At 123 Years Old, McKinley Park Is the Still-Thriving Glory of East Sacramento

The park features the largest rose garden in the Capital Region

This isn’t just any park. The McKinley Park rose garden is the setting for countless al fresco weddings, confirmations, quinceañeras and private soirees. It also provided a stunning backdrop for the scene in Sacramento native and filmmaker Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird,” in which the two young lovers own up to their emotions.

Can You Franchise the News? Media Entrepreneurs Say Yes

Franchise and license models like Edible and Coffee News offer turnkey options for would-be publishers

From McDonald’s to Ace Hardware, franchises permeate all sorts of industries, and media is no exception. The franchise model offers an onramp into the industry for entrepreneurs with the money but without the experience.

Startup of the Month: CREE8

A ‘studio in the cloud’ connects creatives worldwide

“I wanted to build a platform that removed those barriers,” says Lisa M. Watts, CEO and founder of CREE8, “enabling creators to work from anywhere with the same power as an enterprise-grade studio. Truly reinventing the future of work.”

Dilemma of the Month: Do I Have to Tell External Candidates I’m Considering Someone Internal?

I have received feedback from candidates asking me why I didn’t tell them this upfront. They share that they feel defeated and that the interview wastes time when they find out they weren’t chosen. What is best practice?

In Northern California, the Natural Landscape Lures Outdoor Lovers With a Wide Variety of Recreational Activities

Great outdoor adventures abound in the Capital Region and beyond

Beautiful natural resources like this make Northern California a popular destination for recreation lovers. In fact, in California in 2023, some $81.5 billion was generated from outdoor recreation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Let’s head outdoors.

This Fanciful Retreat Turns Heads With Soundscapes and Water Features

Visionary voice actor transformed a derelict bungalow into his own ‘happiest place on earth’

Du Bose, a voice actor, lived in L.A. for 25 years before growing weary of the scene. In 2015 he resettled in his hometown of Fair Oaks while continuing to work in the industry. To decompress from a stressful job, Du Bose threw himself into transforming his yard and home into a showstopper. “I wanted to make it feel like I was on vacation,” he says.

From Corporate Jobs to Brewery Owners

Proprietors of Big Stump Brewing Company juggle traditional careers with new venture

The phrase “typical day” is not one Larissa Meltz and Alex Larrabee have uttered recently and, as they get closer to their expected Labor Day weekend opening of Big Stump Brewing Company at 1716 L St. in Midtown Sacramento, their schedules will likely only get busier.

SacAnime and the Rise of the Pop-Culture Convention

Biannual Sacramento anime event takes place Sept. 2-4

While pop-culture conventions may be all the rage these days, that hasn’t always been the case.

Smart Cities Hinge on Open Data

A technologically-savvy city is no longer fodder for fantasy film; it’s an expectation. We live in a time where technology can and should make our urban environments more efficient in terms of energy consumption, transportation, land use, citizen participation and government processes.

Buzzwords: Hardball

To be uncompromising in your methods or dealings, especially in business of politics

So while the word — and the practice — might make you roll your eyes, playing hardball can be useful and even necessary when the stakes are high. But please, use sparingly both verbally and in action.

The Ice Man

Building up from the ashes

After plans for a massive upgrade to the historic Crystal Ice and Cold Storage building went up in smoke, Mike Heller and his team were forced back to the drawing board — here’s how they forged ahead.

Net Numbers

Two University of the Pacific professors are changing the game of water polo — at an Olympic level

New information put forth by two University of the Pacific staff is changing the way water polo is played, even at the highest levels of competition.

There’s Gotta Be a Better Way

West Sacramento embraces technology, innovating thinking

Innovation is understandably not something most people associate with government. More than most any place in society, government offices are thought of — accurately or not — as where innovation and cutting-edge thinking go to die. But it doesn’t have to be that way, nor is it that way everywhere.

Raised for Glory

Youth sports have become big business — but at what cost?

More youth are participating in competitive (tryout-based), travel teams that practice more often and play additional games, often year-round, as parents shell out thousands of dollars per child, per sport, per year. The stakes are high. Or so they seem, as college scholarships or professional careers beckon at the finish line.

Status Check: High-Speed Rail

In 2014, we reported on the progress of the contentious and embattled California high-speed rail project starting to take shape (“One-Track Mind” by Allen Young, January 2014). We recently checked back in with Jeff Morales, CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, to see where the project is now and why it’s still making headlines.

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