Judy Farah is a veteran journalist and writer who has worked in the New York, Los Angeles and Sacramento markets. Read more of Judy’s work at www.judyfarah.com and find her on Twitter @newsbabe1530.
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Bring Back the Dinner Party
Let’s slow down and enjoy good food and conversation with friends
“A dinner party, to me, is putting people around a table and feeding them and nourishing them and having great conversations and lingering over the table and connecting,” Peg Tomlinson-Poswall says. “Food is universal. It’s what connects all of us, no matter what country you go to, once you sit at the table.”
My Curious Fascination with Cemeteries
My fascination with cemeteries began when I was a child, when my father would take me to our local one in New Jersey to pay our respects to lost relatives. While he stood in thought over the grave of his father or brother, I’d wander.
Sacramento Kings Unveil New Arena Food
Offerings include Thai and Cajun, plus ‘Light the Beam’ themed drinks and desserts
As the Sacramento Kings get ready to kick off the NBA season Thursday night, the chefs at Golden 1 Center have been busy creating new food treats for fans.
A Pioneer in Organic Farming
Family business spotlight: Pleasant Grove Farms in Sutter County grows popcorn, wheat and rice the natural way
Driving along a country road in rural Sutter County and seeing endless rows of corn, you can’t help but think of the movie “Field of Dreams.” The Sills family decided to build their dream eight decades ago. Pleasant Grove Farms, a family-owned, certified organic grain and bean farm, has been growing corn and other crops for nearly 80 years.
The New Crawdads on the Lake Offers Stunning Views of Folsom and Lake Natoma
The old Cliff House in Folsom is completely refurbished to showcase the natural scenic beauty surrounding it
When you walk into the new Crawdads on the Lake in Folsom, the first thing you notice are the expansive, sweeping views of the historic Rainbow Bridge, the bike trail below and Lake Natoma filled with dozens of colorful kayakers and paddle boarders. Your first thought is: “Why hasn’t this been done before?”
Tower Bridge Dinner Menu Unveiled, Plus More Sacramento Food News
A look at the new Cabana Club in DoCo and Séka Hills tasting room in Midtown
One way to heighten the already big anticipation of the annual Tower Bridge Dinner is to have the chefs unveil the menu for the night, which falls on Sunday, Sept. 8, this year. The chefs are adding two new proteins never used before in previous dinners — crawfish and goat.
From Farm to Glass
They’re just miles apart, but Capital Region wine regions are distinctively different based on their climate, terrain and soil
Each of our four wine regions has its own unique terroir, a French term describing the soil, climate and sunshine that give wines their distinct character. These winemakers want consumers to consider their wines farm-to-fork — that is, farm-to-glass.
Death of a Briefcase
What happened to that most distinguished paper-carrier?
The Wall Street Journal declared the briefcase dead in 2007. What happened?
Tower Bridge Dinner Chefs Announced
A diverse group will lead the 11th year of the Farm-to-Fork event
It’s one of the most anticipated announcements of the year for Sacramento’s culinary crowd — who will be the chefs for the 2024 Tower Bridge Dinner?
Young Professionals: Carli Schrader
Meet the emerging leaders who envision a bright future for the Capital Region
Carli Schrader and her family operate 43 McDonald’s in Sacramento, San Joaquin, Amador and Stanislaus counties.
Fly Like an Eagle
The UC Davis California Raptor Center and the Department of Defense are teaming up to create the next generation of unmanned aircraft technology
The new center will utilize motion capture and photogrammetry — which uses photography to determine the distance between objects — to image birds in flight and create 3D models of the wing shapes that will help design uncrewed aerial systems, or UAS.
Be Persistent and Make Your Own Path
Advice from the California Manufacturers & Technology Association’s third annual Women MakingCA conference
Women from all over California gathered in Sacramento earlier this month for the third annual Women MakingCA Conference, offering advice on starting businesses, mentorship, entrepreneurship and balancing work and life as part of Women’s History Month.
Women in Leadership: Michelle Willard
Our annual salute to women at the top of their field
Michelle Willard has always been a hard worker. From a young age, she saw the effort put in by her mother, an executive in New York City, and her father, an international salesman, to succeed in the corporate world.
How to Save a Life
WellSpace’s suicide prevention hotline serves a 32-county region
WellSpace Health has been running its suicide prevention hotline for 70 years. Started in 1953, the hotline was expanded in July 2022 to include mental health crises as the new national 988 crisis hotline number was implemented.
Enjoy the Holiday Season at a Festive Pop-Up Bar
Highly decorated spots offer specialty-themed drinks and winter vibes
If you can’t get enough of the holiday season and want to surround yourself with sparkling, glittering decorations while sipping on a craft cocktail adorned with cranberries and sprigs of rosemary, a pop-up bar is just for you.
Getting to Know: Amanda Blackwood
The former CEO of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce looks forward to her next chapter
Amanda Blackwood, the first full-time female CEO of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, will step down at the end of 2023. Here are some of her thoughts about her nearly six years in office.
A Fire in the Sky
Family business spotlight: From Macy’s Fourth of July to the Space Needle, Pyro Spectaculars produces more than 400 fireworks shows a year
The show producer opens his laptop, and with a touch of the keyboard the magic begins. Music swells, and a spectacular vision of multicolor sparkling flowers explodes in the night sky, along with golden starbursts and shiny cascading waterfalls.
Brewed to Perfection
The most popular course at UC Davis teaches engineering students the scientific art of making coffee
Coffee is a $225 billion industry in the U.S., providing 1.6 million jobs. But are we growing, roasting and making the best cup possible? That’s what an innovative program at the UC Davis School of Chemical Engineering has been working on for the past 10 years.
Lake Tahoe Is Enjoying Its Best Clarity in 40 Years
While the leaders of the Lake Tahoe region deal with the impact of millions of visitors each year and the trash they leave behind, the lake itself is currently the clearest it has been since the 1980s.
Lake Tahoe Sets New Attendance and Viewing Records for American Century Championship Celebrity Golf Tournament
Crowds surged as NBA superstar Steph Curry battled for the title
A record 76,810 fans turned out to watch the star-studded tournament.
Young Professionals: Julie Phillips
Meet the 10 young professionals who are rocking it in their careers and community
Julie Phillips had a good idea early on where her interests lie. After growing up in Roseville, she attended UC Davis as a political science major and got strongly involved with the Greek community there. She wasn’t interested in pursuing politics; public policy fascinated her instead.
Saying ‘Yes’ to the Dress
Capital Region brides have a variety of options for wedding dresses
Choosing a wedding dress has become a big production for some, with the bride-to-be bringing along her mother, future mother-in-law and a group of friends to help her select in a luxurious salon while sipping champagne and mimosas.
Despite a Playoff Loss, a Winning Season for the Sacramento Kings
The team’s big season rallied a region
Sometimes when things don’t work out the way you wanted, you’re
disappointed — but you’ve still achieved far beyond what was
expected of you. It has to be acknowledged that the 2022-2023 NBA
season for the Sacramento Kings was a success.
Sacramento Feels the Roar
Downtown Commons is flooded with thousands of Sacramento Kings fans for the first playoff game in 17 years
If you wanted to know what it was
like to be at the Sacramento Kings first playoff game in 17 years
Saturday night, Comstock’s Editor Judy Farah can tell you the
fans were so loud you couldn’t hear the player
introductions.
The Beam Effect
How the Sacramento Kings' purple beam stands for success both in and around the arena
When the Kings play and the Beam is lit, it means both the Kings and businesses in Downtown Commons and surrounding region are all prospering.
Battling for Bucks
The Capital Region loses sports dollars to the Bay Area, but we’re luring fans in other ways
Sacramento sports and entertainment managers are trying to reach sports fans who travel for Bay Area games to keep their money here. So what are they doing to compensate for all those sports dollars being lost?
Women in Leadership: Risa Omega
Our annual salute to extraordinary women breaking barriers and rising to the top
Risa Omega is president and general manager of ABC10, currently the most-awarded newsroom in the Capital Region.
A Region Full of Stars
It really wasn’t so long ago that women had to fight to enter businesses that were dominated by men, reflects Comstock’s Editor Judy Farah. In her March letter, she celebrates the women who have broken barriers in the Capital Region along with the fresh perspectives they’re bringing to their work.
The Deepest Sorrow
Parents who lost children to fentanyl were blindsided by the drug
Fake pills loaded with deadly fentanyl are leading to fatal overdoses among adults and kids in our region and our nation. How is the drug being illegally manufactured, and what should parents and teens know?
PRIDE Industries Expands
New YES! program provides job training for disadvantaged youth
The Youth Employment Services, or YES! program, will help young people with disabilities, trafficking survivors and those who have spent time in the foster care or juvenile justice systems.
Seka Hills Olive Oil Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary
Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation produces nature’s bounty on 22,000 acres of tribal land in the Capay Valley
The olive oil produced by Seka Hills is used by more than 300 restaurants, from the famed Chez Panisse in Berkeley to Mulvaney’s Building & Loan in Sacramento, and sold in 700 specialty markets.
Sacramento Is No Longer Just a Capital City
November’s cover star, Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé, isn’t the only one changing the city’s reputation. Many trends — big events, world-class sports and food — are contributing to Sacramento’s promising future. Comstock’s Editor Judy Farah considers just how close the region is to overcoming its stereotypes.
How the Oldest Winery in California Got Its Roots
Showcasing four-generation family businesses in the Capital Region
The Sobon family, owners of Sobon Estate and Shenandoah
Vineyards, are continuing a 166-year legacy of winemaking in
Amador County. Their land has been a vineyard since
1856, making it one of the oldest in the state.
What to Consider When Choosing a Health Plan
Local experts provide tips for employee and employer
Fall is open enrollment season, so take time to find a plan that
best suits you.
On the Fast Track: Dustin Vicari
Meet 13 young professionals who are on the fast track, bringing new ideas and innovations to the Capital Region
Dustin Vicari is executive vice president for Elevate Sports
Ventures and holds a dual role as Sacramento Republic FC’s chief
revenue officer.
The Media Has Its Faults, But We Need It More Than Ever
In the past decade, there’s been an earthquake of distrust in the news media. Comstock’s Editor Judy Farah considers how we got here and why we need credible, unbiased reporting more than ever.
Firebird Russian Restaurant Forced to Make Two Name Changes Within Two Months
Sacramento restaurant is a gathering place during Russia-Ukraine war
Firebird Russian Restaurant recently reopened as Noroc with a fresh new look.
Women in Leadership: Sonia Susac
Our annual salute to extraordinary women breaking barriers and rising to the top
As president and owner of a large aerospace company, Sonia Susac
appreciates each step of machinery and craft behind its
ambitious NASA projects.
Saving Our Wildlife
When raging wildfires engulf our forests, what happens to the animals?
Capital Region researchers, veterinarians and advocates are
finding innovative ways to rehabilitate wildlife burned by
California’s raging wildfires.
Nutcracker Magic Returns to Sacramento
Beloved ballet set to open after COVID-19 delay
“The Nutcracker,” the much-loved ballet about a young girl’s fantastical dream at Christmastime, is returning to the Sacramento Ballet after a one-year absence due to COVID-19.
Comstock’s Talks: Three Capital Region Restaurants Keep It in the Family
PODCAST: A dedication to the past allows some family restaurants in the Capital Region to survive through the decades.
Three Capital Region Restaurants Keep It in the Family
A dedication to the past allows some family restaurants in the Capital Region to survive through the decades.
Fueling Demand
Family business close-up
Auburn-based Flyers Energy is expanding on its history of
supplying fuel to trucking fleets.
How the City Faced a Pandemic While Continuing to Grow
During her tenure as Sacramento councilwoman and mayor pro tempore, Angelique Ashby has played a role in some major developments for the city.
As the Capital Region Reopens, We Show Our Resiliency Once Again
Comstock’s managing editor looks back on moments in history that have demonstrated the resiliency of the region and the country.
Fields of Gold
The Sacramento Valley’s climate is ripe for producing quality olive oil
Olive farmers in California are determined to become known as producers of high-quality olive oil, and much of that olive oil is being produced in the Mediterranean climate of the Sacramento Valley.
Coronavirus Divergence
At McClellan Park, one side is bustling, the other side is quiet
During normal times, McClellan Park is busy with 18,000 employees working for the 220 businesses on campus, which has 9 million square feet of building space. But due to the coronavirus, only the warehouses and a few offices remain open.
Follow Her Lead: Virginia Varela
As the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, we profile 19 leaders in the Capital Region
As president and CEO of Golden Pacific Bank in Sacramento, Virginia Varela is among just 4 percent of women who hold the top C-suite title in the field of banking.
Follow Her Lead: Wendy Saunders
As the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, we profile 19 leaders in the Capital Region
Wendy Saunders is executive director of the Capitol Area Development Authority, whose mission is to make housing in the area around the Capitol more affordable and manage and develop residential and commercial properties.
Follow Her Lead: Catherine Reheis-Boyd
As the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, we profile 19 leaders in the Capital Region
Catherine Reheis-Boyd, president of Western States Petroleum Association, is attempting to rebrand the petroleum industry.