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A Fork in the RiverIn Oregon and Idaho, rafting trips combine nature with riverfront farm-to-fork dining. With stunning rivers, great weather and a rich agricultural heritage comprising our region’s most authentically local features, why not feed ourselves on the river that feeds our land? |
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Moving ImagesIn Chicago and Moscow, local artists and museums have transformed train cars into mobile galleries and one-of-a-kind art events. Here’s why Sacramento’s second Saturday needs to get on board, too. |
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Keys to the CityIn more than 30 cities around the world, a British artist has placed pianos in public spaces to encourage citizens to sit down and play, creating a landscape filled with pop-up urban concerts. Why not bring the sound of music to the streets of Sacramento? |
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Hope FloatsHot air balloon festivals are hot. Festivals from Reno to Russia are drawing huge crowds every year, and for good reason. Balloons paint the sky with vibrant shapes and colors, like fireworks during daylight. |
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Bridge PartyMany of us here are proud of our River City status, even though it’s no secret that we’ve never connected with our riverfront the way we should. But in cities like Portland and Pasadena, people have found a way to turn some of their oldest structures—their bridges—into their newest attractions. |
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Trunk ShowIn cities like Seattle, Vancouver and Melbourne, an Australian installation artist is “painting” trees to raise awareness of global deforestation. It also happens to be beautiful. Here in the City of Trees, we should take some brushes to our branches. |
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Cover ArtIn Seattle and Vancouver, people are looking down on art these days. Literally. That’s because manhole covers are being transformed into whimsical works of urban design. With a little imagination, our streets, too, can be paved with good inventions. |
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Political TheaterFrom San Francisco to Boston and Minneapolis to Austin, small-scale, localized theater productions have captured the imaginations of locals and visitors alike for years on end. Here’s why we should have our own show that must go on (and on) |
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A Santa CauseYou may not be thinking much about Santa this summer, but the folks at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York are already busy as elves. The retail giant is also gearing up for its holiday parades in Western cities like Portland and Seattle. With |
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The Pour de FranceIn recent decades, American cities have begun celebrating Bastille Day— July 14—with a waiters’ race modeled after a historic Parisian competition. It mixes tradition and civility with modern-day philanthropy and urban excitement. On your mark, get set, Bordeaux! |
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Almond JoyIn Washington, D.C., the National Cherry Blossom Festival draws over a million visitors every March, generating $150 million for the region. In Macon, Georgia (population 98,000), the International Cherry Blossom Festival draws 300,000 people over 10 days. Here in the City of Trees, we have a nutty idea for a festival of our own by Rob Turner and Elyssa Lee |
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Raising the RoofCities everywhere are discovering the environmental (and aesthetic) benefits of green roofs. And from Chicago to Portland to Austin, it’s the city halls that are setting the example. As a city with our own green ambitions, isn’t it time we planted some seeds of change? |
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Where the Streets Have Two NamesThe practice of bestowing honorary street names on illustrious locals is a fast-growing trend. Imagine living on Oprah Winfrey Way in Chicago or Austin’s Willie Nelson Boulevard. Here’s why we need to pave the way for our own Avenue Q-Rating. |
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Candles in the WindIn many Asian countries, a centuries-old tradition of releasing lanterns into the sky has captured the imagination of millions, though the concept has been on a slow boat to America. But now San Antonio has given us a roadmap to these man-made stars. |
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Skyline CinemaFrom Austin to Australia, rooftop theaters are blending the best of outdoor films with vertical vistas and lofty lounges. With the best summer nights on the planet, Sacramento is ideally situated to host the ultimate screening room with a view. |
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Time MachinesYou don’t need to be H.G. Wells to dream of time traveling. Many cities are telling their own stories using historic tours to preserve their distinctive identities. After all, what better way to journey through history than by sitting in a piece of it? |
