Sacramento was in the international spotlight July 8-15, when the 18th Homeless World Cup, a compelling weeklong soccer tournament that spotlights the plight of worldwide homelessness, was held on the campus of California State University, Sacramento.

As the crew with Yolo Ballooning Adventures prepares the aircraft for its scheduled 90-minute trip, general manager Mike Veliz looks out over the launch site dotted with half a dozen other balloons from various Northern California companies readying for takeoff. “The best part of this job,” says Veliz, a Woodland native, “is getting to watch the sunrise every day.”

Isleton’s Crawdad Festival — a defining event from the mid-1980s to the late 2000s for the tiny city along the Sacramento River — returned to Main Street for the first time in 14 years on June 17-18, swelling the city of less than 800 residents to an estimated 60,000 over the two-day event.

Even when the tulips aren’t blooming during the April-May window, Crystal Hermitage is a destination experience that has received accolades by AAA Magazine as a top garden to visit in the West.

The story of The Workshop, the popular 600-square foot Cajun-Creole walk-up restaurant in Benicia, starts with a teen romance between Danny Glassmaker and Naomi Buskirk more than 30 years ago. 

The temple and museum is usually a quiet respite for visitors, open by appointment only. But during one weekend, the serenity is replaced by bursts of firecrackers and thousands of visitors attending the Bok Kai Festival weekend, honoring Bok Eye.

Eight schools and their fans landed in Sacramento to play in the NCAA tournament’s first and second round games, bringing in an estimated $10 million in economic impact.

Inspired by its proprietor Brynn Wooden — known to all as Miss B — and Woody, her husband of 40 years, the lodge is a beacon in the tight-knit Gold Rush communities of Colfax, Iowa Hill and Foresthill.

The 4,500-seat facility held a ribbon cutting celebration on Feb. 14 and then opened three days later with a sold-out, three-day President’s Day weekend run of the Eagles, Bruno Mars and Santana.

Nevada County Mead Company is one of the few places in the Capital Region that produces and serves mead, which the ancient Greeks called “nectar of the gods.”

The Benicia Historical Museum houses tens of thousands of artifacts related to multiple wars and the Gold Rush era, providing a place for visitors to learn something new and appreciate the story of California.

The store has delighted visitors through several generations while also featuring a wide selection of greeting cards, puzzles, candy, gifts and houseware items. Having an internet presence has helped them return to pre-pandemic sales numbers.

The Oct. 29 Showdown at Cache Creek brought prominent boxers and promoters to the Yolo County casino, which undertook a $200 million expansion during the pandemic.

Lodi-based, family-owned Calivirgin has reshaped its business. Part of California’s rich olive oil landscape for almost two decades, its new facility allows the owners to showcase award-winning products, introduce a new wine line and host tastings.

The night of Oct. 22 — with three college and professional sporting events starting around the same time — was expected to be a memorable night for Sacramento sports fans.

As the chilly night unfolded, those expectations were undoubtedly exceeded.

Rosebud’s is known for authenticity and acceptance as much as for good food, and is a leader on several local issues involving homelessness and LGBTQ rights.

Crus’ nursery and landscaping construction company help shape the region’s image and produce plants that withstand the rough high-elevation climate of the area.

Created in 1952, Elliott’s Natural Foods was the first in its area to offer many of its health food products. Since their approach to whole and organic food was considered a rarity in the early 1950s, they made dispensing wellness knowledge and advice a part of their business plan, which they carry through to today.

The team’s improbable run in the U.S. Open Cup against better-funded teams is evidence of the team’s ascending trajectory. Will it help their chances of gaining a place in Major League Soccer?

Reflecting on the many chapters of the building best known as ARCO Arena, its farewell event and what’s next for the Natomas site.  

Both the Davis and Sacramento food co-ops have expanded exponentially since their inception in the early 1970s, when they primarily served ”the hippie population.” Fifty years later, has the spirit of 1972 held up?

Frank Sullivan’s mining legacy is as rich as Auburn’s, and is reflected in his timeless shop, Pioneer Mining Supplies.

Extreme athletes see what they can accomplish, however improbable — like the 100.2-mile ultramarathon Western States — and use their hobbies to contribute to regional economies.

Sacramento’s jazz community gathered at Torch Club recently to play their annual memorial jam to honor Johnny “Guitar” Knox. The fundraiser raised money for the Sacramento Blues Society Hall of Fame.

Following tragic circumstances, Penny Candy has reopened, continuing its decades-long status as a treasured destination in Live Oak. Now, it’s up for sale.

PODCAST: Capital Region music festivals attract tens of thousands of fans from nearby areas and from all around the country, shaping its identity and boosting the local economy.

Capital Region music festivals attract tens of thousands of fans from nearby areas and from all around the country.

An electronic system that relays information almost instantaneously is helping umpires make their calls.

The Delta bar’s five new owners kept the biker bar’s decor, unique traditions, steakhouse-style food menu and controversial name.

A family of avid cyclists operates a long-running bike business in bike-friendly Davis.

Get excited for Record Store Day on April 23 with this photo essay of some of the region’s most beloved, idiosyncratic shops. 

Roller skating is trendy on a national and local scale for its nostalgic and therapeutic appeal. Capital Region rinks are capitalizing on the pastime’s increasing popularity.

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit provides a wide range of emergency rescue services to those who are lost, stranded or injured.

An eclectic studio situated on a Vallejo peninsula, Mare Island Art Studio provides public and private gallery space for 19 diverse artists.

Memorabilia, beer and longstanding friendships have made the shop a beloved stop for regulars.

A young Amador County couple is making their mark with a small-but-mighty vegetable farm in Ione. Starting with little experience, they’ve grown into one of the region’s most popular small farms.

“It all started with the sausage,” says Christine Chang, the second-generation owner of Taiwan Best Mart.

The regional business of entertainment, arts and sports is reemerging with new structures and outlooks in place.

Cornish pasties are an edible trace of the gold rush, connecting Grass Valley to a global history of migration and extraction.