Happy April! A few days ago, we revealed the special cover design for our April issue, which is a special tribute to the Sacramento Kings, the city’s passionate sports community and the economic impact they’ve had on the Capital Region.

Comstock’s wanted an original and exclusive image of the Sacramento Kings’ purple beam, which has captured the heart of the region, for our April cover to coincide with the Sacramento Kings making the playoffs for the first time in 16 years. We approached David Garibaldi, never expecting him to be available, but the native son was excited to create this cover for the Kings, their fans and his hometown for Comstock’s readers.

Here’s what else you can expect in the pixels and pages of our digital issue:

In the battle for bucks, the Capital Region is losing sports dollars to the Bay Area, but we’re luring fans in other ways. Editor Judy Farah reports how the beam, giant events like the Ironman competition and the city’s embrace of Sacramento Republic FC all contribute to the town’s psychology.

As technology evolves, regional entrepreneurs are looking to unlock the possibilities of augmented reality. Technology writer Russell Nichols explores how some designers are using AR to untether consumers from their phones and connect with reality in a new way.

Have you been to a mall lately? Communities around the country are grappling with what to do with their dwindling shopping centers as shopping habits evolve and infrastructure changes. Contributor Ed Fletcher evaluates how Sacramento-area malls are restructuring to adjust to a new retail landscape. 

Ratcheted up by the pandemic, students’ mental health has become an important focus in schools. Contributor Owen Racer reports on how local schools are addressing mental health in a complex, post-pandemic world. 

We also taste pancakes at a diner that doubles as an egaming center, glimpse the daily life of Palisades Tahoe’s chief operating officer, go off the beaten track to a Daoist temple featured in a Pixar movie and much more. 

In this month’s issue, Comstock’s presents a special section in partnership with the City of Rancho Cordova in celebration of its 20th anniversary of cityhood. We explore the city’s boomtown growth into an economic powerhouse, employment hub and family-friendly destination.

Also this month, we present our annual special section in partnership with the Association of Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) and the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). We delve into topics including the current office real estate market and emergency preparedness.

We hope you enjoy digitally flipping through these stories as you bask in the glow of both the sun and the beam!

And don’t forget to nominate a mover and shaker age 40 or under who inspires you. We’ve extended our deadline for submissions to Friday, April 28.