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As principal of the School of the Sacramento Ballet, Melanie Haller trains the Pre-Professional Division — the school’s three highest levels (ages 10 to 18-and-up).

A Dancer’s Destiny

In the studio with Sacramento Ballet prinicpal Melanie Haller

As a student, Melanie Haller trained for 12 years at the internationally-recognized Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under world-renowned ballet teacher Marcia Dale Weary. Now, as principal of the School of the Sacramento Ballet, Haller trains the Pre-Professional Division — the school’s three highest levels (ages 10 to 18-and-up).

Dec 31, 2015 Kelly Higdon
Business at the WAL is booming for Benjamins Shoe Corp. Since owner Benjamin Schwartz opened at the new location, what began as a side hobby has expanded into a full shop that ships internationally, offering shoe styles for both men and women.

Shoes with Soul

Benjamins Shoe Corp.

Benjamin Schwartz was an aspiring film producer in the middle of creating his first TV show when he stumbled upon his true calling as a cordwainer (a fancy word for shoemaker).

Oct 23, 2015 Kelly Higdon
The set for Idris Goodwin’s “Bars and Measures,” which will end its run at B Street Theatre on Sept. 27, marries structural design with elements of movement and careful light choreography. Though many audience members probably don't realize it, the amount of conceptualizing, visualizing and manpower it takes to be prepared for opening night is immense.

The Team Behind the Scene

B Street Theatre

“We are lucky to work with a great team here, because this is not always easy,” says set designer and charge artist for B Street Theatre Samantha Reno. “You have to be flexible, you have to be quick and you have to make good, solid decisions. The schedule can be grueling, but the show must go on.”

Sep 18, 2015 Kelly Higdon
Phil Kattenhorn was born with butchering in his blood. The owner and operator of Longhorn Meat Co., located off Interstate 80 in Auburn, grew up in a meat market alongside his father, who spent more than 50 years working as a butcher. Kattenhorn started off earning 10 cents for every shishkabob he helped make, then worked his way up from bagging groceries to running the meat department for an Alaskan grocer before taking over the family business.

A Cut Above

Longhorn Meat Company

“Old fashioned butchering really is becoming a lost art,” owner and operator of Longhorn Meat Co. Phil Kattenhorn says, “In a world now filled with internet purchases and self-service counters, I think people are beginning to miss that connection. It seems we are headed back towards a more simple way of doing things.”

Aug 21, 2015 Kelly Higdon
VSPOne Optical Technology Center-Sacramento opened in Folsom in November of 2014. The lab manufactures custom prescription eyewear and processes approximately 4,600 pairs of eyewear per day. Johnny Younger, a senior coating technician, has been with the company for 14 years.

Optical Realities

VSPOne Optical Technology Center

VSPOne Optical Technology Center-Sacramento opened in Folsom in November of 2014. The lab manufactures custom prescription eyewear and processes approximately 4,600 pairs of eyewear per day. Here’s how they do it: 

Jul 24, 2015
Anthony Padilla has been spray painting murals since 1995. He snagged his first job at a bar in Citrus Heights after illegally painting a monkey on the back of the building with the word “Knucklehead.”

The Law of Art

On the streets with graffiti artist and muralist Anthony Padilla

When asked if the perception of graffiti art has softened over time, artist Anthony Padilla pauses before tentatively responding, “A little bit. Obviously vandalism is wrong, but then there’s also the art side of [graffiti]. I think when you see writing on a wall, it shows that there is life in that city.” 

Jun 5, 2015 Allison Joy