![Jacob Dill (right) opened Plant Daddy Co. in East Sacramento with his partner Luke Swanson during the pandemic and says business is booming. (Photos by Andrew Calisterio)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0920_blog_gettingtoknow2.jpg?1600899989)
Getting to Know: Jacob Dill
Co-owner of Plant Daddy Co. in East Sacramento says retail business is booming
Luke Swanson and Jacob Dill, cofounders of Plant Daddy Co., are partners in life and business and discovered the joy of plant parenthood in their 20s living in San Francisco and Portland.
![Designer and illustrator Benjamin Della Rosa says that in Sacramento, “Connections and your reputation play a bigger part than your portfolio does when it comes to design work.” (Photos courtesy of Benjamin Della Rosa)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0820_blog_artexposed_bdrportrait1.jpg?1598634980)
Art Exposed: Benjamin Della Rosa
The designer and illustrator’s career is all about connections
Della Rosa’s signature style can be seen in the visual branding of companies around the Capital Region, including restaurants, food and beverage brands, creative festivals and more.
![Three of 9th Creation’s original members record in a Lodi studio in the spring of 2020: Mike Micenheimer, trombone, A.D. Burrise, bass, and Steve Mason keyboards. (Photos courtesy of 9th Creation)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0820_blog_music_creation3.jpg?1597862899)
Back to the Future
Almost a half-century later, a lost album helps Stockton’s 9th Creation ride the music charts again
9th Creation, Stockton’s legendary funk-disco-boogie band, is back together and recording again.
![Musician Clemón Charles has performed in hundreds of live shows during his career, and the coronavirus pandemic has “hit hard,” he says, as music venues have closed. (Photo courtesy of Clemón Charles)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0820_blog_qa_clemon2.jpg?1597168663)
The Music Hasn’t Died
Though the coronavirus pandemic has all but ended live performances, some musicians are being creative while they wait to return to the stage
Comstock’s talked to one local music mainstay, Clemón Charles, about how the pandemic has affected musicians and the live music industry in the Sacramento area.
![Aliyah Sidqe saw a 900 percent increase in online sales of her art during June, thanks to people wanting to support Black-owned businesses and artists. (Photo courtesy of Aliyah Sidqe)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0720_blog_artexposed1crop.jpg?1596053504)
Art Exposed: Aliyah Sidqe
How one Sacramento artist wants to help fellow artists understand their worth
Aliyah Sidqe, a mentee of the artist and activist Milton Bowens, uses her paintings to uplift the community.
![Artist Laurelin Gilmore’s studio is in Verge Center for the Arts. (Photo by Shoka)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0620_blog_artexposed.0.laurelingilmore.jpg?1593192848)
Art Exposed: Laurelin Gilmore
The Sacramento artist’s paintings show a reverence to nature, as she recognizes environmental issues are social issues
Laurelin Gilmore weaves zodiac and earthy elements to show the connectivity humans have to nature.
![Kevin Hernandez is director of events and sponsorship at the Roseville Area Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Rahul Lal)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0620_blog_gettingtoknow_hernandez1.jpg?1592933469)
Getting to Know: Kevin Hernandez
Roseville chamber director of events and sponsorship aims to create connections for professionals
Kevin Hernandez is a people person. His enthusiasm, extroversion and passion for creating connections among people is palpable through the television screen where, for seven years, he has appeared on “Good Day Sacramento.”
![Sacramento ballet dancers Isabella Velasquez and Anthony Cannarella demonstrate their moves at The Sofia in early May. The Sofia and other performing arts venues have been shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Terence Duffy)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0620_feat_artsculture_terenceduffy_lead.jpg?1592255202)
Out of the Spotlight
The coronavirus pandemic has closed the curtain on the Capital Region’s performing arts, but leaders are hopeful about the future
Last year was a strong one for the performing arts in the region, and 2020 was building on that success, which has led to hope from some local arts leaders that this progress will continue despite the unprecedented shutdown.
![Crawford’s Books, opened by Jim and Joyce Crawford in 1983, was purchased by Sue and Greg Richards in January 2018. (Photo by Tom Couzens)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0620_dept_mainstreet_tomcouzens.jpg?1591210923)
Main Street: A New Chapter
Family-owned bookstore adjusts to limitations of state’s coronavirus order
Crawford’s Books owner Sue Richards now offers curbside pickup at her store on Freeport Boulevard in the Hollywood Park neighborhood of Sacramento.
![Sacramento-area artist Lindsay Swearingen creates dark but whimsical embroidery and ink drawings under the name Tusk and Cardinal. (Photo by Kelly Swearingen, courtesy of Lindsay Swearingen)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/520_blog_artexposed.0.lindsayswearingenportrait.jpg?1590714881)
Art Exposed: Lindsay Swearingen
Tusk and Cardinal embroidery artist and illustrator discusses art versus craft in fiber arts
Lindsay Swearingen was introduced to needle and thread at 8 years old, when her mother taught her how to cross-stitch. She was young and didn’t stick with it, but “about eight years ago, I picked it back up around when there was a resurgence of embroidery and fiber art,” she says.