The book you saw Fresno's Architectural Past -- is the first. Another is on the way, if it isn't finished already. If you like the paintings inside, you should check out Gallery II. Pat Hunter's a great local painter and has affordable paintings of Fresno and the local area. She's got a great one of the Fulton Mall and another of Fresno High I just love. Good stuff.

We here at Santa's Workshop, highly agree that boys and girls should send local CD's to their friends, neighbors and relations.

The book suggestion is great. PLenty of local authors. You might also try local musicians; I'll bet you can get a cd that's distinctly local for less than $15 from Mofo Party Band, Rademacher, 40 Watt Hype, Blake Jones and the Trike shop,Roger Perry, Sparklejet,David Spencer,Let's Go Bowling, Glen Delpit,Glen Delpit and the Subterraneans,Armen Nalbandian,3 Guys Playing The Blues, Furious Slugs, The Neptunes, Cattie Ness and the Revenge, The Argyle Pimps, The Lucky Catz, well you get the idea. There's lots more too. Sorry to leave anyone out.

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/345771 where they're discussing local food gifts.

The book suggestion brings to mind local authors, including William Saroyan, Mark Arax, Philip Levine, Mas Masumoto...and some lesser-known mentioned at http://www.kvpr.org/vwrarchives.html.

I doubt that you could only find any of these only in one's hometown, but they surely represent the hometowns.

Snarky responses are a waste of bandwidth...Fresno does have worthwhile events and people.

I saw this at Barnes and Noble the other day and almost bought it for myself:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780...

The urge to say something snarky is *almost* overwhelming.