While hoping no other local businesses close.
1. SAY FAREWELL TO THE EXPRESS
With news earlier this week that long-time LGBT nightclub The Express is closing, you can expect big crowds for its final three days tonight, Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, the popular Xotica drag show — usually on Thursdays — will be capping the final night of the club. [More]
Fill your ears with the new Ozmosis podcast. It’s a mixture of new music and some favorites from 2012. Ozmosis listeners, let me know what your favorite tracks of 2012 were and I’ll play them in the next episode. This time around, I featured Niilo Smeds as the Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Co. “Drink Local, Listen Local” artist of the week. Catch him Saturday night with Rademacher and Ornery Ones at Fulton 55 for an Ugly Sweater Party and holiday benefit. Listen to the podcast below and catch new episodes of Ozmosis every Sunday night at 9 p.m. on New Rock 104.1.
Another Fresno Sound Experience is in the books. Fresno’s annual all-local festival gave music lovers plenty to see and hear over the weekend — with 40 bands on 10 stages Friday and Saturday. Below is a video featuring 11 bands that I saw on Saturday night: Before Perils, Restaurnaut, Strawberry Jam, The Dirty Stomp, Back in the Valley, Achievement House, The Overdubs, Niilo Smeds, B. Rawcity, Sunburns and The General Populus.
Now here’s the discussion point: What did you think of the festival? In its fifth year, has Fuse Fest hit its stride? Does it still have some improvement to do? What would you like to see done better? What could make Fuse Fest reach out past the “usual suspects” and the get the whole city to rally behind it?
The people I talked to Saturday night were handing out both praise and ideas on how to make the festival better. So what do YOU think? For more on Fuse Fest, read recaps over at Fresno Famous and The Fresnan.
Fresno’s biggest music festival is back for its fifth year next month. That’s the Fresno Urban Sound Experience, or simply Fuse Fest, happening Sept. 6-8.
The lineup was announced this morning and true to form, it’s packed with local music of all genres — from Achievement House to Your Hero is a Villain, with Before Perils, Light Thieves, Patrick Contreras, Collecto, Niilo Smeds all in the middle. There’s Kat Jones and Blake Jones (no relation), plus the return of Sparklejet. There’s a grand total of 37 acts.
You can get the full band list at fusefest.com, Fresno Famous or The Fresnan.
This year’s festival is stretched out through three days — starting off with an ArtHop event at The Hashtag on Sept. 6, followed by the festival’s first night on Sept. 7 which has a cluster of venues that includes Fulton 55 (two stages), The Lamp Post and Iron Bird Lofts. On Sept. 8, the festival moves to Arte Americas, CMAC, Frank’s Place, ‘Fishbowl’ Stage at Warnors Theatre, Fresno Brewing Company and Tokyo Garden.
SURVEY SAYS: Fresno is third most romantic city for singles 50+. [WBIR]
GET YOUR FAN: Record temperatures a possibility this week. [The Bee]
REALLY? Website ranks Fresno seventh for “ideal” climate. [Camelot Climate]
MUGSHOT OF THE DAY: Suspected arsonist in Oakhurst. [KMPH]
CONGRATS: Local food blogger Pinch My Salt makes top 50 list. [Cision]
CHECK IT: Chris Colfer reads from his new children’s book. [EW]
OTHERWORLDLY: Fox News covers Fresno’s part in “UFO Triangle.” [Fox News]
MUSINGS FROM L.A.: Columnist visits Fresno, leaves some jabs. [Daily News]
RESPONSE: From The Business Journal’s Gabriel Dillard [TBJ]
WOOT: Local musician Niilo Smeds gets some GOOD press. [Fresno Famous]
LISTEN: Mega podcast combines three local podcasts. [The Fresnan]
BOO: Fire torches historic downtown Hanford building. [The Bee]
REVIEWED: The new Good Times Cafe in Clovis. [Fresno Bites]
HAPPENING: A Tweetup with the ladies of The Full Moxie. [TFM]
GET TO WORK: Third installment of local film challenge is coming. [The Germ]
DO THIS: Find the sights and sounds of Fresno for NPR. [Fresno Famous]
SOMETHING TO TRY: Beginning swing dance classes. [Fresno Swing Dance]
More good than bad in this new installment of Worst Fliers of the Week — which is why I changed up the title. Yeah, there’s an ugly club flier in there, but there are a few clever ones that I enjoyed too.
Let’s begins the flier-ogling, shall we?