One of the best things about living in Sacramento is there is always something to do. But if all your friends are going away for the summer and you are stumped for things to do, here are some suggestions to keep things light, fun and not too expensive.

• Go see a blockbuster movie Summer blockbusters already started with “Iron Man 3,” and they are going to keep on coming. Get out of the heat and sit in an air-conditioned movie theater. Along with explosion-happy “Iron Man 3” and “Star Trek: Into Darkness,” a slew of apocalyptic films are trending such as “After Earth,” “This is the End” and “World War Z.” In the mood for some laughs? Catch “The Hangover Part III” (is it over yet?) or “The Internship.”

• Pick up the Sacramento News & Review

SN&R is free and it’s always has a working calendar of museums, classes, concerts and arts and culture events that could be fun any day of the week. Grab one from one of the multi-colored newsstands or check out the paper online.

• Spend some time floating on the river

Booze is prohibited on the American River, so…» Read More

It was just after the rain stopped and the sun had just come out. Artist Zbigniew Kozikowski saw a line of umbrellas moving toward a light along the Berlin Wall that separated East and West Germany.

He couldn’t see the people, but he remembers thinking the people didn’t need protection from the weather.

Those umbrellas would provide inspiration for the artist for years to come.

“We are always hiding under something,” says Kozikowski. “These colorful umbrellas going toward the light…the umbrellas were so colorful.”

Light and color and umbrellas dominate Kozikowski’s paintings on display on the second floor of the Learning Resource Center at Sacramento City College. His pieces, both large and small, overflow with bold colors and blurred lines showing an abstract view of the world.

Kozikowski has a long-time relationship with City College, he says. He and his wife, Barbara Kozikowska lived near Land Park around 20 years ago. Kozikowski’s son would eventually take classes at City College. His wife, Barbara now works as an account clerk in the business services office, and his sister-in-law, Yvonne Maller, worked at City College for years, serving as dean of Learning Resources from 2003 to 2007.

Maller died of cancer in…» Read More

Stage Lights Rise and begin to twinkle off the brass. Rows of musicians await their cue. The black tuxedo-dressed conductor stands patiently at his podium. Band members take their positions, poised with their hands at the ready. In a smooth jazz fashion, the baton waves, and the melodies start flowing from instruments through the audience.

On March 19, a stormy night, the members of the Sacramento City College Jazz Band took to their rows of positioned chairs and brought to life the live street music of New Orleans at the Little Theatre on campus.

The instruments playing together in silky harmonics made the audience understand that this band knew its jazz. Each first chair soloist from saxophone to the drums took his or her turn showcasing what he or she has practiced all semester, hitting every note and being rewarded with applause.

With a flash, bam and alakazam, saxophones, trombones and percussion filled the room with a big sound. The compositions from the likes of Herbie Hancock to Orange Colored Sky gave the feeling of listening to music live from the streets of New Orleans.

Jazz admirers were impressed with the level of skill of the band.

Robert Rudolph, 55,…» Read More

THE NEW PERFORMING ARTS Center celebrates its renovation with a big crowd-pleasing musical production, “Guys and Dolls,” presented by the Sacramento City College Theatre Department April 19-May 12.

With a cast of 33 actors and a 15-piece band, “Guys and Dolls” will be the first big musical in 30 years to be performed at City College, according to director, Christine Nicholson who says the Performing Arts Center now has the ability to facilitate a big song-and-dance production like “Guys and Dolls.”

“We are opening the auditorium—which is a 650 seat house—this year after the renovation,” says Nicholson.

According to Nicholson, “Guys and Dolls” is one of the most popular musicals in America and has been since its first production in 1951, so it was an obvious choice for the Theatre Department. “We and the school wanted something that would be crowd-pleasing, fun and would hopefully sell well,” says Nicholson.

In the musical, Nathan, played by Chris Raymond, a performing arts major, needs $1,000 dollars to pay for a venue for his illegal “floating craps” dice game. To get the money, Nathan bets Sky, played by performing arts major, Tyson Wheeler, to bring a girl of his choosing to a…» Read More

Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” play, directed by Lori Ann DeLappe-Grondin will be held in the newly remodeled Art Court Theater beginning March 1.

The play is based on events that occurred during World War II. Arthur Miller’s classic drama is a fictional tale based on true events, which offers a glimpse into business ethics, family, and betrayal.

Performances will be held at 8 p.m. on March 1, 2, 8, 15, 16, 22, and 23 with additional performances on March 3, 10, 17, 23, and 24 at 2 p.m.

General admission is $15 or discounted tickets can be purchased for $12 on Friday and Saturday evening performances. Saturday and Sunday matinees are $13 for general admission or $10 for discounted tickets. Discounts are for students with IDs, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.

For more information call 916-558-2228 or visit www.citytheatre.net

Directions to City College

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The campus theater isn’t just for school plays and band perfor­mances anymore. The new Performing Arts Center at Sacramento City College is attracting outside interest from enter­tainers and promoters looking for a spot to book shows.

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City College’s City Films debuted its latest creation, “The Bobbit: An Unexpected Budget,” a parody of the trailer for feature film, “The Hobbit” starring City College Vice President of Adminis­trative Services Bob Martinelli and City College President Kathryn Jeffery.

The film’s debut was met with laughter, cheers and a round of applause from faculty, staff and students in attendance at this semester’s convocation where the film was shown for the first time.

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The Bobbit film was produced by the City College film projects class led by Theatre Arts and Film professor Robert Gore. To read about the film, see the Feb. 5 print edition of the Express, on newsstands now.

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Gregory Kondos is a decorated local artist, but his name is most associated with the campus gallery, the Kondos Gallery. Its bare white walls wait blank with anticipation of its newest exhibit.

“That’s What I Figure” is the latest showcase running until Feb. 22 in the Kondos Gallery. At the Jan. 31 reception at the gallery, guest curator and past director of UC Davis’ Nelson Gallery Renny Pritikin pulled together four Bay Area image-makers to create a compilation of figure pieces for a City College audience. Seyed Alavi, Elisheva Biernoff, Travis Collinson, and Ed Loftus work fill the formerly empty walls of the Kondos Gallery with life.

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