Downtown Fresno finally takes a step up with the weekly, "Fulton Plaza Thursday's!
-Raina
Upon moving here from San Francisco in 1991, I found something very strange about Fresno's downtown area.
Nobody was down there!
I couldn't believe that right where I stood was actually "downtown Fresno" until someone told me.
I was shocked!
Coming from a big city where downtown is always crammed with people pacing back and forth going somewhere or the other, I couldn't believe that it was around 6 in the evening and it was ghost town down there!
So I thought to myself....Fresno has all of these vacated buildings downtown, but the only thing they have to show in the area is the ran down Fulton Mall complete with its Fashion "Flair" store and no good Chinese food restaurants!
Well, I must say that alot has changed since 1991!
We citizens of Fresno can no longer say, "there's nothing to do downtown!"
Downtown's weekly outdoor music festival, Fulton Plaza Thursday's, is the latest attempt to spring the area out of its long time hibernation.
From now throughout the month of September, live bands, a beer garden and food booths are featured every Thursday evening from 5pm to 9pm in the Fulton Plaza (next to the clock tower) in downtown Fresno.
We spoke to Matt Schwartz to find out more!
S&S- How do you think Fulton Plaza Thursday's will help the downtown area?
Matt-The primary goal of Fulton Plaza Thursday is to demonstrate that Downtown Fresno is a great location for a variety of opportunities. FPT provides a wonderful social and cultural experience for the whole community, centrally located in the heart of our community, Downtown Fresno. We have all heard that 'there is nothing to do in Fresno". Every Thursday night this summer we will prove that statement wrong.
S&S-How is F.P.T. going so far?
Matt-Everyone working on this project is very pleased with what we have accomplished. I ask people to consider what Downtown Fresno is like on any other day of the week after 5:00pm. Typically you will be all alone, by yourself, surrounded by a 'closed" Downtown.
We have given a number of people a reason to stay Downtown after they get off work and many others a reason to experience Downtown Fresno where they may have never given it a look. With this kind of exposure hopefully more people will take an interest in Downtown Fresno.
S&S- What are your future plans for F.P.T?
Matt-We have had a lot of fun so far and we certainly want that to continue to grow. I would like to see additional vendors from all the different aspects of our community. Think how cool it would be to have food booths catering to all the different cultures we have in Fresno? It would be an international smorgasbord!
Our Farmer's Market will continue to grow. Locally we have the greatest agriculture in the World. We should have a Farmer's Market to match. It will be a wonderful celebration of one of the greatest aspects of this community.
Closest to my heart, I look forward to the entertainment becoming bigger and bolder and the years to come. We have had a wonderful collection of artists performing for us already. I am no longer surprised at the level of talent in this area. As we continue, I expect to see bigger regional and national acts gracing our stage as well.
-S&S-Thanks alot Matt!
To find out more, you can reach Matt Schwartz at:
MSchwartz@theLocalNOISE.com
www.theLocalNOISE.com
Take a trip downtown on a Thursday evening and check out Fulton Plaza Thursday's! It's a positive step in the right direction to getting this town off it's feet! Here is the schedule for the upcoming acts performing at FPT through the month of August!
*R
July 14th
The Neptune's
http://www.surfneptune.com/
The Lava Rats
http://www.thelavarats.com/
August 4th/Art Hop
Armen Nalbandian
http://www.fresnoartmuseum.org/cal_roa.php
August 25th
Deja Blues
http://www.dejabluesmusic.com/
3 Guys Playin' the Blues
http://www.3guysplayintheblues.com
More to be added!
