Cleaning Up Filthy “jazz-alley” To Raise Money For The West-end Parklet

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - April 11, 2015 - PRLog -- The downtown Sacramento area, specifically between 10’th and 3’rd streets around J, K and L streets has long been perceived as a dangerous and dirty place to be. “Operating a restaurant in this neighborhood has its challenges. Every day we take note of the cleanliness on the streets and alleys around us, and we do our best to keep them as nice-looking as possible for our guests and fellow Sacramentans.” Says Gregorakis.

“We are tired of waiting for the arena to make a change in this area.  We know that will happen, but we also want to preserve the ‘cool-factor’ in this neighborhood, once known as ‘The West End’, and the place to be for underground jazz clubs and speakeasies.  So we are taking the lead in initiating a ‘clean up’ by throwing Sacramento’s first ‘Dirty Alley Party’, dubbed ‘The West End Wash’ on May 8’th after concert in the park ends.” And don’t worry, Gregorakis says, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership plans to wash down the alley the morning of the party, so don’t expect to be put to work washing the streets.

“Blackbird and our alley is half a block from Cesar Chavez Park (where Concert in the Park takes place) and we hope to welcome some of those concert goers into The West End Wash that night.” Says Lampkin.

Blackbird is working closely with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and the City of Sacramento to pull permits and organize the shutting down of the alley adjacent to Blackbird for the night of May 8th.

Entertainment at the event will include 2 live bands, The Sacramento Storytellers, and Hans and the Hot Mess- along with DJ Epik to close the party.

Gregorakis and Lampkin plan to set up 2 remote outdoor bars and provide other forms of entertainment in the form of dancers, body contortionists and live painting by local artists. “We want this to kick off the summer, and for everyone to feel closer to the city by partying in the alley, a place people normally would try to avoid.”

“We are also using this as a launch for our fundraising effort in building Sacramento’s first public Parklet in front of Blackbird- ‘The West End Parklet’; also dubbed the “Pirate Ship Parklet”.  The West End Wash is also a format we are looking at recreating in collaboration with other business all around Sacramento to draw attention to the hazards in our alley-ways.”

The West End Wash will take place at Blackbird Kitchen + Beer Gallery, located at 1015 9th Street (between J and K streets) on May 8’th at 8pm.  The event is free to enter.