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30 Things Every Sacramentan Must Eat

Boy, are we full—of both nosh and nostalgia. That’s because we’ve spent the past two months ambling down memory lane and chowing down on foods we can’t live (or rather, live well) without. From forever favorites like Squeeze Inn’s Squeeze with Cheese and Frank Fat’s banana cream pie to instant classics like Bacon & Butter’s flawless flapjacks and Mother’s chicken-fried mushroom po’boy, here is our guide to 30 essential edibles in the Sacramento region. If you live here, or are even just passing through, this is required reading—and eating. Scroll down and get ready to start ticking off your gustatory “must” list.

Back to the Future

Don’t believe in time travel? For centuries, humans have found ways to speak to the people of the future without all those pesky wormholes in space. Rather they’ve stuffed sturdy vessels—time capsules, as we now know them—with letters, photographs and assorted ephemera, and buried them for subsequent generations to discover. Word has it that Paul Revere and Samuel Adams were the first Americans to create such a capsule in 1795.

Home Grown

The Yisrael family’s urban farm has flourished in the middle of a food desert, planting the seeds for a whole new farm-to-fork movement

New Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg

Darrell Steinberg is a San Francisco native who moved here in 1981 to attend UC Davis law school. After six years on the Sacramento City Council in the ’90s and a career in the Capitol that peaked with his role as Senate president, Steinberg, 57, won a hard-fought mayoral campaign in June. We met with him in October after he spent a long day in the Bay Area courting tech companies, and he shared his thoughts on his top priorities, being a strong mayor and even his morning workout routine.

Top of the Town

Sactown invited seven architecture firms from around the country to submit their best ideas for a new observation tower for the capital city, which would create an instant civic icon while giving us a chance to see our hometown from a whole new perspective. Let’s build one and take Sacramento to new heights.

Coloring Outside the Lines

For the plaza outside the new Kings arena, Sacramento pulled out all the stops and spent $8 million to land Jeff Koons’ sculpture "Coloring Book" in what was the art world equivalent of a No. 1 draft pick—expensive and potentially game-changing. Here’s the behind-the-scenes look at how fate, fortunes and family connections came together to make it possible.

A Mighty Heart

After two NCAA division titles, two Olympic gold medals and eight seasons as the Sacramento Monarchs’ original franchise player, Ruthie Bolton, aka “Mighty Ruthie,” faces down the biggest challenge of her life. And it isn’t on a basketball court.

Choose Your Own Adventure

Sacramento, class is in session. Whether you want to learn how to surf or sail, fly-fish or fly a plane, craft a cocktail or a cocktail table, we’ve found teachable moments all over town. Got skills? Here are 50 fun ways to add more arrows to your quiver (literally--our how-to list includes archery lessons). Let us edutain you!

Flash in the Pan

The World Gold Panning Championships are coming to town. Here's how you can become a modern-day miner and find all that glitters.

Mmm, Bacon!

With our region’s restaurants dishing out everything from bacon-stuffed waffles to bacon-wrapped pineapple and even flights of bacon, it’s easier than ever for Sacramentans to live high on the hog. So whether you’re in the mood for something sweet (think bacon gelato) or savory (burger with a bacon-encrusted patty) or drinkable (bacon vermouth cocktail, anyone?), we’ve got the low-down on all things porcine around town. Get ready to pig out!

The Artful Lodger

A prominent Sacramento gallerist converted an old auto repair shop into an urban oasis brimming with vibrant paintings and bold sculptures. For Pamela Skinner, home is where the art is.

On Sale Now!

Sactown Winter 2025-26 Cover

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