Avenal
Avenal, CA · Lifestyle
Hanford Sentinel
Witches flood the streets of downtown Hanford for Witches Night Out
Witches from all over the Central Valley flew in on their broomsticks to Hanford on Friday, Oct. 16. for the annual Witches Night Out. A sea of pointy witch hats filled Civic Center Park and downtown Hanford, as attendees visited over a dozen local businesses for booze, snacks, shopping and more.
The Fresno Bee
Want to throw axes and eat? Check out Fresno's new virtual reality arcade
In the same place, people can watch a game, throw darts or axes at a digital wall, get strapped into a virtual reality game or practice their golf game. And that’s not even touching the special events, like video game tournaments and cookie-designing classes, that Vibe-In hosts with other parts of the community. Prince Singh, the owner of Vibe-In, opened the arcade in March, but the idea existed years before it. He grew up in Visalia as part of a very business-minded family and watched his parents, uncles and aunts build and run different companies. Singh also helped at some of those companies, which gave him a solid idea of what he didn’t want to do with his life. “I was kinda burnt out with the gas station,” Singh said. “I wanted something different.” He spent a couple of years trying to develop a hotel on some property his parents own before realizing that because of county, fire department and highway regulations, building a hotel there wasn’t feasible. Singh also picked up some experience working for his uncles, who operated their own Chuck E. Cheese locations. The decision to open his own space came from spending time with his friends.
CONTEMPORIST
This Family Turned Their Unused Dining Room Into An Office And A Movie Room
When a young family in Fresno, California, needed a home office, they already had the space for one. Their three-bedroom ranch house included a dining room that was rarely used, so interior design studio Sift Collection transformed the 108-square-foot area into a room with two workstations, custom storage, and a comfortable place for family movie nights.
KMPH.com
48 pounds of beginner’s luck? Massive striped bass caught at San Luis Reservoir
FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Most anglers spend years hoping to reel in a fish this big. For one Madera man, it happened on his very first trip to San Luis Reservoir. On Oct. 14, Rich Jones headed out with his father, Steve, and professional fishing guide Roger George, who has spent 14 years guiding anglers at the reservoir.
KMPH.com
Tarantula Awareness Festival returns with creepy-crawly fun in Coarsegold
COARSEGOLD, Calif. (FOX26) — The annual Tarantula Awareness Festival returned to provide creepy, crawly fun and education at the Coarsegold Historic Village. The event was scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. The event highlights tarantulas that emerge looking for a mate. Kids got a...
The Fresno Bee
Fresno's Yemeni coffee scene is booming with new cafes. Here's what to know
If you’ve been watching Fresno’s cafe scene lately, you’ve probably noticed something brewing — and it smells like cardamom. Three Yemeni coffee shops are either expanding or opening fresh location s across the city, bringing spiced lattes, honeycomb bread and more to the Central Valley. Here’s what coffee lovers need to know:
ruemag.com
Old-World Elegance Along California’s San Joaquin River
Designer Hayley Chavez says Madera, California, where this home is located, is a place most folks drive right through on their way somewhere else. “It’s on a bend of the San Joaquin River, which is exactly what I love about it,” she notes. “The whole house was designed to live toward the water.”
Yahoo!
fresnoland.org
In search of Fresno’s best burrito, part one.
San Francisco has the “Mission burrito” (beans, rice, meat), San Diego has the California burrito (replace the beans and rice with french fries, add pico de gallo and guacamole). Fresno has… well, both of those, but also so much more. The trouble with defining a “Fresno” style...
Merced Sun-Star
Things to do in Merced in November: Dia de los Muertos, rock cover bands and more
It’s still Halloween season, but it’s not too early to think about the fun there is to be had in November. Below are some of the noteworthy concerts and acts coming to Merced County next month. You can see more events or add one you’d like to promote on the Sun-Star’s events calendar at mercedsunstar.com/events. No-No Boy WHAT: No-No Boy, a multimedia folk and storytelling project led by Julian Saporiti, brings a deeply moving multimedia concert experience to UC Merced Arts, blending original music, storytelling, archival images, field recordings and historical research. WHEN: Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m. WHERE: The Merced Theater ONLINE: www.mercedtheatre.org Dia de los Muertos night market WHAT: Celebrate this beautiful tradition with an evening filled with local vendors, food, music, community, and Día de los Muertos festivities. WHEN: Nov. 5, 6 p.m. WHERE: Bob Hart Square and Canal Street, downtown Merced ONLINE: tinyurl.com/22z6wfra The Addams Family Young@Part WHAT: Playhouse Merced features the Young Artists Conservatory production of a comical musical that “celebrates the wonderfully unique qualities found in every family.” WHEN: Nov. 6-15 WHERE: Playhouse Merced ONLINE: www.playhousemerced.com ‘Macbeth’ WHAT: Dark, violent, haunting, and unforgettable, Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is a story of ambition, love and the devastating cost
The Fresno Bee
Meet the Fresno restaurant group behind trendy eateries Otherside, Heirloom and Saizon
If you’ve waited in line at Heirloom, snagged a honey-saffron latte at Otherside or caught the Instagram glow-up of Saizon, you’ve been eating your way through one restaurant group’s playbook — probably without realizing it. Now that group is growing again. Owners of Otherside Cafe confirmed this month that their second cafe will land at the corner of Palm and San Jose avenues, at the entrance to the Fig Garden Financial Center — just north of Fig Garden Village, behind Elbow Room and Chipotle. It’s taking over a freestanding former bank building most recently home to Guarantee Real Estate. Co-owner Rema Koligian said in an Instagram video that she expects it to open by the end of 2027. That new cafe is just the latest move from Brandon Smittcamp and partners Rema and Kevin Koligian — the trio (plus chef Justin Shannon at Heirloom and Saizon) are behind some of the buzziest places to eat in town. Here’s the full lineup. Otherside Cafe Opened in May 2025 at The Row at Heritage Grove, Otherside pairs a serious coffee program with an all-day food menu. General manager Adam Byrd — a 20-year bartender at The Lime Lite who (which Smittcamp also
thefeather.com
Food Review: Strada Italian Sandwiches
The rich aroma of freshly baked focaccia bread lingers through the restaurant, as chatter and music fills the room. Italian art displays across the walls as each sandwich is assembled to perfection. The staff exclaims with cheerful faces, “welcome to Strada!” Throughout the Central Valley, new restaurants continue to expand and elevate local dining experiences. Amongst these fresh dining spots, Strada thrives through serving authentic and high-quality Italian sandwiches. From homemade focaccia bread to savory spreads, this restaurant brings a twist to traditional sandwiches.
KMPH.com
McDonald’s brings back Halloween Boo Buckets to Fresno featuring Disney Villains
FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — McDonald’s is bringing back its popular Halloween Boo Buckets, this time featuring some of Disney’s most famous villains. Beginning October 20, participating McDonald’s restaurants in Fresno will offer five collectible Boo Bucket designs inspired by Jafar, Ursula, Scar, Cruella and Maleficent. Each...
Madera Tribune
Long-awaited casino to open
North Fork Mono Casino set to open at midnight, October 28. North Fork Mono Casino announced it will officially open at midnight on October 28, marking a milestone more than two decades in the making. Located adjacent to Highway 99 in Madera between Avenue 17 and 18 1/2 exits, the...