The following is the Sept. 24 edition of Cultural Capital, an arts and entertainment newsletter written by Abridged contributor Chris Macias. Want it sent directly to your inbox? Sign up here.
Anyone else have neighbors who are already going full force with Halloween decorations? Fall has definitely arrived, it’s starting to smell like pumpkin spice and outdoor events will soon hibernate. No matter the weather, our local culture continues to bustle with events to keep you inspired and entertained.
This week we’ll discover a photo exhibit with a classic approach to printing, visit a Romanian festival in Placer County and drop by a literary performance series. Then it’s off to El Dorado Hills for a downhill skateboard race, and finally a spooky market in Folsom.
Let’s go!
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In your inbox every Thursday, Abridged's entertainment newsletter from Chris Macias highlights things to do in the Sacramento region.
A noble dedication to timeless photography
The details:
- The Gallery at 48 Natoma, 48 Natoma St., Folsom
- 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sept. 25 (Friday); 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 (Monday through Thursday). The exhibition runs through Nov. 12.
- Free
Let’s close the camera phone for now and go back when photography required a wealth of patience and bit of magic in the darkroom. Miguel Gutierrez Jr. knows both worlds as a longtime photojournalist who can produce hundreds of images in minutes. He also pursues an artistic side that specializes in platinum-palladium printing. It’s a process that dates to the days of Alexander Graham Bell in the late 1800s with a meticulous wet chemistry process.
For the Sacramento-based photographer, this method requires up to an hour and much trial-and-error to develop a single print. Take the time and the results are often stunning, with a warm, ethereal quality that works especially well for portraits. Now, it’s time to view Gutierrez’s impeccable photos at NOBLE, an exhibit of his work that runs Friday through Nov. 12 at The Gallery at 48 Natoma in Folsom.
NOBLE’s portraits depict members of the Sacramento members cultural community, including the botanist/musician Liz Lopez and muralist Jose Di Gregorio. The exhibit was months in the making, from printing the photos to framing them from the show.
“We walk around with phones in our pockets containing hundreds, if not thousands of photographs,” Gutierrez wrote in an email. “With this process, I’m forced to work with a single image for an indeterminate amount of time and turn it into a physical object. The result is something handmade, with imperfections, texture and life.”
You can hear more about Gutierrez’s methods and inspirations at an artist reception on Oct. 12. Take time to sink into this imagery and appreciate its place in a world of instant gratification.
“The process tests my skills as a photographer because it forces me to slow down and be much more intentional,” Gutierrez wrote. “A lot more can go wrong, but that’s also part of what I enjoy about the process. No two prints are ever the same.”
Where Roseville meets Romania
The details:
- Vernon Street Town Square, 311 Vernon St., Roseville
- 12-9 p.m., Sept. 26 (Saturday)
- Free
It’s not too often that we get a chance to explore the culture of Romania, home of the Olympic great Nadia Comăneci and Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration behind Dracula. Saturday at Vernon Town Square will feel closer to Bucharest with the Romanian Community Center of Sacramento’s 2026 Romanian Festival. Prepare for a day of Romanian folk dance demonstrations, a marketplace, live music and plenty of eats at the West Coast’s largest Romanian festival. Bring the family and pass the mici (grilled sausages).
Get captivated at CapLit
The details:
- The Auditorium at CLARA, 1425 24th St., Sacramento
- 7 p.m., Sept. 25
- $10 suggested donation
CapLit has emerged as one of Sacramento’s great mashups of literature and acting. The latest edition Friday at Midtown’s CLARA features work from Josh Weil, author of “What Came West: A Novel,” a thriller set in the Sierra Nevada before it was engulfed by the Gold Rush. Sean Beaudoin’s memoir about his stint in Cirque de Soleil, “The Unlovely Monster,” will also get a thespian approach as local actors offer their interpretations of both authors’ works.
Root for skateboarders racing between cones
The details:
- Intersection of Town Center Boulevard and Latrobe Road, El Dorado Hills
- 10 a.m., Sept. 26 (Saturday); 12 p.m., Sept. 27 (Sunday)
- Free; $50 to race (registration 7-8:45 a.m. Saturday and Sunday)
The kind of trick-based skateboarding you see at X Games gets the most play in pop culture. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find a thriving circuit of races dedicated to downhill and slalom styles as well. Check out these adrenaline-fueled antics at 2026 King of the Hill Series #2, held this weekend on a hilly stretch of Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.
Saturday is dedicated to hybrid slalom, a course with both wide and tight column spacing that’s a guaranteed slam without expert board control. Sunday features tight slalom, where some skaters can hit speeds of 30 mph and faster.
Shop at a monster of a market
The details:
- The Cave, 313 E. Bidwell St., Folsom
- 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sept. 26 (Saturday)
- Free
Cue the theme to John Carpenter’s “Halloween” and head to The Cave in Folsom on Saturday. There, you can get an early taste of the spooky season while supporting local vendors. Monster Mall features a full day of shopping for oddities, collectibles, clothes, books and more to make you the scariest person on the block. This free, all-ages event is also a good option for those wanting to get a head start on a holiday gift for their favorite goth.
More events you won’t want to miss
- In a Nutshell Storytelling presents “The Long Way Home” at The Sofia in Midtown Sacramento on Sept. 25 (Friday).
- Holo Holo Music Festival at Heart Health Park in Cal Expo on Sept. 26-27 (Saturday and Sunday).
- Movies in the Park featuring Zootopia 2 at Central Park in Davis on Sept. 26 (Saturday).
- Elk Grove Jazz Festival at Laguna Town Hall on Sept. 26 (Saturday).
Before I go,
It’s time for the latest video drop from The Stacks, the concert series collaboration between Abridged by PBS KVIE and Amatoria Fine Art Books. This one features a scintillating set by Åna Tri with a Q&A as well. Look for them on YouTube along with previous episodes featuring the likes of The Snares, Jakhari Smith and the Squadd, Mike Blanchard and the Californios and more.
Drop me a line at christo916@gmail.com. See you next week!
