The Central Valley Tradition of Cattle Ranching Faces an Uncertain Future
Do California ranchers still have a home on the range?
Ranching has been a central part of California’s economy and its cultural traditions since pre-statehood. Comstock’s spoke to three Central Valley ranchers about what they have done to stay in ranching and why they continue to work in such a demanding industry.
Sacramento Becomes the ‘City of Cheese’
The 2025 American Cheese Society brings the creme de la creme of the dairy industry to Sacramento
The American Cheese Society’s annual conference took place last week in Sacramento, dubbed the City of Cheese for the occasion — the first time the California capital has hosted the high-profile event since 2014. It drew over 1,000 attendees with strong appetites for cheese talks and samples (lots of samples).
100 Years Since Peak Prohibition, Revelers Still Seek Speakeasies in Sacramento
History, mystery and drink magic in the Capital's hidden bars
California’s capital was one of the wettest cities in the state
during dry Prohibition, home to a rebellious generation who
escaped into hidden drinking dens. A century later, there are
still plenty of speakeasies in Sacramento if you know where to
look.
Are Art Spaces Becoming the New Third Places?
As traditional cafes and restaurants vanish, art spaces step up as hubs for culture, connection and creativity
Originally theorized by Ray Oldenburg, a third place is meant to
be a social anchor between home and work. Typically these
communal places are bookstores, salons, coffeeshops, pubs and
restaurants. But across Sacramento, art spaces like Demo, Panama
Pottery and Forma are filling the social gap left by shuttered
cafes and bars.
Startup of the Month: Nexa Labs
Biosensor aims to detect cattle disease early
Nexa Labs took home first prize at the 2025 UC Davis Big Bang! Competition for a solution designed to give farmers real-time health data on livestock so they can catch diseases early.
There’s Free Food Every Weeknight at This Davis Park
How the Davis Night Market offers mutual aid on a ‘shoestring of a shoestring’ budget
You’ll find them standing in a corner of Davis’ Central Park every weeknight after dark, barely lit by a nearby streetlight, surrounded by cardboard boxes and plastic bags. This is the Davis Night Market, a grassroots organization that has been operating under the radar for over half a decade.
This California Beer Sends a Message of Solidarity With the Iranian People
Behind the crisp pilsner lies a numeric code meant to transcend language and challenge Iran’s regime
Beer has been illegal in Iran since the Islamic Republic rose to power in 1979. To follow the story of Persian beer, one must look beyond the borders of the country. The latest chapter takes place in Davis, home of Rostam36.
Hunting Near the Farm-to-Fork Capital
Driven by a desire to eat ethically and connect with nature, more people are discovering the Capital Region’s wealth of hunting opportunities
Alongside deer, upland game like turkeys and pheasants, and invasive wild pigs, Sacramento offers some of the best wildfowl hunting anywhere in the U.S., and hunters come from across the state and country to enjoy it.
Pasquini’s Serves Up Nearly a Century of Food, Family and Lore
What began as basement dinners and bootleg wine now thrives as a multigenerational Italian dining landmark in Live Oak
Behind a nearly obscured sign on Highway 99 is a 95-year-old bastion of Italian American food and heritage that still offers Spaghetti Monday every week.
How Japanese Sweets Are Enduring and Evolving in Sacramento
A century-old sweet shop, a cult-status bakery and a homegrown pop-up bring Japanese flavors to the Capital Region
Today, Osaka-Ya is the only dedicated Japanese mochi and manju shop in Sacramento, but you can find other Japanese and Japanese-inspired sweets around the city.