Sacramento Magazine

22/07/2023

Fans of “The Great British Baking Show” will find lots to love at a darling new bakery in Sacramento’s Pocket neighborhood. Through the Looking Glass Cakes is a baking studio that offers classes to cooks of all ages in addition to selling whimsical custom cakes worthy of a Paul Hollywood handshake. ()

Shanna Martinez. Photo by Debbie Cunningham.

Written by: Catherine Warmerdam

Read more about via the link in our bio!

19/07/2023

“Made of elephant grass and dyed with flower petals rather than chemicals, the baskets— which can be used for shopping, carrying wine (her wine baskets are the most popular) and more—were an instant hit with customers who follow Mateko’s Portico on Instagram ().”

Read more about via the link in our bio!

Written by: Elena M. Macaluso
Photo Credit: Beth Baugher

17/07/2023

Known for his namesake vegetarian restaurant on Broadway, Andy Nguyen has expanded his empire with BUDDHA BELLY BURGER, where all the burgers are vegan. In addition to the All American Cheese Burger made with a meatless patty, there’s the Country Fried Steak Burger, the Lion’s Mane Burger (made with lion’s mane mushrooms) and the Banh Mi Burger, featuring cucumber, pickled carrots and jalapeños, red onions, cilantro and garlic mayo. Who needs beef when you have all that?

Buddha Belly Burger

1901 S St.;
(916) 594-7646

12/07/2023

Get ready for snacks—and more! The California State Fair & Food Festival gets underway July 14 with all the fun favorites including concerts, competitions, livestock pavilions, exposition halls, giveaways, art and photography exhibits, beer and wine, cooking (and eating) challenges, tastings (so much food!) and, of course, wild rides (gentle ones, too). The fair runs through July 30. calexpostatefair.com/fair

California State Fair & Food Festival

July 14 – 30
Cal Expo
calexpostatefair.com/fair

Photo courtesy of California State Fair.

07/07/2023

The Summer In Sac Photo Contest is back!

We are very excited to bring back our Summer In Sac photography contest, sponsored by and creative partners !

This photo contest is inspired by the fun, exciting, and always very hot summers in Sacramento. We're challenging you to capture an image that best represents what summer in Sacramento means to you!

Whether it's a day on the river, a picnic in the park, or fireworks on the 4th of July, we encourage you to get creative and show off your photography skills!

All images submitted must have some sort of summer element to them to be considered a part of the contest.

Photo Contest Guidelines:

Starting July 7th - Sep 1st post a photo to Instagram with the tag (Instagram Only)

Tag in your post on Instagram!

We will be selecting a First, Second and Third place winners that will be receiving individual prizes, all three winning images will also be shared in an upcoming issue of Sacramento Magazine.

1st Place Winner: $100 Gift Card
2nd Place Winner: $50 Gift Card
3rd Place Winner: $50 Gift Card

More contest rules below:

07/07/2023

Check out the official finalists for this year's Best of Sacramento. These businesses that received the most write-in votes during the two month nomination phase. Vote now!

Vote now for your favorite Sacramento business and help us crown this year's Best of Sacramento winners! Will your favorite place win?

03/07/2023

Our July issue is in stores now!! 🍅❤️
Use the link in our bio to find a location to grab yourself a copy!

30/06/2023

Funnel cakes and fried pickles on a stick? Yes, please! Get your fair-food fix and more at this year’s CA State Fair & Food Festival. With fun to fancy food and drink, carnival rides, daily entertainment and nightly concerts, plus esports and new exhibits (we’re talkin’ wild science, wizards and dragons!), the fair offers something for everyone. At Cal Expo.

CA State Fair & Food Festival

July 14-30
Cal Expo
calexpostatefair.com

23/06/2023

How did Craig Takehara, a JFK High School grad who grew up in the Pocket neighborhood eating “nostalgic dishes” like his mother’s version of goulash, end up a James Beard Award nominee with a wildly popular Sacramento restaurant? He has his dad to thank.

“I was living on my own at age 19 when he made me an appointment at a culinary school that he’d seen on a work trip to LA,” recalls Takehara. “I was like, ‘Dad, what are you doing? Why are you making me this appointment?’ But I checked it out and ultimately enrolled. I hated sitting at a desk and was always good with my hands, so cooking was a good outlet for me. Without even really trying, I ended up one of the top five students in my class.”

Read more about Craig Takehara and Binchoyaki via the link in our bio!

Written by: Catherine Warmerdam
Photo Credit: Wes David

21/06/2023

Whether you’ve bucked alcohol all together or identify as sober-curious, a zero-proof cocktail (booze-free) may be enticing. Better than ordering up club soda with a wedge of lime, there’s no longer a need to skimp on flavor just to skip the alcohol for the day.

At the Sawyer Hotel the swanky poolside lounge Revival is all in on the trend, declaring the seventh day of the week Sober Sunday and celebrating with a list of creatively cool mocktails served into the night. The new menu was announced alongside the hotel’s wellness program in April but will continue to be served on the rooftop through the end of summer. Fresh, seasonal ingredients are at the forefront of every recipe, along with Seedlip nonalcoholic spirits, which contain zero sugar and zero calories.

Written by: Nora Heston Tarte
Photo Credit: Gabriel Teague

20/06/2023

“We don’t expect (Homeless World Cup) to change everything, though we hope it will spur discussion and change negative perceptions of homeless individuals,” Wrightsman says. “At the end of the day, these players are people deserving of respect. Not because they have been homeless, but because of what they have overcome to be where they are today. We want everyone to see the possibilities of the human spirit.”

Street Soccer Homeless World Cup

Hosted by: Street Soccer Sac

July 8–15 at Sacramento State

16/06/2023

How do you build a better pancake? At DRUTHERS COFFEE & WAFFLES () the answer is easy: Just add sweet potato. This sweet little shop in East Sac’s Sutter Park development serves gluten-free, vegan waffles whose star ingredient is better known as a Thanksgiving side than a breakfast main. The waffles come in three flavors: plain, peaches and cream, and coffee cake. Add a cup of Druthers coffee (hot or cold) made with chicory syrup and cream for a Southern-inspired morning treat.

Druthers Coffee & Waffles

533 53rd St.;
drutherssutterpark.com

Photo Credit:

14/06/2023

Celebrate Juneteenth, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, at the 20th annual Sacramento Juneteenth Festival. Enjoy a host of activities: gospel under the stars, a fair with community groups, entertainment, vendors, health/wellness and arts/education pavilions, a golf tournament and more. At William Land Park. sacramentojuneteenthinc.org

Sacramento Juneteenth Festival

June 16-18
William Land Park
sacramentojuneteenthinc.org

11/06/2023

Savor the sounds of mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo and bass at the 48th Annual Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival. Headlined by 2023 Grammy-winning guitarist Molly Tuttle and her band, Golden Highway, the festival features top bluegrass artists, free workshops, jam sessions, kids’ programs and more. At Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley.
fathersdayfestival.com

48th Annual Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival

June 15-18
Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley
fathersdayfestival.com

07/06/2023

Get your pride on at the Sacramento Pride Festival, the city’s LGBTQ+ Pride celebration saluting q***r community, achievement and activism. Join 20,000 festivalgoers for music, entertainment, dancing, vendors, community groups, inclusive zones and family activities. Top it off with the rainbow-filled Pride March on Sunday. At Capitol Mall. sacramentopride.org.

Sacramento Pride Festival

June 10-11
Capitol Mall
sacramentopride.org

02/06/2023

The creators of the popular gardening blog Sacramento Digs Gardening have released their first digital cookbook.

“Taste Spring! Delicious Seasonal Recipes From Your Garden” features 64 recipes for dishes made with fresh spring produce. It is available for free online.

Read more via the link in our bio!

Written by: Marybeth Bizjak

27/05/2023

Next Tuesday, May 30, Very Local app—owned by KCRA parent Hearst Television—brings “Local Love Sacramento” to viewers. In each of eight 30-minute shows, one local single goes on three blind dates. In the process of getting to know each other, the daters go out on the town. Viewers will not only enjoy the (potential) love stories, but they’ll be introduced to numerous Sacramento locales perfect for outings of their own.

Read more about “Love Love Sacramento” via the link in our bio!

Samuel Bryant (right), Mariah Houston (left). Photo courtesy of Local Love Sacramento.

24/05/2023

has long prided itself on working with underrepresented populations, helping create career pathways for those with disabilities and other barriers to employment through a business-to-business service. The social enterprise also has a workforce-inclusion department to support people looking for jobs.

Read more about via the link in our bio!

Written by: Nora Heston Tarte

19/05/2023

“Sacramento native Julie Soto, 35, is a natural storyteller. An award-winning playwright (her musical, “Generation Me,” won Best Musical at the New York Musical Festival in 2017), she turned to writing online fan fiction six years ago, crafting unexpected storylines for some of her favorite literary characters, including Hermione Granger from the “Harry Potter” series. The self-described fandom nerd’s success with fan fiction has earned her legions of followers (her most popular work has attracted 1.5 million unique views online) and established her as a fresh talent in this unique literary category. Soto’s debut novel, “Forget Me Not” (Grand Central Publishing), a smartly conceived—and rather steamy—modern romance, will be released in July.”

Read more about Julie Soto via the link in our bio!

Written by: Catherine Warmerdam
Photo Credit: Kevin Fiscus Photography

17/05/2023

“Hidero Yamasuki considers himself a connoisseur of comic books and all things anime. So when the 22-year-old was seen leafing through the latest issue of the comic book “Impound” while sitting at DOCO, he was asked how it stacked up against the titans of the industry: Marvel and DC Comics.

“I think the quality of the book, from the art to the color to the story, is definitely cool. There’s definitely no difference between this and the mainstream books,” says Yamasuki, a midtown resident. “The fact that ‘Impound’ is based in Sacramento is even better. That’s valid. I’m a fan.”

Read more about Impound Comics and Brent Trayce Sands via the link in our bio!

Photo Credit: Kevin Gomez Jr
Written by: Mark Billingsley

16/05/2023

“If a chef I respect raves about a restaurant, I tend to take notice. So when Kathi Riley Smith—once the executive chef at San Francisco’s Zuni Cafe—told me about Paste Thai in Davis, I suggested we go there for lunch. “I don’t think I’ve ever had Thai food made with fresher ingredients,” she said.”

Read more about Paste Thai via the link in our bio!

Written by Marybeth Bizjak

Photo Credit:

12/05/2023

With its steadily revolving presentation of monthlong exhibits, (1021 R St.) gives locals a leisurely look at local artistic talent.

The revolution continues on Saturday, May 13, with the debut of works by and that together are themed, “Subconscious Sanctuary.” Meet them and some of their artworks at the Second Saturday opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m.

Who are these artists, you may ask? Arthouse answers:

“Gilmore is a painter, writer, and mixed-media artist best known for her fantasy oil paintings that blend the human form with floral and faunal attributes. The artist uses realism and symbolism to advance the idea that humans are inseparable from their environment. Lately she has expanded her practice to include sculpture and murals. She’s been featured in a number of local publications, maintains a working studio at Verge Center for the Arts, and is represented by Artize Gallery in Palm Springs. In addition, Laurelin is co-owner of Amatoria Fine Arts Bookstore in Sacramento.

“Caldwell is an artist, illustrator, and designer living in Elk Grove. In 1992, she received a BFA from Kent State University, but it wasn’t until 2014 that her passion for art took hold. Personal struggles fueled a need to lose herself in creating other worlds inspired by nature, color, and texture. She began with collage and, since then, has explored many mediums such as acrylic paint, clay and felted sculptures, miniatures, and, most recently, digital art and illustration. In 2017, she created the large-scale collage ‘After Us’ for ArtStreet Sacramento—a particular highlight in her career. Caldwell continues to explore new ways to express her need to create.”

Arthouse Gallery & Studios is open from 11 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Learn more on its website.

11/05/2023

Next week, the Sac Song & Wine Series kicks off at Miner's Leap Winery in Clarksburg. Starting May 17, the event will run for five Wednesdays over the next five months. (Other dates are June 14, Aug. 16, Sept. 13 and Oct. 4.) The series will bring songwriters from Nashville to take the stage in Miner’s Leap’s beautiful outdoor venue. The event will provide participants the opportunity to learn the stories behind some of country music’s greatest hits, sip Miner’s Leap wines and listen to country tunes performed by the songwriters themselves—all backdropped by the gorgeous Clarksburg sunset.

Next week, songwriters Lee Thomas Miller and Wendell Mobley will perform. Miller is behind songs including “The Impossible by Joe Nichols, “You’re Gonna Miss This” by Trace Adkins, “In Color” by Jamey Johnson and “The World” by Brad Paisley, and Mobley’s credits include “We Can’t Love This Anymore” by Alabama, “However Forever Feels” by Kenny Chesney, “Fast Cars and Freedom” by Rascall Flatts and “How Country Feels” by Randy Houser.

Other songwriters appearing over the course of the series include Nicolle Galyon, Chris DeStefano, Hunter Phelps, Rodney Clawson and Bobby Pinson. More will be added. For more information and tickets, go here.

Miner’s Leap Winery is located at 54250 South River Road in Clarksburg.

09/05/2023

Sacramento Ballet wraps up its 68th season with Emergence, featuring the intense and athletic “Agon,” George Balanchine’s midcentury ballet that represents the apex of his long collaboration with composer Igor Stravinsky. Also on tap: three world premieres by critically acclaimed choreographers Caili Quan, Stephanie Martinez and Adam Hougland. At The Sofia.

Emergence (Sac ballet)

The Sofia, Home of B Street Theatre
May 19 – 21
sacballet.org

05/05/2023

For an up-close look at some of the most gorgeous gardens and homes in the city, take in this year’s East Sac Garden Tour on Mother’s Day Weekend. The annual benefit for David Lubin Elementary School includes a tour of several stunning properties in the Fabulous 40s, an on-campus boutique, art show and cafe, and a wine garden and silent auction at Sutter Lawn Tennis Club.

East Sac Garden Tour

East Sacramento
May 13-14
eastsacgardentour.com

Photo by: Crate & Gather

04/05/2023

How many checks do you have on your Sac bucket list? Is there anything else we should add to the list?

03/05/2023

Experience one of the world’s most celebrated voices when Andrea Bocelli: Live in Concert graces Golden 1 Center. The multiplatinum-selling Italian tenor, known for bridging the classical and pop music worlds, performs from his wide-ranging repertoire: arias, love songs and crossover fan favorites that have made him an international star. With Sacramento Philharmonic and Chorus.

Andrea Bocelli

Golden 1 Center
May 12
golden1center.com

02/05/2023

Join us at the CA State Railroad Museum for the first annual Sacramento Magazine Whiskey Festival on June 8. Sip unlimited expressions from the finest labels, meet the distillers, attend live whiskey seminars, and enjoy hors d’oeuvres from some of the region's best restaurants. Presented by Sky River Casino, partnering with Locked Barrel and benefiting KidsFirst Family Counseling and Resource Center.

Here are just a few of the whiskey brands attending: Jack Daniel's, Garrison Brothers Distillery, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, WhistlePig Whiskey, Angel's Envy, J.J. Pfister Distilling Co, Gold Bar Whiskey, Eagle Rare Bourbon, Old Trestle Distillery, Nelson's Green Brier Distillery.

Sacramento Magazine presents the inaugural Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival. Look to