Super Fat Tuesday Modesto

 Greetings Modesto Fans:

(reading time: less than it takes to walk down the street from Harvest Moon to Tresetti’s Fat Tuesday)

 As we sit here being bombarded by Robocalls from…of all people “Governor Wilson”, (did I miss something?),  today is the day, time to celebrate Mardi Gras.  This is your own personal reward for the voting that you will do today either at the polling place or by turning in your absentee ballot.  If you are permanent absentee and have voted already, then you can spend today in peace, take the phone off the hook and wait for the returns.  The results won’t be in until late, so head to downtown Modesto or any other of your favorite places and celebrate Mardi Gras, aka Fat Tuesday.   Many of us were able to go see former POTUS Clinton in Stockton yesterday and it was great to see how many kids were there learning about the important political process in the USA.  We need the next generation to be interested in how our cities, states and nations work and encourage them to get involved, no matter what political point of view.  When we all get involved, our communities get better and more interesting.  Let’s see what is up this week here in Modesto.  read the rest of the greetings at  www.modestoview.com

Super Tuesday is today and the world gets back to normal for a few weeks until the ramp up to the two conventions.    But here at ModestoView, we are thinking about a much simpler poll.   Since the Amgen Tour of California is coming to Modesto on Feb 20, we ask this question.   “What prevents you from using your bicycle more often?”   Is it the roads?  No showers at work?  Traffic? Lazy? Crappy bike?   Any other excuses you want to talk about?     We will be sending all of your answers to the City Manager.

 

Vote now and let us know at www.ModestoView.com

Boo Hoo Hoo.  Hershey candy to cost more.  According to the Modesto Bee, the Hershey Company is going to raise prices, despite closing our local factory that claimed to reduce costs and save money.  Why? Fuel? Corn? You move your manufacturing to Mexico to save a coupla bucks, fire a bunch of people and then get a 26% fuel surcharge for trucking thousands of miles down and back, the prices can go up even more.  The answer?  Buy See’s or Ghirardelli, both proudly made in Nor Cal.  Put your money where our people are and shop local.  Instant karma at it’s finest, now available in sample size.  What do you think?  Post it in the buzz blog.  www.modestoview.com/buzz

Mark your calendar. Vote on Feb 5.  Send in your absentee ballot or take it directly to the office of voters at 11^th and I.  

Learn more at  www.rockthevote.com and http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/stn/  These are great start points to learn what you need to know. Make sure that you use your voice.  ModestoView recommends measures E & M. Let’s work toward creating a more professional and accountable city and county gov’t that also encourages us to get involved to make a difference.  CNN will be featuring both the Dem and GOP debates back to back on Saturday evening so tune in and learn more.  Use your voting voice.

Time to buy some local music from new and upcoming bands.  The CD, titled Gem Splash I, features twelve artists from Modesto and surrounding communities, each having one particularly catchy song.  The songs were chosen by two criteria (1) overall type of music—acoustic and/or power pop and (2) bands that are still together and looking to book shows. Hear great music from local bands like: A Mover A Fighter, The Undergrads, Hero’s Choice, Radio Inflight, Fall of Versai and more.   Cool that the Modesto Bee has featured this CD in the Buzz section.  We need to support our local musicians. 

 

To help promote them, studio owner Brenda Francis, who has an MBA and a Music Management degree from University of Pacific, developed 3 one-hour radio show segments with band member interviews and music.  The show has been getting strong rotation on community station KQRP 106.1 FM.  She also links their websites on the studio web site, modestosound.com, at no charge.  You can get the CD by visiting www.modestosound.com and ordering. The CD is only $5. (Cheaper per track than Itunes BTW) You can also buy them at Ingram and Brauns Music stores.  

The February Issue is now on the newsstands.  This is one of our coolest issues as we explore the equation,  Bikes + Modesto = Love.   It all connects.  Great cover shot featuring UC Berkeley student Madison Murphy, Interview with City Manager Jim Niskanen, wine dining at Sips Bistro, romantic bar spot Dewz, new music reviews, wine club reviews about wines of hearts and bicycles,  and a special green column by former City Planner George Osner, new local view column by Efren Martinez, and a special list of things to do from our All Ages Editors and of course, the best calendar of events in town.    Pick up a copy today at one of out 600 locations or read online via pdf file.    www.modestoview.com It is always more fun to sit at a local coffee shop and read a real paper.   

Virtual Worlds and Avatars?  One more excuse not to get out and do something here in real life? Hanging out at home playing Halo, WOW or Splinter Cell while ignoring the music in downtown Modesto or enjoying a “live” band, “live” meal, “live” walk in the park, “live” coffee at a local coffee shop is real life.  Your mission, if you choose to accept it is Live Local.  Emphasis on the “Live”, Avatar free and real. You can not have a sustainable local economy unless we are all out there sustaining.  Comment on this and other local issues in the ModestoView BuzzBlog -, click here

Vehicle License Tax – Bring it back. This was a silly giveaway.  This is a proper way to fund roads by targeting the things that use them and it is proportional to the cost of the vehicle and the means of the owner.  Do this before cutting schools and denying health care.  Vehicles wear on our infrastructure, it is a fair tax and people with a Lexus can pay and those that have cheap cars don’t pay much.  That’s that.  Comment? www.modestoview.com/buzz

Hey radio fans of Modesto. Make sure that you turn on your radio Monday morning to Cruise and Good!.  Yes, they are back and on the air at B93.1 am.  The local music scene is starting to spin on the correct axis again.   Angie Good is now the program director for B93 and the dynamic team that has been host to many a Summerfest, Acoustic Christmas, Extreme Halloween is back on the air.  Local bands have a good friend at Clear Channel now and this should be the start of something great.  You can check out pics of MAMA Bands in Studio B and other great B93 performances in our gallery.   Tune in early Monday and every day.    B93.1 to listen online.   Check out our gallery and you can even send ecards.  

Jeff Bonilla’s Sapo Sueno brings some fabulous music to Cafe Deva Friday night and Mad Cow Industries does the Pink Floyd Tribute at the Fat Cat.  Rick Barnes is at P Wex.   Saturday it is Strangebrew at P Wex and it is Jazz with the Kyle Barker Duo at Vito’s.  Sunday night, the funniest guy in Modesto, Jay Smith is live at Banana Joes on 9^th St. and Jeff Bonilla hosts the open mic show at the Queen Bean.  Go start your music career today. 

 

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

We are in gear.  Get your dancing shoes on.  Make sure you dress warmly and enjoy so let’s Tango! Time to get on your feet and get into the 2008 gear.  Get into a jazzy mood with the Nate Henderson Combo at the Barking Dog Friday night and Gordon Kennedy continues in the Jazz vein Saturday night.  The Tooth and Nail tour with Run Kid Run will be rocking the Underground at Calvary Temple.  There is reggae at Sidelines Friday night and there is a Murder Mystery Train at the Sierra Railroad. On stage, Danny in the Deep Blue Sea is at CSU Stanislaus over the weekend and the cool digitally enhanced Mask Of Eleanor is on stage Friday night.  Modesto Symphony does the big presentation and does the Tango this weekend with the Cuarteto Latinoamericano, string quartet.  Yes, you can get exotic at the Gallo Center this weekend.  Make sure that you check out dinner before and drinks after the show.  You can do this without moving your car.  

At the State Theatre, the Film the Devil Knows You are dead is on the big screen.   At the West Side Theatre Sat, Roy Rogers and the Delta rhythm Kings will deliver some serious blues and some slide guitar that will get you going.  Saturday morning, you can run with Shadowchase at Mr T’s at Tully and Standiford, and Sunday morning at Scenic at Oakdale. Stay fit this year.  Saturday evening, rock at the Fat Cat with James Bent and Suicide Shift.  Sunday, enjoy Serenades on Sunday with the Matson Musicians Piano Trio, or head to Crocodiles for some classic rock dancing.  The Dickies will bring their vintage punk at Fat Cat Sunday, complete with Stukas over Disneyland.  Yes this is good. Monday night, the Blue Monday Jazz Jam sessions at Clayton’s.  

Coming soon- Mardi Gras – Feb 5 all over the world.  There are two authentic places that you need to be in Modesto. B93 Tressetti’s Fat Tuesday in 10^th St  is a hall of fame with red beans and rice and lots of bands and Harvest Moon does it family style with some seriously good jambalaya and more.  Book reservations now.

2008 Revs Up Modesto

Greetings Modesto Fans:
(reading time:  less than it takes to clean up the last of the Christmas stuff around the house)

Wow…it still has not set in that it is 2008.  After the holiday haze we are back in action and already celebrated Elvis’ birthday.  This was a much happier thing to celebrate than “Dead Elvis” day.  We are smack dab in the middle of the 1^st round of primaries and while we watched the primary returns from New Hampshire and got the State of the State address from the Governator, we also got a early year city council meeting so there was no missing the smell of politics in the air across the entire country.  Let the games begin.  Speaking of games, no sooner do we close the season on college football (Cal finished with a win!) we go into college basketball (Cal is strong) and in between we are strapping on the skis and the boards and hitting the local slopes that are now covered in over 10 feet of snow.  Yahoo.  Here in Modesto, the Gallo Center fires up again and there are many new events at the State this month and the local restaurants dig it when these houses are in action. Best of all, we will have a new camera network on downtown so we can cut down on the number of squad cars in the middle of 10^th Street and more people will want to be downtown. Yes that is the ticket, we need to think smart for 2008 here in the greater Modesto area.  Let’s see what is happening shall we?  

It is great to see that our local and independently produced ModestoView has inspired the Modesto Bee to focus on Modesto at Night (the cover of our August issue, “Modesto a Nuit”) for local restaurants and clubs.  We need all the coverage we can get for our local businesses and we need to make sure that more people enjoy our downtown and our cultural offerings.  The more coverage the better for all of us.  Now, we need to make sure that people get out and check these places out and spend their money locally.  Local news and information is key from local radio, local TV like the Central Valley Reports, shows like the Morris Show, MAMA Radio, KCSS and the Bee.  Let’s get out and do these things.  You get features like this every day in Modesto and in the monthly ModestoView magazine, now on stands all over the county.    This month we feature the Chef from Hero’s, the Bartender at Torrii, predictions and resolutions from friends all over town and we introduce you to a whole new batch of new local bands and things to do.   Read on-line right now at www.modestoview.com

Which brings us back to Health care… if you have a company and can’t afford to pay health care, you should not be in biz because if you are not paying for health care, someone else is.    As a business owner, we agonize annually how to keep our employees covered.  Support the universal health care bill and get everyone to share in the effort.  If you are a good employer, you are already paying for the uninsured with your inflated premiums and taxes.  As a taxpayer, you are already paying for Medicare etc. Let’s get control of the insurance companies and get more people covered.  Tax increase? You have already been taxed and just don’t know it. People that are doing it right already will not be affected. Learn more at www.calhealthreform.org

Do you like the grey winter storms?  Do you like the cold?  Then you must like the photography of Roman Loranc, those beautiful black and white photographs that are on display at the Anderson Gallery on  J Street.   This is the perfect time of year to add new art to the walls now that you have just taken down all the Christmas décor and you have new wall space that is craving the work of a local artist.  Check out the galleries and mark your calendar for next week as the Art Walk is on Jan 17^th.   Don’t miss it.

www.modestoview.com/culture

Moment of Silence Please.   Pierre Zaldua, Chef at Gervasoni’s passed away and last week many in town celebrated his life.  Pierre was one of the most interesting characters in our local food community.  We were fortunate to have spent time with Pierre earlier this year when our food editor Rick Serpa interviewed Chef Pierre for our July ModestoView magazine.  You can read about Pierre by clicking here. (it is a big PDF file)   We will miss him, his colorful style and his Basque traditions.  Gervasoni’s has been and always will be a great Modesto tradition.   Go try it today. You will have a great experience when you eat at places with local personality and flavor.  

Price of Oil per Barrel:

2001 - $17.00
2008 - $ 100.00  Learn more here

Time to ride your bike? Who is profiting on this? Enjoying your lower taxes? The bike races are coming to Modesto in Feb.  Get on your bike and get on board now at http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/cities.html  
We need volunteers and more local race day sponsors. 

http://www.tourofcalifornia-modesto.com/volunteer.html

Will 2008 be better than 2007?  Is your outlook brighter or darker for this year?  Have you made it though the crazy financial times or did you cruise right through as you did not do any crazy stuff.  Are you being more creative, living more simply, being local or are you exploring.   For many, the arrows all point up as we seem to be near the bottom and things should get brighter.  What do you think?  Where will you go, what will you do?  Do you have any comments about the New Year and what we can expect in 2008?   Post your comments, resolutions, predictions and any other thing you want to say about 2008 or the recently expired 2007 for that matter.

Vote and comment now at www.ModestoView.com

For those of you that are Rotarians, you know the 4-way test.  For the rest of you, these are great tools for everyday thinking.  My last issue of the Rotarian had a letter wishing that those in Washington DC would govern using the 4 way test.  If this happened, the partisan bickering would be over and we would get something done.  What do you think?

Here is the 4-way test.  Clip and Save for your wallet, purse or car visor.  

1) Is it the TRUTH? 2) Is it FAIR for all concerned? 3) Will it build GOODWILL and better friendhips, 4) Will it be BENEFICIAL for all concerned.  Pretty easy to do don’tcha think?  What do you think?  Comment in the Buzz Blog.

We are in the final countdown days to the end of 2007.  It is hard to stay focused at work, family and friends are visiting and the kids are home from college so it is pretty fun.   This weekend will be fun and Monday is New Year’s Eve and there are some Hall Of Fame events. 

 

Here is a full spectrum of ideas: 

Funworks Family Fun Event beginning at 6:30 to 12:30am

Comedy at the Seasons with Sean (Man Song) Morey and the 104.1 the Hawk

Overnight Pajama Party and a Movie at the Galaxy Theatres in Riverbank at 9 pm to 9 am.  

Fat Cat will be ultra cool with a Pure 209 party featuring live music by Peaceable Jones, Endrone and Victorian Elm and then DJ all night long.

Bacchus is featuring Johnny and Kelly until the wee hours. 

Aqua Shi is having a formal masquerade ball with special gifts, never know who you will meet.

Tresetti’s has the Valley Rhythm Section and multi course dinner and Champagne toast

At the West Side Theatre, check out the Sneaky Pete all star cover band.

The Moonshine Bandits are rocking in LaGrange. 

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

 

In other things that you need to know about, the multicultural music presentation of Crosspulse will be at the Riverbank Library Friday and at the Oakdale and Modesto libraries on Sat.  Something from Planet Hell and Protoman will be rocking Fat Cat. Saturday, Jacobs Fine Dining features an exceptional musician named Tito playing the Tres, an instrument similar to the Guitar. Tito studied with the masters in the Buena Vista Social Club in Cuba. This will be a special event.  For the totally wack thing to do on Sat night, head to the Stockton Civic Arena for Girls roller Derby where the SJ Valley Vixens will take on Sacramento.   Learn more at www. Valleyvixens.org (make sure you type in DOT ORG) For you runners, the Flat Arch 50 race is Sunday morning in Downtown Oakdale, 50 km or 50 miles.  That is some serious post holiday running.  What a great way to start the year.  At the State, the film is Bella throughout the weekend and the Gallo Center is quiet this weekend.

 

End of Year Tax Tip

Give the Gallo Center.  Get the big write off and donate a chair, a wall, a plaza, a dressing room or just take advantage of the last chance to get on the founders wall. 

The world turns because those that can and have the means to lend a hand.  Thursday, Jan 2 and 3rd the Salvation Army needs your help to assist with the distribution of the Coats for Kids.   On the 2^nd help is need to prepare and hang all of the coats and distribution is on the 3^rd.  Contact the Volunteer Center today to hook up.     Find many more ways to get involved in our community by clicking here and get all of the contact numbers to hook up.

Modestoview.com/community

Do you like local news? Do you like a news team that is here all the time and just doesn’t show up just when there is an accident? I do and you can see it live every night at 6:30, 10 and 11 each night.   The Central Valley Report with news anchor Ellen Stallings is our own local news team.  Count on them daily on Comcast 98 and Charter 9 and catch the ModestoView Top 10 every Thurs, Fri and Sat.  www.centralvalleyreports.com

Big news for local music fans.  Angie Goode, part of the original Cruise and Good morning team is back at B93.  Not only is she back, she is the new program director and will be driving the local sound. This has got to be great news for local bands and local venues.  B93 has a new general manager, Rich Hawkins that comes from San Luis Obispo (translated college radio town) and this could be the start of a new way of presenting local music.  This is great news. 
Chris Murphy

Breakfast in downtown. This is one of my favorite things.  Breakfast is one of the most enjoyable meals of the day.  But when you combine your favorite lunch or dinner and combine it with brekkie, the result is amazing.  Do you love the Neil’s Toss at Harvest Moon? There is a Neil’s Omelets. Now serving brekkie on Sat and Sun from 10-2, there is usually a special that will knock your socks off.  I had a cheddar, potato and bacon omelet and best of all, the Moon has a low alcohol vodka that makes a great Bloody Mary. This is a great brekkie combo.  Other downtown breakfast?  Deva is a winner, H Street Café, Old Mill, Barking Dog features Green Eggs and Ham, Senor Fresh has breakfast burritos and Claytons and Queen Bean have great pastries with stellar coffee.  Find a new place for lunch or dinner and then post your own reviews at www.modestoview.com/food  

Do you want the daily hook up for what is happening?   Listen to AM 970 in the mornings from 5 to 9 am and get the hourly and all day long on FM 106.1 to hear the ModestoView Top5 Daily report.  Listen on Friday mornings to KMPH 840 am for the weekend ModestoView Top 10.  To hear local music, all the time, with no commercial interruption, listen to MAMA Radio at www.modestoview.com  and local bands are on B93 Sunday nights at 9 pm and sometimes on Friday nights.

Executive pay.  Does this make a cloud of smoke explode over your head?  As many finish off 2007 wondering how they are going to make ends meet, CEOs are taking home hundreds of millions of dollars in end of year bonuses.  Rewarding for excellent performance is OK, but for the CEOs of health care insurance companies that take home tens of millions because they denied more care and services for the struggling is not cool.  Karma should be swift and painful. 

Want to see what CEOs of the largest corporations make? Click - www.sec.gov/xbrl

Banned art at the Mistlin Gallery.  It is clear that people can no longer think for themselves and we need people to pre-taste, pre-check. pre-judge and pre-vent people from anything that expands the mind and encourages dialog.  ModestoView is hoping that one of the other private galleries will take up this cause and showcase the work of our local artists.   A free and thinking mind is a terrible thing to waste.   Jeff Jardine has it right, a simple note on the door explaining what may be inside would have sufficed.  But as usual, a ban and boycott always results in more publicity for the banned items so just maybe it was a boost to local art??...???... Must stop….brain hurts…start drawing….click play…
Check out the BuzzBlog -, click here

To do List:
Modesto View Magazine Top 10 events happening this weekend: 1) Food4Music dual shows at Queen Bean tonight (Thursday),2) the English Beat and 3) The Ill List Poetry Slam Saturday night. Do not miss these.

The first thing on your to do list needs to be Vote by mail. Do it now. Thursday night has important things to do. There is a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of drunk drivers in 10 th St. Plaza beginning after dark. The Food4Music is your next stop. Local bands and Queen Bean have stepped up to collect food for the needy. 2 simultaneous shows, one hosted by Sapo Sueno and friends at the Downtown Modesto QB and the other hosted by local and now nationally famous Megan Slankard and friends at the Riverbank QB. Bring food - get music. Such a deal.

We are now officially in Hanukah season and there will be a latkes and Vodka event at Congregation Beth Shalom on Saturday at 7. There are only two more Farmer's Markets this year, this weekend and next. Make sure that you get the cranberry / orange Autumn Harvest gigantic bread loaf from Word of Mouth. You can do most all of your holiday shopping at the Farmers Market.

Saturday night, do not miss the Poetry Slam Ill List at the State Saturday. If you have not experienced the verbal combat of a poetry slam, you are missing out. For those of you aren't into that, you can rip it up Sat night to the SKA beat of the English Beat at Hero's. This will be a flat out bust it loose show. I double dog dare you not to dance….At the Gallo Center , Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz band is on the big stage and there will be an after party jam session at Claytons directly behind the Gallo Center .

But first, you need to get through Friday night and that means that you need to see Jazz pianist David Benoit at the State Theatre featuring a tribute to Charlie Brown Christmas. This is something fun and recognizable for the whole family. For adults, there will be a GoGo Dancing competition at the Fat Cat Friday night. Big fun. Saturday night, Filthy Gorgeous presents the Winterfresh party at the Fat Cat. The out of control fun show will be at the Battered Beaver in Oakdale featuring MAMA Winning Moonshine Bandits and Los Hermanos Mueratos Friday night.

On Stage this weekend, you can find the Christmas Story presented by Riverbank Arts at Eustache Middle School . The Trojan Women are on stage at CSU Stanislaus. Babes in Toyland will be on Stage at the State Theatre Sunday and the “you are supposed to think” Someone to Watch Over Me continues at the Prospect Theatre. Durang-Durang is on stage at MJC West Campus Theatre. At the Gallo Center , film and stage actor Joe Bologna is on stage in “If You Leave, Take Me With You”. Cool to have all of this happening.

Specially for kids: the Annual Modesto Symphony Breakfast with Santa is at the Gallo Admin Building Sat morning, there are two sessions. Who can pass up Oooey and Gooey Christmas candy and frosting house making party at the Scout Hall in Riverbank? Better go.

Some Other Holiday events you need to know about:
Sites and sounds of Christmas in downtown Newman through the 8th
Downtown Turlock Lights parade Dec 7
Come Celebrate Christmas at Big Valley Christian Dec 6-9
Hospice tree lighting at Memorial Hospital on Dec 7 at 6 pm
MJC Organ Recital Dec 7 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church
La Loma neighborhood Holiday Faire Dec 8

These are just a few of the events that you need to know about here in Modesto . There are many more that need to see by clicking this link www.modestoview.com/todo ModestoView is your hook up to the good things happening in our area. If you know of another event, please tell us about it so we can get it on our calendar. Our hotline email is events@modestoview.com

You have a great opportunity to help support the Education Foundation of Stanislaus County by simply making a purchase at Barnes and Noble on December 8.   You can meet authors Modesto native Matt Emerzian and Kelly Bozza where they will be signing their new book Every Monday Matters and a percentage of all books purchased will go to the Education Foundation. Great way to help for stuff you need anyway from 9 am to 10pm.  Matt will be signing from 1-5.  

Volunteers Needed  The Amgen Tour of California that will feature a starting stage in Modesto  needs your support. To find more ways to get involved click:  Modestoview.com/community

Wandelust coffee is closing. By Thursday morning, the lights will be dark and it will be over.  Modesto loses an indie coffee shop.  As more coporate coffee shops open all the time, the indies are having a hard time staying on top.  Community connection is the key and coffee shops are very personal places.   The crepes were awesome, Vittorio was/is a great barista, and this should have been a total hit.  Sadly it got wierd when Tony Serrano was not longer at Wanderlust and the community took sides.   The local coffee community needs to get it together and make sure that we all make better coffee, pour better and fresher espresso, be good to the community and offer a better experience.  It is not fair, but indie coffee places have to be better.  ModestoView has always gone out of our way to shine thie light on local coffee shops.  We need each and every one of them.  Make sure that we do not lose any more coffee shops and make sure you become a regular.  Visit Semplicita, Queen Bean, Clayton's, Deva, Picasso, H Street, Firehouse, Coffee Creek, Giacomo's, Movin Mocha, Coffe Element, Cafe Genowa and keep indie coffee alive.  Coffee shop owners, make sure that your drinks are awesome and "show us your foam"

Crows Landing. How about some Bio-Tech research? Viticulture research?  How about an alternative fuel research lab in conjunction with UC Berkeley and have a Cal facility here in Stan County?  How about a methane fuel or agri-development facility here in our county.  Let’s get some high power jobs here in the valley and get our smart people off of the highways and back from over the hill.   See what is happening at the county here @ www.co.stanislaus.ca.us

Don't Cry for Me Modesto

Greetings Modesto Fans:
(reading time: less than it takes to run the 5K Turkey Trot, no matter what age and ability level you are)

Ok, the chase is on. Not for your $$ but for your valuable time. Starting this weekend, the lights are lit, the parades are on, Che and Evita are on stage at the Gallo Center and you can not help but begin to be in some kind of spirit as December revs up. It was so nice not getting near the throngs of people at the stores all weekend as all you have to do is wait a couple of days to shop in a more sane environment. Besides, the $29 DVD players are all gone at 4 am anyway. This weekend will be awesome. It is really getting exciting to experience all that is happening from the Dickens Faire at the McHenry Mansion that will take you back in time to the Dickensonian age complete with a special edition of the Modesto Certified Farmers Market by the Mansion. The Celebration of Lights, Evita, the Messiah are just a few of the things going on that you need to check out. Even more cool is the fact that the December Holiday edition of ModestoView Magazine will be on the stands tomorrow. Oh what fun. Read on to experience more Modesto.  Read the entire weekend update here.   www.modestoview.com

This weekend is certified crazy festival holiday off the hookness. Saturday could be one of the most stellar downtown days, as it will be snowing for the Dodge Ridge Snowboard event at Center Plaza , The Farmer's Market goes Dickens at the Christmas Dickens Fair at the McHenry Mansion . The Festival of Lights parade will go right down I street in front of the Gallo Center that will be showing Evita. Then Sunday the Modesto Symphony Candlelight concert will be held at the 7th Day Adventist Church . Meanwhile, Riverbank Community Theatre presents, A Christmas Story on stage Saturday at Ustach Middle School and in Riverbank, the Christmas Craft Parade and Craft Faire will be Saturday in Downtown Riverbank. The Messiah is coming… in concert to Emmanuel Lutheran Church where the sign along event will take place Sunday. Rehearsals are Thursday and Sat for Sunday gig. Tonight, Thursday is the tree lighting event at Center Plaza .

In the regular world, Evita is the word. You can enjoy the tales of Evita and Juan Peron as she rises from a dancing girl to the first lady of Argentina accompanied by the mythical cynical narration by Che Guevara. This is a Broadway touring company at the Gallo Center . Show times Friday, Sat Matinee and Sat Evening. This is one of Andrew Lloyd Weber's best.

Fallen Sleepless is rocking the Fat Cat Thursday night and the MJC String Recital is at MJC East. Friday, it is the last Friday which means that Critical Mass will be lining up their bikes at 10th and J at 5:00 – 5:30. Tri Star Embodiment will be rocking the Underground, and on stage this weekend, Someone to Watch Over Me continues at the Prospect Theatre, Stage Fright is at MJC West, and the Starry Messenger will be presented at Johansen High. The new Warren Miller film “Playground” will be presented at the State Theatre Friday and Saturday and the Holiday Sampler will be at the Barking Dog featuring the Camaraderie Quartet and the Central Valley Brass is Friday night.

Saturday, besides the downtown holiday activities, there is a Stan County Bike ride, A Sierra railroad Sunset Train, Blue Saturday Jazz Sessions are at Claytons. Off the Cuff will be performing at Queen Bean. During the day, there will be open auditions for a new film at the downtown Modesto Library from a national film casting company. This may be your big chance.

Sunday night, do not miss the Steely Dan Tribute band, Kid Charlemagne on Sunday evening and for you punk fans, the legendary Agent Orange will be rocking the Fat Cat with local bands Peaceable Jones and Los Punks Del Norte. There is classic rock dancing at Crocodiles and on Stage at CSU Stanislaus Trojan Women will be presented.

Coming Soon:
Food4Music at Queen Bean Dec 6
David Benoit – Charlie Brown Christmas at the State Dec 7
Babes in Toyland on Stage at the State Dec 8 at 11 and 1
The Ill List – Poetry Slam Championships at the State Dec 8
The legendary English Beat at Hero's – Dec 8

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

Beep beep beep…Special ModestoView WebCast Event Bulletin beep…beep..beep
In case you did not get tickets to the B93 Acoustic Christmas show at the fabulous historic State Theatre with Vanessa Carlton, Colton Graham, long time Modesto friends and 3 time AC Alumni Matt Nathanson and our own Aaron Durr, don't fear. ModestoView has a solution for you. You can watch a live broadcast quality webcast and chat room. The only way to get tix is to listen to B93 for this December 14th show that sold out in a few minutes. Stay tuned for more info next week but don't make other plans for the 14th.   The concert window with our exclusive inconcert chat feature will begin at showtime.   www.modestoview.com

Are you waiting to do your shopping? Did you blow off Black Friday like I did? Are you a last minute shopper? Don't know what to do? ModestoView has the total tip. Art Walk. You can wait until the 20th of December and do the art walk and pick up some great local art. This is very personal, it is unique and helps the art and culture scene. The more art you all buy, the more art will be created and so on and so on. Go to a gallery today, better yet, take some lessons, get all into it and then buy some art. The arts are what make us feel good about the places we live.   Click here for a list of gallery addresse.   www.modestoview.com/culture

Doonesbury is back in the local paper. Did you notice the comment that there were many letters about this issue that would be passed on to the editors? Just curious as why none of these ran in the letters to the editor page as they shuld have been pretty entertaining. As a daily reader and loyal subscriber, it is good to have this comic back and fittingly it is on the puzzle pages where I assume that people go to think. Still think it should have gone where F-Minus is….

Help your community and get great music all in one. The Food4Music shows are coming up on December 6 with twin shows at both the Modesto and the Riverbank Queen Bean. http://www.food4music.info/

Drop off locations are: The Modesto Fitness & Racquet Club, 200 Norwegian Ave. Modesto, Tan Line 1501 Coffee RD, Save Mart Super Market 2601 Oakdale Rd Modesto, Queen Bean Coffee House Modesto 1126 14th Street, Queen Bean Coffee Café Riverbank 3318 Santa Fe St. Riverbank

There is a bone marrow drive at Grace Lutheran church for local Radiologist Sunday from 9 am to 2. You just may be a match and can be the link to save a life. The church is at Orangeburg and Enslen in Modesto .

Find other ways to get involved and lend a hand at Modestoview.com/community

 Sad we lost the IHOP.  That was a fixture of my family when I was growing up and they had this really fine shredded cheese for their omelets.  The blue roof is an icon, like a Stuckey's, Little America,  HO JOs .   We hope that they rebuild and hope that  people get jobs quickly this holiday season.

There are so many live and local options for you this weekend.  Rick Barnes is a P Wex on Friday, Fat Skeleton plays Queen Bean in Riverbank and Pythagorean Theorem plays Queen Bean Modesto.  Larry Davis Experience is at Yosemite Bowl and Kyle Barker plays Mallards.   Sat Night, Strange Brew is at P Wex and 5 Years and Counting plays the Queen Bean Modesto.  Sunday night, Knuckle Up and Liquid Conscience rocks the Fat Cat really hard.