An Open Fulton Street Allows Fresno To Move On

Fulton-Street-Before-1024x669 An Open Fulton Street Allows Fresno To Move On

I didn’t want this. The Fulton Mall open to traffic.

I wanted the mall to be cleaned up. I wanted the art refurbished. I wanted the fountains to be working. But I didn’t want cars. That wasn’t possible.

It became “street or the same”. The same was a bad option. Same was an ignored Fulton Mall with little to no working fountains, forgotten art and too many people not comfortable with parking in garages and lots where they can’t see their car.

So I then begrudgingly became a supporter of traffic returning to Fulton. Better a shiny new sidewalk with working fountains and freshly polished art, than overgrown trees and neglect with no end in sight.

Saturday is the big thing-a-ma-jig to celebrate Fulton Street opening. For me, it will be more of a wake for Fulton Mall. But, it will be one of those fun wakes. The kind where you have a couple drinks and celebrate the life the person lived. Just, in this case, the person is a concrete open-air mall.

At Least Fresno and Downtown Can Move On To Other Things

We have debated what to do with the Fulton Mall for over a decade on Flowing With Famous. It’s going to be weird no longer needing to talk about it. Sure we still need to watch how the shops and restaurants will do now that there’s traffic. But we all get to move on now.

What is next? What should Fresno tackle now? Chinatown maybe? It will (fingers crossed) get a Hi-Speed Rail Station. That could be the push Chinatown needs to start getting some much-needed attention and renovation. It’s my pick anyway. Leave a comment on what you think the next project Fresno needs to tackle.

In the meantime, we have a wake to attend. I’ll see you out there. I hear they’ll have beer and it’s a safe bet it will be tough to get a parking spot.

Shameless Harrison Ford Tangent Ahead!

BTW, the Draggin’ the Main theme gives me yet another chance to use one of my favorite clips from American Graffiti, a movie about life growing up in the Central Valley in the 50’s (Modesto to be exact), so it’s relevant to Fulton Street, mmka?

A movie with, none other than Mr. Harrison Ford. Please tell me Bob Falfa dragged Fulton once:

*Pic was stolen from here.

In Town Tonight: Typical Thursday Night Kickass

Like it. It's seems Fulton 55 is opening things up a bit. Doin' some punk action, we see. Big Sexy Anus Kings are playing… wait. That was supposed to be seperate. Big Sexy and Anus Kings yes AND Anus Kings are playing…. Anus Kings. Plus the return of Fresno's Beastmaker and maybe the first time It'll Grow Back plays F55 we thinks:

6a00e54ee89e6c88330177444a68df970d-400wi In Town Tonight: Typical Thursday Night Kickass

Audie's Olympic. Fresnan Sahab, Mondo Deco (Sac-town glam) and Style Like Revelators (Fresno bluseyrock).

6a00e54ee89e6c883301761763f55b970c-400wi In Town Tonight: Typical Thursday Night Kickass

The CYC. Kayo Dot is a "compositional/avant rock band" out of Brooklyn. Wreck & Reference is "experimental drone" music from Los Angels. Strawberry Jam (Fresno) and Ovarian Office… isn't playing, but Eindrah (Fresno) is taking their place so it's cool:

6a00e54ee89e6c883301761763f629970c-400wi In Town Tonight: Typical Thursday Night Kickass

In Town Tonight: SHEL, Ten Thousand Leagues

6a00e54ee89e6c883301761756a9be970c-350wi In Town Tonight: SHEL, Ten Thousand Leagues

FULTON 55: Four classically trained musicians, whom happen to be sisters that were raised in an artist colony, will make for a interesting night at F55 tonight. They are called SHEL and we advise you to check them out:

THE CYC: Something musically nowhere near the Fulton 55 show. So-Cal hardcore from Ten Thousand Leagues, Lyburnum and A Modern Loss. Plus Stockton's A Place Called Home, Fresno's Grow and Cabin Fire:

6a00e54ee89e6c883301761756d703970c-350wi In Town Tonight: SHEL, Ten Thousand Leagues

BANDGEEK!: Burn Your Life Down, Western, Mongrel City, King Sugar, Palm Kids, Abbey Road and Furious

Saturday feels thin again. Not sure what that's about. There's still enough for us to get all Bandgeeeeek-y with though:

FRIDAY

THE CYC: A Pink Teeth DIY mini Fest with Young Turks (Portland), Sloths (Portland), Colony (New York), Burn Your Life Down (Seattle), Stress Relief (Redding), plus locals Grow, Gorilla Stomp, and Cabin Fire:

6a00e54ee89e6c88330177440895b2970d-350wi BANDGEEK!: Burn Your Life Down, Western, Mongrel City, King Sugar, Palm Kids, Abbey Road and Furious

AUDIE'S OLYMPIC: Fresno's Westerns and The Red Coats plus some surprises:

6a00e54ee89e6c88330176172299e6970c-350wi BANDGEEK!: Burn Your Life Down, Western, Mongrel City, King Sugar, Palm Kids, Abbey Road and Furious

KUPPAJOE'S: Seattle pop-rock from Dylan Jakobsen, plus Midnight Mirage, My Beautiful Surrender, & Mongrel City:

6a00e54ee89e6c883301774408a590970d-350wi BANDGEEK!: Burn Your Life Down, Western, Mongrel City, King Sugar, Palm Kids, Abbey Road and Furious

ENGLEMANN CELLARS: Wine, vineyards and King Sugar:

6a00e54ee89e6c8833017617228682970c-350wi BANDGEEK!: Burn Your Life Down, Western, Mongrel City, King Sugar, Palm Kids, Abbey Road and Furious

THAI PALMS: Nice lineup for Homegrown Fridays this week with Tommy Marquez, Palm Kids and Iwanaga:

6a00e54ee89e6c88330167692d812c970b-350wi BANDGEEK!: Burn Your Life Down, Western, Mongrel City, King Sugar, Palm Kids, Abbey Road and Furious

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