Preserving myself in Fresno -- Moving soon from San Diego
I left Fresno at age 17 to attend college at UC San Diego, where I stayed after graduation to work for Sony in the video game industry. After 10 years and having found a way of life that I have found very enjoyable, I'm returning to Fresno to live with my parents to save money while going to an incredibly expensive docterate program at Alliant International University.
Although I visit Fresno every few months, I never got to explore any social or recreational scene that it might have had to offer for young adults. I'm looking to preserve the interests and hobbies that I had in San Diego the best I can in Fresno, and maybe find some new ones along the way.
Surfing - Gone, no more surfing during work lunch breaks. Are there any short duration recreational activities in Fresno that do not require constant fees?
Hiking - San Diego is built on hills and valleys, and there are scores of hiking trails all throughout the city and beaches. Are there any great spots in or near Fresno that take 1-2 hours to complete?
Dance Scene - I'm into Swing and Salsa dancing, and there's multiple places in San Diego every night that are host to these types of dances. Is there any kind of dance scene in Fresno, and how do I find it?
Wine Bars - I'm not big on beer drinking and dive bars. San Diego has a few wine-only bars that do not serve any beer or alcohol, and the only dishes served are cocktail snacks associated with drinking wines. They typically have nice indoor and outdoor furniture and resemble a lounge much more than a bar. Anywhere in Fresno offer that?
Vegetarian - There are vegetarian/vegan only cuisine restaurants and grocery stores in San Diego. Aside from local farmer's markets, are there any places in Fresno that are veg strongholds to meet other like minded people?
Independent Film - I enjoy watching indie films, the kind of stuff that does not show in the mainstream theatres. I also attend a small group that shows independent documentaries to 20-30 people per screening. Does Fresno have movie theatres dedicated to showing only independent film, or small groups that gather and talk about independent documentaries?
Online Dating Scene - I've used multiple online dating sites at different times to date, not necessarily always successful for relationships, but it's been a great social networking tool that I've used. I usually meet someone new every week through online dating. Is it utilized much in Fresno?
Before buying property in
Before buying property in Fresno, I suggest you take a look at the pictures on my web page www.myspace.com/marlalk - things are not always as they appear to be.
More Film
I don't know when you're coming to Fresno but you may want to take a look at fresnofilmworks.org that recently posted their list of films & speakers for the international film festival. Three days worth. Check it out. April 13-15 at the historic Tower Theatre. 20 films from 12 countries.
Windsurfing
You can take up windsurfing the closest place to windsurf is at Millerton Lake State Recreation Area.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=587
Later in the spring and early summer you will love Windsurfing at Huntington Lake high up at the 7,000 feet elevation.
http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/4510/tourism/lakes.aspx
another excellent windsurfing area is the San Luis Reservoir SRA.
If you only surf the waves of the ocean you can take a ride to Santa Cruz and if you dare you can go up to Mavericks near Half Moon Bay and ride the biggest and most dangerous waves off the California coastline.
maverickssurf.com
You can still surf!
It just takes longer! Hit the road at 5:00 a.m. and you can be in the water at Santa Cruz by 7:30!
overrotted indeed
yes. i could probably use some help.
need help.
help.
yes. needed. help.
back to fresnoing. doesn't wild water adventures have a wave pool?
cerealiously
I think spellung is so overrotted...
...
-punkchewation, tue;
?.?.?
I guess you'll be
his first client, seeing how it's easy to drive you crazy
just joeking
"The Movies" in the Tower District
it's on Van Ness between Floradora & Home by the old College Pharmacy
beware, Van Ness is one way through most of the Tower, from Divisidero, past FCC up to Shields, park on the street & go to "Au Lac" vegetarian before or after you go to "The Movies" which is just south, see below:
Au Lac Cafe
1495 N Van Ness Ave
Fresno, California 93728
(559) 237-4052 -
please, forgive me for this . . .
I saw it once and thought, ah, it's a typo, let it go. Then I saw it a couple more times. It's eating at me. If I don't say something, I may go out of my mind. So, please, forgive me, but I must.
The word is doctorate, not docterate.
OK. You can flame me all you want now. I deserve it. I expect it. I will take my lashes.
tcm
Speaking Of The Ken...
I was just at the Ken this last Sunday to see "The Host". Where's "The Movies" located?
Ken
I would suspect being an indie film fan & a San Diegan that you have visited the Ken Cinema and the neighboring Kensington Video Store. Good cinema, if you can't locate it on a big screen in Fresno, is available at The Movies. If you have a hankering to view a John Sayles, Lars Von Trier, Charlie Chaplin film today, right now, no waiting, chances are they are available on video at The Movies. Sorry, no web site but you can email us with title inquiries.
jeffatmovies@hotmail.com
Biking
Biking sounds like a nice alternative for free recreation. I used to commute to school on bicycle.
The last one on the list regards dating and online dating. Are there any singles hotspots in Fresno? Singles events?
Look what we have in Fresno
On healthy eating...
Besides the obvious Whole Foods and Trader Joes for your organic fixes and such (and the many farmers markets we have) I have heard of a few local grocers in the area that might sell more specialty products, such as Grandmas' in Tower, Bentleys up at Fort Washington(I think?), and Catalanos in the northwest. But really, as far as sustainable grocery shopping goes, I feel you are hitting the jackpot here because of all of the wonderful local produce you can buy in the valley year round! Also, there is a very yummy vegetarian restaurant called Au Lac in the Tower District, on Van Ness.
On alternatives to surfing...
I just moved here from the central coast and I had to find something to do outside. My recommendation around here is biking! The blossom trail right now is amazing. I have also heard many good things about a few rides that go around the Millerton Lake/Friant area, and the wildflowers should be in full bloom very soon which will make for some amazing rides.
Hope you enjoy the move up north. There are a lot of really good people in this area.
Great Stuff !!!
...that leaves me with:
-An alternative recreation to Surfing
-Vegetarian and Healthy Eating
-Online or an easily accessible Dating Scene
Independent Film?
Well here are a few ideas for you, I'm sure I will be forgetting some:
The new Criterion Theater in Clovis is setting aside screens for small films although it may not be every week
http://www.northamericancinemas.com/criterion.asp
Fresno Film Works meets once a month plus also has an annual film festival
http://fresnofilmworks.org/
http://fresnofilmworks.org/f_fest07_submissions.php
At Fresno State there is CineCulture, with films every week
http://cineculture.csufresno.edu/spring07.html
And the Armenian film festival
http://armenianstudies.csufresno.edu/events/070302.html
There is also Reel Pride, the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
http://www.reelpride.com
and the Southern Yosemite Automotive Film Festival in Oakhurst
http://www.southernyosemite.com/
and Slickrock Festival for student film makers
http://www.slickrockfestival.org/
Check the Starline
in the Tower District. Not sure if they do it anymore, but they were having Salsa class for an hour and then after everyone got down with their Salsa selves. Used to be Thursdays I think.
The Manhattan up near Bullard and Palm has a good wine selection, many places do. As far as a "Wine Bar", there are a handful of places I can think of that only have wine but I can't think of one that fits the name/class. Probably still too early for me to think to that kind of detail on something that isn't coffee:) There's that place across from Thaiphoon in the Tower that seems upscale and serves only wine. I just saw a sign up on their window though, they want the full liquor license now. Sorry I'm not too good with names right now.
Diablo
nice hiking links
Thanks for the hiking info. That solves 1 of my Fresno issues :)
hiking
Fresno has more hiking trails nearby than San Diego has to offer.
the Hiking trails near Fresno are seasonal and year around. Right now this time of year the trails near the foothills are nice and green and blooming with flowers, later the wild hill side grasses will be a golden yellow. And the snow over the Trails in the high Sierras will open. Most trails are only a little over and hour way by car.
You know Yosemite is very close by and so is Sequoia and Kings Canyon
here is a recommended area to hike try Mineral king but it's only open in the summer time.
last year the local news paper covered and reported from the John Muir Trial and blogged about each reporters experience.
there is a lot of hiking near and around Fresno... you just have to look for it and ask.
sierrafoothill.org
fs.fed.us/r5/sierra/
nps.gov/yose/
nps.gov/seki/
nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/mkdayhikesum.htm
pcta.org/about_trail/muir/over.asp
fresnobeehive.com/jmt/
Family, Money
As far as being rooted or established, most of my college friends have moved away and I'm left with one close friend from high school or hanging out with a college professor sometimes.
In Fresno, I have a huge network of friends and family that I've known for years. AIU's clinical psychology docterate program in Fresno actually has an excellent program, and from what those that are in it are telling me, I won't have much of a life anyway to enjoy my surroundings (everything is cram packed in those 4 years). UCSD's program isn't an option: I could spend years trying to get in, especially given my circumstance of being out of academia for so long and having gone into a completely unrelated field of work for 6 years. It would also take 5-6 years to complete. AIU is more forgiving for entry, and is faster to complete, then move where I want to live (not Fresno), get licensed, and make the big bucks.
As far as costs, it's the living expenses that I'm looking to save gobs of money. I'm going to live with my parents for those 4 years, which will cut $50,000 from my college debt alone. Just rent alone, forgetting about any other bills or food expenses, can range from $650 for a bedroom in a house to $1150 for a studio.
So that's my plan, make getting a docterate as fast and painless a process as possible and get my move on out of Fresno. I still need to look for ways with the free time (the little that I do have) of enjoying the things I like to do and keep my diet and recreation levels the best I can.
why?
would you leave SD, when you've already been established there?
you have everything you are accustomed to there, friends, climate & a great city to live in, why don't you set down your roots there, go to UCSD, live on campus, even if it takes you 3 years extra to finish?
why, would you go to Alliant International University? is it because of its accelerated schedule? reputation? they'll take your credits? are you guaranteed a high-paying job after? makes no sense to me
costs:
http://www.alliant.edu/wps/wcm/connect/website/Home/Admissions/Tuition+%...
not knocking Fresno, I'll take it any day over LA, Sacra or the Bay area, but SD? I know a few people from there, they had family reasons for coming here, & regret the move here. BTW, it's the only city I'd live in, besides Fresno & I ain't moving unless they build that damn nuke here!!!
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