Why would a newspaper ditch the smartest and most politically/socially relevant comic?  One can only wonder.  F-minus?  Then today, there was the editorial about how great it is to talk politics at the family dinner to raise smart kids.  The irony is unreal.  If we want a smart population, we must have quality smart news content.  For news, I love reading my local paper every day but my morning SF Chronicle just became more important. 

Check out the BuzzBlog -, click here

You can really lend a hand.  The Kettle Kick Off was today and nearly $190,000 was raised by nearly 70 kettle carriers and bell ringers.   This big Modesto Center Plaza event is a great way to kick off the holidays, and I hope that you have made a contribution.  You can still help out  and you can even be a bell ringer this season. There is always something to be done.

 
Make A Wish Ball is coming this weekend to the DoubleTree.  There are a few tickets left and you can help make a wish.  Local MAMA nominated band Third Party will be playing the pre-party to get everyone in the mood to bid high.

Find out how you can get involved at Modestoview.com/community

Today is the Third Thursday and that means Art Walk.  There will be open galleries all over downtown and even in the lobby of the State Theatre where along with the art, MAMA Winner Tara Tinsley will perform and there will be treats from Word of Mouth Bakery. Get downtown and check it out.  Struggle and Strife have always created the most powerful art.   Courtesy of Memorial Hospital, there is an art show of works by Victims of Cancer and Survivors at the Mistlin Gallery. There are some very powerful works.  At the Photographers Gallery, there is a exhibit of photos from around the world. At the Anderson Gallery, there are new works by black and white photographer Roman Loranc and at MJC there is a Student Art show.

www.modestoview.com/culture

Fall Wishing Modesto

Soccer is over, for many of our big teams the season is over too but that means that our own holiday season is just beginning.  Is always amazing to see holiday decorations up before Thanksgiving and as busy as we are, you wonder what’s the rush ($$$).   This is the time of the year when you start “feeling fall”,  the sweaters are out, the gutters are clean, the first fires in the fireplace all lead to that change of feeling.   This weekend is Make A Wish and Handborn and the leaves are swirling around in the breeze and there is no point even raking yet.  There will be an eerie quiet as there is no MYSA Soccer, but it is amazing how quickly you can fill those precious new hours with a new fundraiser, a train ride, a nice dinner, a bike ride or a bit of opera or violin concerto.  The list of choices is long and we will help you find something great to do around Modesto this weekend.   www.modestoview.com

Last chance of the year to hear Sapo Sueno at the Off the Air show on the 15^th.   This show will be a combo music and art show where you can also hear Not An Airplane.   Jon Valenti is releasing his new CD Grin and Bury it at the Fat Cat with a mega all star line up including Joe Cornell, Niki Leigh, Roem Baur and the Mundaze along with a live webcast on his Justin.tv connection.   Local artists playing around town include Johnny and Kelly at Bacchus and Nick Shandel at El Palomar Thursday, Rick Barnes at P Wexfords and Mariachi at El Palomar, Big Earl and the Cryin Shame are at Hero’s on Friday, then DJ Chopstiques and DJ Mike will be spinnin at the Battered Beaver in Oakdale Saturday night.

You think you know what the menus are at your local restaurants.  Here is the news flash, the menu at Denny’s or Olive Garden may stay the same, but your local indie restaurant changes the menu on a regular basis.   If you gave not been to Aqua Shi lately, Gerry has taken over managing the place and there are newer and friendlier to non sushi eater items.  However, you have to try the poached salmon with BBQ Eel (unagi) over a bed of soba noodles.  It is a unreal.   So go check out your normal stomping grounds.  Go to Bacchus, Tresetti’s, Claytons, Dewz, Galletto, Concetta and any of your other fave, you will be sure to find some great new seasonal items.  Just because you went last week doesn’t mean there is nothing new. 

 
Find a new place for lunch or dinner and then post your own reviews at www.modestoview.com/food  

Calling local musicians!!  Do you do holiday music? ModestoView and the MAMA Association are looking for local bands that have produced a holiday, Christmas, Hanukah or other song. If you have, we have Comcast TV and MAMA Radio airplay for you.  Email me today if you have a track or can record one soon.   chrism@modestoview.com 

 See what is happening in the local music scene at www.modestoview.com/mama   to send us your music update reply to this email or contact us at mama@modestoview.com

Are you tired of the hand held signs all over town.  At first it was unique for a sale or something, but now it is just another sign and there are even people flipping signs for a mortgage company.  OK enough is enough.  The intersections are already busy enough and this is becoming a nuisance.    Are you tired of this? Are there too many?  Is this OK and should continue?  What do you think about all of this sign flipping.  I even spied a guy with a flipping sign on a stand at Orangeburg and Oakdale.  All he was doing was rocking it back and forth?   Handheld signs on the side of the road, what do you think? Comment on this and check out the BuzzBlog -, click here

Make sure that you vote.  Don’t be a non-voter. This run off is a mail in vote.  This is as easy as it gets.  Now harder than doing a lottery scratcher.  Please vote, please pay attention and make sure that you earn your right to comment later.  Voting is one of the most American things you can do.  Everyone that has a support the troops magnetic sticker better vote, everyone that has a peace sign on their car should vote too.    See what it happening in city government and post your own comments at www.modestoview.com/opinion  

This is a crazy busy week and it seems like every week is like this now.     There are a couple of hall of fame events this weekend.   As featured in the November ModestoView magazine, there is a great group of local hand-made craft and clothing makers that will be on display with wares for sale at the HandBorn show on the 17^th.  There will be music at Deva and great holiday gifts at Concetta.   Go check it out.   2007 MAMA Winner Jon Valenti has his CD release party at Fat Cat Sat Night and during the day, get ready for ski season with the ski swap at Centenary Church.

 Friday night at the State, there is some serious comedy at the State Theatre with Geechy Guy that is a regular on Bob and Tom in the mornings that is aired on 104.1 the Hawk and Clint Black brings his country music to the Turlock Community Theatre or you can vibe to a Pink Pure 209  Party at the Fat Cat.  In other news, we are counting down the last weeks of the Modesto Farmer’s Market and the Shadow Chase running club goes for a run and the Sierra Railroad has a Sunset Train.  Saturday afternoon, the Graffiti Bowl will be played at the MJC Stadium.   Saturday night, Michael Feinstein plays the Turlock Community Theatre and the legendary New Christy Minstrels at a sold out show at the Gallo Center.   The Townsend Opera Players present Die Fledermaus Saturday and Sunday at the Gallo Center.    

 
Sunday morning, shake it off with a bike ride with the Stanislaus County Bike Club leaving from Marie Calendars and Sunday night, there is a Hawaiian Tropic Bikini contest at the Modesto Center Plaza (really, I’m not kidding) and at the Fat Cat, you can rock it with Audio Stagg or you can dance to classic rock at Crocodiles or dice it with Jay Smith for Gong Show Karaoke at Speakeasy.  The Ahn Trio is on the big Rogers Stage at the Gallo Center and you will be totally amazed.    Monday night, we end up at Clayton’s for Blue Monday Jam sessions. 

Find these and other things to do in Modesto at www.modestoview.com/todo

Does litter on the ground annoy you as it does me? Do you think that Drive Though establishments have any responsibility?  By design of a drive though, it is a given that the wrappers on the goods purchased at the drive through will be disposed of somewhere else.  Should there be any responsibility on the drive through for litter clean up assistance?   Why should we clean up the cups, straw and burger wrappers that should have been thrown away at the restaurant where they were purchased.  What do you think?   Vote now and comment at www.ModestoView.com

Amelie is coming to the State Theatre on Thursday.   This is one of the coolest movies ever.  The use of the color red, the colorization of the scenes, the great story, the characters and the incredible Paris scenery makes this one of the all time great movies.   This neighborhood in Paris is one of my favorites at the base of Mont Martre.  Next time you go, check out the Cafe le Deux Moulins and see the place where the movie was set.   Check it out on Sept 13.  

We have a wonderful new addition to downtown Modesto.  Oh boy, we got to hang out in a cool corner booth at Vito’s this last week and had one of those legendary long lunches that usually included a glass of wine….  or two.  The veal is really good, the Calzone’s were super strength, and best of all, the bread… yes, consider yourself warned.. don’t eat too much bread.  The are these little “breadlets” that seem to jump into your mouth.  This combined with the chianti and some ravioli were really good.   Next time you go out, check out a cool local restaurant that you will really enjoy at Vito’s on 13^th.  Oh yeah, walking distance from the State and the Gallo Center.  What more do you want?  A beeper by the freeway?   Better get your reservations now at the restaurants around the Gallo Center for the opening nights on the 27^th and 29^th. 

Find a new place for lunch or dinner and then post your own reviews at www.modestoview.com/food  

Just as the city of Modesto is ready to go into gear, the police have announced that they want to place new regulations on a vibrant but struggling local economy. Cities across around the world fight for tourism and cultural revenue dollars. Of all the cities in the central valley, Modesto is actually becoming known for culture, nightlife, music, dining and entertainment offerings. This is a real economy that employs thousands of people across our ctiy. The Gallo center is opening soon creating a new before and after show scene. Instead of placing more rules, regulations and restrictions, we need to be trying to find more ways to attract people to Modesto and help our local business stay healthy and most important of all, focus our entertainment into a common area with a halo of public safety. Imagine San Diego deciding that the Gaslamp district was a “nuisance” and wanted to close it all down at midnight? Kind of silly. The Modesto entertainment industry brings money into Modesto and actually helps employ hundreds of local people and actually funds police and safety. Protecting downtown entertainment district protects jobs and increases revenue. What other industries are in a growth mode here? Not housing. What do you think about this? What ideas do you have that ModestoView can pass on to the city and the police?

Post your comments in the Buzz Blog and let us know so we can help make a difference. - , click here

Greetings Modesto Fans :
(reading time: less than it takes to play your White Album backwards)

This is a week loaded with incredible events. School is in full gear, the big holiday weekend is behind us and as usual, this feels like a very short week. Kids are busting it in the heat for soccer practice, and the breezes are finally back after a couple of smokin hot days. (but now we have the smoke) It was so cool to ride my bike around Modesto and get whiffs of all of the BBQ'n that was happening. Ribs, burgers, steaks, kebabs, veggies….. (veggies? ..oh yeah.. corn on the cob) hot dogs, sausages, and more ribs. If you had a plate, you could go door to door. But now we are back to normal and we can dine out at lunch, open a bottle of nice local wine in the evening and rest up for the next few weeks that will feature a Beatlish Picnic at the Pops, Gallo Center festivities, fashion shows, baseball, soccer, Heart walks, Senior Strides and of course, a heavy dose of homework for the school kids. Parents, better bone up on your math. Let's check out the Modesto action this week.

Make sure that you get ready for Picnic at the Pops on Saturday featuring the “Beatles”. ModestoView has an exclusive backstage “Beatle” interview that happened only in our imaginations on their legendary first visit to Modesto that you can read in the new September ModestoView Magazine. Click here to read online and pick up a copy of ModestoView featuring the Angst version of Abbey Road on the cover at one of our great local businesses. Classical Mystery Tour fronts the Modesto Symphony on Saturday at the Gallo Grounds. Do you have your tickets yet? Click here to get them.

Greetings Modesto Fans :
(reading time: less than it takes to make sure you have a big stash of binder paper for school and a fresh canvas for some new art)

Wow, what a way to start the week with a big huge meteor shower. Watching the streaks of light from the darkened Johansen Football stadium made me think how exciting and star studded the next few months will be here in Modesto , especially with the Art and Wine Festival, Picnic at the Pops and the opening of the Gallo Center . But this week we are in limbo, the gap between summer vacation and countdown to school. There is no more time for big trips, the back to school shopping is in full swing and people are already starting to find a routine. Make sure that you take some time for a last minute get away fling and explore our area, even if it is a raft float from Knights Ferry or simple road trip and see one more part of our community. This week we say goodbye to one of our favorite restaurants and wait for some new changes in our downtown dining scene. It is really cool to walk around on these breezy evenings and enjoy an evening in our city, especially on ArtWalk night. Let's see what is happening in the Greater Modesto Area this week shall we?  check out the whole greeting at www.modestoview.com

Tailgators has jumped on the local music scene featuring the great cover band Late playing every Thursday nights. The Queen Bean has a loaded weekend and tonight at the Fat Cat will be Team Awesome, Saturday at the Modesto Art and Wine Festival, local bands will be on stage all day long from 10 AM to 10 PM. Make sure that you check out Greg Edward's Off the Air Stage. Always innovative. Neil Buettner is doing a regular Friday night gig at Speakeasy and his shows are cool as he uses lots of cool effects to tweak his trusty guitar and Rick Barnes is close to being selected to the “Don't Forget the Lyrics” TV show. He knows everything so he should do well. Transport is putting the finishing touches on a new CD and Fig Mutant is lighting it up with a mega show at the Fat Cat last weekend and a big write up in a national magazine and Moon Trent has a new CD available on CD Baby. The Modesto musicians are making big noise.

See what is happening and check out the local bands at www.modestoview.com/mama

Bands and Musicians! Send us your gigs and updates by contacting us at mama@modestoview.com We will help spread the love.

This is a bad news, bad news and then good news report. This week, we say goodbye to 1505. This was the first Modesto restaurant to take urban design to the next level by Nikki West. Robert West is a great chef and actually prepares wonderful local food with local ingredients and we wish him the best for his future plans. In other restaurant news, the top rated and always good Dewz will be leaving its 11 th and I street location after enduring over a year of endless construction, fences, obstructed entrances, and property headaches. The good news is that Dewz will be moving to the 1505 J Street location and will have a new expanded wine service area and they hope to be up and running by mid September with all of your favorite servers, hostesses and Chef Vincent. Scott Aspesi is one of our local wine treasures and the new Wine space will be awesome. This is personal as ModestoView was created over many a breakfast at Dewz. In other news, Momo's has closed and the former Nosh will soon be reopening as an Italian place. We will keep you posted on the dining news. We have great local restaurants and you need to try them rather than go places where the food was prepared somewhere else but warmed up here. Remember, ModestoView wants you to eat local or we will be left only with big chain restaurants by freeway interchanges that make you wait with a beeper. Go downtown, go NE, go NW, go SW and try a locally owned restaurant today. For a huge list of locally owned restaurants, click ModestoView www.modestoview.com/food

Young Idol is coming! Modesto Symphony is back in action this year for the Young Idol contest. Sign up today at www.modestosymphony.org This weekend is the Modesto Art and Wine Festival where you will see the works of over 100 artists, check out more than 30 local bands, see the new Gallo Center Time Capsule and also get some sneak peaks and jazz musician Kenny Rankin will be featured and there will be a kids section a full block long. Tix are only $10 and kids get in free with adults. Do not miss this all day event.

Here are some other key things happening this week. Wednesday is Inland Night at the Mustang and Thursday is Art Walk, Club Extreme at Yosemite Bowl, and Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the Penalty Box com es alive at Hero's Thursday, Friday and Sat nights. Fri and Sat, it is a Pure 209 party night at Fat Cat with the area's best DJs. On the big Screen of the State, you can see the Jane Austen Book Club move on Thursday as well as La Vie en Rose through the 19 th . On Stage this weekend, the whimsical performance of Suessical continues this weekend at CSU Stanislaus by the wonderful YES Company and the production Oklahoma continues in Riverbank this weekend at the Del Rio Theatre and Hot Latin Rhythms will be on stage at the State Sat Night.

Saturday, start the day at the Modesto Farmers Market, take the kid to the Modesto Art and Wine Festival and check out the artists, taste some wine, buy some art and listen to great local bands and then cut over to Hero's where Saturday is B93 Liquid Summer where you will find local bands Angst and Not An Airplane opening for Bowling for Soup featuring the hit song 1985. That will be a great show. What a day! Big props to Chris Ricci and city councilman and artist Brad Hawn for making this happen.

Sunday, enjoy a nice Brunch Train on the Sierra Railroad, watch the Nor Cal Junior Rodeo Championships in Oakdale and then check out Gong Show Karaoke with Jay Smith at the Speakeasy or head to Crocodiles for some classic rock dancing and fun or check out Movie Night at the Mustang or rock out at the Fat Cat with the Secretions and Ghost of Raul. Monday there is story time at the libraries around the county. Monday night is Karaoke at Tailgators, Deriva and Hero's Choice at the Fat Cat and Blue Monday Jams at Clayton's and it is Monday Night Football at Hero's.

This is just a sample of things happening. Find more info about these and other things to do in Modesto at www.modestoview.com/todo

Have you read your August ModestoView Magazine yet? Did you get the inside scoop on Art and Wine, did you meet local artist Allen Passalaqua, learn about Memphis Tip Top BBQ, get new info on local bands and CDs and meet chef Vinny from Chefs of New York? It is all there in ModestoView. Modesto is the only local and independent coverage of arts, entertainment, dining and community. Read the issue online.

For every season turn turn turn.
These words have been said in some form for thousands of years. It is still true today as our city and our people change and evolve. As we transition into a new downtown with a new cultural life, as our local kids head off to their colleges and start their new life and as new people learn about Modesto and start their new lives, we remember the other lives that change too. We will never forget Ryan Dickerson, a family friend since Ron, Lynn, Ross and Ryan moved here when Ryan was in 6th grade. Ryan's life is an example of the way we can all be; optimistic, fun, involved, community minded, a good friend and was always there for a wide variety of people. Remembering Ryan, we all take a look at ourselves and see how we contribute, how we treat others and what kind of people we want to be. This is a consolation to his family. You can remember Ryan at www.ryandickerson.org and this has links a memory posting board a link to the Modesto Bee guest book, his MySpace and Facebook sites and a video prepared by his waterpolo friends.

Should the city of Modesto step up with the performing arts center? The city of Modesto will be the primary beneficiary of the increased tourism, the extra sales dollars, the busy restaurants, parking and local services that will be used by the Gallo Center . This is chump change on the front end of a project that will deliver economic benefit for decades to come. This is regular income that will pay for more police, street repairs and services. Come on Modesto, jump in. The current redevelopment of downtown worked when the naysayers said it wouldn't and now it is time to step up and be visionary again. Modesto City Council, it is in your hands, get it done.

What do you think about this? City Council, please support this investment. Let's stop referring to this as a gift. It is not a gift, but an investment on future dividends.
Vote now at www.ModestoView.com

What a blast.  Lined up, hundreds deep at the Barnes and Noble in Modesto for the newest installment of Harry Potter.  My daughter has been completely jonesing for this book for months, and now it is here.  It was amazingly organized. Still some parents were complaining how stupid it was that there was no book available unless they had a wristband, yet hundreds of others seemed to figured it out just fine and had their place in line.  At 12:25 am, no sooner did we have the book in hand, (the special edition first printing) and were in the car, did the wrapper come off, and the first chapter got underway.  "If Harry, Ron or Hermione die, I am going to cry.  It can't be,  it must be Voldemort and ......" my daughter's speculation began.  Home now, the light by the bed is on in her room and the pages are turning.  What next book is going to come along that gets kids to read 750 pages in a straight shot?   Amazing.

This has been a fun summer so far. Today is a sad day as it is the last MoBand of the season, so make sure you get out there and you can even get all dressed up for the final final. Tonight is Artwalk, so you can park downtown and then walk to all of the galleries, then to Graceada Park . The awards will be given tonight for the photography show, Our Corner of the World at the Camera Center . Later, there is music at the Queen Bean, Fat Cat, Galletto, Bacchus, and Hero's and a special Artwalk after party at Deva.

Friday, it is Dave Mason at the State and you can here a classic version of All Along the Watchtower and We Just Disagree. Also Friday night, Karen Joy Brown and Joe Baretta play the Queen Bean and don't get stuck in the Penalty Box at Hero's as there is some serious DJ Fun on Friday and Sat nights. Saturday, it is X Fest. But X fest happens later in the day so you can still get in your trip to the Farmer's Market and then do a river and raft train trip with a float down the river and then head to X Fest. Sunday night you can check out Karaoke at Tailgators and Electric Soup plays Fat Cat and you can com pete in the pool tournament at the Battered Beaver in Oakdale and of course, don't forget Gong Show Karaoke at the Speakeasy with the comedy of Jay Smith if you are brave enough.

The Shakespeare continues this weekend at CSUS with As You Like It and over at the West Side Theatre, the Jitterbug Juliet will totally entertain you and at the Prospect Theatre, the Complete Shakespeare ( Abridged) will make you howl. There is some serious high brow stuff to check out.

Find these and other things to do in Modesto at www.modestoview.com/todo
Send us your events to get on the ModestoView calendar events@modestoview.com

Xclamation Time Modesto

Greetings Modesto Fans :
(reading time: less than it takes to get from music stage to music stage at X Fest)

Wow, what a great couple of evenings we have had. Sitting out on the patio or by the pool, nice breeze blowing through, some friends and neighbors over and a glass of our local fruit of the vine and living is good. We are on some seriously busy weeks as it seems not to be a normal July. Super Diamond was in the house at the State last weekend and there was Jazz under the stars at the SOS and then there was Monday. Well here is the big scoop for you all. Monday is the new Friday. Yes, you read correctly. Monday night is a hub of action here in Modesto . Tailgators is doing the Cajun food with the N'awlins Jazz with the Creole Jazz Kings and then Clayton's is doing the Blue Monday Jazz and Blues jams. Both places are packed, the food is great and the people are having a total blast on… yes a Monday night. So, if you are not all shell-shocked from the non stop Harry Potter premiers you might want to take a break and do something relaxing as tonight is MoBand and the ArtWalk while we countdown to X Fest and the midnight release of the Harry Potter book. This is a fun time of year in Modesto. Learn more about X Fest and Modesto at www.modestoview.com

What happened to Tony at Wanderlust.  He is the best barista and now he is no longer there.  Does anyone know?  Tony always took the time to teach about coffee and everything good about it.

Wow, what a change. A year ago we asked if our local Modesto area citizens liked roundabouts. The response was less than 50%. This year, we went at it again to see if there was a change of opinion now that there are more of them and we are up over 70%. If you have driven up Roselle you know how well they work, or make the turn at Claratina and Coffee. Piece of cake! Let's make more of them to tame the big bad intersections. Vote now at www.ModestoView.com

I am always amazed when people stand by the side of the road, near a busy street, sometimes with a beeper, waiting for a meal that was probably prepared in a factory processed kitchen in the Midwest . It is like real ice cream vs. fake ice cream. Find out where your food is prepared and check to see if your favorite restaurant is using Sciabica Olive Oil, Fiscalini Cheese, Local produce, Stanislaus Foods Tomatoes, Patterson Vegetable Company frozen veggies, Richwood or Yosemite meats and the list goes on and on. Chances are, the money you spend will end up staying right here in Modesto . Eating local is good for you and good for economy. What do you think about local dining?

Find local restaurants and Post your reviews
Comment in the BuzzBlog - , click here

It was great to see actress/singer Mandy Moore at the B93 Music Cafe today at Hero's.   Her show was fun, entertaining and she was very friendly to everyone.   It is so nice to see a celebrity that is so good at being freindly and just plain cute with out  being trashy.  She has come a long way since Princess Diaries, but you couldn't help thinking the shout  "Lana got coned!" since thanks to my daughters, I have heard a million times.   She even sang some Cat Stevens and some of her new songs.  It was great for my girls to have a good and positive role model like this in the headlines.    Check out the ModestoView gallery of pictures from the show today.  You can even send these as e-cards to your friends that couldn't go with a simple log in.   Thanks to B93  for bringing her to town and doing this show in such a cool setting.  By the way, the sound was great too. Have fun in Modesto.  www.modestoview.com/views   Chris Murphy

Greetings Modesto Fans :
(reading time: less than it takes to find your favorite spot in the shade on I street)

June is done, summer is here, and the lazy long days for school kids on vacation are just beginning as the cool pool waters beckon as the days get hot, yet magically cool down at night with the delta breezes. Modesto is so beautiful in red, white and blue for Independence Day and you can be a big part of it in downtown Wednesday. If you don't want it to end, just go take a tour of the McHenry mansion that is always all gussied up in the red white and blue banners. Take time to enjoy your neighborhood, your friends and local traditions and spend some time in the community that makes Modesto interesting. BBQ does taste better when it is hot though. Best of all, here at ModestoView, no Paris Hilton or national chain stores, just good local Modesto fun and flavor. Tastes great and more filling. Enjoy Modesto this week. Read the rest of this greeting and find out more.   www.modestoview.com

Wednesday, the Black Irish Band release their 16th CD at the Pinecrest Amphitheater, Thursday night, Nick Shandel is at El Palomar, Friday night at the Red Lion's Sunset Lounge, Jon Valenti is on deck to do a regular Friday show and he always brings his friends if for a great time, this week featuring Not An Airplane and Jeff Bonilla. Make sure you hear Jon's new song Caress. Joelle Maddyson is at the Queen Bean Friday night, and Northwood Blackroot is Saturday. Don't forget that there is live music every night of the week in downtown Modesto . Tell your friends and get downtown and check it out.

See what is happening in the local music scene at www.modestoview.com/mama to send us your music update reply to this email or contact us at mama@modestoview.com

Do you all love roundabouts yet. If you have driven out Roselle to Claribel, you know how awesome they are. The people of Modesto just need to figure these out and we can build more. It is so nice, not to have to stop for a long time. The second word is the most important one. Traffic FLOW. Let's make it happen. Do you like roundabouts? Yes or no? Are they growing on you?

Do your patriotic duty and vote now and comment at www.ModestoView.com

Townsend Opera Players is currently auditioning singers for the 2007-2008 Season, needing baritones for Die Fledermaus, sung in English. African American performers for Porgy and Bess with all roles open and Miss Saigon, needing many Asian Americans.. all roles open. No check this out, all performances will be held at the Foster Family Theater of the new Gallo Center for the Arts. Woo hoo! Remuneration is negotiable, plus home stay. Call 209-523-6426, or email top@townsendoperaplayers.com . Townsend Opera Players is a non-profit organization. Performances are by and for the Valley people. All principles are paid com mensurate with artists' qualifications.
Modestoview.com/community

Fancy champagne anyone? There is a cool vibey champagne on deck at Bacchus and a ultra design chair for two where you can sip this Veuve Clicquot Champagne . On Wednesdays at Bacchus the best guitarist in town, Darrin Morris does a strolling “date night” repertoire. Speaking of great things to drink, have you been to 1505 lately and watched the bartenders in action flairing and slinging drinks. Pretty exciting and all backed up with Chef Robert West's great menu and Niki West's design. Harvest Moon now has vodka tonics and Bloody Mary's! Yes, they have this cool 48 proof Vodka that makes a great drink without the… you know.. As these days get hot, there are lots of cool places to take a nice break including the cool bar at Aqua Shi, the covered patio at Galletto and the deep dark shade of the Tiki. Try someplace new today.

Find a new place for lunch or dinner and then post your own reviews at www.modestoview.com/food

Just hanging out down here at the Wanderlust Coffee shop and wanted to spread the word about the Critical Mass ride on Friday evening. The ride begins at 10th and J and will make a circuit downtown and beyond to create awareness for cycling. Modesto needs more cycling commuters, we need more bike racks, we need more work places that are cyclo-commuter friendly. Wanderlust could be the new official coffee shop home of all things cycling, hiking and outdoors. Check out the ride and check out Wanderlust. Just scarfed down a Napoleon Crepe, complete with Nutella (Yay!)and my regular 4 shot latte. Chris

MoBand is finally happening and here we are, smack dab in the middle of Graffiti Summer.  We are having so much fun even though it is physically impossible to do any more activities in one day?  Every week we keep on saying how busy we are and it gets busier.  There is no reason to be bored as we have classic cars all over Modesto, Elvis sightings and some cool music that kids of all ages can enjoy.   Cool cars are everywhere. It was cool to see all of the cars on McHenry, even for a little while.  There were tons of people downtown to watch the cruise…. I mean parade….We have really started to finally “get it”  American Graffiti is our thing and from Perko’s to the Bowling Alley to the city of Modesto, we are getting close to really being cool about this.  Who needs the Soprano’s with all of this going on (I did watch it though)   Kids are out of school, the grad parties continue, and the coffee shops and the all ages places like Hero’s, Yosemite Lanes, Queen Bean and Modesto Sports Bar are the place to be in the evening.   Those of you over 21, you know the great choices you have.   Let’s check out what is happening in Modesto this week.   Click here to get the whole story and explore Modesto.

 

Warped tour is coming and a local band will be playing.   Jupiter is Useless, a big local indie favorite around here got the total hole-shot and will be playing the Warped Tour in on Aug 22 and 23.   Cool news huh?  Click on our MAMA band page and click on Jupiter is Useless and see what the fuss is all about.   In other local band news, Tara Tinsley is touring in Texas, El Olio Wolof is almost ready to release a new CD and the Sapo Sueno show last week was one of the best ever in town.  I had to miss it as it was my daughter’s High School Graduation.  If you were there and have pics, email them to me so we can post ‘em in the gallery.

 

You can hear local bands on local radio every week.   If you want to here them live in the studio, tune in to B93.1 on Tuesday mornings at 7:15 and local is what you will hear.  This week, A Mover A Fighter will be featured.  Next week is Not an Airplane and Peech will be featured the week after.  On Comcast Channel 7, 19, 26 and 98 you can hear local bands with MAMA Radio that now features artist and song ID.  Cool huh?    Check out the local music.

 

Did you know that you can get your X Fest Tix now?   Go to the ModestoView homepage and click on the X Fest Logo and you can also check out our gallery, the largest X Fest Photo gallery on the planet with pics from every X Fest since 2000.  View now. 

Do you love to eat local?  Do you search for Fiscalini Cheese, Sciabica Olive Oil, Silkwood Wine, Stanislaus Foods “Al Dente” sauce, fresh Boysenberries from Vella and produce from Loritelli Produce Stands and do you live for the farmer’s market?  Do you eat at locally owned restaurants and especially those that use local ingredients?   If you do, you are a “Locavore” and ModestoView loves you.  You love the local food and go out of your way to eat it and this is what makes Modesto special.  We have so many great options for wonderful food.  You might never have to eat frozen all you can eat breadsticks ever again or stand in line with a beeper by the freeway waiting to eat.  Think and eat local when you are dining. The Chamber of Commerce used to push buying local with the Modesto Means Business campaign.  Well ModestoView wants you to eat and shop local.     If you do, you can enjoy fresh tasty treats.  You will totally dig this, at the Nine’s, there is a Soft Shell Crab sandwich.  You eat the whole crab, battered in an open face sandwich.  This is unreal and you have to try it.  For a lighter faire, you need to head on over to Harvest Moon and see that they have Salmon Picatta as a regular menu item with a nice Sauvignon Blanc.   These are two winners you need to try this week.   Oh yeah, have you been to Wanderlust Coffee yet for Crepes?   Why not? Get up get going now and check these out. 

 

There are a ton of new reviews for our local restaurants.  Post yours today.  Find a new place for lunch or dinner and then post your own reviews at www.modestoview.com/food  

The local coffee scene has just jumped up another notch.  We have Queen Bean, we have Clayton’s, we have Simplicita on 15^th and now we have Wanderlust at 10^th and Needham.   You want to know what the best part is? NO BLENDERS!!!!! Nice, quiet, cool, organic, vibey, just like a coffee shop should be.  This is a real coffee shop that also serves Crepes. (yes…they are French Pancakes Ricky Bobby). They even have a ham and cheese crepe for lunch.  Organic coffee, comfortable seats, original Yosemite Trail signs and a back door to the Carrot Natural Foods store and open 6 am to 6 pm, this is a beautiful place that features barista extraordinaire Tony Serrano where every cup of coffee is art work and means something. The baristas are very well trained and the coffee is gorgeous. Check it out.  Yes, they have WiFi in case you wondered. 10^th and Needham is your stop

Cruising Time Modesto

The cruise is coming back! Just kidding. Don't you wish it were true? But the cruise parade is coming back as street rods from all over the west coast cruise downtown Modesto on a slightly modified route. The cars are cherry and there oldies and goodies. This is just the greatest time of Modestocana that you can enjoy. This is a super crazy week. The kids are getting out of school, the Kindergarteners, 8th graders and the 12th graders are graduating, the 6th graders are getting promoted and summer is around the corner and we start shopping for dorm furniture. The Farmer's markets are in full swing, the apricots are ripe and you can feel the freshness of our area and even our cool local restaurants are using more and more local ingredients. With Graffiti in full swing, it just feels more local and friendly as cars, music and fun bring us all together. Let's see what is happening this week.
Read the rest of the Weekly Greeting here.