{"id":1659,"date":"2015-09-17T03:43:00","date_gmt":"2015-09-17T03:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/acloserlookmedia.com\/?p=1659"},"modified":"2024-04-14T03:44:42","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T03:44:42","slug":"best-of-sacramento-2015-arts-entertainment-writers-picks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/acloserlookmedia.com\/?p=1659","title":{"rendered":"Best of Sacramento 2015: Arts & Entertainment writers\u2019 picks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Launch
Launch a dance, dance spiritual revolution at Fenix Drum and Dance Company.PHOTO BY EVAN DURAN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Best place to get some rhythm<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fenix Drum and Dance Company<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the Fenix Drum and Dance Company often performs live, it also teaches some wonderful classes that mix the traditions of the Caribbean with styles from West Africa and the Congo. Starting at $45 a month, you can attend one class per week and learn how to not embarrass yourself at the next hippie drum circle you encounter at a music festival. Don\u2019t know where the one count starts or what a repeating four-bar refrain means? Doesn\u2019t matter. An open mind and a pair of hands is all you need to get started on some cool African instruments. 2110 Del Paso Boulevard, www.fenixdrumanddance.com<\/a>. E.J.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best selfie-ready mural<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEverything Went Black\u201d at Warehouse Artist Lofts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you search #WarehouseArtistLofts on Instagram now, you\u2019ll scan through photos and photos and photos of unique works of art completed in the artist corridors. But earlier, when WAL first opened, most shots were of Jose Di Gregorio\u2019s \u201cEverything Went Black.\u201d More specifically, of people posing in front of Di Gregorio\u2019s \u201cEverything Went Black.\u201d The striking blend of colorful celestial imagery and Di Gregorio\u2019s signature geometric patterns\u2014plus the sheer wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling magnitude of the lobby mural\u2014leaves you in a state of awe. And then, of course, you want to snap a selfie and show your friends. 1108 R Street, www.josedigregorio.com<\/a>. J.B.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best does-it-all artistic spirit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Brickhouse Gallery & Art Complex<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Housed in a 1920s-era sheet metal building, the Brickhouse Gallery & Art Complex has been a hub of creativity in Oak Park since 1993. The charming brick exterior houses a gallery as well as artists\u2019 studios and space for performances, classes and group activities. Whether it\u2019s poetry or book readings, exhibitions, live music or meetups, the Brickhouse fosters an eclectic spirit, vibrant creativity and a do-anything vibe. 2837 36th Street, (916) 475-1240, http:\/\/thebrickhouseartgallery.com<\/a>. R.L.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best music therapy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sacramento Taiko Dan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jumping around, banging on thunderous drums and getting all sweaty\u2014that\u2019s a form of meditation, right? It is if you\u2019re a taiko drummer. The modern style of taiko drumming started in Japan after World War II and quickly spread around the world. The Sacramento Taiko Dan is one of the best groups around\u2014and not just because it has the biggest taiko drum in North America, at six feet tall and 800 pounds. If you think meditating is boring, but you still need a way to calm your mind, go take a class so you can get loud and sweaty while seeking inner peace. 2121 Blumenfeld Drive, (916) 444-5667, www.sactaiko.com<\/a>. N.B.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best hip-hop that don\u2019t stop<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Lamp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike some places we won\u2019t mention, this Midtown music venue didn\u2019t turn its back on live hip-hop immediately after that unfortunate shooting outside of a local Nipsey Hussle concert in February. Indeed, artists from the 916 have long considered Blue Lamp the place to keep it real. We asked David Crosby, host of the GRIND hip-hop showcase, to weigh in: \u201cIt\u2019s a blessing to see an owner of a club be so supportive. [Gabi Garcia] backs everything we do and exhausts all her resources so it succeeds. \u2026 Blue Lamp is one of the best venues I\u2019ve ever thrown shows at. It has the warm family vibe to it and they honestly care about their customers.\u201d 1400 Alhambra Boulevard, (916) 455-3400, www.bluelamp.com<\/a>. RFH<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best roving theater troupe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Alternative Arts Collective<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since a devastating fire uprooted it last year, the local performing and visual arts hub has relied on the kindness of stranger stages to put on its bold reinterpretations of Shakespeare classics. Last month, Carmichael\u2019s Chautauqua Playhouse lent its hardwood so TAAC could present a heavily altered adaptation of the bard\u2019s Macbeth<\/em>, featuring gender-blind casting and a harder-to-kill Lady MacBeth, among other changes. As director David Blue Garrison said at the time, \u201cThis is beneficial for both companies, and we hope to explore similar collaborations with other groups while we search for a new theater of our own.\u201d All the world\u2019s a stage, indeed. www.facebook.com\/thealternativeartscollective<\/a>. RFH<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Latin culture educator<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Latino Center of Art and Culture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t get confused: After 40 years, La Raza Galeria Posada recently changed its to the Latino Center of Art and Culture. That decision was partly to invite all cultures to celebrate Latin heritage, regardless of speaking Spanish. The organization continues to educate the community about Latin and Chicano culture through art, music and festivals. One of those fabulous festivals is its annual Dia de los Muertos celebration, which transforms the corner of 20th and J Streets into a Mexican village and graveyard. A whopping 8,000 people attend each year to indulge in a bit of Latin history. 2700 Front Street, (916) 446-5133, www.lrgp.org<\/a>. S.R.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best art show benefiting sexual assault survivors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art with a Heart<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art with a Heart annually showcases work by local artists, but there\u2019s a twist: many of the artists are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or human trafficking. All proceeds benefit My Sister\u2019s House, the only nonprofit in the area to provide culturally relevant services specific to the needs of Asian and Pacific Islander survivors. That includes a six-bed shelter and program focusing on economic independence. This year\u2019s fundraiser just passed, but you can still catch a full survivor art show on the Sacramento State campus slated for early fall. www.my-sisters-house.org<\/a>. B.P.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best accidental gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Son of a Bean<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since opening last year, the coffeehouse has been democratic about letting local artists display their works, as long as there\u2019s wall space to accommodate them. By steady evolution, the eclectic d\u00e9cor has come to reflect the diverse talents of the community, from Mexico City native Raul Mejia\u2019s large acrylic provocations to Julie Okahara\u2019s vivid ink imaginings and mixed-media paintings. Owner Michael A. Chaves, a part-time photographer, recently bought one of the pieces himself and is considering making room for the metal sculptures of a cop\u2019s brother. He also just booked his first jazz musician, completing his monopoly of the senses. 1029 Del Paso Boulevard, (916) 274-4953, www.facebook.com\/sonofabean13<\/a>. RFH<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best off-the-grid nightlife<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Toucha Class<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t get this kind of charm, soul and variety at a Midtown bar. On Friday, dancers descend onto A Toucha Class for a live deejay spinning old-school R&B and hip-hop. During the week, happy hour cocktails are served from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. while pool games crack in the background. The kitchen dishes out hot wings, catfish nuggets and chicken sandwiches while the bartenders pour with genuine friendliness. Don\u2019t forget extra entertainment bonuses, such as comedy nights for both local and traveling talents, and open-mic poetry sessions. Get off the grid and become one with the regulars at A Toucha Class. 4217 Stockton Boulevard, (916) 451-1786,\u00a0www.facebook.com\/playmakersatouchaclass<\/a>.\u00a0S.R.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(SN&R)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Best place to get some rhythm Fenix Drum and Dance Company While the Fenix Drum and Dance Company often performs live, it also teaches some wonderful classes that mix the traditions of the Caribbean with styles from West Africa and the Congo. Starting at $45 a month, you can attend one class per week and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/acloserlookmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/acloserlookmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/acloserlookmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acloserlookmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acloserlookmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1659"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/acloserlookmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1660,"href":"https:\/\/acloserlookmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1659\/revisions\/1660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/acloserlookmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acloserlookmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acloserlookmedia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}