The Fresnan

New York Hip-Hop Crew Stranded in Fresno

It's not often that most folks are called upon to save Hip-Hop. Well....you've just been given that chance. As we speak New York Hip-Hop crew Readnex are stranded in Fresno and need your help in continuing their Frontlines Tour.

The tour bus, for this politically conscious group, caught a few snags in route to their next stop and they need to make some quick dough in the next few days to make said repairs. If anyone knows of spaces they can perform, please hit them on myspace or you can leave the info with me at devoyakfcf@gmail.com and I'll forward it along. Thanks in advance ~

A Return to Zapp's

It’s Friday and my guest on “Move on UP” tonight is none other than local musician (and friend) Niilo Smeds. We’ll talk about his recent tour with “Man Man” and what makes him excited in the way of local options. That all takes place at 7pm on 88.1 FM.

After that I’ll get in the Toyota and rush home to pick up my music, some Soulflower Compilations, and a few rows of 45’s I made as decorative as possible for tonight’s jump off over at “Zapp’s Park”. If you’ve never been to Zapp’s you should think about checkin it out. It’s a tiny spot just south of Olive on Blackstone. It share’s the odd distinction of having the ladies room attached to the Chinese food spot next door. So while you wash your hands you usually get a whiff or two of Special Chow Mein, but that’s beside the point.

The spot is well known for attracting an audience ready for live bands. Back in the day I had the pleasure of seeing Fresno favorites like Heavy Weather, Bennett Clark Funk Jam, Mofo, DLF and Papa Bear just to name a few. Even though the place was small it always left a big impact on me. I guess I’ve always had a soft spot for joints that have that juke joint aesthetic, so in 2003 I asked the owners if they’d allow me to throw a party there…and well that was the beginning.

I Enjoy, Drinking

I’ve always had a thing for a proper drink. I’ve also got a jones for local art. It’s for this reason that when approached to take part in Creative Fresno’s bartender challenge I immediately said yes. Of course that was back in 2007 when in the midst of a good karma streak I felt confident and ready to take on the world. Fast forward to 2008 and what you have is an entirely different bird. But that’s beside the point, so I’ll move on.

The challenge training took place on the Sunday preceding the event at Donavon’s (the lead organizers) home. Miriam (bartender extraordinarie) from The Landmark was our trainer. She really knows how to make you feel like you can handle a shaker at the end of two hours. I may have gained a false sense of security that afternoon. Donavon’s place was full of funny, smart and as the name suggests damn creative people. So of course I relaxed instantly and began to gauge what I thought things would be like in the actual setting.

But I gotta tell ya. Once I was at Palomino’s behind the bar with only Sunday’s two hours to prepare me, I was all thumbs. No sooner than I had gotten myself set up did someone roll up and ask for a Mojito. “Really…are you sure”? “Yep, strawberry please”. Just like that I had to dive right in and muddle on my very first try. Paul Palomino might just be the coolest man I know. He never once got mad at me for asking the same questions over and over and for stepping on his big toe. In fact at one point while Mike Oz was spinning (by the by, dope sets Mike and Tory) he leaned over and asked what night me and my boy (Mike) wanted to host our own night. Can you believe that? I’m making a mess all in the name of art in my neighborhood and he wants to know when I’ll come back? You gotta love it.

Drink For a Good Cause...for once

On any given night, you might go out and knock back a few with your buddies.  You start having some fun and you knock back even more.  Before you know it, somebody is calling you a cab as you hurl all over your spiffy new shoes.

Now, how does this little bit of debauchery help the city?  Or, a charity?  It doesn't.  Well, maybe you helped a local business with your booze purchases, a little.  But who else did you help?  Fucking nobody, ya drunk.

Tonight, it's time to turn your debauchery into charitable giving.

Come check out our own Devoya Mayo (hey, one post qualifies as a blogger here) as she battles DJ Heinz in a Bartender Challenge starting at 6:30 at Palomino's in the Tower District.  They make your drink, you give them a nice tip, and that tip goes to Creative Fresno's mural project.

Not getting this challenge thing?  Here's a better video explanation of what a bartender challenge is all about.

Fresno Needs a Cooler Breakfast Joint

There are few things in life more satisfying than a Sunday Morning (for me anyway). I tend to dwell far too long on Saturday nights in places that require you to vacate the premises just before the witching hour. But somehow, no matter the previous evening’s details, I’m always up and ready for what the day has in store for me on Sunday.

Sadly, that rarely brings anything in the way of breakfast for me. Let’s face it, if I stumble into bed after 2am, the last thing I’m thinking about is setting the timer on the coffee pot right?  This is however only 1 (of several reasons) why I’ve always wanted a cool breakfast spot in Fresno.

I mean think about it. How often have you been to Denny’s or an IHop and yearned for something other than Egg’s over Myhammy and piped in Muzak? You want more than that, you just don’t think of it as an option. You want a breakfast place that’s playing the same Radiohead song you were listening to the night before. You want a menu that boasts about its Vegan options but is not afraid to offer you the kind of bacon that makes you yearn for the days no one thought about clogged arteries. The kind of place that will provide you with the kind of decadence your severely hung over body so justly deserves. Oh and lets not talk about the décor? Would it be too much to ask for a place with a little ambiance built into the scheme of things? Trust me, there are more than enough Thrift/Vintage spots in Fresno to be able to pull that off without much difficulty.

But alas this is merely a re-occurring dream for a girl who usually takes her vacationing friends (yes, I have friends who come visit me in Fresno) to The Chicken Pie Shop or Irene’s for breakfast. That is not to take anything away from either of those places, I dig them both, but I think we have more than enough space to add a happening breakfast joint to the menu, especially when downtown is so ripe for the picking.

For instance, you can’t throw a rock without hitting a trendy breakfast spot in places like Chicago’s Bucktown Bongo Room (where I dined on the best pumpkin pancakes on the planet) or San Francisco’s lovely Mission district or even Downtown Sacramento for that matter.

I think it’s time people….time to have a place we can all read the Sunday paper, drink coffee and enjoy egg’s ( beaters or whatever) amid hipsters, backpackers, diva’s, poets, bboys and families alike all with a pulsing background of conversation, music and art. Now I ask you, is that too much to ask for?

The Fresnan is Moving on UP!

This blog needs some help.  One goober blogging about random Fresno bands, billboards and comic strips isn't going to cut it anymore.  Somebody needs to be brought in that is all up in Fresno's culture, is cool, doesn't mind sharing space with a nerd and can actually write.  Believe it or not, we found someone that qualifies.

The Fresnan is insanely proud to introduce Devoya Mayo as its newest blogger.  Devoya does too many things in the community to mention.  But I do want to point out one of the coolest: her radio show on 88.1 KFCF called "Move on UP!" (Friday nights at 7), it's the best show on Fresno radio.  Devoya is new to the blogsphere so cut her some slack while she gets her blogger-bearings.  Actually, I doubt you'll need to cut her any slack.

You'll be able to tell the difference between my posts and Devoya's by the "posted by" at the bottom of the posts.  Another way you can tell it's a Devoya post and not mine:  good writing.  Please welcome her guys and thank you for being here Devoya.

-Mikey Seay
thedope@thefresnan.com