

MRI (Masters of Rap Improv) is Sacramento Comedy Spot’s only freestyle rap improv show. The cast of MRI gets a one-word suggestion from an audience member to inspire a freestyle rap, then performs improvised scenes based on the rap. If you like hip hop and improv, this is the show for you!

Anti-Cooperation League is a crazy, weird, high-energy, fast-paced improv show. Each week, the cast interviews a special guest and then creates scenes inspired by the interview. Guests range from Hollywood players to our friend Emily, who is just damn interesting. Join them for the longest-running comedy show in Sacramento, entertaining the masses since 2007!

Join us for brunch, drinks and a reading of Christmas Service by Tate Hanyok! Food will be provided complimentary.

We all know that iconic scene where Scrooge calls to the boy on Christmas morning -- “Is the Christmas goose still hanging in the window? Go and buy it and if you hurry back there’s a pound in it for you!” What a heartwarming story, right? But what about that sucker who has to work at that shop and actually sell that goose on Christmas morning? No one eeeever thinks about him. So here’s a tale of six millennials whose lives intertwine through the hustle and bustle of the gig economy on Christmas Eve.

Company Members Dave Pierini, Tara Sissom, Stephanie Altholz and guests perform classic long-form improvisation for a late-night audience. Coming out of Chicago’s comedy scene, the Harold has been used by famous improv groups like Second City which developed comedic talent such as Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell and Tina Fey. Based off an audience suggestion, performers will create a one-night-only improvised play, so every performance will be unique!

As an exciting caveat, if we do achieve “maximum occupancy” aka a sell out show, we buy everyone pizza!

Ex-cop and recent widower Walter “Pops” Washington and his newly paroled son Junior have spent a lifetime living between Riverside Drive and crazy. But now, the NYPD is demanding his signature to close an outstanding lawsuit, the landlord wants him out, the liquor store is closed -- and the church won’t leave him alone. When the struggle to keep one of New York City’s last great rent-stabilized apartments collides with old wounds, sketchy new houseguests, and a final ultimatum, it seems that the old days may be dead and gone.

This event will also feature CapChats, which expand on your theatre-going experience with stimulating conversations with Capital Stage staff and the production’s artists. This free event is offered after select performances of each production.

Popa Chubby, born Ted Horowitz, has been hard rocking the blues in his fierce and soulful way for more than 25 years. Over the course of a career that dates back to 1994, he has been a force to be reckoned with on the guitar, and his tempestuous, soulful playing has never been more powerful. An imposing figure with a shaven head, tattooed arms, a goatee and a performance style he describes as “the Stooges meets Buddy Guy, Motörhead meets Muddy Waters, and Jimi Hendrix meets Robert Johnson,” Popa Chubby is an endearing character who is one of the genre’s most popular figures.

Stories on Stage Sacramento loves “emerging” writers -- writers either on the cusp of a brilliant career, or local writers who have been quietly dazzling us for years. This month, Stories on Stage presents two such authors -- Jenn Alandy Trahan and Diane Kallas. Jenn’s a Stegner Fellow and Vallejo native: Diane’s a teacher and a longtime Davis resident. Their stories are: They Told Us Not To Say This, by Jenn Alendy Trahan, and Spud, by Diane Kallas. These tales are compelling, stunning, luminous -- truly in the spirit of our motto -- “electrifying prose, crackling theatre.”

Each Labor Day Weekend, Chalk It Up! turns Fremont Park into an explosion of chalk art masterpieces, live music, public art, and community engagement. Since 1991, the Chalk It Up! festival has turned into a hugely popular regional event that brings over 60,000 people to Fremont Park over the three-day weekend.

The main attraction of the Chalk It Up! festival are the hundreds of sidewalk chalk paintings that are created over the course of the weekend. Supported by our generous Square Sponsors, and brought to life by our talented Volunteer Artists, these squares turn from gray concrete paths to beautiful expressions of artistic vision. These chalk masterpieces are started on the first day of the festival and the public is encouraged to watch their progress throughout the weekend.

The Chalk It Up! festival features over 75 arts and craft booths and nearly two dozen food vendors. Experience an amazing array of locally created art, custom jewelry, and clothing. And if you get hungry, Chalk It Up has multiple food trucks and smaller food vendors serving up a wide variety of tasty and healthy food options.

Antsy McClain is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter and humorist with 18 albums under his belt. Hailing from Pine View Heights, the little trailer park that time forgot, Antsy combines his unique mix of masterful storytelling and catchy, unforgettable songs with a warm, self deprecating sense of humor. Master musicians like Lindsay Buckingham and Tommy Emmanuel have shared the stage with Antsy McClain or played on his albums, and lent their support in immeasurable ways. Tommy Smothers, who has performed on stage with Antsy, appearing on his albums, etc., has said, “Antsy McClain is one of America’s great poets. We may not realize that til after he’s dead, but he’s a great poet.”

McClain has toured for twenty years with the California-based Trailer Park Troubadours, a band of friendly outlaws who play to the beat of a different drum, blending humorous antics with masterful musicianship and creating a carefree and fun-filled experience for all ages.