We're partnering up with the Crocker Museum for its "Conversations that Matter" series, and having a conversation about the future of the neighborhood that surrounds it -- Downtown Sacramento.
It has been a little more than a year since the Golden 1 Center opened. While that didn't help the Kings much in their first season playing there, the arena brought in a host of hot-ticket concerts and kicked off a slew of new development around it, the latest being the upscale Sawyer Hotel right next door.
Next up: development of the Railyards (which will be home to the FC Republic soccer arena and a Kaiser Permanente hospital); revitalizing the riverfront (will we get our own version of the St. Louis Arch?); and making Old Sacramento more of a draw for the locals (although Chris Jarosz of Broderick's Roadhouse told us that Joe's Crab Shack has the highest sales volume of any restaurant in town).
What are the plans for housing? For handling the homeless issue? For turning the still-too-many stretches of derelict buildings into something more pleasant? For parking and public transit? And making sure Downtown doesn't turn into an overpriced playground only a few can afford to enjoy?
Join us in the Crocker's lovely Friedman Court -- we're bringing together a group of people in charge of handling these issues, and we'll talk with them about what has changed in Downtown Sacramento, what has improved and what still needs work.
PANELISTS
* John Dangberg, assistant city manager for the City of Sacramento - he was the city's top person in charge of the Golden 1 Center's construction project, and now is focusing on more redevelopment of Downtown and development of the Railyards.
* Brooksie Hughes, Old Sacramento District Director for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership - she's tasked with making Old Sacramento a more hip, happening place where locals equal, or even outnumber, out-of-town visitors.
* Bay Miry - vice-president of development for D&S Development - first he helped turn R Street into one of the city's hottest nightlife destinations, now he's turning a section of K Street from eyesore to gateway to Golden 1 Center.
* Richard Rich - Railyards and Riverfront project manager for the City of Sacramento - a former "imagineer" for the Walt Disney Company, he's turning his imagination toward how Sacramento can revitalize the riverfront.
$10 general admission; free for Crocker Museum members. Reserve your spot at the Crocker's website.