I've update the Fresno weekly calendar and this coming Sunday is a special one.
There is the Mardi Gras parade in the Tower District and it is also Superbowl Sunday. And if you're a Reggae fan, this Sunday, Feb 06, is Bob Marley's birthday. He would have been 60 years old. He was born on Feb 06, 1945.
There will be reggae music playing at Club Fred so go check it out!
Monday, January 31, 2005
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Fig Garden Village in Fresno
Well, it seems that the charming Fig Garden Village in Fresno has been sold. As customers, we don't really "care" who owns Fig Garden as much as "What's in Fig Garden?".
I guess we'll start to see some demolition in the next couple of months. The Bulldog Brewing Company, the Fig Garden Cinema and finally, the Gottschalks building will all be demolished to make way for new retail stores.
It's not known yet what new retail stores will be at Fig Garden but it's been reported that there will be 15 to 20 new stores.
I wonder if I can submit my wish list for Fig Garden:
- Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn
- The Container Store
- Illuminations
- Nordstroms (are we aiming too high?)
- a theatre dedicated to small budget, independent and foreign movies
- Borders or Barnes and Noble (we could use another one or two of these in the city)
We are not asking for too much, are we?
I guess we'll start to see some demolition in the next couple of months. The Bulldog Brewing Company, the Fig Garden Cinema and finally, the Gottschalks building will all be demolished to make way for new retail stores.
It's not known yet what new retail stores will be at Fig Garden but it's been reported that there will be 15 to 20 new stores.
I wonder if I can submit my wish list for Fig Garden:
- Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn
- The Container Store
- Illuminations
- Nordstroms (are we aiming too high?)
- a theatre dedicated to small budget, independent and foreign movies
- Borders or Barnes and Noble (we could use another one or two of these in the city)
We are not asking for too much, are we?
Thursday, January 27, 2005
A bowl of Pho noodle soup to warm you up
On days when it is cold outside, I crave for a hot bowl of Pho noodle soup. If you have never heard of Pho before, it is a traditional Vietnamese dish, somewhat of a "comfort bowl" of broth, rice noodles, and a variation of beef, tendon, tripe and meatballs.
Pho is generally served with a side plate of lime, chile, bean sprouts, cilantro, basil and/or mint. You can either dump all or none of that into your bowl of noodles. Interestingly enough, I have heard that this side plate is not common practice in northern Vietnam.
Pho is very popular in Vietnam and supposedly sold at many road side hawker stalls. By the way, for the longest time I pronounced Pho as "foe". But as it turns out, one of my Vietnamese friends corrected me one day, saying that Pho is pronounced as "phir".
We have quite a few Vietnamese restaurants in Fresno. The place I like to go for Pho noodles is Pho #1. There are other Vietnamese restaurants in that area but in my opinion, the broth at Pho #1 tasted better. I like to eat my noodles with lots of bean sprouts, some hoisin sauce and hot sauce. Yum!
Pho #1 is not a fancy restaurant and not the best looking place either. But the pho is worth it and very cheap too.
If you prefer a more upscale place, Kim's Restaurant at Shaw and Fresno St should fit the bill. It is a Vietnamese Restaurant and they've spend more of their budget on furniture and interior decor. I am actually not sure if Kim serves Pho noodle soup. I have never ordered Pho at Kim's. The fresh spring rolls at Kim's are really good, served with peanut sauce.
We've been to both restaurants many times and you can read the full reviews at our Fresno Vietnamese Restaurants page.
Pho is generally served with a side plate of lime, chile, bean sprouts, cilantro, basil and/or mint. You can either dump all or none of that into your bowl of noodles. Interestingly enough, I have heard that this side plate is not common practice in northern Vietnam.
Pho is very popular in Vietnam and supposedly sold at many road side hawker stalls. By the way, for the longest time I pronounced Pho as "foe". But as it turns out, one of my Vietnamese friends corrected me one day, saying that Pho is pronounced as "phir".
We have quite a few Vietnamese restaurants in Fresno. The place I like to go for Pho noodles is Pho #1. There are other Vietnamese restaurants in that area but in my opinion, the broth at Pho #1 tasted better. I like to eat my noodles with lots of bean sprouts, some hoisin sauce and hot sauce. Yum!
Pho #1 is not a fancy restaurant and not the best looking place either. But the pho is worth it and very cheap too.
If you prefer a more upscale place, Kim's Restaurant at Shaw and Fresno St should fit the bill. It is a Vietnamese Restaurant and they've spend more of their budget on furniture and interior decor. I am actually not sure if Kim serves Pho noodle soup. I have never ordered Pho at Kim's. The fresh spring rolls at Kim's are really good, served with peanut sauce.
We've been to both restaurants many times and you can read the full reviews at our Fresno Vietnamese Restaurants page.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Winter blues in Fresno
Well, it sure has been a cold and wet winter in Fresno, and for the rest of the country. I actually welcome the rain especially since experts have said that there's been a drought in California for 5 years now. I've been through droughts and water rationing before, and that is no fun! So rain, rain, come again.
But what we have in Fresno is mild compared to many parts in the US. The New England area was pounded this past weekend. Massachusetts received a whopping 38 inches of snow the past weekend! Check out this house by the oceanfront that was pounded by high waves and snow and has frozen over:
Pretty crazy, huh? So the weather in Fresno is nothing compared to most places.
On a different note (that has nothing to do with Fresno), I have seen this picture for a week now on Yahoo. It brings a smile to my face each time. Check out this cutie in Thailand that has been potty-trained:
What next? How about potty-trained and reading a newspaper while taking care of "business"? :)
But what we have in Fresno is mild compared to many parts in the US. The New England area was pounded this past weekend. Massachusetts received a whopping 38 inches of snow the past weekend! Check out this house by the oceanfront that was pounded by high waves and snow and has frozen over:
Pretty crazy, huh? So the weather in Fresno is nothing compared to most places.
On a different note (that has nothing to do with Fresno), I have seen this picture for a week now on Yahoo. It brings a smile to my face each time. Check out this cutie in Thailand that has been potty-trained:
What next? How about potty-trained and reading a newspaper while taking care of "business"? :)
Monday, January 24, 2005
Blues, Reggae, Salsa at Fresno this week
Yes, it's only Monday but not too soon to be planning for the week ahead :)
There's Blues music at Patio Cafe, Club Fred and Sequoia Brewing Company this week. Reggae is playing at Club Fred on Thursday. And you can Salsa away on Thursday and Friday this week at the Starline.
For those that are interest, the Cirque des Amis troupe is performing at Chuckchansi starting Thursday, Jan 27 (think ala-Cirque de Soleil).
We have updated and posted the calendar on the website. Please check Fresno Calendar for details on events, locations, dates and times.
There's Blues music at Patio Cafe, Club Fred and Sequoia Brewing Company this week. Reggae is playing at Club Fred on Thursday. And you can Salsa away on Thursday and Friday this week at the Starline.
For those that are interest, the Cirque des Amis troupe is performing at Chuckchansi starting Thursday, Jan 27 (think ala-Cirque de Soleil).
We have updated and posted the calendar on the website. Please check Fresno Calendar for details on events, locations, dates and times.
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Fresno restaurant and brewery - Sequoia Brewing Company
Located in the Tower district, Sequoia Brewing Company is a Fresno restaurant, brewery and neighborhood icon.
We dined at Sequoia Brewing Company a few weeks ago. The restaurant atmosphere was friendly and comfortable. The menu consists of American diner-type items (burgers and sandwiches) as well as a variety of appetizers, salads, pizza, pasta and dinner entrees.
For dinner that night, we had the Buffalo wings, Loggers' Dip and the Black Bear Clubhouse. The Clubhouse was a disappointment. It came with sliced sourdough bread that was so dry it was "breaking" into pieces as you ate it. Mental note to not order this item again!
Sequoia Brewing Company has 11 different ales and lagers on tap so you can't go to this Fresno restaurant and brewery without trying one of them! We tried the Sequoia Gold and Blossom Trail Ale. They were light, cold and refreshing.
This Fresno brewery must be doing something right because they will have a 2nd location at the Piazza del Fiore complex in NE Fresno (corner of Champlain and Perrin) in Spring 2005.
Please check out our website for the complete review of this Fresno restaurant and brewery - Sequoia Brewing Company.
We dined at Sequoia Brewing Company a few weeks ago. The restaurant atmosphere was friendly and comfortable. The menu consists of American diner-type items (burgers and sandwiches) as well as a variety of appetizers, salads, pizza, pasta and dinner entrees.
For dinner that night, we had the Buffalo wings, Loggers' Dip and the Black Bear Clubhouse. The Clubhouse was a disappointment. It came with sliced sourdough bread that was so dry it was "breaking" into pieces as you ate it. Mental note to not order this item again!
Sequoia Brewing Company has 11 different ales and lagers on tap so you can't go to this Fresno restaurant and brewery without trying one of them! We tried the Sequoia Gold and Blossom Trail Ale. They were light, cold and refreshing.
This Fresno brewery must be doing something right because they will have a 2nd location at the Piazza del Fiore complex in NE Fresno (corner of Champlain and Perrin) in Spring 2005.
Please check out our website for the complete review of this Fresno restaurant and brewery - Sequoia Brewing Company.
Friday, January 21, 2005
Fresnans have spoken!
And we hope that Regal and UA theatres are listening. We went to watch Sideways and the theatre was packed. It is showing on the giant screen which is separate from the main Edwards theatre.
edwards coliseum theatre
When we left the theatre, the line was already out the door for the next show. Fresnans have waited a long time to see this independent movie.
So, Regal and UA theatres, listen up - many of us in Fresno would like to watch movies other than your regular Hollywood blockbusters. The demand is there, just give us a chance!
edwards coliseum theatre
When we left the theatre, the line was already out the door for the next show. Fresnans have waited a long time to see this independent movie.
So, Regal and UA theatres, listen up - many of us in Fresno would like to watch movies other than your regular Hollywood blockbusters. The demand is there, just give us a chance!
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Sideways in Fresno Theatre...Finally!
Just when we had given up hope and placed this movie in our good ol' Netflix queue, guess what? The Fresno Edwards theatre (Riverpark) will be showing Sideways starting Friday Jan 21.
Sideways was first released 3 months ago in limited theatres on Oct 22, 2004. It has received rave reviews and recently won 2 Golden Globes, one for Best Picture Comedy. I was checking Fandango to see if there were any good movies worth spending my hard-earned money on this weekend, and lo and behold, there it was.
The movie is about two friends who go on a wine tasting road trip through the central coast. Yes, this movie was set and filmed close to Fresno, in the Santa Barbara wine county. There are supposedly many scenes in the movie showcasing the beautiful central coast region and the wineries. This movie is a small budget, independent movie.
I don't know what took this movie sooo long to get here but I'm glad it finally did.
Another movie that has received great reviews and will also be at the Fresno theatre starting Friday is Hotel Rwanda. This film is more serious in nature. It is a political thriller based on a real story about the genocide in Rwanda. I have also been waiting to see this movie.
It looks like the Fresno Edwards theatre is the only theatre in Fresno/Clovis showing these 2 movies (for now). It's great to see the Fresno theatre bringing in these smaller movies besides your regular Hollywood blockbusters. Can we only wish and hope that this is the start of a new "trend" of showing more diverse movies? All of the five major theatres in town generally show all the same movies!
For a city this size, it is frustrating that we do not have a movie theatre that caters to small budget, independent or foreign films such as the Camera One theatres in San Jose. We've read that two additional movie theatres are coming to town (one in Clovis and one in Fig Garden, Fresno) but it's probably safe to assume that they will again be either the Regal or UA theatres.
Now, please excuse me while I go and check off those 2 movies from the Netflix queue!
Check out our website on Fresno.
Sideways was first released 3 months ago in limited theatres on Oct 22, 2004. It has received rave reviews and recently won 2 Golden Globes, one for Best Picture Comedy. I was checking Fandango to see if there were any good movies worth spending my hard-earned money on this weekend, and lo and behold, there it was.
The movie is about two friends who go on a wine tasting road trip through the central coast. Yes, this movie was set and filmed close to Fresno, in the Santa Barbara wine county. There are supposedly many scenes in the movie showcasing the beautiful central coast region and the wineries. This movie is a small budget, independent movie.
I don't know what took this movie sooo long to get here but I'm glad it finally did.
Another movie that has received great reviews and will also be at the Fresno theatre starting Friday is Hotel Rwanda. This film is more serious in nature. It is a political thriller based on a real story about the genocide in Rwanda. I have also been waiting to see this movie.
It looks like the Fresno Edwards theatre is the only theatre in Fresno/Clovis showing these 2 movies (for now). It's great to see the Fresno theatre bringing in these smaller movies besides your regular Hollywood blockbusters. Can we only wish and hope that this is the start of a new "trend" of showing more diverse movies? All of the five major theatres in town generally show all the same movies!
For a city this size, it is frustrating that we do not have a movie theatre that caters to small budget, independent or foreign films such as the Camera One theatres in San Jose. We've read that two additional movie theatres are coming to town (one in Clovis and one in Fig Garden, Fresno) but it's probably safe to assume that they will again be either the Regal or UA theatres.
Now, please excuse me while I go and check off those 2 movies from the Netflix queue!
Check out our website on Fresno.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
El Salvador and Pupusas in Fresno?
Recently there was an article in the Fresno Bee regarding El Salvador and pupusas. I was intrigued. I've never been to El Salvador and never tasted pupusas before. So it was obvious that we simply had to go and try it!
Off we went to the mentioned restarant in downtown Fresno, Rincon Salvaldoreño, that serves these pupusas. It's at the NE corner of Fresno St and McKenzie. The outside is not much to look at. That does not stop us. We went inside through the kitchen into the dining room.
The dining room was very neat and clean with booths on both ends and tables in the center. Posters of El Salvador are on the walls, including a "hammock" with the words "El Salvador C.A" on it. If you're wondering, as I did, C.A. probably stands for Central America which is where the country of El Salvador is located.
clean dining area
Scanning through the menu, we quickly ordered the Pupusa plate (which was under the Breakfast category) which came with 2 pupusas, plaintain, beans, sour cream and a side dish salad that was like cole-slaw with black pepper and vinegar. It was only $6. I chose a pupusa with pork filling and the other with pork and cheese.
In case you're wondering what a pupusa looks like, here it is:
pupusa
While waiting for the order, we could see the ladies a.k.a pupuserias busy at work in the kitchen making those pupusas. A pupusa is really a fried, thick tortilla filled with either cheese, pork, beans, etc.
There were many other items on the menu we'd like to try such as their Tostadas de ceviche or camaron(shrimp), albondigas (meatball soup)and birria de chivo(lamb in special red sauce). They also have several other seafood items on the menu.
After having the pupusa, I can see why this is considered a national staple in El Salvador. It is simple yet delicious, filling, cheap and easy to eat even on the go. Every country seems to have one of these, maybe more so in the developing countries. A good example is the shrimp tacos at the taco stands in Mexico. Cheap and delicious! We will take these food over the fast food any day...
A note about the restaurant's downtown Fresno location - We know that some people might be hesitant to venture into downtown Fresno. We don't let that stop us from trying new things. We felt very comfortable the whole time we were at Rincon Salvaldoreño. From what we could see, the dining area and the kitchen were very clean. It is located very close to the community medical center and there was a lot of activity in that area.
We drove through Fresno street and saw the downtown Fresno trolley (it's a lunch-time trolley between downtown and the Tower District. The trolley supposedly picks up passengers on M Street near the Fresno County Hall of Records about every 10 minutes).
So, when was the last time you tried a new cuisine?
We have posted this review on Fresnohub.com. To get restaurant location and directions, please go to Fresno Restaurants section.
Off we went to the mentioned restarant in downtown Fresno, Rincon Salvaldoreño, that serves these pupusas. It's at the NE corner of Fresno St and McKenzie. The outside is not much to look at. That does not stop us. We went inside through the kitchen into the dining room.
The dining room was very neat and clean with booths on both ends and tables in the center. Posters of El Salvador are on the walls, including a "hammock" with the words "El Salvador C.A" on it. If you're wondering, as I did, C.A. probably stands for Central America which is where the country of El Salvador is located.
clean dining area
Scanning through the menu, we quickly ordered the Pupusa plate (which was under the Breakfast category) which came with 2 pupusas, plaintain, beans, sour cream and a side dish salad that was like cole-slaw with black pepper and vinegar. It was only $6. I chose a pupusa with pork filling and the other with pork and cheese.
In case you're wondering what a pupusa looks like, here it is:
pupusa
While waiting for the order, we could see the ladies a.k.a pupuserias busy at work in the kitchen making those pupusas. A pupusa is really a fried, thick tortilla filled with either cheese, pork, beans, etc.
There were many other items on the menu we'd like to try such as their Tostadas de ceviche or camaron(shrimp), albondigas (meatball soup)and birria de chivo(lamb in special red sauce). They also have several other seafood items on the menu.
After having the pupusa, I can see why this is considered a national staple in El Salvador. It is simple yet delicious, filling, cheap and easy to eat even on the go. Every country seems to have one of these, maybe more so in the developing countries. A good example is the shrimp tacos at the taco stands in Mexico. Cheap and delicious! We will take these food over the fast food any day...
A note about the restaurant's downtown Fresno location - We know that some people might be hesitant to venture into downtown Fresno. We don't let that stop us from trying new things. We felt very comfortable the whole time we were at Rincon Salvaldoreño. From what we could see, the dining area and the kitchen were very clean. It is located very close to the community medical center and there was a lot of activity in that area.
We drove through Fresno street and saw the downtown Fresno trolley (it's a lunch-time trolley between downtown and the Tower District. The trolley supposedly picks up passengers on M Street near the Fresno County Hall of Records about every 10 minutes).
So, when was the last time you tried a new cuisine?
We have posted this review on Fresnohub.com. To get restaurant location and directions, please go to Fresno Restaurants section.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Fresno State wines now available at Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's is now carrying two Fresno State wines in its stores. This is a great step forward for the Viticulture and Enology program at Fresno State.
The California wine industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and Fresno State in the only university in the US to have a commercial winery. Competition for wine sales is intense, of course, but the wine market has been steadily growing in the recent years. What is now a small distribution could lead to statewide and nationwide distribution, which is definitely exciting news for Fresno State and its already unique program.
So go check out the Fresno State wines at Trader Joe's...we know we will!
Click here for more information on Fresno State and its enology program.
The California wine industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and Fresno State in the only university in the US to have a commercial winery. Competition for wine sales is intense, of course, but the wine market has been steadily growing in the recent years. What is now a small distribution could lead to statewide and nationwide distribution, which is definitely exciting news for Fresno State and its already unique program.
So go check out the Fresno State wines at Trader Joe's...we know we will!
Click here for more information on Fresno State and its enology program.
Monday, January 17, 2005
Reasons to get off the couch this week!
Don't know about y'all but we get real lazy in the winters...especially with the current cold and wet winter season! But, there's plenty of stuff going on in town each week and they are definitely incentives for us to tear ourselves away from the tv. Here's are some highlights for this week:
-Harlem Globetrotters at Save Mart Center on Wed
-Beauty and the Beast at Roger Rocka's
-45 seconds from Broadway at Second Space Theatre
For those that are planning a wedding, the Winter Bridal Show on Sat might be of interest.
If you don't like what you see above, here are some additional ideas:
For collegiate sports, check out the Fresno Bulldogs. There's usually some games going on every week.
For music,dance or nightlife, here are some of the usual suspects:
1) Club Fred (live music) 1426 N. Van Ness Avenue. Call 559.233.3733 for schedule
2) Dance (nightclub) 3075 N. Maroa Ave 559.224.1024
3) Veni Vidi Vici (restaurant and live music) 1116 N. Fulton St. 559.266.5510
4) On the Rocks (nightclub and lounge) 5030 N. First Street 559.224.9800
5) The Attic (nightclub) 1440 E Shaw Ave. 559.730.8999
Click here for other Fresno activities
-Harlem Globetrotters at Save Mart Center on Wed
-Beauty and the Beast at Roger Rocka's
-45 seconds from Broadway at Second Space Theatre
For those that are planning a wedding, the Winter Bridal Show on Sat might be of interest.
If you don't like what you see above, here are some additional ideas:
For collegiate sports, check out the Fresno Bulldogs. There's usually some games going on every week.
For music,dance or nightlife, here are some of the usual suspects:
1) Club Fred (live music) 1426 N. Van Ness Avenue. Call 559.233.3733 for schedule
2) Dance (nightclub) 3075 N. Maroa Ave 559.224.1024
3) Veni Vidi Vici (restaurant and live music) 1116 N. Fulton St. 559.266.5510
4) On the Rocks (nightclub and lounge) 5030 N. First Street 559.224.9800
5) The Attic (nightclub) 1440 E Shaw Ave. 559.730.8999
Click here for other Fresno activities
Sunday, January 16, 2005
Reviews of Fresno Restaurants
If you're passing through Fresno on your way to Yosemite, Sequoia, northern or southern CA, Fresno is a great place to stop and grab a bite. If you're in town visiting, well, you gotta eat too!
Check out our reviews on Fresno restaurants and you won't find yourself wandering the streets of Fresno looking for something to eat. If you live in Fresno, maybe you'll find a new restaurant to try or if you have a restaurant to recommend, do let us know!
There are really many good restaurants in Fresno but like most places, you have to know where to go! Whatever type of food you're craving, whether it is Chinese or Mexican or Thai (and the list goes on), you will find it in Fresno.
Check out our reviews on Fresno restaurants and you won't find yourself wandering the streets of Fresno looking for something to eat. If you live in Fresno, maybe you'll find a new restaurant to try or if you have a restaurant to recommend, do let us know!
There are really many good restaurants in Fresno but like most places, you have to know where to go! Whatever type of food you're craving, whether it is Chinese or Mexican or Thai (and the list goes on), you will find it in Fresno.
Fresnohub.com is live!
Yes, with a new year we have launched a new website on Fresno. You will find our reviews on almost all of the Fresno restaurants we've been to, suggestions on best bets for Fresno hotels, information on Fresno real estate, activities, annual events, schools, etc. Check out our website on Fresno.
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