This story is part of our May 2026 issue. To read the print version, click here.

Participating in art, whether that means doodling on a notepad while you’re stuck in a boring meeting or watching a Broadway performance, has always been a huge piece of the human experience. The music we listen to, the films we watch, the books we read and the murals we walk past all help you see the world in new ways.

But in today’s world, it can sometimes feel like if you’re not “good” at something, it’s not worth doing. Taking a painting class or a dance class might be stressful instead of fun if you’re putting pressure on yourself to excel rather than merely enjoying the experience.

Enter the magic of the “little treat.” As it turns out, having a snack or drink by your side while you create can make art feel more approachable and less intimidating. It harkens back to the days of crayon-coloring with a cup of Goldfish at the ready, doing art for the sake of enjoyment rather than accomplishment. Several Sacramento businesses have recognized this, and in an effort to encourage people to connect with art, have integrated the principle of the little treat into their offerings.

The four spots below are places where you can participate in art or watch art being made — along with a treat. For some places, that’s coffee. For others, it’s charcuterie. Each spot is seeking to make art exciting, engaging and something that everyone, no matter their age or skill level, can join.

Brew Bird Coffee + Creative

Located at the site of the old Vic’s Cafe, Brew Bird Coffee + Creative opened at the beginning of 2026 and is already packed with customers every weekend, drinks and pastries in hand. The location serves as a specialty coffee shop where customers can also paint their own pottery. General manager Rebecca Eatough says the idea came about when she and one of the current owners, Samantha Grifone, were at the paint-your-own pottery studio Color Me Mine and thought, “Wouldn’t it be fun if we could have a glass of wine or a cup of coffee right now?”

In addition to their regular menu (which includes coffee, matcha, beer, wine, pastries, bagels, popcorn and more), there’s also an art menu, where you can purchase a pre-fired mug, vase, plate or bowl to paint while you snack and sip. All the supplies are provided, and once you’re done, the shop will put your piece in the kiln and have it ready for pickup in about two weeks. In general, Eatough says, the age demographic tends to be in the 18-40 range, creating a somewhat calmer environment than a pottery painting location geared towards children — but all ages are welcome to join, and the revamped Vic’s Ice Cream shop right next door is certainly an added bonus for anyone looking for a weekend or after-school outing with their creative kid.

“All experience levels are welcome,” Eatough says. “If you’re a beginner, our studio assistant will walk you through it and answer any questions. Plus, a glass of wine can loosen you up and make you feel ready to paint!”

Sacramento Ballet

While the Sacramento Ballet hosts performances all throughout the city, including at The Sofia and the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center, the production company’s world-class dancers train every day at their Midtown studio in the CLARA. Conveniently, another business also resides inside the twisting hallways of the brick building: Seasons Coffee. The colorful shop is a hidden gem, offering fun seasonal drinks and tasty pastries just steps away from the company’s rehearsal space.

You could, of course, visit the coffee shop without stopping by the studio portion of the building, but it’s the perfect place to fuel up before or after taking one of the ballet school’s many classes that are available to the public, from adult ballet for absolute beginners to intermediate and advanced classes — and even a series of strength and fall-prevention classes for older adults.

Sacramento Ballet also has plenty of opportunities to enjoy a treat while watching the professionals perform. One of these is their Coffee and Class program, which allows patrons to sit in on a professional class with a coffee from Seasons in hand for just $10.

“We’re here in the middle of the day, and these incredible people from all over the world are dancing — it’s always happening!” says marketing director Colby Damon. “So we conceived of Coffee and Class as a way to break the barrier between the process of ballet in an approachable way and get more people in the building.”

If coffee isn’t your thing, you can also test the waters of enjoying classical art by attending the company’s annual Beer and Ballet performance, taking place this year May 28-31. Your ticket to the show will get you access to more than 15 original pieces, all of which are choreographed by the dancers themselves, and you’ll also receive a complimentary beer (or nonalcoholic beverage) from Sacramento-based brewery Bike Dog.

Beer and Ballet helps to “break down preconceived notions of what you think it’s like to be at a ballet,” Damon says.

Topstitch Production

If you’ve ever been frustrated by your inability to mend a hole in your favorite pair of jeans or had a vision you weren’t quite able to execute for upcycling a cute-but-ill-fitting skirt from the thrift store, Topstitch is here to help. The studio, a Sacramento-based production house and sewing studio with a focus on community education, regularly hosts classes at their Midtown location to teach the public how to sew.

Their basic introductory class, Sip and Sew, takes place three times a month. Over the course of four hours, it guides beginning sewers through several stitch types and hem styles, as well as the basics of setting up a sewing machine, cutting out a pattern and sewing a handmade tote bag. And you won’t be going hungry during those four hours (which co-founder Mallory Maupin says tend to fly by) — a complimentary charcuterie spread and various types of wine and nonalcoholic beverages are provided for attendees to snack on while they sew. If you already know the basics of sewing, their intermediate Bubbles and Buckets class is a great way to continue your textiles education while stitching a bucket hat (and sipping bottomless champagne).

“It’s such a lost art, and it’s not taught in schools,” Maupin says. “We want to help people become more self-sufficient and help them learn to upcycle and mend without having to consume all the time.”

Atrium 916 Art Cafe

Atrium 916 is a nonprofit focused on hosting events and experiences and launching projects centered around connection, creativity and sustainability. One of the ways this mission manifests is with their Art Cafe, a covered patio space at their Old Sacramento Waterfront location, stocked with art supplies and open Thur.-Sun. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The location has tiles, reusable canvas tote bags and pencil pouches available to purchase and decorate, as well as air-dry clay for anyone wanting to sculpt and paint a magnet.

Although there isn’t food for sale, the cafe offers locally brewed kombucha to sip on while community members paint, as well as hot tea on cold days (and sometimes free wine). There’s no time limit, encouraging burgeoning artists to slow down and enjoy time with the people around them. Walk-ins are welcome, as are beginners.

“We serve art, not food, with heaping sides of kindness,” gallery director Laurel Marana says.

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