What's Up In April 2023: Notable happenings in our local communities.
Construction is underway at The Shops at Folsom Ranch—planned for the Highway 50 and East Bidwell Street interchange—and two businesses have signed leases: Bento Box (bentoboxmidtown.com), which has three existing locations in Sacramento and serves sushi, teriyaki plates, their namesake bento boxes, and more; and Slice House (slicehouse.com), a fast-casual eatery from restaurateur Tony Gemignani that offers New York, Sicilian, Grandma, Detroit, and California-style pizzas (by the slice or whole)—including gluten-free and vegan choices—along with local craft beers, pastas, salads, wings, meatballs, and more.
A 3,322-square-foot brewery is coming to the Folsom Historic District. First responder-themed Uncle Charlie's Firehouse & Brew will offer craft beer and hard seltzers and be sited at 905 Leidesdorff Street (attached to the public parking garage). If all goes according to schedule, the establishment should open in early 2024.
Stop by the newly opened Dosa Biryanizz Chaat Café (dosabiryanizz.com) at 8121 Madison Avenue, Suite G4, in Fair Oaks for authentic, full-flavored South Indian fare (samosas, dosas, butter chicken, paneer biryani, and more) with ample vegan and vegetarian options.
The El Dorado Hills Town Center is welcoming Teaspoon (teaspoonlife.com) to its dining directory. Sited at 4420 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 110, the trendy café will serve sweet treats (cakes, macarons, and brownies), eclectic coffee drinks, and handcrafted boba tea in friendly environs.
Mantra (mantraindian.com), a vegan and vegetarian eatery, opened at 1870 Prairie City Road, Suite 500, in Folsom. Founded by the same owners as Sanskrit (sanskritindian.com), their newest venture features fresh, healthy South Indian-inspired cuisine, including dosas, idlis, soups, and more.
Soroptimist International (SI) Loomis Basin (soroptimistloomis.com) distributed nearly $10,000 in awards, including three Live Your Dream awards, which help women overcoming obstacles to continue their education and build careers that will support their families; three Investing in Dreams awards to students who are leaders in community service; and 15 Soroptimist Teacher Grants to fund special projects that will have a lasting impact on students in the Loomis Union School District.
Slice House
Stop by Ponderosa Cider Co. (ponderosacider.com) at 102 Gum Lane, Suite B, in Auburn to taste an array of hard ciders in an intimate ambiance. Current draft offerings include “Pineapple Crush,” a tangy blend of apples and pineapple; “Sangria De Sidra,” featuring fresh-pressed Navel oranges, Meyer lemons, and a touch of apricot with a spice blend; and “The Duchess,” made with a blend of heritage apples.
Ponderosa Cider
Alchemy Surf Park, an innovative mixed-use commercial oasis anchored around the activities of surfing, health, wellness, and adrenaline-inspired outdoor recreation, is in the early planning phases for Placer County. Created by El Dorado County-based Inland Surf Company (inlandsurfcompany.com), the project—scheduled to open near the Highway 65 corridor and still years away—may likely be the first of its kind in Northern California.
A 3,322-square-foot brewery is coming to the Folsom Historic District. First responder-themed Uncle Charlie's Firehouse & Brew will offer craft beer and hard seltzers and be sited at 905 Leidesdorff Street (attached to the public parking garage). If all goes according to schedule, the establishment should open in early 2024.
Stop by the newly opened Dosa Biryanizz Chaat Café (dosabiryanizz.com) at 8121 Madison Avenue, Suite G4, in Fair Oaks for authentic, full-flavored South Indian fare (samosas, dosas, butter chicken, paneer biryani, and more) with ample vegan and vegetarian options.
Folsom welcomed T&5 Bakery (t5bakery.com) to 195 Blue Ravine Road, Suite 100. Known for their Asian-inspired pastries, cakes, and extensive boba tea menu, the café will eventually offer dim sum, too.
Dog Haus (doghaus.com), an award-winning concept known for its gourmet hot dogs, sausages, and burgers, as well as plant-based and fried chicken creations, is scheduled to open this month at 1501 Blue Oaks Boulevard in Roseville’s Campus Oaks Center (anchored by Nugget Markets). The outpost boasts over 20 beers including two nitro offerings (and wine!) on tap, 10 TVs, and a roll-up garage door that opens the restaurant up to a spacious patio.
Dog Haus
Peruse works from 20 local artists at the newly opened For the Love of
Art Gallery (fortheloveofartgallery.com)—located in Downtown Auburn at
882 Lincoln Way and open daily. The elegant, relaxed gallery also
features a guest artist every month.
Lupine Paradise
All-you-can-eat restaurant K-Town Korean BBQ & Sushi is coming to 1137 Roseville Square. Expect sushi and hot pot (where patrons will pick their preferred ingredients—seafood, pork, chicken, lamb, beef, veggies, etc.—from a buffet line to boil or BBQ at their table) in addition to beer, wine, and soju-based cocktails.
The El Dorado Hills Town Center is welcoming Teaspoon (teaspoonlife.com) to its dining directory. Sited at 4420 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 110, the trendy café will serve sweet treats (cakes, macarons, and brownies), eclectic coffee drinks, and handcrafted boba tea in friendly environs.
Dignity Health (dignityhealth.org) opened Express Primary Care at 3980 Douglas Boulevard, Suite 110. The clinic features same-day, walk-in visits Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and virtual care with extended hours from 5-6 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Mantra (mantraindian.com), a vegan and vegetarian eatery, opened at 1870 Prairie City Road, Suite 500, in Folsom. Founded by the same owners as Sanskrit (sanskritindian.com), their newest venture features fresh, healthy South Indian-inspired cuisine, including dosas, idlis, soups, and more.
Mantra
It Takes a Village (ittakesavillageworkandplay.com)—a unique space that provides comfortable, productive workspaces (private offices, dedicated desks, open seating, and conference rooms) along with on-site childcare staffed by experienced caregivers—is scheduled to open July 1 in Cameron Park (2555 Greenwood Lane).
Fast-casual restaurant Mendocino Farms (mendocinofarms.com), with local outposts in Sacramento and Roseville, is expanding to Folsom. Known for their vibrant sandwiches, salads, soups, and sides with big, bold flavors and from-the-earth ingredients, the new location at 165 Placerville Road is scheduled to open this summer.
Mendocino Farms
Toll Brothers (tollbrothers.com/ca), the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes, has a new gated community of 90 single-family homes starting at $1 million in El Dorado Hills. Hidden Ridge, located at 7044 Grand Teton Drive, includes modern floor plans ranging from 3,000-4,000+ square feet, expansive backyards, and multi-car garages.
Toll Brothers
Locally owned, upscale eatery Sienna relocated its El Dorado Hills restaurant to 1006 White Rock Road. The new, two-story space boasts breathtaking, 360-degree foothill views from every table, along with an elegant bar and lounge, and spacious patio.
Sienna
If you qualified in submarines and earned your dolphins or know of someone who did and would enjoy camaraderie, then you’re invited to the United States Submarine Veterans Western Region Roundup—a three-day conference from April 26-29 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Sacramento. For more info and to register, visit wrroundup.com.
Soroptimist International (SI) Loomis Basin (soroptimistloomis.com) distributed nearly $10,000 in awards, including three Live Your Dream awards, which help women overcoming obstacles to continue their education and build careers that will support their families; three Investing in Dreams awards to students who are leaders in community service; and 15 Soroptimist Teacher Grants to fund special projects that will have a lasting impact on students in the Loomis Union School District.
Soroptimist International (SI) Loomis Basin
Use your public library card to check out a free day-use pass at more than 200 participating California State Parks. The passes, available at the Folsom Public Library, can be checked out for up to three weeks and placed on hold in the library catalog like other materials. There are also group pass kits for clubs, scout troops, or extended families. For more info, visit library.folsom.ca.us/services/state-library-parks-passes.
A full-length feature film—No Address (noaddressmovie.com)—a profound story about those experiencing homelessness and starring William Baldwin, Xander Berkeley, Ashanti, and Beverly D’Angelo, among others—is currently being filmed in Folsom. The producing team visited shelters, missions, and organizations across the U.S. to pull characters’ touching storylines. The movie—meant to encourage viewers to engage deeper with compassion in their own communities—is scheduled to hit theaters this winter.
William Baldwin and STYLE Publisher Terry Carroll
Local resident Francisco Barajas—who teaches and trains at THE STUDIO Martial Arts & Fitness (trainatthestudio.com)—is competing for the fifth time on American Ninja Warrior. Known as the “1% ninja” (since he’s part of the 1% who has a speech impediment: stuttering), he aims to give confidence to the population that has the same. His episode is scheduled to air this summer.
Francisco Barajas
By Megan Wiskus
Slice House photo by Krescent Carasso. Auburn State Recreation Area photo courtesy of Visit Placer. Other photos courtesy of their respective companies or organizations.