Out & About
By Jessica Laskey
October 2025
Culinary Icons
New murals honor local food trailblazers
Sacramento turns a public space into a storytelling canvas to celebrate the visionaries who helped put the city’s culinary scene on the national map.
Wide Open Walls—a public art organization founded and led by David Sobon—unveiled a series of murals titled “Legends of Hospitality.”
The installation features four large-format, black-and-white, photorealistic portraits honoring the late and living legends of Sacramento’s food and hospitality community: Lina Fat, Randy Paragary, Biba Caggiano and Darrell Corti.
Their influence ignited the farm-to-fork movement, ushered in the Legends of Wine festival, helped gain Michelin Guide recognition and earned Sacramento’s debut as the host of Terra Madre Americas, the international celebration of sustainable food culture.
The murals are in Jazz Alley behind the Sheraton Grand Hotel as part of a fully lit pedestrian corridor.
“Public art should tell stories that matter to the people who live here,” Sobon says. “These legends helped define what hospitality means in Sacramento—not just great food, but generosity, creativity and community.”
WRITERS GALA
California Writers Club Sacramento holds its “100 Years of Writing Excellence” centennial gala Saturday, Oct. 18, at North Ridge Country Club in Fair Oaks.
Speakers include editorial cartoonist and columnist Jack Ohman and 102-year-old award-winning author Kiyo Sato. Greater Sacramento Literary Awards will honor organizations that support writing goals for adults and children. An exhibition of rare books written by members from as early as 1914 will be on display.
For tickets, visit sacramentowriters.org.
RUNNING BLADES
The Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation fitted 12 Shriners Children’s patients with free running blades at the C.K. McClatchy High School track. The event was part of the foundation’s “Running Is a Right” program.
“Any day you’re able to provide a child with the tools and training they need to get off the sidelines and into the game is a good day,” says Brooke Rasch, creator and chair of “Running Is a Right.”
For information, visit davemcgillivrayfoundation.org.
HOLIDAY SINGERS
The Capital Chorale looks for singers of all voice types to join Christmas music rehearsals beginning Thursday, Oct. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at Pioneer Congregational Church.
The concert, “A Festival of Lessons and Carols,” is Friday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m.
To be included in the singer roster, email Music Director Elliot Jones at musicdirector@pioneerucc.org. For information, visit pioneerucc.org.
HAUS OF COMEDY
Calling All Dreamers 2024 runner-up Haus of Comedy, owned by Sacramento native Jessilee Windhaus and Andy Sarouhan, opens in the historic F.W. Fratt Building at Second and K streets in Old Sacramento.
The venue will soft launch this fall with a grand opening in January.
Haus of Comedy features high-energy, improvised comedy in the style of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” alongside stand-up, sketch, drag and other live performances. Improv classes and private coaching are also available.
For information, visit callingalldreamers.org.
FORMER FOSTER
Housing and support program AcademySTAY celebrates its first former foster youth client graduating from trade school—just 10 months after opening in October 2024.
Before moving into AcademySTAY, 20-year-old Rome was unhoused, navigating early adulthood on his own with no stable housing or support. After joining the program, he studied framing, roofing, drywall and construction math, and earned a certification in carpentry.
“They’re helping me find a job and I’m ready to do more school if needed,” he says. “I’m not shying away from it.”
Every year, 250 to 300 area youth age out of foster care. Nearly half face homelessness within 18 months. AcademySTAY provides former foster youth ages 18 to 24 with safe housing, life skills coaching and a path to college or career training.
For information, visit academystay.org.
WORLD CUP ARTIST
Graphic artist LeRoid David, featured in a recent edition of Inside Sacramento, celebrates a big win. His artwork was selected for the FIFA World Cup 26 San Francisco Bay Area host city poster.
David works for Sacramento County’s Public Administrator/Guardian/Conservator office helping vulnerable adults and seniors.
“We aren’t just 9-to-5 workers here at the county,” David says. “We’re parents, artists, volunteers, people with lives who care about this community.”
SCHOOL TRANSFORM
PS7 Elementary School in South Oak Park reopened after a $34 million transformation by St. Hope Public Schools.
The project modernized the elementary school with 31 new classrooms and an administration building, renovated the multipurpose room and kitchen, and reconfigured the front entrance, accessways and parking to ensure safe drop-offs and pick-ups.
Renovations include new hardscape, landscape, playground, fields and basketball courts.
For information, visit sthope.org.
NEW TINY HOMES
Students in the Cosumnes River College construction technology program put their skills to work for the community, building two tiny homes for families who want to transition out of homelessness. The project was a collaboration with We Force Inc. and Safe Harbor.
“We’ve talked about how we can use our capacity at the college and this program in particular to fill a need in our community, and this is something that our students can feel proud of being a part of,” Ryan Connally, construction technology professor, says.
FREE BOOKS
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library launched in Sacramento through a partnership with United Way California Capital Region, Sacramento County Office of Education and Dollywood Foundation.
County children from birth to age 5 receive one free book in the mail each month, regardless of family income.
“We’re giving families the tools to build strong reading habits from the start,” David Gordon, county superintendent of schools, says. “This program supports our Sacramento County READS literacy initiative and reflects our commitment to literacy, equity and early learning.”
Sacramento County residents sign up at yourlocalunitedway.org.
Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
