A beloved Louisiana Catahoula leopard dog with inquisitive amber eyes and a finicky palate has inspired the central city's newest specialty pet store. Caitlyn Shortt, 25, and 26-year-old MDavid Low opened Nerdy Dogs April 7 on the first floor of their live-work loft at 1118 19th St.  in Midtown. The store offers food, treats, eco-conscious toys and other products for dogs and cats. Shortt and Low have lived in Sacramento for just a year, after Low got a job as a senior producer at the digital ad agency BKWLD ("Buck Wild"). They met in Hood River, Ore., where they grew up. The dog who motivated them to open the business was a rescue adopted from the Portland Humane Society. At the time,

Questions and concerns — as well as support — have been raised over a city of Sacramento planning and building department program suspended after it was illegally used to fast-track the Nestlé water-bottling plant. The little-known Facilities Permit Program came to light in late October when Nestlé's renovation of a South Sacramento warehouse was temporarily halted and a city investigation revealed work had started without legally required building permits. Many people, including those criticizing some aspects of the current building approval process, said city staff have worked hard in the last few years to become more developer-friendly by improving the building approval process and re

Santa Claus will set up shop in Midtown this year. Beginning Saturday, Santa will read stories in his newest regional workshop, set up in a vacant retail space at 1801 L St., Suite 70. The Midtown Business Association and member businesses are sponsoring Santa's Toy Shoppe two or three times per day on weekends and certain other days until Dec. 23. The workshop will be decorated for Christmas and sport an oversized rug where kids can sit and listen to Santa read for half an hour. While some people say Santa is really a retired local law enforcement officer, MBA Executive Director Rob Kerth said that doesn't appear to be true. "I think he actually is Santa," Kerth said. "The beard is re