So I know I'm hella late to the party here but, man, the economy is kicking the local guy's ass. Have gone out lately? Nobody is out there.
You can get a table anywhere. I used to always wait for a table at the West Shaw Plaza Ventana. Now you can just walk right in and pick where you want to sit.
It's like that all over and it's worrisome. Good luck to those locals still out there, trying to make a go of it. Let's hope things have bottomed out.
Starbucks + blogosphere
Attention fellow Fresnans! There is no ranch dressing left at the Whole Foods salad bar. I took the last of it. So screw you, next guy!
You know when it's two in the afternoon and you're too sloshed to go down to the store and get more booze? No? Oh yeah, totally me neither. But for those who like a good afternoon-at-home buzz, but didn't stock up enough to keep your personal party going, Vons has your solution; and it doesn't involve having to see this.
Vons now does home delivery to most areas of Fresno. Yes, that includes booze. And yes pothead, that includes Lucky Charms and all Hostess products.
[Disclosure: I once worked for Vons. Much love to crews from stores 25, 506 (pictured right), 182 and 180. All the stores are now closed...sigh]
Two [major] things for a true Fresno nerd (yo!) to do Saturday.
ONE: Go to Heroes Comics and get some free shit that probably won't ever be worth anything...but hey, it's free.
TWO: See Iron Man ALL DAY LONG, because apparently it's that good. I suggest seeing at Broadway Faire - dammit if it doesn't beat the hell out of Edwards.
Start your Saturday by heading downtown and checking the Yoshi Now flea market. I'm real interested in checking out some of the bands playing there, like Tokyo Death March (about 3:00) and It's an Icicle.
For what to do the rest of the day/night, check Mike Oz' extensive Post No Bills.
Fresno's Downtown core is finally getting the market its been craving only for...ever. Fresh & Easy is being built on the Old Fresno Hofbrau site. Kick ass.
Sneak a look at what where Downtowners will be shopping soon:
Have you been to Rasputins lately? It's lookin' good - except for the missing pizza joint in the corner of the store.
Another thing that's missing: A LOCAL SECTION. There's Indie, Reggae, Country, Rock, Rap, Metal, Alt-Rock, Alt-Metal-Rap-Indie-Blues-Assbumpin-Zydeco, but no place for Fresno bands.
And since we're ranting; What the hell's up with the lame-ass closing at 9:00 on Friday and Saturday nights? Not very Indie dudes.
Retail on Clovis's version of Shaw Avenue is going through some troubles: Big-ass empty buildings. Closures of businesses like Vons, Albertsons and Walgreens have left voids that nobody can seem to fill.
The thing is, there's nothing that can fill them because fucking Wal-Mart is on The Avenue. Sprawl-Mart Wal-Mart is why those businesses are closed and is why you can't fill the empty buildings, Clovis. Let the Evil Empire into your neighborhood and eventually this is what happens. Good luck with that planned North Clovis one, and good luck to the Vons, Save Mart and Walgreens there.
And btw Clovis, nobody is buying your "The Avenue" moniker for Shaw, so knock it off.
Yes, every year I go out shopping at the last second and every year I say "What a dumbass!"
I poked my head in the West Shaw Toys R Us on Saturday to see whats what. Every register was open with a good six or seven people deep (pictured above). Thankfully, I didn't have to buy anything.
Did you have to buy something at the last minute? How big were the lines and how were the Fresno folks treating each other?
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