The story of The Workshop, the popular 600-square foot Cajun-Creole walk-up restaurant in Benicia, starts with a teen romance between Danny Glassmaker and Naomi Buskirk more than 30 years ago. 

The temple and museum is usually a quiet respite for visitors, open by appointment only. But during one weekend, the serenity is replaced by bursts of firecrackers and thousands of visitors attending the Bok Kai Festival weekend, honoring Bok Eye.

Eight schools and their fans landed in Sacramento to play in the NCAA tournament’s first and second round games, bringing in an estimated $10 million in economic impact.

Inspired by its proprietor Brynn Wooden — known to all as Miss B — and Woody, her husband of 40 years, the lodge is a beacon in the tight-knit Gold Rush communities of Colfax, Iowa Hill and Foresthill.

The 4,500-seat facility held a ribbon cutting celebration on Feb. 14 and then opened three days later with a sold-out, three-day President’s Day weekend run of the Eagles, Bruno Mars and Santana.

Nevada County Mead Company is one of the few places in the Capital Region that produces and serves mead, which the ancient Greeks called “nectar of the gods.”

The Benicia Historical Museum houses tens of thousands of artifacts related to multiple wars and the Gold Rush era, providing a place for visitors to learn something new and appreciate the story of California.

The store has delighted visitors through several generations while also featuring a wide selection of greeting cards, puzzles, candy, gifts and houseware items. Having an internet presence has helped them return to pre-pandemic sales numbers.

The Oct. 29 Showdown at Cache Creek brought prominent boxers and promoters to the Yolo County casino, which undertook a $200 million expansion during the pandemic.

Lodi-based, family-owned Calivirgin has reshaped its business. Part of California’s rich olive oil landscape for almost two decades, its new facility allows the owners to showcase award-winning products, introduce a new wine line and host tastings.

The night of Oct. 22 — with three college and professional sporting events starting around the same time — was expected to be a memorable night for Sacramento sports fans.

As the chilly night unfolded, those expectations were undoubtedly exceeded.

Rosebud’s is known for authenticity and acceptance as much as for good food, and is a leader on several local issues involving homelessness and LGBTQ rights.

Crus’ nursery and landscaping construction company help shape the region’s image and produce plants that withstand the rough high-elevation climate of the area.

Created in 1952, Elliott’s Natural Foods was the first in its area to offer many of its health food products. Since their approach to whole and organic food was considered a rarity in the early 1950s, they made dispensing wellness knowledge and advice a part of their business plan, which they carry through to today.

Reflecting on the many chapters of the building best known as ARCO Arena, its farewell event and what’s next for the Natomas site.  

Both the Davis and Sacramento food co-ops have expanded exponentially since their inception in the early 1970s, when they primarily served ”the hippie population.” Fifty years later, has the spirit of 1972 held up?

Frank Sullivan’s mining legacy is as rich as Auburn’s, and is reflected in his timeless shop, Pioneer Mining Supplies.

Sacramento’s jazz community gathered at Torch Club recently to play their annual memorial jam to honor Johnny “Guitar” Knox. The fundraiser raised money for the Sacramento Blues Society Hall of Fame.

Following tragic circumstances, Penny Candy has reopened, continuing its decades-long status as a treasured destination in Live Oak. Now, it’s up for sale.

PODCAST: Capital Region music festivals attract tens of thousands of fans from nearby areas and from all around the country, shaping its identity and boosting the local economy.

Capital Region music festivals attract tens of thousands of fans from nearby areas and from all around the country.

An electronic system that relays information almost instantaneously is helping umpires make their calls.

The Delta bar’s five new owners kept the biker bar’s decor, unique traditions, steakhouse-style food menu and controversial name.

A family of avid cyclists operates a long-running bike business in bike-friendly Davis.

Get excited for Record Store Day on April 23 with this photo essay of some of the region’s most beloved, idiosyncratic shops. 

Roller skating is trendy on a national and local scale for its nostalgic and therapeutic appeal. Capital Region rinks are capitalizing on the pastime’s increasing popularity.

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit provides a wide range of emergency rescue services to those who are lost, stranded or injured.

This year florists face supply chain shortages, winter weather and COVID effects, but press on to serve Capital Region romantics.

An eclectic studio situated on a Vallejo peninsula, Mare Island Art Studio provides public and private gallery space for 19 diverse artists.

Memorabilia, beer and longstanding friendships have made the shop a beloved stop for regulars.

After a pause in 2020’s holiday festivities, Sacramento’s holiday season returns looking as bright as ever.

A young Amador County couple is making their mark with a small-but-mighty vegetable farm in Ione. Starting with little experience, they’ve grown into one of the region’s most popular small farms.

Sacramento may be 100 miles from the closest surfable ocean waves, but that hasn’t stopped Capital Region veterans from catching them.

You probably wouldn’t expect to find touches of Italy at a Woodland bowling alley, but there are plenty at the San Bruno Bowling Center.

There are more than a thousand ticking, chiming clocks cramming the floors and wall spaces at House of Clocks in Lodi.

A step into the forging area of McLellan Blacksmithing in Loomis is, in many ways, a step back in time.

On Sept. 9, the much-beloved Delta restaurant Giusti’s Place burned to the ground, taking a century’s worth of memories with it.

The clothing store Cabona’s opened in 1918 and is the oldest retail establishment in historic downtown Truckee.

When the Sacramento River Cats won the Triple-A championship in September 2019, nobody could anticipate the changes that would occur before the Pacific Coast League team would play again. 

All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting thrives through a network of family and friends — and has resulted in 35 marriages between employees. 

Many visitors to Old Sacramento may not be aware that remnants of an 1850s gold rush city still exist below the buildings and cobbled roads.

Eight marchers crossed the Tower Bridge June 4 to join a rally in support of a bill aimed at creating 1.5 million jobs in areas such as clean energy, climate resilience and environmental remediation.

The 169-year-old Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley and the 165-year-old National Exchange Hotel in Nevada City are fully restored and experiencing a rebirth.

Two large boulders greet visitors entering Vacaville’s Consolidated Rock & Mineral Shop — known informally as the Rock Shop — a hint of the goodies inside.

The Western Depot in Yuba City has carved out a niche in the model railroad industry for 44 years with its impressive inventory, knowledgeable staff and timeless train decor.

Card shops have been declining in number the past 20 years, but there’s a gold rush in the industry today.

The Tolenas Winery label produces a variety of wines, but what sets it apart is the white pinot noir Eclipse that took a gold medal at the 2019 International Women’s Wine Competition. 

A new Kaiser Permanente hospital and a Sacramento County courthouse continue at The Railyards, the largest urban infill development project west of the Mississippi River.

California’s Sierra Nevada ski resorts were officially open in February 2021 after shutting down in March 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

In the heart of historic downtown Winters, Al Calderone builds guitars, teaches the craft of guitar and ukulele making, and gives lessons.