Basket Caravan

Posted on June 29, 2018 by digitalgear

Heading 2

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Nostrum minus ea suscipit porro alias corporis libero at. Perferendis omnis, veniam nemo beatae vel? Tempora numquam a repellat eaque natus, magnam?

Heading 2

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Autem ipsum mollitia neque, illum illo excepturi, eum incidunt fugit nostrum est, voluptate eaque minima corporis debitis at, dolores ipsam. Quaerat, dolores.

Heading 2

By Jessica Nguyen

What is Basket Caravan?

Basket Caravan, located on 311B West Weber Avenue, is a shop specializing in custom-made, gourmet gift baskets. Although the storefront may be small, each individual basket is overflowing with creativity and content. Lisa Chalk-Frausto, Basket Caravan’s owner, decided to open a storefront after exclusively taking orders through Basket Caravan’s website. In response to high demand, Lisa decided to open Basket Caravan’s current Downtown Stockton brick and mortar space in late March of this year.

“A Gift of Great Taste!”

Basket Caravan is the only gift basket service in Downtown Stockton. The gift baskets are completely customizable, and may feature anything from chocolate, healthy treats, or coffee, to aromatherapy spa products! Lisa partners with other businesses in the area to include local products in her baskets, such as jam, coffee, oil, and sunflower seeds. In fact, she’s working on the creation of “209” baskets to be released in the near future that will contain and feature local products exclusively.

Why is Downtown Stockton a Great Location for Basket Caravan?

According to Lisa, “the location is perfect.” Many people who were previously searching for gift shops in Downtown Stockton now have access to unique gifts that are perfect for every occasion. Lisa often has last-minute shoppers who drop by in search of the perfect gift for their family members or friends. Because Lisa has also lived in Stockton for over 40 years, the city has a special place in her heart and she, too, wishes to dispel the myth that Downtown Stockton is a place to be feared. In reality, she believes that in Downtown Stockton, “people are very nice and friendly.” She especially enjoys the atmosphere of live music events that take place in the area.

Lisa also loves “watching the new businesses [in Downtown Stockton] start to prosper and making it like 20 years ago where it was booming. [She]’d like to see it happen again.” Just in the few months since Basket Caravan opened, Lisa has noticed a marked increase in Downtown Stockton foot-traffic and is enthusiastic about the future.

For more information or to place an order, visit Basket Caravan’s Website, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Bikes & Blessings: Deacon Steve and the HUB

Posted on June 15, 2018 by digitalgear

Heading 2

By Jessica Nguyen

What is the HUB?

The HUB, or Helping Urban Bicyclists, provides FREE services for those who need assistance with bike repairs and maintenance. Operated by Deacon Steve, a well-known and respected leader in the Downtown Stockton community, the HUB is a reflection of his relentless love and compassion for members of the Downtown Stockton community.

Why was the HUB created?

Prior to the existence of the HUB, Deacon Steve worked for years repairing and maintaining bicycles. He noticed that people who couldn’t afford bike parts or repairs were turned away. Out on the streets, he knew there were individuals who had squeaky, derelict bikes as their sole means of transportation. Some resorted to theft as a result of lacking funds to spend towards repairs. Deacon Steve felt inspired to help, stating “we needed to be compassionate.” He decided to create a place where people could receive free bicycle assistance, providing them with the ability to continue traveling to their jobs, doctor’s appointments, and community activities. For those who can’t afford cars, Deacon Steve knows that bikes can serve as vessels to increased mobility, independence, and self-improvement.

Bikes & Blessings

The HUB is a neighbor to the Saint John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, where Deacon Steve serves as (you guessed it!) Deacon. It isn’t surprising then, to learn that the church and the HUB both resonate similar values. In fact, the HUB’s sign depicts the gears of a bicycle around the flag of the church, representing their close tie. But don’t worry- the HUB welcomes anyone and everyone – regardless of religious background. The HUB’s main purpose may be to repair bikes, but people find their way in for various reasons. Inside the HUB, weary bicyclists can find light refreshments (including freshly popped popcorn!), water, and a space to find a moment of peace. Often, individuals will come by to seek guidance from Deacon Steve, or to have a talk with him about spiritual matters while he tinkers away.

Why is Downtown Stockton a Great Location for the HUB?

Deacon Steve believes the HUB’s location allows it (as well as the church) to “stretch their hands of love and compassion to reach people” – and that’s exactly what it does. The HUB’s services are entirely free, as the business relies completely on donations and community partnerships to help others. Since its inception, they’ve assisted countless under-employed and homeless Downtown individuals with their transportation needs. Along with Deacon Steve’s visible love of and devotion to his work at the HUB, he also feels strongly about Stockton as a city. In regards to the stereotypes that often shroud the Downtown Stockton area, he asserts that it is “a myth we need to change- [Downtown Stockton] is not a place to be feared, but a place to be celebrated.” In the 20 years that he’s been here, he’s witnessed the continued revitalization of Downtown Stockton as housing, new restaurants, and small businesses have made Downtown Stockton their home.

The HUB & Full Moon Riders

The HUB is very collaborative and involved with community events, and will even be leading an upcoming Full Moon Riders bike ride. Deacon Steve enjoys this event because, “everyone participates, and that’s the beauty of the Full Moon Riders.” At the July 27^th ride, there will be a bicycle blessing with oils blessed by the bishop. There will also be T-shirts for sale, adorned with an image of Madonna del Ghisallo, the Saint of Cycling. All proceeds will go to the HUB in their continued mission to serve the community.

To learn more about the HUB and their events, follow their Facebook page.

From the Love of Coffee & Stockton

Posted on May 15, 2018 by digitalgear

Heading 2

By Laura Garcia, Terra Coffee
& Sylwia Lipiec-Qualls,
Communications Manager, Downtown Stockton Alliance

Efrain and Laura Garcia have always loved coffee. Efrain moved here in 2014 while Laura was born and raised in Stockton. A small counter top roaster was always in their kitchen until in 2016 they finally decided to follow their dream and started Terra Coffee Roasters.

Laura and Efrain Garcia, the founders of Terra Coffee Roasters. Photo by CVBJ

“Terra Coffee was built from the love of coffee and our town – Stockton. Right after we started the business, we knew we wanted to have our first brick and mortar location in Downtown Stockton,” reminisces Laura. “The first location to ever serve our signature Cafe de Olla blend was at the Mexican Heritage Center and Gallery in early 2017. We wanted to get down to Efrain’s roots and get an honest opinion on our take of the traditional Mexican coffee. We never thought that a year later we would be partnering up with this non-profit to open our cafe.”

Terra Coffee Roasters started as a Cottage Food Operation regulated by the California Homemade Food Act which allows certain foods, known as Cottage Foods, to be made in private homes and sold to the public. The Garcias source coffee beans around the world and micro-roast them at home weekly in six-pound batches, making every batch with the utmost care.

At first, Laura and Efrain only catered at local events and venues while keeping a look out for a permanent location. They finally put down their roots in the artsy, colorful space at 111 South Sutter Street where the Mexican Heritage Center and Gallery had been located since 2011.

Terra Coffee opened their brick & mortar location at the Mexican Heritage Center & Gallery.

“It was a long and patient wait to find our downtown location. We knew that we wanted to be part of the downtown revitalization and when the Mexican Heritage Center heard we were looking for a place, they reached out to us and in January 2018 we opened our doors,” fondly remembers Laura.

The cafe is open from 7 am to 4 pm on weekdays and for special events at the Gallery. Terra’s freshly roasted artisan coffee, hand-crafted drinks and locally sourced pastries have already earned them a strong following. The Garcias take pride in their business and product and it shows!

Asked for a piece of advise for other small businesses, Laura offered: “While our story is definitely a unique one, we hope to inspire our community to follow their dreams and to be a part of their town, Stockton. Whether it’s buying from a local business or starting their own.”

Book Lovers Paradise in Downtown Stockton

Posted on May 7, 2018 by digitalgear

Heading 2

By Paula Sheil,
Tuleburg Press & The Write Place

Nestled in the center of Downtown Stockton is a welcoming book lover’s paradise. Inside are shelves bursting with poetry and art books, vintage printing presses and book binding equipment, polished and brought back to life, and floor-to-ceiling murals depicting Stockton’s lush natural habitats. This book lover’s oasis – The Write Place – is a legacy project of Tuleburg Press.

The mission of Tuleburg Press is to foster literacy in our diverse community by identifying, publishing, and/or mentoring emerging, talented, local writers, especially those who write about life in the Central Valley. The Write Place is where we make that happen.

Located at 343 E. Main Street, The Write Place is a studio workshop that offers classes in book binding, letter press printing, and so much more. During the week, book arts and creative writing classes take place, while on the weekends the center hosts authors and artists who showcase their work.

*Artist Saul Serna works on a linoleum block print in a Delta-inspired environment realized by muralist Armando Perez*.

From cover to cover, Tuleburg Press is all about the book. But more than a book publisher, we host classes where students can create their own books from making the paper, to assembling the book structure, sewing up the book, and filling its pages with creativity!

*Instructor Angie Maxson helps Paige and (mom) Sabrina Wold make junk journals.*

Poets can work under the tutelage of Stockton’s poet laureate Tama Brisbane on Tuesdays. Writers in other genres meet the second and fourth Mondays of the month at our Writers Exchange, where they explore prompts and share their work.

We hold a multitude of different book arts classes throughout the month. Review our schedule and enroll for the classes on our website.

In addition to our regular classes, we often host special events for schools, businesses, and individuals. Schools make hour-long field trips to tour the facility and engage in book arts activities, including book making and creative writing. Businesses have used our services as a company team building retreat, where employees can attend a private workshop in which they learn to make paper, make journals, or learn to bind books. We are always happy to hold birthday parties for bibliophiles; all of our offered classes can become a private party.

To discuss setting up a special event at The Write Place, please contact us via email at [email protected] or via phone 209-949-2233.

We hope to see you soon!