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Cover Package: The New California Cuisine
Andrea D’Agosto
The 25 Restaurants Defining California Dining
Andrea D’Agosto
Casual Cook
Drop in, sidle up, order at the counter: These kitchens know how to make great meals for busy Californians.
Carolyn Fong
Believe the Hype
These spots are worth the wait, whether it takes an hour or a month.
Andrea D’Agosto
Ingredient-Forward
Whether by land or sea, no other state has fresher fare.
Andrea D’Agosto
Community Vibe
The chefs and dishes that drive local food scenes forward.
Andrea D’Agosto
Location, Location, Location
A meal with a view: These places serve delicious food in breathtaking venues.
GUERIN BLASK
Alta Q&A: “This Hobby Is Getting to be Very Profitable”
Nina and Tim Zagat launched a revolution in restaurant reviewing with their crowdsourced Zagat guides. We caught up with the founders to talk about their legacy—and why curation matters more than ever. By Will Hearst • Photo by Guerin Blask
Features
© Sadie Barnette/Photo by Adam Reich
The Language of Sadie Barnette
The Oakland-born artist explores the slippery spaces between words, images, and emotions. By Charles Desmarais
Chris Sickels/Red Nose Studio
The Show Must Go On
Vanishing showrunners, gaping plot holes, and the small, essential solaces of the craft services breakfast sandwich—a veteran TV writer attempts to survive in this fictionalized tale of a crumbling industry. By Karl Taro Greenfeld • Illustrations by Chris Sickels
Books
Dustin Snipes
Why I Write: …I’m Not Sure
By Tommy Pico
Why You Should Read This: Nature Poem
By David L. Ulin
Carolyn Fong
Why I Write: To Continue a Mission
By Richard Rothstein
Why You Should Read This: The Color of Law
By David L. Ulin
Carolyn Fong
Why I Write: To Speak Toward the Unsayable
By Ingrid Rojas Contreras
Why You Should Read This: The Man Who Could Move Clouds
By David L. Ulin
Philip Burke
Going Places
William T. Vollmann’s lonely odyssey. By Paul Wilner • Illustration by Philip Burke
A William T. Vollmann Primer
Alta
Recently Reviewed: From Surreal Comedy to Painting
Highlights from our Monday Book Review newsletter.
Melissa Crowton
Pass the Mic
A writer lends her voice to the booming business of audiobooks. By Monica Corcoran Harel • Illustration by Melissa Crowton
Alta
Upcoming Releases: Fall Fabulations and Nonfiction
New perspectives on Western history, Hollywood glitter, and more. By Paul Wilner
CRAIG KOHLRUSS
Writer’s Room: “Let the Heat Be There”
Mark Arax discusses Fresno and journalism. By Anita Felicelli • Photo by Craig Kohlruss
jimmy chin
Excerpt: El Cap Adventures
In Yosemite Falls, the author returns to the great granite wall again and again to face his fears—and bond with his father. By Daniel Duane
Book Review: Yosemite Falls
How to enter the universe. By Brad Rassler
Dispatches
Christie Hemm Klok
Lessons from the Otter Tank
At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, visitors learn how adorable sea otters help keep California’s coastal ecosystem alive. By Shanna Farrell • Photos by Christie Hemm Klok
MICHAEL GLENWOOD
Letter from Beirut: A Stubborn Indifference to War
The city’s cafés, dance clubs, and arts scenes continue to thrive. By Charles Glass • Illustration by Michael Glenwood
Gregg Segal
Follow Your Nose
They thought cologne was cheesy. Then they built a fragrance empire. By Denise Hamilton • Photo by Gregg Segal
Culture
Alamy
Poetry: “A Low Voice”
By Jesse Nathan
Museum of Neon Art
Alta Picks: How the West Was Lit
Get your buzz on at these museums showcasing vintage neon. By Barbara Tannenbaum
getty images
Poetry: “Coffee Table Book”
By Jose Hernandez Diaz
Victor Juhasz
Flash Fiction Series: A Collection of Three Very Short Stories for the Fall
• “Custom Coffins,” by Venita Blackburn • Illustration by Victor Juhasz
• “Olema,” by Peter Orner • Illustration by Victor Juhasz
• “Shore,” by Aimee Bender • Illustration by Victor Juhasz
In Every Issue
Grove Atlantic
Publisher’s Note: Let’s Break Bread
By Will Hearst
King Taco
Ask a Californian: Nom Nom
Golden State stumped? Our advice columnists tackle your cultural questions. By Gustavo Arellano and Stacey Grenrock Woods
JAMES YATES
Crossword: Bon Appétit
Let’s do lunch. By Rebecca Goldstein and Rafael Musa