Author: Photos by Max Whittaker

The Picasso of Positivity

The Picasso of Positivity

He is the most prolific public artist in Sacramento, with hundreds of works—from large-scale commissioned murals to decidedly uncommissioned guerrilla pieces—beautifying the urban landscape. Now, J.M. Knudsen is expanding his vision for a more creative city. As one of his influences, Pablo Picasso, said: “Action is the foundational key to all success.” But for all Knudsen’s ambitious goals, the core of his message for us all remains deceptively simple: “YOU ARE GREAT.”
Hillary Louise Johnson, Photos by Max Whittaker,

Think Global, Spend Local

By most estimates, only about 9% of plastic products actually get recycled. According to NASA, 2024 was the planet’s hottest year yet, and the National Weather Service reports that last summer was downtown Sacramento’s warmest on record. But now for the good news: There are more local retailers than ever that are making it easy to be green. So with Earth Day just around the corner on April 22, we’d like to introduce you to seven of the most eco-forward stores in our region. In the 1967 film The Graduate, young Benjamin Braddock was given one word of advice: plastics. Well, in 2025, we have two: dryer balls. Trust us.
Sean Timm, Photos by Max Whittaker,

A Spook-tacular Sensation

If it’s Halloween season, Evangeline’s is the place to be. What started 50 years ago as a small Old Sacramento shop for antiques and jewelry has been reinvented over the decades by Deborah Chaussé, the founder’s daughter, into a singular institution with a fantastical blend of the wild, weird and wonderful.
Stu VanAirsdale, Photos by Max Whittaker,

Take Me to the River

For nature lovers in Sacramento, Ashley Shult Langdon’s new guidebook Mildly Scenic  is the local companion you likely never knew you needed to discover the full range of beaches, byways and other natural wonders of the lower American River. Take a walk on the “mild” side as Langdon offers an enlightening entrée into a stunning, meandering world hidden in plain sight in the middle of our city—and maybe even find yourself along the way.
Hillary Louise Johnson, Photos by Max Whittaker,

Feats of Clay

From the tables of Michelin-recognized restaurants like Canon to workshops at its new, larger studio, Echeri Ceramics is having a moment. Meet the in-demand duo who put a little Sacramento soul into every cup, bowl and plate they make.
Hillary Louise Johnson, Photos by Max Whittaker,

Sowing the Seeds of Change (One Theater Seat at a Time)

In 1986, a state worker named James Wheatley founded a Black theater company in Sacramento as a side gig. Nearly 40 years later, Celebration Arts has trained countless Black actors, dancers and singers, providing the education and experience that the mainstream theater community hadn’t afforded them. Today, alums populate stages and sets ranging from B Street to Hollywood, and one of them, James Ellison, is carrying the torch at Celebration Arts and embarking on an ambitious journey. With new funding, a larger space, and a growing audience for diverse storytelling, the seeds that Wheatley has so carefully nurtured for generations are now coming into full bloom.
Hillary Louise Johnson, Photos by Max Whittaker,

Can Electric Bikes Help Save The Planet?

Pre-pandemic, electric Jump bike rentals in Sacramento trailed only Paris in popularity. Today, electric bike ownership is soaring. From commuters to joyriders to grandmothers, e-bikes are turning even non-cyclists into e-vangelists (like Rocklin City Councilmember Jill Gayaldo, pictured below) and creating a greener, less fossil-fuel-filled world. Now we just need more of our region’s leaders to make it easier and safer for all of us to plug and play.
Hillary Louise Johnson, Photos by Max Whittaker,

Where It’s Easy Being Green

Welcome to Nudge Eco Store, a retail wonderland where you can shop guilt-free, because every item—from shampoo bars to bamboo bandages to vegan eyeshadows—on the recycled shelves of this midtown boutique is sustainably made. If you’re aspiring to live a more earth-friendly lifestyle, this shop will gently guide you in the right direction.
Hillary Louise Johnson, Photos by Max Whittaker,

The Shops Around the Corner

Talk about a Hollywood ending. Over two decades since Meg Ryan’s sweet little children’s bookshop lost the battle to Tom Hanks’ big bad Fox Books, it looks like indie bookstores around the country (and around town) may have won the retail war. We spotlight a dozen or so of our favorite local literary nooks in the Sacramento region. Trust us, this story is a real page-turner.
Hillary Louise Johnson, Sean Timm, Photos by Max Whittaker,

From the (Uncluttered) Desk of Dr. Robin Zasio

Feeling a new type of winter blues? Over the past two years, many of us have become increasingly plagued by a host of pandemic-related mental health issues, ranging from burnout to PTSD to depression. As we navigate our second holiday season under the cloud of Covid, Dr. Robin Zasio—a Sacramento clinical psychologist who has appeared on the long-running A&E series "Hoarders" for more than a decade—talks about the importance of living a “value-driven life” and pressing play at the end of a workday in our effort to go from Anxiety to Zen.
Leilani Marie Labong, Photos by Max Whittaker,

Stronger Together

Patrick and Bobbin Mulvaney are arguably Sacramento’s First Couple of Farm to Fork. With Sacramento celebrating our region's agricultural bounty in September, we sit down with the owners of Mulvaney’s B&L to talk about the impact of the pandemic on the restaurant industry, the life lessons learned from Bobbin’s bouts with cancer, the controversy surrounding local caviar purveyor Michael Passmore, the importance of openly discussing mental health issues in the workplace and the community, and their efforts to lend a helping hand, one loving spoonful at a time.
Leilani Marie Labong, Photos by Max Whittaker,

The New Golden Age

By weekday, they’re construction workers, utility mechanics and registered nurses. But on weekends, they abandon their respective vocations and venture far up into the storied Sierra foothills and far back in time—circa 1849—dodging rattlesnakes, poison oak and the stink-eyed gazes of seasoned treasure hunters as they transform into passionate modern-day prospectors. And they’re not alone. The global pandemic drove gold prices to record highs this past year and left many with a lot more time on their hands—and knees—searching for the precious yellow metal that’s so deeply entwined with our region’s historical DNA. Yep, there’s still gold up in them thar hills, and the rush to find it is on (again).
Ryan Miller, Photos by Max Whittaker,

Perfect Picnics

We’ve filled our wicker baskets with the best takeout en route to eight sonnet-worthy spots across the region for your alfresco dining pleasure. Whether you’re unpacking a gourmet BLT on toasted artisan bread while gazing upon a sweeping view of Gold Country or digging into a bucket of crispy fried chicken while smelling the roses at McKinley Park, we prove that life in the wake of a pandemic can be a picnic after all. (Just don’t forget the sunscreen.)
Curtis Yee, Ryan Miller, Hillary Louise Johnson, Hannah Ross, Leilani Marie Labong, Photos by Max Whittaker,

Field of Dreams

On the first day of spring, Ruhstaller Farm—our region’s only brewery designed in the spiritual mold of a soil-to-sip winery—officially opened, with a hop yard surrounding towering twin kilns inspired by 19th-century California pioneers and 20th-century Parisian postmodernism. The Farm, with its mission to produce beer defined by the Sacramento Valley’s rich agricultural heritage, is the fruition of a decade-long vision for J-E Paino—brewer, farmer, storyteller and a tenacious optimist who runs decidedly against the grain.
Leilani Marie Labong, Photos by Max Whittaker,

Sactown’s Best BBQ

Sweet, savory, spicy, smoky… There’s no flavor that doesn’t come through in the magical realms of barbecue. And there’s no better time than these warm-weather days to bite into the meaty marvels grilled up by 10 of our region’s best barbecue wizards. Whether you prefer tender ribs straight out of Cajun country or Texas-tinged pulled pork smoked for 18 hours—or a heaping helping of both with three-alarm sauces and five-star side dishes—we’ve got your ’cue cravings covered. Dig in!
Tori Masucci Cummins, Jennifer Resnicke, Jessica Rine, Stu VanAirsdale, Photos by Ryan Donahue, Photos by Max Whittaker, Photography by Jeremy Sykes,

A Winters Tale

As the son of one of the most controversial figures in American history, Craig McNamara grew up in the presence of presidents and others who helped shape our world. Now, from his organic walnut farm in Winters, he’s shaping the future of our state by trying to feed the millions of Californians who don’t have enough to eat, and by nurturing the next generation of farmers. Oh, and by helping his son grow hops for really cool Sacramento craft beer.
Anita Chabria, Photos by Max Whittaker,

The Incredible Edible Eggs

What are superstar chefs like Thomas Keller and Charlie Palmer doing out in the middle of a big, dry field a few miles north of Arco Arena? Fishing. In the wake of global bans on wild caviar, one unassuming  local fish farm is basking in the worldwide culinary spotlight.
Martin Kuz, Photos by Max Whittaker,