This piece is courtesy of one of our Fresno State Interns, Victoria Aguilar, who is in the anthropology department. We love working with Victoria and we’re grateful for her view on what’s happening in the Fresno Valley.

Without further adieu, here’s Victoria’s first article!

—-

Did you know Fresno is California’s fifth largest city? With our population size, it comes as no surprise our backyard is full of diversity. In Fresno, the opportunity to explore other cultures also comes the opportunity to explore eclectic goods from each heritage. If you’re seeking to immerse yourself in a special bit of Fresno culture, there’s no better place to start than a weekend at one of Fresno’s open-air markets which have served as a cultural hub for our community for decades.

How much you’ll spend at each market heavily depends on what you are looking for, but if you just want to have a little day of exploration, a bit of food and drink, a single twenty-dollar bill should go a long way for a single person.  Fresno’s swap meets or flea markets, are family friendly as well. Though you can shop on a budget, I will warn you, you’ve got to be ready to dig for treasure to find what you are looking for. (But, that’s half the fun!)

The Fresno Fairgrounds Swap Meet is the second largest and most accessible of locations. The strength of this site is the many food and drink options. You don’t have to walk very far through the fairgrounds to find something tasty to enjoy while you’re browsing. A definite perk is that you can hop over to a food truck with smaller lines if you’re not keen on a long wait. You could also visit one of the vendors for popular street food options like chili mango or a elote, spiced corn on the cob. There is certainly plenty of Mexican candy, street food, pan dulce, and aguas frescas options to be had for small treats before or after lunch. I recommend picking up a refreshing Boba smoothie, a popular Taiwanese drink if you’re shopping during the summer months.  The majority of lots at the fairgrounds will be yard-sale style, but there are also sellers offering clothing, tech goods like phones cases and chargers, and other miscellaneous items with a healthy bit of produce for sale as well. For traditional cultural fair, one can find items particular to Hmong and Central American communities here.

One of my favorite Central American sellers is a friendly old fellow who sells intricately beaded bracelets and necklaces hand-crafted by Michoacán folk artists.  Often the colorful pieces will feature small crocodiles and flowers, images with cultural importance to Central Americans. There are similar sellers who offer leather goods. The most intriguing booth I’ve come across at the Fresno Fair Grounds is that of a friendly Hmong wife and husband team who sell goods related to honey.  At their booth, you’ll find items fit for any self-love diva. When I stopped by, in addition to local honey, they offered beautiful jars of golden pollen recommended to add nutrients and vitamins to a daily wellness smoothie.

If you dedicate a few extra moments to talking with this amicable pair you’ll find they’re happy to share their favorite recipes and recommendations. They also offer large blocks of beeswax and wick bundles which one can use to make one’s own hand-dipped tapered all-natural candles if preferred to the two pre-prepared candle styles the couple offers.  

What I loved about these vendors and their display is they were eager to share bits of their culture in a way that made the shopping experience that much more intimate and memorable. One distinct detail I won’t soon forget is when I selected a single beeswax candle to accent a vintage bedside table, I was told the candles are important implements sometimes used by Hmong shamans in rituals to ward off evil spirits.  

Beyond this lot, there are other Hmong sellers who offer bolts of fabric for traditional Hmong clothing and other applications. Fancy a visit? The likely best day to drop by Fresno Fairgrounds Swap Meet Sunday at mid-morning to early afternoon when most vendors are set up an ready to go. Plenty of vendors also sell on the other days listed below.

Location: 1641 S. Chance Ave., Fresno, CA  93702

Days of Operation: Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Admission: $1.25 on Sunday, Free on Thursday and Saturday

Parking Fee: $5

Sunnyside Swap Meet’s sellers tend to present offerings apropos to this former drive-in theater lot. You’ll find bathrooms, atm’s, pony rides, and food trucks like the other flea markets but if you really felt the little mermaid when she was singing about her cavern of whosits and whatsits galore, Sunnyside Market may be your flea market of choice. Generally, this is the best swap meet to find private sellers who’ve upcycled old trunks into gorgeous bookshelves or wooden barrels into tables. The majority of lots with be yard-sale style, often consisting of vintage and sometimes antique offerings, with a booth or two specifically featuring Americana. This is also the location that is most likely to be a haggler’s delight. Check out the following information to visit the  Sunnyside Swap Meet.

Location: 5440 E Olive Ave, Fresno, CA 93727

Days of Operation: Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Admission: Free

Parking Fee: $3

The Cherry Auction is an impressive open-air market, even at first glance. You can’t miss the location; an expanse of colorful tents tops sits in front of a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Follow the caravan of vehicles to find your way into the parking lot and make sure to have a few dollars handy or you’re sure to get plenty of singles back when paying the $3 parking fee. If you ever wondered what it might feel like to visit an old-world bazaar, this is the place for you. Sellers call out to customers to visit their wares while crowds of young and old bustle through the shaded rows of colorful goods and aromas of freshly cooked foods waft along with music from various corners of the auction. If you popped into town and wanted to visit one place to stock the entire house including the fridge and the front yard, the sellers at the Cherry Auction would have you covered. You’ll find anything from mattresses, plants, and produce to tech, clothing, and small livestock like bunnies and goats. Even waiting a few minutes in the caravan of cars is worth a trip to the Cherry Auction. It’s open several days a week but I would recommend clearing a Saturday for a proper day of Cherry Auction exploration.

Location: 4640 S. Cherry Ave, Fresno, CA  93706

Days of Operation: Tuesdays, Saturdays 6:30 AM-3:30 PM

Admission: Free

Parking Fee: $3

Have fun!

~Victoria

This piece is courtesy of one of our Fresno State Interns,
Jemimah Barba, who is in the anthropology department. We love working with Jemimah and we’re grateful for her view on what’s happening in the Fresno Valley.

Without further adieu, he’s Jemimah’s first article!

Dulce Upfront has started a project called Royal Jelly, which focuses on DJ networking and skill-sharing for women, girls, and gender non-conforming people. The members of Royal Jelly are professional DJs who have been serving Fresno events for the past year. This project, which was started by Omequetzal Lopez, easily attracts people of all ages. The group holds monthly meet-ups, which serve as a way to workshop DJ techniques, introduce hip-hop to the youth, and ultimately connect local folks to each other through music.

If you aren’t ready to spin your own tracks, you can also catch the electric group performing. Royal Jelly can be seen at Art Hop in front of Daily Market 1418 Fulton. DJ Kase, DJ LXS, DJ Native Earthian, and DJ LUVLETTER, mixing music and starting parties on Fulton Street giving life to the art community of Fresno. The collective continues to thrive by keeping themselves busy organizing events besides Art Hop and the monthly meet-ups. The organization opens the stage to the public for performances that range from dancing, fashion shows, and even to poetry readings. Each time, they focus on different artists to fill up their walls.

Sam Lazcano has been helping with art curation and sometimes even fills up the wall with her own art pieces. The evening is usually hosted by Dayana Sevilla, Ome’s partner, and makes sure everyone gets a chance to show their talents on stage. Outside vendors set up their booths in the street. They often have clothing, crafts, jewelry, prints, and sometimes even books and zines. There is definitely something for everyone during each event. Whether it’s Art Hop, Womxn to Womxn, or their monthly meet-ups, Royal Jelly brings the talent and energy with their own styles.

The collective helps different artists, entrepreneurs, and Fresno’s local youths create a space for themselves. They give amazing opportunities for young people to explore their talents. For example, they mentored, DJ E Money, who has been coming to the Royal Jelly Collective’s monthly meet-ups and even gets one-on-one sessions with DJ Kase. She has been DJing live at events and gets requests to DJ at kid’s parties. The collective has taught DJ E Money to think like an entrepreneur and treat her DJing as a business beyond her enjoyment. DJ Kase, a member of Royal Jelly, says that the DJ community is predominantly male-oriented, making it hard for women DJs to be recognized and get gigs. By creating an empowering collective, DJ Kase believes that Royal Jelly gives them the exposure and the opportunity to hone their talents.

Interested in joining the revolution?

Follow @RoyalJellyCollective on Instagram and catch them performing at 1418 Fulton. Their HQ is located at 617 E Olive where they host their Womxn to Womxn every third Thursday of the month.

See you all there!

-Jemimah

This article is brought to you by our monthly FresYes Writing Contest – we’re grateful for our very first accepted blogger, Heather Garrison!

Reminder, if you have a wonderful story of your own, you can submit it right here. The top three posts at the end of the month win a cash prize – so, what are you waiting for?!

Now, let’s hear all about Sycamore Island!

—

The long rain-soaked winter is finally over, and 100-degree weather is just around the corner. Spring has arrived in the valley and with it comes perfect warm days and all things blooming. Every year during our all-too-brief spring, my kids are eager to get outside and explore nature. Recently our family was looking for a day trip outdoors. With not enough time to head to the mountains or the beach, we discovered the hidden nature area of Sycamore Island.

Just a short drive from Fresno, Sycamore Island Ranch offers a welcome respite without the long hours of travel. The 600-acre nature area along the San Joaquin River gives families a chance to unplug and spend a day discovering natural surroundings that are found surprisingly close to home.

Once you arrive at Sycamore Island, you will see the first of 7 ponds that are connected by dirt roads which makes them easily accessible. Each pond has beach areas for the kids to play in the water and dig in the dirt. We found a perfect spot with a pond on one side and the San Joaquin River on the other. The kids spent a couple of hours splashing in the water and searching for bugs and rocks.

Part of our day was also spent hiking. We walked along the roads and found several paths down to the edge of the water. There are several miles of dirt roads and hiking trails perfect for walking, running, bicycling, and horseback riding. If your kids love wildlife, you can find it here. We saw egrets, herons, ducks, and hawks during our time by the water.  As we were leaving, we spied a couple of deer in a nearby field.

If fishing is something your family enjoys, Sycamore Island offers the chance to test out your inner angler. Trout, bass, catfish, crappie, and bluegill fish are all there for the taking. For our next visit, we are planning to bring our fishing gear and see what we can catch. If you’d rather be out on the water, there are also three access points to the San Joaquín River for canoeing and kayaking.

Your day trip to Sycamore Island would not be complete without a picnic. Bring your favorite foods and enjoy a peaceful outdoor lunch at one of the 3 covered picnic shelters, any of the picnic tables scattered throughout the area, or under one of the huge sycamore or oak trees. We brought an ice chest full of drinks and food and had a quiet lunch camped out under a shady grove of trees. If you’d rather grab a quick snack and drink, the bait shop has selections to choose from along with maps of the area and restrooms nearby.

Sycamore Island is open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays now through November. Located near Valley Children’s Hospital at 39664 Avenue 7½, Madera, it’s easily accessed from Freeway 41. A $9 per car fee allows access for the day or you can purchase a season pass for $85. More information can be found at www.riverparkway.org.

We had a relaxing and fun day visiting Sycamore Island and are planning to return soon. If you and your family are looking to find a hidden gem close to Fresno, then the tranquil nature area of Sycamore Island awaits you.

Thank you again, Heather!

Don’t forget to submit your story right here.

Luis Parrales has been promoted to the Director of Marketing at FresYes Real Estate. Parrales was promoted from his previous role as a listing coordinator. Parrales proved his worth to FresYes continually, making this an easy decision of promotion, as he has always utilized his creative talents to provide marketing support.

Parrales is thrilled to be advancing not only at a company he cares about, but an industry he feels passionate about.

“I have lived in the Fresno area for most of my life and there is no place I’d rather be. I truly enjoy helping others with all of their real estate needs and believe in genuine client service. I also believe that every person deserves an exceptional experience. For me, real estate is more than buying or selling, it is an investment in the community we call home,” Parrales said.

Parrales attended the University of California- Merced, Fresno State, and National University. After college, he held a variety of roles giving him vast experience, in fact, he held a marketing role at an assisted living firm prior to joining FresYes.

“FresYes describes a community. A community full of fantastic people, great spots to eat and an insanely diverse culture,” Parrales expanded.

Those that work with him say Luis can handle a wide range of projects, solve a multitude of problems and he is naturally willing to help anyone, regardless of the day or time.

“What truly made it a no brainer to promote Luis is his ability to think outside the box and come up with innovative ideas. I trust him completely, and it is a great relief not to have to double check his work because he aligns with my personal, and FresYes’s values in every decision he makes,” Jason Farris, FresYes owner, and broker said.

Parrales has been in his new role approximately two months now, which is fabulous timing as FresYes expands to and 18,000 square foot new office space in downtown Fresno.

When he isn’t working, you can find him at Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Co., the Tower District, or driving around the Fresno area and shopping, taking in the sites, or eating a delicious dish.

Join us in congratulating Luis in his new role!

This post is from our friends at Valley Sweat Life, post author, Ashley McBride is a College Career Counselor. When she isn’t working, she thrives as a wife to her best friend Sean, and Mom to a tiny poodle named Margot. A Central Valley Native, she’s an avid indoor cyclist who loves to cook, laugh, gather friends and has a secret dream of being a stand-up comedian. She hopes that anyone who’s ever struggled with depression and anxiety can find hope in her writing, or at least a good laugh.

Here’s her words on how cycling helped her gain control of her anxiety and depression (which, as she says are evil besties, you don’t get one without the other!). Her story begins in her pre-teens:

I took a gulp of 7-Up and a bite of my dinosaur shaped chicken nugget. We were at Sizzler, celebrating someone’s birthday in the family when it hit. My heart started to pound, I got sweaty and my hands felt like they couldn’t hold my soda glass up any longer. I had felt this before, usually at home, late at night but never in public. I was 13 years old so anything in public felt so much much worse, and much more embrassing.

I closed my eyes and tried to breathe but it didn’t stop. I felt like I might be dying.

I quietly told my aunt about what I was experiencing, she walked me outside and talked to me in the fresh air until I was breathing normally again. It was a very strange feeling, one that I came to understand as a panic attack thus beginning my very long journey with my mental health.

I am not alone in these feelings. In fact, over 40 million adults in the U.S. suffer from anxiety disorder which is just the clinical name for having general feelings of anxiousness that sometimes lead to panic attacks. That’s my definition and despite having watched every episode of Grey’s Anatomy I am, in fact, not an actual doctor. I am however a part of the large percentage of that 40 million that is a woman, suffering from this condition. Women, in general, suffer from anxiety at far higher rates than men. Oh, so many jokes, so little time…

To me however, the worst part is that 36% of the population suffering from anxiety receive no treatment whatsoever. We just hold it together. Keep calm and move on. You know, whatever little wooden sign you have hanging in your bathroom that’s supposed to keep you motivated.

Now, a brief story about pork rinds.

About a year ago I was in line at Vons to check out. It was one of those days where the anxiety was lurking just below the surface from the moment I woke up. I was worried about something at work, I was almost out of dog food and face wash so I needed to go to Target, I was stressed about planning lunches and dinners for the week ahead, my mom wasn’t feeling great, one of my friends didn’t text back so now I think she’s mad at me. This is playing in my head on repeat as I stand there.

Sound familiar?

Eventually these thoughts become so intrusive that my nervous system literally started to kick in my fight or flight reflexes. (There’s a blast from the past high school health class!) I felt it coming. The heart racing, dry mouth, sweaty and shaky hands. My brain says, for probably the millionth time in my life, “Ok Ashley, this is it, you’re about to die.” In Vons no less.

“I wonder if anyone will come to your funeral,” I thought as I shut my eyes and tried to breathe just as I did when I was 13. For a second I feel as though I can manage through it and at least get to the car where I have an emergency Xanax stashed for just these occasions.

Then he opens his pork rinds.

The man in front of me starts to eat said pork rinds as he waits and between the noise of him chewing and the smell I lose it. The panic attack is coming full force and I have to get out before I pass out.

I leave all my stuff on the line and practically run out to my car. By this time tears are falling and I’m shaking trying to take the Xanax. I get myself home as fast as possible and sit on the couch, in the dark, and wait for it to kick in. It does. Now I feel tired and frankly, numb. I curl up and close my eyes, another night stolen from me by my anxiety.

The next morning I get up, shower and head to work like normal. This is the dirty secret of living with anxiety; most people would never know I have it nor would they believe it if they saw me at my high stress job which I am very successful at or if they saw me telling jokes and being the life of the party on a Friday night. It’s like I’m constantly walking on a frozen pond no one else can see and every so often, I fall and break through the ice.

It’s debilitating. It’s frustrating. It’s exhausting.

At 26 I tried medication for the first time, now I have been taking medicine for 8 years of combined with therapy. I have gone through two very dark periods where I considered taking my own life.

The past 21 years were spent trying desperately to stay afloat when the ice breaks. I resigned to myself that this was as good as it was going to get, I had to deal with a mediocre life.

And then, a thing happened.

Therapists for years had told me that exercise is great way to combat anxiety and depression (you don’t usually have one without the other, they’re like evil besties) but there was a slight problem for me on that front; I was the furthest thing from athletic. My shape, although not totally spherical, was rather squishy and unmanaged. I was however, also desperate and would try anything.

I did yoga, boot camps, running camps, more yoga, got a personal trainer and even tried Jillian Michaels at home DVDs. She’s mean by the way, even through the TV screen. I poured my heart into all of them hoping I would feel relief but if I did it was very brief and never lasted. I gave each one of them up feeling more hopeless than ever. And this is where the saddest part of my story begins as I, like so many men and women, started to self-medicate with alcohol and food. If you’re reading this and know what I mean when I say that one glass of wine “took the edge off” or that after one drink you felt calmer and like you “could breathe” again, you could be self-medicating and it may be time to ask for help.

I didn’t ask for help out loud. I prayed in the way that I know how- to lay in bed and ask the universe for a sign, some guidance, a little bit of anything. I had a beautiful life with my husband and yet I wondered if I’d ever really be happy. Then somehow, the universe brought me Rachel, the owner of Cyclebar, which is an indoor cycling club that hosts 45 minute classes on stationary bikes.

Oh I know what you’re thinking. Seriously? I read this whole blog and you’re about to tell me to sign up at Cyclebar?

Nope. Not even close.

What I will tell you is that next week it will be one year since I’ve taken a Xanax. I literally never thought I would be able to type that sentence. What I will also tell you is that it has very little to do with Cyclebar and everything to do with how intense exercise changed my brain.

Remember all those other classes I tried? For me, they never pushed me to a place where I proved my thoughts wrong.  When you have anxiety your brain is your biggest issue. It feeds you lies all day long about what you can’t do, how you’re not good enough, nothing is good enough. Battling those thoughts feels impossible until you actually prove to yourself that your brain is wrong. It’s been lying to you this whole time.

So in yoga, while I enjoyed it, when my brain said “Pssst, Ashley, you suck at this. Everyone is looking at you. You’re not doing it right. They’re judging your Target brand pants. Your mat sucks” I would succumb to those beliefs and after 3-4 classes I’d stop coming. In boot camp it was usually the next day when my entire body ached from being sore that it would kick in “Pssst Ashley, your body isn’t built for this, you might actually hurt yourself, you need to quit” And so, I would.

So when I clipped into my very first spin ride you can only imagine the thoughts that were swirling in my head.  I started pedaling and as it became increasingly difficult, the evil thoughts poured in. Then, I did something I had never done before. I peddled harder. I pushed harder. I was out of breath and sweating but I didn’t care. I was so incredibly scared as the voices got louder and louder in my head that in what I can only describe as a Holy Spirit-Some kind of wonderful moment, I found myself so out of breath and focused that like never, ever, before my brain shut off.

And it stayed that way the whole 45 minutes. For every mile I rode, for every hill I climbed when I thought I couldn’t, I began to beat back the anxiety because I was literally proving it wrong with every pedal stroke. One for me, none for you brain!

Exercise has saved my life. Not to be dramatic here, but I literally mean that. I don’t know where I’d be right now if I hadn’t of found it.

Clinically speaking (see Dr. McDreamy word right there!) it’s the cardiovascular aspect of exercise that causes the endorphin rush which is what’s brought me back to life. It explains why the other classes never worked for me because I never pushed past comfortable. I stopped when it was hard. I eased up when I felt a tinge out of breath. I realize now it’s been a one on one battle with myself this entire time and I just found the cheat codes. Boom, I win.

The actual exercise performed here is irrelevant. It’s finding the thing that makes you the most out of your mind, out of breath and then, you do it more. You do it harder. You show yourself that you can and will beat back the thoughts. Remind your brain that your heart will win every time. And I promise you, every time you do, you’ll be one step closer to being the kind of person your bathroom wall signs thinks you are.

Follow more of Ashley’s journey on Instagram by clicking here.