Author: Rob Turner
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.
The Shapes of Water
In cities like Venice and London, rivers and canals are doubling as gallery spaces, displaying art like no walls ever could. Let’s make some waves in the art world, too.
The Upside of Underpasses
There’s a growing global phenomenon in which community parks and other highly desirable public spaces are popping up beneath freeways and railway lines. It’s time for us to take a look under the hood as well.
The Last Straws?
A bill to curtail plastic straw use in restaurants could hit the governor’s desk this summer. But some environmentally conscious eateries already have a message for the plastic industry: Suck on this.
Take Me to the River
With our new science center and planetarium finally breaking ground and connecting us with the stars, perhaps it's time to set our sights back down on Earth.
Go Climb a Bridge
Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge has become one of Australia top attractions. It's time for us to scale new heights as well.
Parking Attendance
In London, local visionaries capitalized on a dying civic asset—the parking garage—to create a sculpture garden, painters’ studios and even an observation deck, all in an effort to boost an arts-fueled neighborhood. Guess what? It worked.
Don’t Trash Sacramento
Cities around the world are fighting litter, so as the capital city adjusts to its new place in the national spotlight, it’s time to clean up our act.
Let’s Get Small
In cities around the world, mini museums are big hits. When it comes to creating new civic attractions, it’s time for Sacramento to exhibit a little initiative.
Staging Sacramento
With downtown on the rise, more people than ever will be visiting our central city soon. As the doors open to millions of new guests, it’s time to look at some small ways to think big.
The Rules of Attractions
With all the recent talk of transforming Sacramento into a “destination city,” it’s time to figure out just what that means. And do we have the vision—and the money—to make it happen?
Now Boarding
Sacramento’s airport needs hotel rooms and the city needs more civic amenities. A hotel in Stockholm presents a creative sleepover solution. Let’s land our own dream liner.
Street Art
Across the globe, cities are turning crosswalks into painted placemakers. Sacramento, it’s time to walk this way.
Taking It to the Streets
Many of today’s most celebrated civic improvement efforts were started by people who were once called troublemakers. Now, we call many of those same people placemakers. It’s time to stir up some more trouble, right here in River City.
Signs of the Times
In the age of social media, cities from Amsterdam to Toronto are recognizing the branding value of civic photo ops and making typography part of their urban topography.
We the People
Crowdfunding websites might be best known for launching cool products, but these days, they’re also being used to help citizens improve their cities, one downtown waterslide at a time.
Spanning the Future
A new $160 million bridge is planned for the Sacramento River, but the design process is deeply flawed. Here’s why we may need to burn a few bridges in order to build a truly great one.
Made in the Shade
In Portugal, a fanciful art project that used little more than everyday umbrellas unfolded into a global tourist attraction. Sacramento should take this idea to the streets and go under cover, too.
Spinning Our Wheels
Despite having one of the country’s great biking paths along the American River, Sacramento is trailing the nation when it comes to safe urban cycling options. It’s time to shift gears.
Ready Set Glow
In Poland and the Netherlands, luminescent bike lanes light the way for cyclists. As a burgeoning bike mecca, it’s time for Sacramento to follow their path.
Walk This Way
Downtown’s K Street recently marked five years as a non-pedestrian mall. So it has cars on it. Sort of. Well, most days, but not during fun times. It’s complicated, but it shouldn’t be.
A Rainbow Connection
In Seoul, a bridge outfitted with LEDs and fountains shoots water over the Han River and puts on kaleidoscopic light shows. We can think of another river city where a similar display might make a splash.
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.
A Train of Thought
Sacramento just acquired its first Jeff Koons sculpture, but another is available that was actually inspired by our city’s history. And unlike most trains, its timing couldn’t be better.
A Star Attraction
A bold plan to build a dramatic new planetarium has cratered. But if we act fast, we have a shot at the greatest dome in town since the Capitol.
Living (Not So) Large
University students from across California compete to come up with big ideas for small spaces.
Conventional Unwisdom
The city is in danger of making an epically bad decision about our convention center. It turns out we’ve made this same mistake before—twice.
Just Add Water
In cities like Seattle and Boston, artists are creating temporary sidewalk designs that are only revealed when it rains. With winter in our sights, let’s have our own rainy day fun.
A Time for Change
Sacramento is the only major city in California with a part-time city council. So when did we get the monopoly on wisdom? (Answer: We didn’t.)
A New Hope
After being rejected by San Francisco and Chicago, George Lucas still needs a home for his Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Let’s form a rebel alliance against competing cities and get him here.
Thunder Dome
From sea to shining sea, state capitols are taking center stage at spectacular Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve celebrations. It happened here once, too. Let’s do it again.
The Resurrection of Zaha Hadid
Five years ago, our region botched the chance to build a bold structure designed by one of the world’s greatest architects. Now she’s gone. Let’s bring her spirit back.
On Sale Now!
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