Local Services

Care for Your Wardrobe

Experts at Fresh Cleaners in Town Center can help keep clothing favorites clean, pressed, and lasting as long as possible Article by Krista Minard | Photography by Charlene Taylor of Charm Photography Nothing wrecks a stylish outfit faster than stains, odors, or shapelessness brought on by incorrect upkeep. Whether your closet is full of designer dresses, high-wrinkle linens, or fast-fashion T-shirts, you want your clothes to hold up. At Fresh Cleaners in Town Center, owner Ana Salmanyan...

Home + Design

Inspired by Italy

What Italian architecture, design, and hospitality can teach us about beautiful living Article and Photography by Kristy Murdoch Italy has long been celebrated as one of the fashion capitals of the world, home to iconic luxury brands. But some of the country’s greatest design inspiration isn’t found on the runway. It’s found in its homes, villages, piazzas, and centuries-old architecture. Italy’s true beauty lies in the details: the craftsmanship, the natural materials, and the intentional way...

Arts + Culture

Collecting Home Artwork

The local artists association helps art lovers know what to buy Article by Krista Minard | Photography by Various Judy Arrigotti, painter and gourd artist, is founder and president of the El Dorado Hills Arts Association, which today includes 160 artists as members. The EDHAA is made up of painters, sculptors, illustrators, photographers, mixed media artists, and others. With a mission to enhance the quality of life (through art) in El Dorado Hills and surrounding communities, the association...

Style + Beauty

Style in Focus

A collaborative fashion shoot captures vintage style and creative freedom Article and Photography by Jacqueline Pilar Some of the most rewarding projects begin without a deadline or a client—just a shared vision and the space to have fun creating. On a warm afternoon in Folsom, that spirit brought a talented group of women together for a vintage-inspired outdoor fashion shoot celebrating style, collaboration, and the beauty of the golden hour. Photographer Jacqueline Pilar shares her...

Entertainment

Close Encounters of the Safe Kind

Meet and greets with animals delight the young—and the young at heart Article by Krista Minard | Photography by Various As summer winds down and the kids look toward getting back to school, one last-gasp outing for families could involve some furred (and feathered) friends. Several farms and organizations in the region provide ample opportunity to safely spend time with animals—admiring up close and sometimes petting and feeding. Here are a few local spots for animal encounters. Jollity Farm...

Entertainment

Summer’s End Bucket List

This month, savor the final days of the school break with some local fun Article by Krista Minard | Photography by Various As summer vacation winds down and the calendar closes in on the first day of school, families looking to capture some last-gasp adventure have plenty of opportunities in the region. Here are some ideas.  For Younger Kids (Toddlers–10)  Explore a Storybook World Visit Fairytale Town in Sacramento’s venerable Land Park, where kids walk the Crooked Mile and climb...

Education

Sustaining Community Gardens

A local nonprofit provides green learning in the classroom, the schoolyard, and beyond Article by Krista Minard | Photography by Project Green Project Green brings gardens and outdoor art to schools and youth communities in El Dorado County. Operating in Rescue Union, Latrobe, Gold Oak, Placerville Union, and El Dorado Union school districts, as well as at Boys and Girls Club Western Slope and Summitview’s youth-at-risk facility in El Dorado Hills, Project Green has participants ranging from...

Arts + Culture

Connecting People Through Art and Emotion

A local artist finds inspiration and themes in communication, shared experience, and womanhood Article by Krista Minard | Photography by Tom Honeycutt As a self-taught visual artist living in El Dorado Hills, Volha Naruta-Johnson creates textured pieces exploring the human experience—layered and imperfect. Her figurative oil series, “Being a Woman,” visits the often-pervasive tension between motherhood, career, and female identity. Born in Belarus, Naruta-Johnson studied Cultural Heritage...

Travel

Granite Splendor

Always alluring, Yosemite National Park is the place for hiking, waterfall viewing, and basking in nature’s glory. Article by Krista Minard | Photography by Various The forests, glacier-carved rock formations, rivers, creeks, waterfalls, flora, and fauna within Yosemite National Park create an unforgettable experience for some 4.4 million sightseers who come each year to enjoy the park’s spectacular vistas and commune with nature. In the valley and the high country, no matter the season, the...

Entertainment

Adventure by Chance

A local production company films an adventure travel documentary built on a roll of the dice Article by Kristy Murdoch | Photography by Charlene Taylor When most people set out to create a documentary, they begin with a destination, a subject, or a carefully structured storyline. But for the production team behind Pure Chance , the journey began in an unexpected way—through a Craigslist ad and an unconventional idea. What followed was a new take on the traditional travel documentary...