Fresno Famous

Viva ... Shiver Fox. The band (a collaboration between Trey Tosh and Kyle Baker) opened for KISS on Saturday. Getting a shot at a crowd that size is great for the band, but is also a positive score for all local musicians. Could it be Fresno music scene is starting to get the kind of outside attention it deserves?

Viva... The Fresno Film Commission, which is getting axed from the city's new budget. In another situation this would be a down with the city for letting go of something that so vitally important. But when the city is working with a $28 million dollar short fall and cut 125 positions, including some core services, you can't expect everything to go your way. Here's hoping we (as in any who cares about film in Fresno) can figure out a way to keep the commission around, possibly under the umbrella of a nonprofit.

Down with... closing the auto repair shop on Van Ness Avenue. I tend to agree with Bill McEwen here. There has to be a solution that suits the neighbors and keeps the shop in business. In this economic climate, why could we want to force someone out of business? Another empty building (historic or not) does no good for the neighborhood.

Down with... Fresno Magazine's Best of Fresno awards. You can see from the link, a lot has already been said on this. I'll add: There was a time when Fresno Magazine was a publication to be proud of, full of local flair, cultural relevance and with a heavy downtown focus. Those days are gone. Having worked on similar best of lists, I won't blame the magazine the winners (or those overlooked), just for losing its focus. And for hosting a "Best of Fresno" party in Clovis.