Wednesday, November 29, 2006

We Went to Disneyland!

Very nice recognition for Sacramento.

Bob Shallit: Old Sac in Disney's world
By Bob Shallit - Bee Columnist Published 12:00 am PST Wednesday, November 29, 2006


A reputation as a diverse, livable city. The Kings. A lively restaurant scene. High-rise condo towers in the works.

All signs Sacramento has arrived as a big-time city. Now comes the clincher:

Disney has just produced one of its "Destination" series of paintings featuring the Capital City.

This is no Mickey Mouse tribute. Only 11 other cities have been so honored, says Nancy Mallory, a spokeswoman for Stage Nine, the local Disney-linked gallery.

And those cities -- London, Venice, Paris, San Francisco and Tokyo, included -- aren't exactly backwater burgs.

The painting, by Disney artist (and former Sacramentan) Manny Hernandez, shows Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Daisy and Pluto arriving via train in Old Sac, the Capitol looming -- in geographically incorrect fashion -- in the background.

It goes on sale -- for $119 -- exclusively at Stage Nine on Saturday. Then it will be offered worldwide in Disney stores.

Mallory says hot sales are expected in Japan, where consumers have a special fondness for trains, Gold Rush history and Disney. The Sacramento work, she says, "depicts all of that in one painting."