While editing this month’s most-read story, I learned some interesting things about the hulking Brutalist building that was the focal point of legal activity in Sacramento until it closed earlier this year. For example, did you know that the statue outside, made up of swirling, organic shapes that recall whale jawbones and scapulae, is actually a fountain?

Named Proteus after the Greek god who cares for Poseidon’s flock of seals, it was created by Aristides Burton Demetrios, who was a second-generation sculptor — his father, George Demetrios, trained under the renowned Antoine Bourdelle, a student of Auguste Rodin and an important figure in the Art Deco movement. I imagine that the marine theme of the sculpture is more obvious when the fountain is running, with oceanic sprays ricocheting between the bronze-and-copper shapes. But I’ve personally never seen it running (like most of the fountains in downtown Sacramento). My hope is that whoever ends up purchasing the site doesn’t overlook this important piece of public art — any maybe even turns the water back on.

I’m also chuffed that I get to share a story I wrote myself in this month’s most-read newsletter: “What Are Sacramento’s Young Professionals Really Wearing to Work?“ It was a bit of a controversial pitch in the office, but it ended up drawing more attention on Instagram than anything else we’ve posted this year — and it was a ton of fun to “report” in downtown Sacramento with photographer Katy Karns. Where do you think we should look for stylish Sacramentans next?

Speaking of Instagram, we got some nice comments on social media this month from our loyal readers. Here’s who we featured in our On the Web page in the August issue.

Leave a comment on one of our posts and you might see your username in print next month! 

–Jennifer Fergesen, digital editor

Last Month’s Most-Read Stories

Top Story: Sacramento’s Former Courthouse Is for Sale. Here’s What Could Replace It

For decades, the Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Courthouse was the buzzing home of legal matters in Sacramento. Now that the courts have moved, what will become of the empty building? New contributor Jason Collins investigates.

Katie Durham Is Building the Network Behind Sacramento’s Next Leaders

Of all the Young Professionals profiles we put online last week, Metro-Edge Co-Chair Katie Durham’s was the most read — and her Instagram post was one of the most-commented-on. “katie durham loves group projects so now i love group projects,” commented user @nztkd. Durham responded: “We love group projects together!” 

What Are Sacramento’s Young Professionals Really Wearing to Work?

The Instagram post about our feature on Sacramento workplace style drew more engagement than anything else we’ve put on social media this year. We plan to feature more local street snaps online in future months!

Why California Nearly Stopped Funding Public Murals

I think one of Comstock’s fortes is shedding light on the tangled tapestry of rules and regulations that underpins business, culture and life itself in our region. This web story, which explains the snag that temporarily made it more or less illegal for artists to paint murals in California, is a great example of that. Read it to find out how a motivated network of artists and supporters undid the knot. 

Before the A’s, Sacramento Had Its Own Baseball Empire

“This is a real baseball town,” Babe Ruth reportedly said during a barnstorming visit to Sacramento in 1927. But who were the local teams that maintained the city’s interest in the sport between exhibition games? Lisa Jonsson, the descendant of the owner of one of those bygone teams, shares the story of the Gilt Edges. 

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