Profiles
Finding His Religion
For his new book—inspired by the events of 9/11—essayist Richard Rodriguez traversed the globe for a full decade, from Paris to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and beyond, exploring connections between the world’s religions, while also attempting to reconcile the inherent contradictions between his Catholic faith and his sexuality. But the roots of his spiritual journey started in the pews of a Sacramento church and perhaps the unlikeliest of places—in the glow of the silver screen at the Alhambra Theatre.
The Game Changer
How did an Indian teenager who arrived in America with $50 in his pocket become the entrepreneur who saved the Kings? For Vivek Ranadivé, it came down to innovation, teamwork, toughness—and a vision for Sacramento that's far bigger than basketball.
Trigger Effect
On a clear blue day on January 17, 1989, a man whose peripatetic life included years as a troubled Sacramento youth walked calmly onto a playground in Stockton and shot 34 small children, killing five. in the span of only a few minutes, the act marked the first mass shooting of schoolchildren in American history. Today, 25 years later—and one year after the massacre at Newtown—these once-unthinkable tragedies have become terrifyingly familiar as citizens and political leaders from Sacramento to Washington, D.C, choose sides in the wrenching fight over the future of guns in America.
Tiny Dancers
The hopping, the hoping. Getting intoThe Nutcracker takes more than fancy footwork.
Wayne Thiebaud
(The First 90 Years)
The Crocker Art Museum is honoring him with a major retrospective. The California Hall of Fame is about to induct him alongside Barbra Streisand and James Cameron. And the New York Times’ chief art critic says there’s “no painter in America that is more satisfying or skilled.” But on the eve of his 90th birthday, after a career that took him from Disney to the Whitney, Sacramento’s Wayne Thiebaud is hardly resting on his laurels. In fact, he’s just getting warmed up.
Born to Run
Once a year, Cal Expo features thoroughbred races that coincide with the California State Fair. Horse racing—with centuries of tradition and pageantry behind it—boasts some of the strongest, fastest and most beautiful creatures on earth. We visited the scene on its opening weekend in July to take a closer look at life on and off the track.
Nightmare Before Christmas
The holiday season is in full swing and, like every year, this one kicked off with one of our favorite days of them all—Halloween. So we set out for Land Park’s Fairytale Town, which plays host—ghost host—to the ultimate costume party each year, drawing thousands of pint-sized pirates, snarling dragons and scary little monsters to its Lilliputian land of make-believe. There, we found, the kids’ tricks were our treats.
City Pickers
As we become more and more distanced from the source of our food, a new crop of urban ranches like Sacramento’s Soil Born Farms are bringing us back to our roots.
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.
Morning Stars
When the weekend rolls around, we like to play our own version of the hunger games, seeking out our favorite meal of them all—brunch. In our latest quest, we tracked down sweet ’n’ savory chicken and waffles in Davis, a magnificent mango-stuffed French toast in Roseville, perfect pumpkin bacon pancakes in midtown, and a tangy Welsh rarebit omelet downtown, along with dozens of other egg-cellent dishes. So, top of the morning (or afternoon) to you, Sacramento—here’s our region’s best of the brunch. Let the games begin!
True Blue
If Sacramento is the River City, then Gregory Kondos has been its most faithful champion. Long celebrated for his local landscapes that employ virtually every shade of blue in the spectrum, the soon-to-be 90-year-old painter is about to get the birthday present of a lifetime—his first solo show at the Crocker in 20 years. Blue skies are here again.
This Is George Skelton’s Happy Face
George Skelton on Schwarzenegger's "stupid" cigars, Reagan's sex life & why he thinks Jerry Brown is scared of him. The 51-year career of a powerful political curmudgeon.
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