THE FRESNAN

Focused On Fresno: MexiCAN? MexiGOOD!

It's a panadería. It's a taquería. No wait, it's both! The name of the place is El Ranchito and it's authentic as hell. Authentic is code for good. It's on the Southeast corner of Shields and Fruit, next to the old Hestbecks. Go there and get hooked on the tacos and enchiladas.

Bloggiest Moment of the Week: The Blogfather Has His Day

Mike Oz Day happened over at the Fresno Beehive. What the hell is Mike Oz day, you ask? Well, it should be a day of Oakland A's baseball and Fresno tacos, but it's not. It's an official day in Fresno for Mike Osegueda because he knows his Fresno. And, it's officially the bloggiest moment, this week.

So, you can get accolades and shit for being a local blogger? Seriously?  Wow, I finally have something to work for besides an occasional free beer. Gotta better moment? Drop your pick in the comments.

Fresgeek Friday: Full Bag of Fresno Music

You know, this site ain't just about pimpin' indie rock. Sometimes we like to point out some straight up good live music. Tonight, Club Fred/Audies Olympic will be featuring some solid Fresno music with Three Bags Full, The Bungalow Downs and Soul Much Music.

To get you warmed up (and in case you don't want to bother with checking their Myspace page), below is some Three Bags Full with Nate Ketner, wowing the crowd at the Tower District's Sequoia Brew. At about the 4:35 mark, I start getting really uncomfortable with the ahhh... dancing, going on:

Blogger on Blogger Crime: Help Santa Figure Out What to Get Fresno

I'm stealing a post idea from Famous Whitewater, over at Fresno Famous. He is asking Fresnans again "What do you want Santa to leave under Fresno's tree?" He started things off by asking some interesting Fresnans what they want Santa to leave. Some of my favorites from the list so far are:

• Please bring to Fresno a dedicated mid-sized live music venue, so we can host those “next-level” bands who are too “big” for clubs and too “small” for arenas.
• No sprawl, just high-density infill housing.
• One more tree in every yard.
• A certified farmers’ market downtown.
• Another Indiana Jones movie that does not kill the entire series. 
• A big sign at Riverpark that says “We moved to the Fulton Mall.”
• Fresno to receive a magic potion that once ingested would offer ALL the residents of Fresno an open mind to downtown living.
• A public access television channel, or channels.

There are plenty more. Go on over and add some yourself. Below is mine from last year. The list hasn't changed because I was a dick and Santa didn't bring me/Fresno any of these things:

• Give Fresnans an addictive drug that will create the feeling of being high every time they buy from a local business.
• A Bulldog tickets drop off box for Fresno State season tickets holders. Therefore, they can give their tickets to someone who would actually USE them.
• A graffiti clean-up kit.
• Give Fresnans gumption, enough too get them off their couch on a Friday night and go see a local band.
• A giant wad of cash to the most creative and focused Fresnan, so that he/she can open the ultimate business on the Fulton Mall that will spark a true and lasting resurgence.

[Photo stolen from Matt]

Focused On Fresno: Thanks Channel 30, Now My TV Has 'Issues'

 

You're killin' me, Channel 30. My TV already had some insecurities (not a plasma, bad speaker, smallish) and then you guys went and told it it's not ready for the DTV transition. So now, at any point, I fully expect to walk in on my TV, cutting itself. Thanks, assholes.

Just When You Thought You Were Done Shopping

Add another Fresno related book to all the gifts you're getting your sixth or seventh favorite Fresno blogger this Christmas. The Underdogs to Wonderdogs book arrived in town yesterday, after having to pass through customs - seriously.

The book chronicles the crazyass road the Fresno State Diamond Dogs took to win the College World Series. I'm sure it's at the Bulldog Shop but you can go here too. Only seven more blogger shopping days left, ya know.

Indie Tuesday: It's An Icicle Release

Tonight's show at Starline has a little more weight to it because It's An Icicle is releasing their new CD called... well, I dunno... doesn't matter, buy their CD tonight and ask them yourselves - I'll hold your hand if you want me too.

Even though that should be enough Fresno indieness for five bucks, there's more. Brother Luke will be preforming too, along with Malcolm Sosa (I think instead of James Brittian Gore or vice versa) and surely the only Madera/San Fransisco band in existence, Everything All Of The Time.

Blogger on Blogger Crime: Late Update Interviews Devoya

Dammit! Balls! Why didn't I think of this first? Interviewing our own Devoya about her latest venture as Ms. Soulflower and her Friday night stints at Palominos. That's cool, Adrian at Late Update did a better job than I probably would have anyway. Play it:

The Fresnan Presents: Dorktown Episode 67 - XMas Special

It's Dorktown Podcast's Christmas 2008 Episode. It's not safe for work, unless you work at a strip club. Use the player below or download this: Dorktown Episode 67

Some things found within:

-A Christmas Story kind of opening.
-Bells warns Mikey against dirty mall Santas.
-Winter Formal sex stories.
-Mikey over modulates a Victory Jump Christmas song and gives up.
-Is Gary Chereone taking over the defunct Cabo Wabo Fresno?
-More VH talk.
-HIGH HORSE: Glade's big ugly lying spokeswoman.
-Fonzy Eyyyyys.
-Rambling.
To listen, just play this:

Cell Phone Bootlegs: Metallica at Save Mart Center

Remember when you used to have to sneak equipment through security in your underwear to bootleg a live show? Now you can just take your cell phone in, no problems, and record something; leaves plenty more room for other stuff in your crotch.

There's already some bootleg stuff from Saturday night's Metallica/Lamb of God show at Save Mart Center. Enjoy the shakyness and bad audio, more after you jump.
Sad But True (by utube14)

Music Box Fresno: Sunday Night Action

Just in case you hadn't planed on watching all of animation domination on FOX tonight (or you have a Tivo), Tokyo Garden has a night of live music for you.

Fresno's Fay Wrays (currently working on a new album), Long Beach's Soft Hands and Bella Novela and Fresno's DJ JCatch.

Nice to have a place to hang out on a Sunday night, no?

Bloggiest Moment of the Week: Where the Land Ends and the Party... Ends

For the second time and probably the last (maybe now Mike Oz can sleep), Fresno Cabo Wabo drama is the FresNet's bloggiest moment this week. It's been all over the blogs and the news; between Milt's bills and the static he gives Hagar over living up to Cabo Wabo corporate's expectations, Sammy Hagar is pulling all the Cabo Wabo out.

Basically, aside from Granite Park's money issues, it looks to me like Milt just didn't get what it means to own a franchised brand. Sure, you own the place, but it's not your concept. You have to do what corporate (in this case, Sammy Hagar) tells you to do. Do you think if you owned a Taco Bell you could start charging whatever you wanted and slipping in some ravioli dishes on the menu?

I hope Granite Park succeeds. I'm glad it's there and in Central Fresno and not Northeast and I'm sure I'll be back to the Public House or whatever new place opens up. But once the Cabo Wabo name has been removed, I doubt I'll go back to whatever the Fresno Wabo turns into.

Fresno vlogger Chronell has some more to say about this whole mess:

Saturday Fresgeek: Fresno Shopping is Done

The perfect gift for any lazyass good Fresnan: A book about Fresno you don't have to actually read. Author and Fresno native, Tony Stamolis, will be signing his new book Frezno tonight. It's a book filled with pictures of what Tony thinks is Fresno-y. Mike Oz has a full interview with Tony, check it here, go try and win the book here and go meet Stamolis here:

Friday Fresgeek: MoFo Metal and Soul

Sorry for the late Fresgeek. Click one of these to figure out what the hell you're doing tonight:

Focused on Fresno: County Edition 4

 

Did you know Fresno County kicks some major ass when it comes to growing cotton? You did? Well, aren't you a big-shot-Fresno-ag-know-it-all? Well, do you know what part of Fresno county this cotton is at? It's West of this town.

Yeaaahh, I bet no hot shot Portland blog has a picture of cotton bails with a happy face painted on it. Yeaaahhh, take THAT other city blogs. (dammits, what a weak week of posting)