Profiles
UC Davis Turns to the (Deliciously) Dark Side
Something’s brewing at the University of California at Davis. Already a global leader in wine and beer studies, the school is setting out to conquer yet another of our collective liquid loves. In May, UCD launched America’s very first academic facility dedicated entirely to the research of coffee. And with a multibillion dollar industry awaiting, the sky’s the limit.
Where the Sidewalk Starts
Since 2005, Davis-based “urban sketcher” Pete Scully has been roaming city streets with a pen and notebook at the ready, capturing sidewalk scenes in painstakingly exquisite detail. We spotlight a selection of his singular depictions of our region that illustrate the art of the city.
24 Can’t-Miss Events to Check Out in 2024
Food Festivals. Art Exhibits. Comedy Shows. Musicals. Plays. Parades. Concerts. And More. All. Year. Long.
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. 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.
Low and Slow
Documentary photographer Andri Tambunan chronicled our city’s lowrider community. Take a ride through the stories of those behind the wheel.
Where the Chefs Eat
Who’s hungry? We are! Which got us thinking: “Who better to ask for great restaurant recommendations than a bunch of the region’s top chefs?” We’re talking Michelin-rated chefs, as well as chefs who have cooked for U.S. presidents, one who has won a James Beard Award, and more. In all, we asked 15 local culinary leaders where they like to go after they’ve hung up their aprons.
Our 100th Issue
When we launched Sactown 100 issues ago, it’s safe to say that we didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into. Join us on our trip down memory lane.
Setting the Stage
In a rite of passage for throngs of aspiring young dancers, auditions are held each fall for the chance to appear in the Sacramento Ballet’s annual production of The Nutcracker, which has featured thousands of children on stage since debuting in 1968—including one Greta Gerwig—and will take place Dec. 9–23 this year. The latest tryouts for roles like Mice, Candy Canes and Baby Bunnies were held on Sept. 9 at the troupe’s midtown studios, and photojournalist Max Whittaker was there to capture the moments of anticipation, determination and pure joy throughout the day during this storied Sacramento tradition.
The Unofficial Ted Lasso Cookbook
Our favorite fish-and-chips-out-of-water “football” coach—Ted Lasso—might’ve left his team for good, but thanks to a new cookbook by two local food bloggers, we can relive some of the tastiest TV moments (yes, even those biscuits!) from the glorious eponymous series that made us all believers. We dare you not to ... binge.
A New Path Forward
The Gorman Museum at UC Davis marks its golden anniversary with a beautiful, much bigger new home to showcase its vast collection of contemporary Native American art. Welcome in.
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 lunch boxes, 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.
The Humor, the Ardor and the Candor of Darrin Bell
In 2019, Darrin Bell became the first Black person to win the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning, and his nationally syndicated comic strip Candorville will mark its 20th anniversary later this year. Today, the Sacramento cartoonist is receiving acclaim for his new graphic memoir, The Talk, which illustrates the racism he has faced, first as a Black child and later as a Black man in America. As Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau says of Bell’s new book, “It’s nearly impossible to appreciate another person’s truth, but if a brilliant storyteller offers to light the way, take him up on it.”
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