Art on the Right Side of the Tracks
As I was wondering around Fresno on a Saturday evening looking for [anything] I walked around the deserted downtown area, saw Fulton Mall under construction and ended up running into Chris Sorensen’s Art Studio.
Most people around Fresno are more interested anything but art and adventure so this is for the one’s who are very un-Fresno-like in their approach to life. If that is you then please continue and post a comment while your at it.
I remember watching channel 53 one late night to find a recorded broadcast of a Fresno City Counsel meeting where they were talking about renovating the downtown area. The renovation was suppose to be kicked off with the building of a baseball stadium. About 10 years after I watched that meeting a stadium was built and ~20 years later downtown is no better off. Some people understood the stadium wouldn’t do much to help the downtown area and some just liked the idea of having sporting events to attend. The downtown area of Fresno has bigger problems then a couple new or refurbished buildings.
Fresno’s downtown area is a ghost town on the weekends primarily because only the government rents buildings/offices down there. Starbucks and other chains aren’t even open on the weekends. Even though there are conventions and theater productions going on most of the time there isn’t any other reason to leave the north side of town. I would like to be able to recommend something downtown but there really isn’t anything to do besides visit 2 or 3 restaurants between all the vacancies and close government offices.
Here are some sites that don’t do a very good job of promoting things to do in Fresno/Clovis. There used to be something called fresnofamous.com but it seems to have been gutted by the Fresno Bee.
A good list that isn’t easy to find on the fresno.gov site is – tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g32414-Activities-Fresno_California.html
Where is left of fresnofamous – fresnobee.com/entertainment/ent-columns-blogs/fresno-famous/
Downtown Fresno – downtownfresno.org
Here is the City’s s#!t job of promoting businesses. You would think businesses don’t pay taxes for doing business in Fresno the way Fresno.gov supports them – fresno.gov/Visitors/ThingsToDo/Default.htm
Interesting list of things to do in Fresno/Clovis in the form of a warning – movoto.com/guide/fresno-ca/moving-to-fresno/
6th down on the second page of a Google search will show you a housing welfare program just before the Fresno Grizzlies website. Will not be providing the welfare link and whoever is responsible for online presence for the Grizzlies should be fired.
If there is any ideas post them or keep of keep the good things around Fresno to yourself, like you usually do. WTF Fresno!
2016-06-18 @ 11:18 am
I appreciate your interest in downtown Fresno, but it seems you are pretty unfamiliar to the area as well? The thing that makes downtown Fresno a “ghost town” is the fact that yes, it’s main artery are the people who work at city, and county offices. I work in downtown Fresno, and notice a decline of people walking around on the weekends because many of the workers have the day off. Unfortunately, this decline of people doesn’t make the best atmosphere for those looking for a social scene, but it doesn’t mean there’s absolutely nothing to do.
Downtown houses many of the cities historic buildings, and offers galleries, and museum to browse through. Even then, I don’t imagine many locals thinking of these things when they are “looking for something to do.” Fresno has never been one for arts, culture, and history, but if you’re in the area, and want to make the best of your Saturday, here are some ideas.
On the weekends there are two historic buildings that are open to the public. One is the FAC Water Tower, (yes, that weird looking water tower building thing) it houses the Fresno Arts Council gift shop, and doubles as a visitor center. It’s open from 10am – 4pm. The second historic building is the Meux Home, it is one of the last true Victorian homes here in Fresno, and they do home tours from 12pm – 3pm.
1821 Gallery & Studios is open Saturdays from 12pm – 4pm. The Veterans Memorial Museum is open during Saturdays, always free from 10am – 3pm. Arte Americas which is a Latino gallery, and museum is open Saturdays from 11am – 5pm.
A couple of chain favorites are open in downtown Fresno on the weekends. Starbucks is open until 4pm. Deli Delicious is open until 3pm. Teazers is open until 6pm. You’ll find some nice restaurants open around the Fresno Convention Center like George’s Shish Kebab, and Umi Sushi. Don’t forget Tioga Sequoia, downtown’s craft brewery that is open on Saturdays, and continually likes to host events.
Does this mean downtown Fresno is absolutely great, and people should drop everything to spend their Saturdays here? No, absolutely not. If downtown wants to draw people, there are still a lot of things that need to be addressed. However, for those looking to know the area better, there are things to do, and see that will help familiarize them with downtown Fresno.