Author: Rob Turner
Best of the City 2023
Airy French puffs, comforting cupcakes that taste just like Grandma’s, sports legends who go the extra mile, hot hotels that breathe fresh life into historic buildings, rockin’ speakers made from retro lunchboxes, and a whole bunch more. What’s old is new and what’s new is newsworthy in our annual list of the local people, places and things that have caught our eyes and captured our imagination this year.
A Rainbow Connection
In 2021, a very special span—carefully crafted to bring health and happiness to some humans who deserve them the most—was constructed in Australia. We should walk a similar path and build our own bridge to a brighter future.
All the World’s a Stage
From San Francisco to New York, a handful of theater companies have broken out of, well, the actual theater to take their shows into parks and playgrounds. We should think outside the black box too.
Best New Global Chocolate Emporium
What’s old is new and what’s new is newsworthy in our annual list of the local people, places and things that have caught our eyes and captured our imagination this year. Here's a sneak peak at one of our picks for Best of the City 2023.
The Art of Recycling
Plastic bottles are filling up rivers and oceans at an alarming rate. But a growing number of cities are finding a whimsical new lure to catch them before they hit the water. We should go fish too.
Bee the Change
In recent years, a global trend of topping bus shelters with bee-friendly gardens has been spreading like, well, wildflowers. With Earth Day coming up on April 22, here’s the buzz on eco-forward “bee stops.”
There’s No Place Like Home
A highly subjective, indisputably incomplete, utterly defensible list of compelling reasons that make us #SacramentoProud
Bring Back the Blue Diamond Almond Tour
Food factory tours have exploded in popularity over the decades. We should resurrect one here that both locals and visitors were nuts about.
Snap, Crackle & Pop Culture
A new cereal bar opens in Old Sacramento and serves up everything from Corn Pops to Instagrammable backdrops
Sowing the Seeds of Change
Pocket forests are sprouting in cities around the globe as a surprisingly effective way to fight climate change. It’s time for us to branch out too.
One for the Books
A likeness of native daughter Joan Didion is set to take a permanent seat in a fitting setting
Wayne’s World
Last year, Sacramento lost a local legend—painter Wayne Thiebaud. Like other cities around the country have done, we should remember our greatest hometown artist with a museum befitting his global stature.
Walking on Air
In Duisburg, Germany, and Pohang, South Korea, two massive works of “walkable art” have brought new life to their respective waterfronts. As a city trying to reinvigorate its own waterfront, Sacramento should walk this way too.
Sitting Down with a Good Book
Many cities have combined street furniture with great literature to beautify urban landscapes and improve literacy. Let’s take a page from that book.
Why Not Here? 15th Anniversary Edition
15 Fun Ways to Take Our City to New Heights
Fit for a King
To celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, now is the perfect time to take the first steps to honor him in California’s capital with a statue befitting his legacy.
Trash Talk
In Baltimore, a school of large-mouth garbage gobblers is keeping the harbor clean. We should reel one in right here in River City.
The Wonders Down Under
Sacramento’s annual Wide Open Walls mural festival is upon us. But in many cities around the country, people are looking down on public art—about 5 to 6 feet down. It’s time to wash that gray right out of our streets.
Maine Attraction
In Portland, Maine, local artists have found a new kind of canvas: city bus shelters. With such inspiring designs, good things come to those who wait (for their bus to arrive).
Low Rent, High Design
A developer with roots in Davis is building affordable mid-century-modern housing for a Palm Springs neighborhood, proving that equity and aesthetics can co-exist. Color us inspired.
The Rebirth of Cool
The late, great Nut Tree restaurant in Vacaville is one of the most storied restaurants in Northern California history. And, as it turns out, it was designed by a bunch of Sacramentans. Let’s bring it back.
The Call of the Wild
Our region is a hiker’s paradise, but the one part that isn’t so heavenly is the pitiful state of restroom pit stops. One Colorado group has engineered a dignified solution.
Looky Loos
In Tokyo, a world-renowned architect conjured up an elegant solution to a not-so-elegant urban problem: public toilets. Sacramento needs to take the plunge on his very creative idea to build restrooms with, yes, see-through walls.
No Annexation Without Representation
A billion-dollar plan to demolish and rebuild the State Capitol annex, design an underground visitors center, and dig up part of our historic Capitol Park for an exclusive parking garage for legislators is at least partly ill-conceived and entirely ill-timed. But there is the potential to create something great, if we just invite more people into “the people’s house.”
Mayor, Redefined
What does it mean to be a mayor? It turns out the answer isn’t so black-and-white. For a hundred years, Sacramentans have hemmed and hawed about whether or not a “strong mayor” system will help or hurt us. In November, we have a chance to push our city forward. Here’s why it’s more important than ever to vote yes for a strong mayor.
Floating Our Boats
In Paris, a “floating cinema” emerged as a creative response to COVID, and now the concept is going global. We should make waves while going to the movies in the River City as well.
Pods Save America
In Amsterdam, a waterfront restaurant transformed prefab greenhouses into cozy private dining rooms to help stem the spread of COVID-19. We’d like to eat our peas in a pod too.
Send in the Cones
Months into a global pandemic, cities around the world are racing to reimagine their streets so that more of us can walk, bike, exercise and commute more safely. Unfortunately, when it comes to this critical public health issue, Sacramento finds itself backpedaling once again.
Treetop of the Town
Arbor Day is April 24 and we’re the City of Trees. It’s time to move to higher ground and soak up the view.
The Lights Fantastic
Look down when you walk around town and you might spot some beautiful relics beneath your feet. Behold the magic of “vault lights” and how some cities are bringing them back to life.
Foot Traffic
In an effort to draw attention to climate change and to encourage walking, biking and taking mass transit, a growing number of cities are banning cars in select districts for one day a year. It’s time for us to brake for progress too.
High-Voltage Art
Sacramento’s stock in the art world has been rising for years, but there’s one way for us to reach even higher heights.
Arch de Triumph
The final design for our newest bridge will be selected soon, but the choice is already clear. The Solar Arch eclipses all other contenders.
A New Breed of Zoo
As the city weighs the pros and cons of a far larger zoo, it’s asking where, when and how much. But the most important question should be, “What do we want to build?” We offer a starting point for a conversation about conservation.
An Open Invitation
Cities around the world are boosting civic pride by inviting their citizens to peek inside cool spaces not usually accessible to the public. It’s time for us to open our doors too.
Track Stars
In Montreal and the Bay Area, transit agencies are sparking civic dialogue by calling for creative ways to repurpose old railcars into cafes, galleries, residential spaces and more. It’s time for Sacramento to jump on board.
Museum by Design
Charles and Ray Eames are considered two of the most acclaimed designers in American history. Now it’s time for Sacramento to make history by building the first museum dedicated to the pair in Ray’s hometown.
A Current Event
As concerns over climate change increase, cities around the world are preparing for rising water levels. One Dutch artist is helping people visualize the potential impact. Our flood-prone River City should dive right in.
The Big Picture
In the world of performing arts centers, a funny thing happened on the way to profitability: Hollywood movies. Here’s how Sacramento can become a star of stage and screen.
Let’s Get Vertical
How do you combine public art with a skyline-defining structure and create an international tourist destination for adventurers? One very careful step at a time.
A Bridge with Curve Appeal
A new architect has been selected to design a $172 million bridge planned for the Sacramento River. Early ideas include observation decks, High Line-style landscaping and a soaring arch. We weigh in. You can too.
Elevating Art
Public art is surging in Sacramento, but some of our greatest potential canvases are hidden right below our feet.
A Tale of Two Towers
In recent months, proposals emerged for two of the last opportunity sites on Capitol Mall. Each tells a very different story about civic ambition, smart planning and political prudence, or the lack thereof.
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