TOWER IS GOING, GOING...

[Above - Tower Records at Broadway and Land Park Dr. across the street from its beginnings.]

Earlier this year I wrote a brief article on the Tower Theater, Tower Records and Sacramento history.  At the time I wrote the piece Tower Records was in bankruptcy for the third time in recent years.  Unfortunately, the empire Russ Solomon built just couldn't survive in the age of iPods and internet downloads.

Russ Solomon began Tower Records in his father's pharmacy in the Tower Theater building.  Back then Russ was on the cutting edge and through the years the culture of Tower Records was known for being edgy and at the forefront of the music business locally and, as it grew, nationally and internationally.  Musicians, disc jockeys, and ordinary folks flocked to Tower in Sacramento and beyond.  I recall that a trip to Tower as a kid and young adult was as much about the "experience" as it was a place to buy a 45, an LP, 8track, cassette, and eventually CDs.  Yes, I owned an 8track player as a kid.

Tower employees considered their stores an experience as well.  Several former employees recently began a website to stay connected.  They call it TowerReunion.com.  The purpose is to keep their unique sense of community together as the company slips away quietly into the night. 

Tower Records like other industries before it didn't change enough with the times to keep the business going.  A large liquidator purchased Tower through bankruptcy court ordered auction in October and is in the process of liquidating the merchandise and closing down all the stores.  To complete the process all of the properties owned by Tower are being sold as well.  It is projected that by mid December Tower will close for good.  Ending just as it began - humbly.  

Thanks Russ.  It was a great ride.

The Capitol Mall in Sacramento is undergoing a striking facelift with two new high rise projects in the works.  The Towers on Capitol Mall project is already under construction with pilings being pounded into the ground at 4th Street.  The Aura project is preparing for groundbreaking at 6th Street.

The 4th Street Towers project has grabbed a lot of the headlines by virtue of it being the first 50+ story building in downtown Sacramento.  In addition, the building will house a hotel, retail and commercial space, and condos.  This high end mixed use will lead a move toward a more urban lifestyle in the downtown area along the likes of cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle and New York who all have vibrant 24 hour communties in their city's core.

What makes the 6th Street project so unique is that it has been designed by the world reknowned architect Daniel Libeskind.   Libeskind has been involved in many notable projects around the world including . 

As you can see from the rendering, the building is not designed in a traditional office or residential high rise.  The style of the building is sleek and graceful and will not only add to the skyline but make a bold statement. The entire skin of the building will be covered in a blueish gray glass and every unit will have panoramic view of the city.  Like its counterpart down the street it will combine a hotel, office and residential condominiums.  The sophistication of the design and its uniqueness will truly make Aura a "signature" building, much like the TransAmerica Building in San Francisco, the Sear's Tower in Chicago, or New York's Chrysler Building.

As California's capital city continues to grow the Aura tower will draw people from throughout the United States and the world to the area.  The truly great part of Aura is with the condos individuals are capable of owning and living in this stunning structure.  The renderings are intriguing and the finished product will make an architectural statement all Sacramentans will be able to enjoy for years to come.

California State Capitol Buildinga and Grounds

With the longer days and the great weather take a walk on the mild side. In Sacramento we have a terrific opportunity to get some exercise and enjoy some of our incredible historic architecture.  Walking tours of historic Sacramento architecture provide a wonderful opportunity to exercise our minds as well as our bodies. 

Brochures for these three great walking tours available from the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, Sacramento Heritage, Inc., the Central Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, or at the Sacramento City Hall.  There are brochures featuring three specific walking tours of the downtown area - the Alkali Flat Neighborhood Tour, the Capitol Tour and the Downtown Tour. 

Well, it is that incredible edible time of year when our local California Grown produce soon will begin coming in from the fields.  One of the best ways to take advantage of this is to visit a Certified Farmers Market.  There are many of them throughout the greater Sacramento Region.  To find the market nearest click here FRESH PRODUCE.

If you have never visited a farmers market here are a few tips to keep in mind when visiting:

1. There are no ATMs or traditional grocery check out stand so bring lots of small bills and change.
2. Bring large cloth or net shopping bags to save yourself multiple trips to your car to unload.
3. When you first arrive, walk through the  market and see what is available.  Because each grower sets their own price there are many differences in prices for the same produce type and quality.

4. Remember these men and women are the actual growers of the produce you are buyers. If you like to bargain go for it.  Please note that farmers market "etiquette" says that bargaining for big boxes or larger amounts is usually acceptable.  But bargaining for small amounts is generally frowned upon. Do not insult them. They worked very hard to sell so cheap.
5. Much of the produce is unsorted and unwashed. Looks may be deceiving...some of the best tasting fruit may be visually challenged (ugly or misshapen).

Finally, take home your vine or tree ripened CA Grown produce and enjoy its wonderful flavor.  Flavor this good can only be found when it comes direct from the grower.  And remember that you are not only getting some of the finest and freshest produce in the world but supporting our very California farmers.

Tower Records is a readily recognizable player in the retail music business with stores across America and selected stores around the globe.  But before Tower Records was born in a corner of the Tower Drug Store by a young Russ Solomon there was Sacramento's Tower Theater. 

The Tower Theater opened its doors on November 11, 1938 with the motion picture "Algiers" about a jewel thief and his beautiful love interest.  The film featured two relative newcomers in the pre-WWII era, the actors Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamar.  Price of admission was 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children in 1938 and included news reels and cartoons.  Over the intervening years the theater's "big screen" was replaced with three smaller ones.  The theater now accommodates 1,150 seats on three more standard screens.

The significance in 1938 of the new theater to the City of Sacramento was unmistakable.  The City actually renamed "Y" St. " Broadway in honor of its addition to the cultural promise the theater represented to the Sacramento community.

Through the passing of time the Tower Theater has become a true Sacramento landmark.  A symbol of the grander architechtural days of the past.  With it's wonderful classic art deco style, palm trees and plenty of neon it is definitely from the golden days of Hollywood.  Its location at the corner of Broadway and Land Park Dr. servers as a fitting and welcoming entry to one of Sacramento's finest neighborhoods - the tree lined streets of Land Park.