Earlier this spring, we asked SACtoday readers if they went to Sac State, and 60% said yes. We asked those alumni to share their favorite memories from their college years, and here’s some of that sweet nostalgia.
“I joined the Ski Club in 1989 and have dozens of friends I still spend time and travel with! [The] best thing I ever did was walk into the Union to watch their slide show!”
“Meeting my husband at a Sacramento State fraternity party.”
“My favorite memory was attending theater performances.”
“When Sac State first opened The WELL [and] the fun of doing inside sports and the indoor track.”
“Graduation.”
“Heading to the Guy West Bridge for a moment with nature looking at the American River.”
Brian Simpson | Thursday, May 8-Saturday, May 10 | Times vary | Punch Line | $33+ | This Austin-based comic made his debut on “Lights Out” with David Spade and released a special on Netflix last year dubbed “Brian Simpson: Live from the Mothership.”
Friday, May 9
Concerts in the Park: Discrete | 6-9:30 p.m. | Cesar Chavez Plaza | Free | Tonight’s lineup rocks — catch performances by Discrete, TWODIRTY, Pecas, and Chango.
“Legally Blonde” | Friday, May 9-Sunday, May 11 | Times vary | Harris Center, Folsom | $27+ | This award-winning musical based on the hit movie follows Elle Woods as she pursues her dreams of attending Harvard Law — what, like it’s hard?
Saturday, May 10
The East Sac Garden Tour | Saturday, May 10-Sunday, May 11 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | East Sac Garden Tour | $25+ | This self-guided walking tour and fundraiser for David Lubin Elementary School showcases six stunning outdoor spaces in the Fab Forties neighborhood.
Sacramento Salsa Festival | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Old Sacramento Waterfront | $18+ | Spice up your weekend with a salsa tasting bar, a margarita garden, live music, local vendors, and carnival fun for the family.
2025 Front Street Brewfest | 1-4 p.m. | Front Street Animal Shelter | $61+ | Sip on samples of beer, wine, and cider and grab a snack from local food trucks while enjoying live music at this block party in support of the Front Street Shelter.
Indy Eleven vs. Sacramento Republic FC | 7 p.m. | Heart Health Park | $19+ | It’s Health & Wellness Night at the park but if you’re a Republic FC fan, we’d say you’re already doing pretty well (we’re not doctors, though).
Sunday, May 11
Spoiled Royals Mother’s Day Cruise | 1-4 p.m. | Garden Highway | $109+ | Treat the special women in your life to a cruise on the river with music, food, drinks, and massages.
Monday, May 12
Ryan Adams | 8 p.m. | Crest Theatre | $61+ | The Grammy-nominated singer and former Whiskeytown frontman is still rockin’.
Local leaders celebrated the inauguration of Aggie Square at UC Davis, a $1.1 billion innovation district designed to unite the university’s life sciences + tech research with private-sector companies and startups. Phase 1 features 767,000 sqft of labs, classrooms, public spaces, housing, a parking garage, and art installations. (UC Davis)
Civic
Sacramento released its $1.65 billion proposed budget for fiscal year 2025-2026, which addresses ways to tackle the city’s $44 million shortfall. This includes raising parking fees and eliminating 12 full-time city positions, many within the fire + HR departments. City Council will adopt a budget by the end of June. (The Sacramento Bee)
Announced
The Sacramento Zoo’s proposed new zoo in Elk Grove is no more. The Sacramento Zoological Society said the project’s latest design reduced the size of the zoo to only about 30 species — far fewer than the Land Park zoo’s location — and raised major financial concerns. (ABC10)
State
California love. According to the California Department of Finance, our state’s population increased by 108,000 people in 2024, and experts believe the so-called “exodus” is over. The Golden State is now just 9,000 residents shy of its record-high population of 39,529,101 recorded in April 2020. (The Mercury News)
Development
Construction will soon begin on the Auburn Boulevard Bridge Replacement Project to replace the Arcade Creek Bridge built in 1927. The project will widen + elevate the bridge and aim to reduce flooding and ease traffic congestion. After Memorial Day, a portion of Auburn Boulevard will be closed for construction through August.
Arts
The Office of Arts and Culture is launching Creative Growth Fellowships this summer, a program that provides an $850 monthly stipend for 12 months to up to 200 local artists so they can advance their art careers. The application period is Sunday, June 1-Friday, June 20 — read the guidelines.
Health
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors approved a 30-year lease agreement with WellSpace Health to create a new Mental Health Rehabilitation Center on Stockton Boulevard. The 24,700-sqft facility will house a 32-bed, 24-hour residential program for adults and is slated to be completed by Dec. 31, 2026.
Coming Soon
Something new is making a splash in Land Park. Little Whale Swim School will open its newest location this Saturday, May 10, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at 1331 Broadway. The indoor facility offers swimming lessons for all ages and is currently enrolling students.
Ranked
According to new research by Consumer Affairs, three Sacramento-area cities are among the best to move to in California. Roseville ranks No. 1 and is touted for its affordability, strong economy, and appeal to families, retirees + young professionals. Elk Grove landed at No. 4 and Sacramento at No. 11. (The Sacramento Bee)
Edu
Planning for college? According to CalKids — a program that provides scholarships for higher education — one in two Sacramento County public school students are eligible for college scholarships worth up to $1,500. Families can check a student’s eligibility using their Statewide Student Identifier number.
Sports
It’s official — Doug Christie is the new head coach of the Sacramento Kings. Locked On’s Matt George sits down with Christie inside the team’s practice facility — hear from the local experts with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Stat
$8,000+. That’s how much you could spend if your dog breaks a bone in a car crash, fall, or collision — from wound treatment and x-rays to emergency surgery and aftercare. Luckily,this pet insurance plan could reimburse you up to 90% of that cost.*
Wellness
Struggling to shed pounds? Simple is a science-backed app that helps users lose weight with habit trackers, fasting schedules, and personal coaching. Join millions who’ve already lost weight without medication, sustainably. Take the quiz to start your journey and get 50% off.*
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Feature your biz in our 2025 Parents’ Gift Guide
Put your business in front of thousands of daily readers. | Graphic by 6AM City
This month, we launched our 2025 Parents’ Gift Guide to showcase gifts that say I appreciate you to parents, grandparents, neighbors, mentors, and life-long friends.
While we’ve already filled all our slots ahead of Mother’s Day, we’ve opened up a few more for Father’s Day.
Whether your business offers a neat product, one-of-a-kind gift, or unique service that could be enjoyed by a father figure — we want to feature it. Secure your spot by Friday, May 23.
You can find Hella Leaf at the Midtown Farmers Market. | Photo via Hella Leaf
Happy Small Business Week, Sacramento. We know small businesses are the heart of our community, so earlier this year, we asked local small businesses to tell us about themselves. They delivered.
We’ll be shining the spotlight on a few of Sac’s small businesses this month, starting with Hella Leaf, a local plant business owned by Leah Anderson specializing in succulent arrangements. You can find Hella Leaf at the Midtown Farmers Market every Saturday. The business also leads fun workshops around town.
Here’s a little more info, straight from the biz:
Q: What year did you open?
A: 2020
Q: What’s unique about the small business scene in Sacramento?
A: [The] unique creative mindset of small business owners. Also, the beautiful community it has created.
Q: Pass the mic. What other small business in town should everyone know about?
A: Sun Kissed & Co., Kouklas Accessories, Black Coffee Roastery
Pro tip: Check out Hella Leaf’s website for custom orders, including centerpieces, wreaths, and hanging pots.
It’s easy to support small businesses across the globe when you shop unique + one-of-a-kind products on Etsy. One of our favorite things to browse is Etsy’s selection of custom artwork. These are five of our favorites:
They see you rolling. May is Bike Month, and Sacramento Area Bike Advocates and Bike Dog Brewing will host Bike & Seek this Saturday, May 10, 12-4 p.m.
The scavenger hunt invites bicyclists to head to any Bike Dog location to collect a map, ride 5- to 30-mile routes, and snap pics at five designated “sticker locations” along the way to win a prize. You can ride solo or with a team. Pro tip:Log your rides all month via the Love to Ride app to score more fun freebies.
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