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Helping Seniors and Those at High-risk Access Food in Fresno

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The following is a list of stores and restaurants offering special hours, access or delivery services that may be of help to seniors and those with special conditions that cause them to be at greater risk if exposed to the Coronavirus/COVID19. We will add to this list as additional information becomes available. Please share this list with those who could benefit, and feel free to add additional comments that become know to you in the comments section below. We can get through this challenging time together!

Grocery stores offering special shopping hours:

Dollar General: Each Dollar General location will dedicate its first hour of operation each day to senior citizens. There are seven stores in the Fresno area, all of which can be found here.

The Market: Located on the northeast corner of Herndon and West will open from 8am-9am for seniors only, daily.

Whole Foods: Which is located at Palm and Shaw in Fig Garden Village, is now opening at 8:15am to those over 60, 9am to the general public. (Bring your ID)

Target: Will dedicate its first hour open every Wednesday to the elderly and those in high-risk groups. For most stores this is between 8 and 9am. You may want to contact your selected store to confirm their opening time. Target stores are also closing at 9pm to allow for additional store sanitizing and re-stocking. Click here to see all Target store locations in the Fresno area.

Vallarta Markets: All three local stores (Chestnut and Butler, Clinton and Weber and Cedar and Dakota) will open from 7-8am each day for the elderly and those in high-risk groups including pregnant women.

Vons: Local Vons supermarkets will dedicate the hours of 6am to 9am every Tuesday and Thursday to seniors. Click here for all local Vons store locations.

Smart & Final: Will open 30 minutes early (7:30am) for seniors and those at-risk each day.

Grocery/Meal Delivery Services:

Local tech hub Bitwise is offering to shop for and deliver groceries to seniors and those in high-risk groups. Those in need of this service can contact Bitwise at 559-460-7809 or via email at groceries@bitwiseindustries.com to provide a needs list. Those able to pay for the groceries may pay at the time of delivery. Those unable to pay will have their costs covered by Bitwise.

Seniors in need of meals can also contact the Agency on Aging for meal delivery services that may be available at no cost. The number there is 559-214-0299.

Restaurants Offering Delivery:

The following local restaurants are offering direct (as in, not third party with markup) delivery service. Note: some restaurants have a limited delivery radius, so please call ahead to confirm addresses are within their range. Also, please be kind to those you connect with – our local restaurants are one of many industries hit particularly hard during this uncertain time.

A number of additional restaurants are offering delivery through third party apps like GrubHub, Door Dash, Uber Eats, PostMates, etc. Yelp Fresno is keeping a great, up-to-date list running of all restaurants with updated hours and services during this time period, and you can view that here.

DiCicco’s Restaurants will offer daily or weekly scheduled deliveries to keep food coming! To set this up, contact one of the following four locations:

  • 144 N Blackstone -559-237-7054
  • 5635 E Kings Canyon Rd- 559-252-7100
  • 1071 E Shaw – 559-229-7811
  • 2221 W Shaw – 559-221-6338

Angry Chikz (Spicy Chicken and sides)

Boba Silog (Filipino Food)

Max’s Bistro & Bar (Seafood, Steakhouse, New American)

Kabab City (Mediteranean)

Twentieth Century Grill (Pizza/Hot Dogs)

Raw Fresno (Vegan, Raw Food)

Five Restaurant (Italian and Seafood)

Otti’s Pizza (Pizza :-))

Curry Pizza Company (both locations)

FresYes Fest 2020 – Postponed

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As sponsors of the wildly popular (and rightfully so) annual FresYes Fest hosted each year by Tioga Sequoia Beer Garden, we wanted to provide our readers with an update.

Out of an abundance of caution and with the health of our Central Valley residents in mind, FresYes Fest 2020 has been postponed to Fall 2020. Partners of the event intend to have the majority of the plans and bookings carry over to the new date, TBA.

You can read Tioga Sequoia’s full post on their Facebook page here.

Image via Tioga Sequoia Brewery

For accurate and local Coronavirus/Covid19 information, you can visit the Fresno County Health Department’s update site here.

Thank you all for your enthusiasm, interest and support of this great event. We look forward to enjoying it with you later this year.

All About Krav Maga and Where to Learn in Fresno

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Are you familiar with the practice of Krav Maga? Krav Maga is a self-defense system based on natural reflexes and body mechanics that is easy to learn and useful regardless of a person’s size or strength. Both men and woman can practice Krav Maga and it is relatively easy to learn.

As local business Fresno Vanguard Krav Maga prepares to celebrate its 5th anniversary teaching practical self-defense to Fresnans, I thought it would be great to learn more about Krav Maga and share it here, so fellow Fresnans who might be curious can benefit and get involved.

Catarina Vasquez has been practicing Krav Maga at Fresno Vanguard Krav Maga since summer 2017. Recently, she became a certified instructor and will even be assisting with upcoming Krav Maga classes for kids. I interviewed Catarina about the practice, how she got started and how newcomers can get involved, too. Read on for all the details!

Krav Maga enthusiast and instructor, Catarina Vasquez

FresYes: How did you get started practicing Krav Maga and how long have you been training?
Catarina: I’ve been training in Krav Maga since August 2017. I searched online for a self-defense fitness class and Krav Maga popped up. I thought it would be great to get in shape and learn some skills that could help me protect myself.

FY: Who can practice Krav Maga and how is it different from other forms of martial arts? 
CV: What I really like about Krav Maga is that it’s really built on being accessible to everyone. Someone from any fitness level, any size or strength can take something from Krav Maga, and use it to help protect themselves.
It’s not really a martial art, it’s called a self-defense system, but it does use effective parts of different martial arts, put together, to form simple and effective responses to threats. Martial arts usually have a sport and competition aspect to them, whereas Krav Maga teaches you how to respond to an attack — more real life situations.

Catarina practicing with a partner in class


FY: If someone is attending a class for the first time, what should they expect and how should they prepare?
CV: Just come ready to learn and get sweaty! Each class has warm up exercises and drills which include cardio and strength training. All you have to do is show up in comfortable clothing and shoes or workout gear.

FY: Do you need to be fit to do Krav Maga and how do you avoid getting hurt in class?
CV: You do not need to be “fit” to do Krav Maga. People from any fitness level can benefit from it. Safety is the number one goal. You have to feel safe and comfortable in order to learn anything, so that’s what you can expect. Instructors demonstrate techniques first, then we break it down and practice slowly, with partners. If someone is ever uncomfortable trying something they don’t have to do it, they can just watch. Once they’re ready, they can try it.

Krav Maga incorporates cardio & strength training into every class

FY: As you start to gain skill, what opportunities for advanced training are there locally?
CV: Locally, Fresno Vanguard Krav Maga is the only gym that offers it, but there are people of all levels who practice there. On any given night, you’ll have people in class who have done only 1-3 classes and people who have been there for a couple years.

FY: What do you like most about Krav Maga and who would you recommend it to?
CV: I was hooked on Krav Maga from the very first class. I like that you’re learning something useful and getting a good workout. I recommend it to anyone, any age. They even have a kids class a couple nights a week!

FY: Where can people learn more and get involved?
CV: Fresno Vanguard Krav Maga is located at 2750 N Clovis Ave Suite 140 in Fresno. You can check them out at fresnovkm.net or you can call or text 559-916-1982 with any questions you may have. You can even try classes for free for 2-weeks to see if Krav Maga is a good fit for you.

Krav Maga is for everyone and you should feel welcome to give it a try!

FY: Anything else you’d like us to know that I didn’t ask about?
CV: Don’t be intimidated by what you may have heard about Krav Maga. Yes, it’s a very effective self-defense system, but it is not something that promotes fighting. And it’s not a “fight club”. One of the basic principles of Krav Maga is to always be aware of your surroundings and to not get in situations where you need to fight. De-escalating is the first plan of action. We fight only if we need to – so you’re not going to find a bunch of hyped-up people in class, who are just looking for a chance to hit someone. Safety in our training is key!

Special thanks to Catarina Vasquez for answering my questions about Krav Maga, and congratulations to Fresno Vanguard Krav Maga on their 5th year anniversary! You can follow them on Facebook here to see additional photos of classes in action and stay up to date on new class times and offerings.

Fresno’s Rogue Festival 2020: What to know before you go

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The countdown to Fresno’s 17th annual Rogue Festival is on with just two days left to go! This year’s festival runs from Friday, March 6th to Saturday, March 14th. Never been to Rogue Festival? No worries – I have all the info you need to learn about it, make a plan and enjoy this super special event.

Let’s start with the basics.

What IS the Rogue Festival?

Rogue Fest is an annual, multi-day event that takes place in Fresno, modeled after “fringe festivals” of the Bay Area and other large cities. The idea is to give independent performers and artists of all types the opportunity to share their talent with the city, and festival goers a chance to see a wide variety unique, original performances and acts in person.

What types of performances are included in Rogue Fest?

So many! Including theater, music, dance, spoken word, puppetry, magic acts, performance art and physical theater. The Rogue Festival is a “non-juried” festival, which means performers apply to participate and their acts are selected for inclusion based on a lottery system. The performances are not judged or reviewed by the Festival, all Festival goers will have the chance to see performances in their purest form and all types of performers have an equal chance at being a part of the event.

What is the cost to attend?

Ticket prices to each performance vary, but are typically reasonable (around $12/ticket on average). All ticket sales go back to the performers. In previous years, ticket sales reached over $50,000 which means this five figure amount was pumped back into our local arts community. (Yay!)

The Rogue Festival requires all performance attendees to purchase a $5 wristband (this $5 per person fee supports the Rogue Festival itself and helps keep this awesome event happening each year). This one-time per year fee is in addition to ticket prices per performance, but it only has to be paid once per festival year.

How are tickets purchased?

Tickets are purchased online or at the door of each performance. To purchase tickets online, visit the performance list on the Rogue website, and purchase tickets to the performance(s) you’d like to see.

How do I know what shows are taking place when, and where?

Check out the performance calendar on Rogue’s website, here. This year’s venues are:

All are located in or near the Tower District.

The Backroom at Revue, one of the many Rogue Venues for 2020

What else should I know before I go?

  1. All performances start exactly on time, and some will not yet you enter the performance late, so please arrive on time.
  2. Since Rogue Fest performances are non-juried the artists and Rogue Fest organizers would love to know your thoughts about the performances you see! After you attend, please consider sharing your thoughts on the artist’s page. (You can access them listed by performance here.)
  3. Please be considerate and be sure to silence your cell phones and smart watches before entering each performance venue.
  4. If you want Fresno to continue to be home to a thriving, local art scene, attending the Rogue Festival is a great way to support that!

For additional information about performances, scheduling information, venue locations and sponsorship opportunities, please visit the Rogue Festival website here.

Go Behind the Scenes of Neapolitan Pizza Making with Brick L’Oven

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Brick L’Oven Owner Jasmine Nale on location at Zivelli Winery

Sometime last year, my husband and I watched a food documentary show on Netflix called Ugly Delicious. The show’s description states “All the flavor. None of the BS. Star chef David Chang leads friends on a mouthwatering, cross-cultural hunt for the world’s most satisfying grub.” The very first episode of season one is focused on pizza, and spends a great deal of time focused on the traditional Neapolitan style of pizza making. Watching the show made my borderline obsess over finding the best Neapolitan style pizzas I could find in any city I’ve visited since – and last fall I was thrilled to learn we have an amazing Neapolitan style pizza baker right here in town. If you’ve not yet heard of Brick L’Oven Pizza, I’d love to introduce you today! And if you have, stick around because the story behind this local business is a great one.

I interviewed Brick L’Oven’s owner, Jasmine Nale, about how she got started making pizza and what it takes behind the scenes to prepare delicious, wood-fired pizzas as she does every weekend at Zivelli Winery, located about 10 minutes west of the 99 in Fresno.

FresYes: Can you share with readers a little bit about yourself, and how you got started making pizza?

Jasmine Nale: I’m a Valley native, born and raised in Kingsburg. The way my family spent time together was through cooking and eating. My dad had a garden filled with fresh vegetables and fruits and we cooked from scratch whenever possible–in fact, we were rarely allowed to eat out!

While attending Fresno State I was thrilled to find out they had a whole program dedicated to Food Science and quickly switched majors. Around the same time, I met Chef Jason Ruffoni of Ruffoni’s Artisan Pizza while he was serving at my boyfriend’s (now husband) family winery. He learned of my passion for culinary arts and asked me to join the team.

A couple years later he had to leave the business and asked us to purchase his equipment and carry on the trade. It was a scary leap at age 24 but the opportunity was too good to pass up and the pizza pairs so well with our family wine! 


FY: How does your pizza style differ from others people may be familiar with?

JN: First, and most importantly, the dough. The dough is made in the traditional Neapolitan style (where pizza was invented!) with four simple ingredients: double zero flour (a finer, higher protein flour), water, salt and yeast. It is considered a “high hydration” dough, or high water content to flour ratio. This allows the pizza to withstand the high heat of our wood fired oven, ranging from 650-700F. When the temperature is perfect, the pizza will cook in 2 minutes or less. The high heat and fast cooking time results in a crusty exterior and an airy and soft interior. We use almond wood, which burns quickly, cleanly and HOT.

This combination of delicate dough and high heat is hard to replicate–most pizza places will have very thick, doughy crust or crunchy, cracker-like crust. Neither are inherently bad–I enjoy every type of crust, it just depends on the mood. 

Brick L’Oven Neapolitan pizzas in the oven

FY: Brick L’Oven offers amazing brick oven pizza on location – what were some of the challenges you had to overcome logistically to make it possible?

JN: Oh my goodness, this is the challenge. Keeping the delicate dough cool enough to prevent it from becoming a hot sticky mess, estimating the amount of wood we will need, how much time the oven needs to get to that perfect temperature, and changing weather that affects it all.


FY: Take us through your day a bit, behind the scenes – when do you have to start prepping for a Zivelli day.

JN: The dough is made 1-3 days ahead of time, ideally it would always be two but that just isn’t possible every time. One to two days prior I pick up all the ingredients and I try to source locally whenever possible. I cannot wait for all the fruit stands to open up! The day of, I arrive at Ziveli 2-3 hours before serving to start the fire in the oven. Then I prep all the ingredients.

Brick L’Oven Pizzas ready to enjoy


FY: What is your personal favorite pizza topping combination and what are the most popular among your customers?

JN: Pepperoni, mushrooms, and I can’t believe I’m saying this since I’ve disliked them for most of my life but…olives! The most popular is definitely the Margherita with fresh mozzarella, basil, and extra virgin olive oil. Customers love getting to try the seasonal specials as well. Last summer’s special was Nectarine, Prosciutto and Sweet Corn and customers went absolutely crazy for it. 


FY: What’s ahead for Brick L’Oven – what are some of your goals for the coming years?

JN: You may see a secondary pop-up location this year! Down the road, I would love to have my own kitchen. I am blessed to have a commissary for now but I dream of having my own space! 

Visit Jasmine and her team at Zivelli Winery soon!

Brick L’Oven Pizza is baked fresh and available to order every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 5pm at Zivelli Winery located at 5840 N. Biola in Fresno. (PS: Zivelli is a beautiful winery with both outdoor and indoor spaces to enjoy and a number of delicious wines to taste and purchase!)

You can also schedule Brick L’Oven to cater your special event! Learn more on their website, and follow Brick L’Oven on Instagram to keep up with new menu offerings and updates on a future, possible second location.

Image credit: Jasmine Nale/Brick L’Oven

Hero Alliance Provides True Superhero Experience for Valley Kids

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Historically, here on FresYes.com, our web traffic statistics have shown us that our readers really like when we share great, local birthday party options that you can book for your child’s next celebration. If you’ve got a little one who’s into superheroes – I’ve got a great local company to share with you!

Have you ever watched a movie or a tv show that features a kid’s birthday scene in which the parents hire a costumed superhero or princess to make an appearance at the party? Odds are you’ve seen this common movie trope. Sometimes this situation goes well, the dressed-up character is convincing, the kids (well, actor kids) go nuts and it makes for a great party. Other times, particularly in comedies, the costumed performer falls a bit (or a lot!) short of expectations and hilarity ensues as the kids make skeptical comments about whether it’s really Elsa, or Anna, or Batman.

Two weeks ago, I attended my nephew’s 5th birthday party and he is a BIG Spider-man fan. Halfway through the party, imagine his excitement when Spider-man rang the doorbell and said he was there to hang out with him and his friends! Dear Fresnans, this Spider-man was GOOD!

Spider-Man arrived at the birthday and was happy to go along with whatever the birthday boy wanted to play for a bit – they toured the yard together.

My own son was a pretty big Spider-man fan around the ages of 4-7, and he would have likely lost his little kid mind if a convincing Spider-man had shown up at his party. So, far all of you with children in the age range who could have their day, no year absolutely made by their favorite hero or heroine showing up as a guest at their home – I’ve got all the details on a fantastic company in Fresno providing an exceptional character experience.

The company you’ll want to be sure you follow on social and keep for reference in your phone is the Hero Alliance: Heroes for Hire. Hero Alliance is a locally owned company that promises the most authentic character experience and the most realistic costumes in the Central Valley. “We are a group of individuals that believe in keeping imagination alive by providing the most authentic, realistic superhero entertainment for you and your loved ones. Not only do we look the part, but we ACT the part!” Having seen Hero Alliance’s Spider-man in action, I can confirm that this is definitely the case.

When Spiderman arrived at my nephew’s party, his costume was very believable and he moved the way Spiderman moves, and made hand gestures like Spiderman makes. He was friendly and immediately interactive with all the young children at the party, following them into the two-story play structure in the yard (as requested by the children) then posing for pictures with the kids in quintessential Spiderman poses. After picture time, an un-costumed member of the Hero Alliance team (all staff wore Hero Alliance shirts and were friendly and professional) began painting faces with Spiderman themed artwork (she was calm, sweet and patient with each wiggly little one) and a couple other members of the team began setting up what appeared to be some sort of obstacle course.

Spider-man face paint being applied

The course turned out to be the Superhero Training Grounds and after face painting, each child got coaching and Superhero moves and looking out for others and their safety. It was really cute, very well done and after the training was complete, each child received a Superhero Certificate!

Superhero training in progress!
A newly certified Hero!

The list appears to be ever-growing, however, it appears that the current available characters offered by Hero Alliance are: Batman, Joker, Spiderman, Spider Gwen, Super Man, Super Girl, Antman, Iron Man, Hulk, Joker, Harley Quinn, Bane, Thor, Captain America, Black Widow, Falcon, Jedi Warrior, Rafael (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle), Deadpool, Captain Marvel and Dr. Strange.

Hero Alliance offers several different party or event packages at a variety of price points. The largest package features an hour and a half of entertainment that includes a character of your choice, photo time, hero/jedi/ninja training obstacle course, a themed game with prizes, themed music, certificates for children (and a special surprise for the birthday child), face painting or balloon animals for up to 15 children and the Happy Birthday song sung by the character to the child. This package runs $225, but pretty much includes all the entertainment you’ll need to delight a crowd of youngsters for an entire party. The smallest package coming in at $85 still provides 15-minutes of immersive character fun. To view all the packages and find out how to book your child’s favorite hero for an upcoming event click here.

On a final note, my sister-in-law who booked with Hero Alliance said they were absolutely amazing to work with, down to every detail, including accommodating special needs and sensory issues. She was so impressed and said she’d recommend the company to anyone who’s young one’s love superheroes! I hope this article helps many of you bring dreams to life for the kids in your lives!

*Note: This post is not sponsored in any way, Hero Alliance did not know I would be writing it – I just love sharing great local businesses with you all!

DEFY Trampoline Park Offers Big Fun & Affordable Monthly Memberships

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In the Fresno and nearby metro surrounding area, there are now three indoor trampoline parks:

  1. Aerozone is located on Ashlan and Cedar and features multiple rooms of entertainment including specially designated areas intended for use by younger children. A highlight for older kids is the number of dodgeball courts available for play. This park is also the most affordable to visit by the hour.
  2. Skywalk is located just north of Fresno off of Freeway 41 in Madera. There are some unique, fun features here like a rock-climbing wall and obstacle course in addition to a rope swing over foam pit attraction.
  3. DEFY is located in Clovis off of Herndon and Peach Avenues and is the newest trampoline park in the area. This park in the priciest of the three, but also offers the most unique variety of activities that I’ve seen and seems to be particularly attractive to older kids.

I recently had the opportunity to check out DEFY for the first time when my son was invited to a birthday party held there. I was really impressed at the expansiveness, organization and fun atmosphere, the helpfulness of the staff and the wide variety of activities and apparatuses available for jumpers to enjoy.

DEFY is national trampoline park chain with locations across the country that first opened in our area last January. To be completely honest – their pricing being higher than the other local trampoline parks was a bit of a deterrent to taking my son previously. However, after visiting I realized it really is quite an exceptional place, and if you take advantage of DEFY’s Monthly Flight Pass options, it makes DEFY an awesome and affordable place to count on for helping kids get their energy out in a healthy way, regardless of the weather outside.

Though Flight Time can be purchased in hourly increments ($16/hour or $24/two hours, or for ages under 6 $12/hour, $21/2 hours), monthly flight passes offer tons of jump time for less than the cost of a one-time two-hour pass.

There are three monthly Flight Club membership levels. For $20/month, you can jump every day for up to 2 hours each day. For $25/month you can jump for as long as you like on weekdays and 2 hours on weekend days. And for $45/month, you can jump for as long as you like, every single day.

DEFY is one of those places that I could describe for you in words, however, it will be much better represented with photos. I snapped quite a few on our recent visit to try to capture the variety of activities available.

DEFY front entrance

As you enter the facility, you walk into a large foyer with computers that allow you to electronically sign safety waivers prior to purchasing jump time at the front cashier’s desk.

Defy lounge area and front desk

Once inside, there is a large lounge area where spectators can relax and observe those jumping in their group. (There is also an upstairs viewing area, however at times it is reserved for private parties). There is a snack bar with lots of food options to enjoy, and it also provides pizza for birthday parties.

DEFY snack bar ready to serve you

There are private party rooms available on the left wall just past the snack bar. Party packages are available at three price points per jumper. More party information can be found here.

A private party room at DEFY

The jump space is divided into many sub-spaces each offering different experiences and types of equipment.

Punching bags, balance beams, aerial silks and a wall to climb at DEFY
Obstacles courses above foam pits at DEFY
Wipe Out or American Gladiator reminiscent obstacles in the foreground and dodge ball and ramp trampolines can be seen in the background
This particular attraction was very popular during our visit to DEFY. You can sit on a giant ball and zip line across the room. Next to it you can hop parkour style from uneven surface to uneven surface.
Aerial silks, a huge foam pit and additional zip line attractions at DEFY

I hope you enjoyed my mini photo tour of DEFY in Clovis, and if you’re looking for a great place to jump around (queue Kris Kros Jump in your head now, that’ll be stuck in your head for the rest of the day – sorry, not sorry ;-)) consider checking them out soon, and keep in mind the monthly Flight Passes offer tons of jumping fun for less than a two-hour one-time flight! Enjoy!

DEFY is located at 636 N. Halifax Avenue off of Peach and Herndon in Clovis. For hours of operation, safety information and more visit their website here.

8 UNIQUELY AWESOME AND FRESNO WAYS TO CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY 2020

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Whether you are part of a couple, celebrating singlehood or a little bummed by not having been hit with cupid’s arrow recently, the impending arrival of Valentine’s Day can bring with it a bit of stress. Whether you’re feeling the pressure to plan the perfect date or simply deciding how to enjoy your Valentine’s Day Friday night (yup, it’s on a Friday this year friends) I want you to know I’ve got your back! 

There are some super cool events happening in Fresno in honor of Valentine’s Day 2020, and one is sure to make your night great whether you spend it with your better half, your “Galentine’s” or your awesome self. 

FOR THOSE WHO ENJOY WINE-TASTING:

Fresno County Wine Trail’s Wine & Chocolate Lover’s Weekend

Technically, this event takes place the weekend before Valentine’s Day, however, it is my personal favorite way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This event features all Fresno County Wine Trail Wineries (plus one distillery and two breweries) and for a one-time price of $10 (in advance, $15 day of), you’ll receive a wristband that lets you enjoy tastings at all locations on both Saturday, February 8th and Sunday, February 9th. (Click here to purchase a wristband.)

Participating wineries include the following:

In order for everyone in your party to enjoy tastings and ensure safe travel between wineries, I highly recommend purchasing a seat on Golden Eagle Charter’s wine busses. They stop at 5 eastward and southern locations on Saturday, and Sunday’s bus stops at 5 westside locations. The cost is just $40 per person, and it includes the wristband and a comfy seat on a charter bus with a friendly and easy-going driver. To book your tickets, call Golden Eagle Charter at 559-275-2910. 

FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO ENJOY A SPECIAL, FINE DINING EXPERIENCE:

Dine in the Dark

The Painted Table’s Chefs are hosting a unique dining experience at the Fresno Art Museum on Friday, February 14th at 7pm. “Chefs Matt Moore & Barbara McCormick will present a three-course meal in a pitch-dark environment. Your senses of taste, sound, smell, and touch will be heightened, creating a memorable, sensory experience.” Seating is limited, tickets are $125 and include craft cocktails. To purchase tickets, call 559-441-4221.

Dine & Dance – Masked!

Zivelli Winery, located at 5840 N. Biola (West of 99, in 93723), will be hosting a Valentine Masquerade Dinner Dance from 6:30-9:30pm on Valentine’s night. Dinner, dessert, wine and dancing are all included for the ticket price of $75 per person. Fancy attire is not required; however, all guests shall wear their best masks for an evening of intrigue and fun. This event does sell out, so purchase tickets as soon as possible if you’re interested.  

Wine & Dine

For a more traditional dinner option in a lovely venue – consider the Ramos-Torres Winery’s Valentine Dinner. Ramos-Torres is located in Kingsburg, just a short drive on the 99 South of Fresno at 1665 Simpson Street. This four-course meal that includes a decadent dessert (click for menu options) is $150 per couple and will begin at 6:30 on February 14th. For tickets, click here. 

FOR THOSE WANTING A FUN, THROWBACK NIGHT OUT:

Tioga-Sequoia Beer Garden’s 80’s Prom

You better find your crimper because Tioga Sequoia Brewery & Beer Garden invites you to “Dust off your cassettes and tease up your hair for a totally tubular Back to the 80’s Prom Night!” This Valentine’s Night event has no cover charge, will feature food trucks, live music, special brewery releases and if you’re bringing a date, there will be special “prom packages” for purchase. This event is open to all ages. For more information, click here.

90’s Dance Night

Are the 80’s too much of a throwback for you? Never fear, Full Circle Olympic in the Tower District will happily host you and your crew for a 90’s Alternative Dance Night instead! The cover charge for this 5-hour fun fest is just $10. DJ Wreck Wiem will be playing all your favorite grunge rock from the 90’s as well as some slow jams for the couples in attendance. All ages are welcome. Click here for more info.

*Bonus*: You could probably get away with saying you “time-traveled” if you attend both events in the same night!

FOR THE CREATIVES

Make Your Own Blown Glass Heart with Ballis Glass

Ballis does a fantastic job of walking their guest artists through the process of creating their own custom blown-glass creations. “This (2-hour) class includes everything you’ll need to design a one of a kind glass heart. You get to choose your own colors, add them to molten glass and then sculpt it into a heart.” There are multiple nights available for this event – check dates and book your spot for $55 here.

FOR THE HOMEBODIES:

Heart-Box Full-of-Tacos & Netflix Night

Taqueria El Premio Mayor is well-known for making some of the absolute best street tacos around. They’re so good, even Food Science Celebrity Alton Brown tweeted about them. So, if you really want to show your special someone (or yourself!) some love, do it the Fresno-taco-loving-way by purchasing a special edition heart-shaped box of tacos on Valentine’s Day and enjoy them during your Netflix night in. Follow Taqueria El Premio Mayor on social for details about how to get your heart box o’tacos. Details to come very soon!

So, whether you want to eat well, imbibe on lovely, local wine, throwback to your youth and get down, create a glass masterpiece or just stay home and enjoy some bomb tacos this Valentine’s Day, Fresno is a GREAT place to be.