The following is the Sept. 18 edition of Cultural Capital, an arts and entertainment newsletter written by Abridged contributor Chris Macias. Want it sent directly to your inbox? Sign up here.
Are you ready for the weekend?
Welcome to Cultural Capital at Abridged by PBS KVIE! I’m Chris Macias.
Each Thursday, I’ll be your guide to exploring the week’s best picks in arts, entertainment and inspiration around the Sacramento region.
Whether you’re planning a night on the town, want to discover local galleries or decompress in a mosh pit, Cultural Capital has you covered.
We have a mix of events for this debut edition, including a jazzy homage to “The Piano Man,” a compelling night of theater, art appreciation and a definitive midtown music festival.
Let’s go!
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
(Photo courtesy of Crocker Art Museum)
CrockerCon is coming and the timing couldn’t be more crucial
The details:
- 11th annual CrockerCon
- Crocker Art Museum
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 21
- Free
We know that family-friendly and free events are key for many of you. So, let’s get this party started with one that checks both boxes.
The 11th annual CrockerCon takes place Sunday, Sept. 21, with comic book art, a cosplay parade, music from the UC Davis Video Game Orchestra and much more. The event, which is expected to draw more than 3,000 to the Crocker Art Museum, coincides with a local movement to overturn an antiquated ordinance related to comic books.
“We see comic books as an art form,” said Eben Burgoon, co-founder of CrockerCon. “We want to teach people what comics can be, that it’s more than superhero stuff and cape and cowl type things. Comics are for everyone. They are stories of immigrants and the meek finding their power and voice.”
Kyrun Silva, a CrockerCon organizer and comic creator, points to the number of local shops and large attendance at other comic cons throughout the year as evidence that Sacto’s comic scene is thriving. He’s expecting an attendance boost given that CrockerCon is free for the first time this year.
Both Silva and Burgoon hope this momentum translates into the launch of a broader Sacramento Comic Book Week. The celebration would be a response to City Code item 9.12.010, which among other provisions, prohibits the sale of comic books for ages under 18 that depict various criminal activities. The law was adopted locally during the “moral panic” era of the 1930s.
“That would make it hard for a kid to even buy a Ninja Turtle comic if someone wanted to push that law,” Burgoon said. “It could effectively create a book ban that could shut down CrockerCon and comic stores.”
Stay tuned for more on Sacramento Comic Book week. Meanwhile, CrockerCon will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with dozens of comic book artists and exhibits, along with mask-making workshops, coloring tables, food trucks and plenty of caped crusaders. Pre-registration is not required, but it’s encouraged.
DATE NIGHT IDEAS
Late summer is a prime time to step out with your sweetie, as Sacramento’s triple-digit weather starts cooling down. Get a babysitter if need be, score a table for al fresco dining and consider these events:
Go back in time: Psychedelic Furs with Gary Numan
The details:
- Channel 24, 1800 24th St., Sacramento
- Sept. 19, 7 p.m. doors open
- $71.25 – $252
If you and your boo came of age in the 1980s, Psychedelic Furs with Gary Numan at Channel 24 on Sept. 19 will take you back to those glorious new wave years. While the nostalgia of early MTV and John Hughes films will be in full effect, both Psychedelic Furs and Numan are sounding especially fresh and relevant with their moody synth-pop sounds. AquaNet and Drakkar cologne not included.
Catch The Lehman Trilogy at Capital Stage
The details:
- Capital Stage, 2215 J St., Sacramento
- Through Sept. 28
- 7 p.m. weekdays; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday
- $51 – $66; $56 – $68 weekend matinees
An evening of theater and a nightcap also makes for a perfect pairing. The final run of The Lehman Trilogy is happening now through Sept. 28 at Capital Stage. This epic production about Lehman Brothers earned the 2022 Tony Award for Best Play. It’s a three-hour-plus odyssey that winds through the financial group’s 19th century beginnings to its meltdown that triggered the 2008 financial crisis. Wind down nearby and converse about this cerebral production over tiki cocktails at Jungle Bird (2516 J St., Sacramento).
Get a proper Billy Joel fix at Twin Lotus Thai
The details:
- Twin Lotus Thai, 8345 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento
- 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Sept. 20
- Join the waitlist at twinlotusthai.com (donations appreciated for musicians)
Now, if you and your better half had tickets for Billy Joel’s show at Levi’s Stadium on Oct. 4, no doubt you’re feeling bummed since the Piano Man canceled his tour due to medical reasons. However, you can get a proper Billy Joel fix on Sept. 20 as pianist Jim Martinez plays Billy Joel at Twin Lotus Thai. There, at one of the Sacramento area’s definitive jazz clubs, you’ll find Martinez adding extra swing and be-bop sensibilities to Joel’s catalog.
EARLY BIRD OPTIONS
For those want to get home before turning into a pumpkin, we have options as well.
Drop by Timeless Thrills for the Print Is Not Dead exhibition
The details:
- Timeless Thrills, 3714 J St., Sacramento
- Through Oct. 4
- Noon – 6 p.m. Thursdays – Sundays.
If you scored a coveted table to Kru or dining anywhere near East Sacramento’s gourmet gulch, drop by Timeless Thrills for the Print Is Not Dead group exhibition through Oct. 4. This gallery at 37th and J streets has been popping in recent months with photo exhibitions, a two-day ‘zine festival and now this free showcase of contemporary printmakers including Christina Hu, Black Stamp Studios and Bella Bond.
Soak in the classic central city at Sac Porchfest
The details:
- 21st and I streets and porches nearby, Sacramento
- Noon – 10 p.m. Sept. 20
- Free; donations accepted on behalf of Mustard Seed School
Lastly, an event that taps into Midtown’s janky heartbeat. Because few things are more Midtown than kicking it porch-style with local music. The 10th annual Sac Porchfest is going down Sept. 20, a free event that runs from noon to 10 p.m. The Flop Haus at 21st and I streets will be the epicenter, with local bands posted up on nearby porches. Soak in the classic central city architecture and those Boulevard Park summer vibes.
Before I go,
The culinary life of Sacramento is also a cornerstone of our community. For all the latest dish on local restaurants and our celebrated food scene, please subscribe to our City of Treats newsletter by my pal Benjy Egel.
What other Sacramento-area events should we check out? Drop me a line at christo916@gmail.com.
See you next week!
Chris Macias
Cultural Capital
