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Q&A with Jeremy Ganter, Executive Director of the Mondavi Center

What started over 20 years ago as a temp job at UC Davis has worked out pretty well for Jeremy Ganter. In November, he became the new executive director of the Mondavi Center—only the third person to hold the position since the school’s premier performing arts facility opened in 2002. Ganter, 49, speaks about his transition from performer to presenter, past highlights and future plans (hint: you may soon be able to dance to the music at the Mondavi).

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. And trust us, their answers—which ranged from celebrated white-tablecloth establishments to casual hidden gems—didn’t disappoint. So if you’re not hungry now, well, you’re about to be.

A Metropolitan Life

As the subject of Martin Scorsese’s docuseries Pretend It’s a City, Fran Lebowitz opined on everything from guilty pleasures to public transportation. In advance of her appearance in Davis this February, we talk to the iconic cultural commentator about the future of cities, Joan Didion, and the Mondavi Center’s backstage cuisine.

Cops Who Hop

Police departments all over the West are converting police cars into lowriders to strengthen community relations. It's an idea that Sacramento should be jumping up and down about too.

Dinner and a Showstopper

All the culinary world’s a stage at the ambitious new omakase restaurant Okesutora. After honing his skills at the celebrated sushi chain Nobu, chef Hieu Phan returns to his native Sacramento to deliver sea-worthy flavors with a dash of storytelling and a splash of spectacle in midtown.

Tops of the Town

In 2010, a new kind of swivel chair emerged, serving dual purposes—providing attractive seating, but also acting as a people magnet in cities around the world. It’s time for Sacramento to make some heads turn too.

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.

New Home for the Holidays

Mere months after arriving in town from his native Iowa, Alex Heetland leads 130 vocalists as the new artistic director of the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus. As he and his choir prepare for the group’s signature holiday show, the 35-year-old ensemble leader talks about the SGMC’s growing profile, the continuing significance of gay men’s choruses in the 21st century, and what attendees can expect at this year’s production, from its wide-ranging songbook to its big move to the Crest Theatre. 

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