Stockton Restaurant Week

Posted on February 3, 2019 by digitalgear

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By Andrew Rocha

January is California Restaurant Month and from January 18-27, Visit Stockton presented the 10th Annual Stockton Restaurant Week. Stockton is a city with plenty of culinary talent and unique flavors that can only be found here. Stockton Restaurant Week is an event where restaurants all around Stockton have a chance to show off their best dishes and menus at special fixed prices.

Building Community

Visit Stockton has been organizing this event every year for ten years. Wes Rhea, the CEO of Visit Stockton explained the purpose behind Stockton Restaurant Week, “The main reason that we started this event is to really build a relationship with restaurants. That’s the number one thing people do when they visit a city is to go out and eat. So it really helps us support the restaurant community. We typically work a lot with hotels and attractions but this gives us an opportunity to work with restaurants. And also this is a traditionally slower time of year. January, post-holiday, people are focused on fitness or already ate a lot and cooked a lot, and so we’re trying to shift that business during a particularly slow time.”

Over 30 restaurants participated in this years Stockton Restaurant Week and plenty of restaurant owners and patrons express their delight at experiencing such an event. Especially with so many restaurants now offering vegan and gluten-free options. Some of the participating restaurants are here in downtown Stockton.

Downtown Restaurant Participants

CAST IRON TRADING – 110 North San Joaquin Street

Visit if you’re looking for specialty coffees, housemade breakfast items, sliders and burgers, and much more!

DELIBERATION ROOM – 19 North California Street

They got veggie and meat appetizers to go along with All-American cuisine like pulled pork and corned beef sandwiches.

DELTA BISTRO AT UNIVERSITY PLAZA – 110 West Fremont Street

A great place to have a drink while also enjoying a variety of soups, salads, and sandwiches.

MISAKI SUSHI & BAR – 222 North El Dorado Street Ste. M

Enjoy some Japanese cuisine like chicken teriyaki and signature sushi rolls.

PORT CITY SPORTS BAR AND GRILL – 222 North El Dorado Street

It’s hard to beat a plate of ribs, shrimp scampi, or a mixed plate of wings, chicken strips, onion rings, and fries.

THE DOWNTOWNER – 40 North Sutter Street

Does a Prosciutto-Mandarin Salad, a Wagyu BBQ Meatloaf, or a Big 10 Burger sound good? Then maybe visit The Downtowner.

You can learn more about the restaurants that participated in this year’s Stockton Restaurant Week by checking out the event’s page on Visit Stockton’s website.

I think that it’s safe to say that the 10th Annual Stockton Restaurant Week was a huge success and next year’s is sure to be just as great. It is really something special to have an event like this and an organization like Visit Stockton to get so many businesses involved all for the benefit of Stockton and it’s residents.

Christmas Services

Posted on December 23, 2018 by digitalgear

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‘Tis the season to be jolly! It’s December and, even though it can get a little cold and rainy, downtown Stockton is keeping warm through festiveness and the holiday spirit. Christmas is quickly approaching and there are actually a few churches in the downtown area that will be holding Christmas services. For anyone visiting friend and family over the holidays, these are services that might be interesting. Listed below are a few of the local churches that will be holding such services.

Reality Church Stockton

(Non Denominational. Part of the Reality Family of Churches)

235 North San Joaquin Street, Stockton CA 95202

There will be a Christmas service on the morning of December 23rd at 10:30am.

St. Mary’s Church

(Catholic)

203 Washington Street, Stockton, CA 95202

There will be Christmas mass on both Christmas Eve and Day (December 24th and 25th).

Saint John the Evangelist Church

(Episcopalian)

316 North El Dorado Street, Stockton, CA 95202

There will be a Christmas service, “Lessons and Carols with Holy Eucharist”, on the night of Christmas Eve (December 24th) at 5:30pm.

Pentecostal Church of Jesus

(Non Denominational)

24 South Grant Street, Stockton, CA 95202

There will be a Christmas service on the morning of Christmas Day (December the 25th) at 10:00am.

These services are sure to help anyone have a very Merry Christmas. And to those who do not celebrate Christmas but are still spending their time with friends and family this season, the Downtown Stockton Alliance wishes you a Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

The Write Place

Posted on December 15, 2018 by digitalgear

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By Andrew Rocha

Reading and writing are not only valuable to a person’s education, but they are skills that promote imagination and foster an understanding between people of varying backgrounds and cultures. Downtown Stockton is a place that is teeming with diversity and creativity and the Write Place at the Tuleburg Press is helping to spread the message of the value of literacy to the community.

Community Effort

Studio manager Katelynn Castaneda knows the purpose of Write Place and is a witness and participant to the work they do for the community, sharing that “The point of the Write Place is to help get literacy across the board to everyone, so those that who are low income or cannot afford to get an education, we want to be able to bring in everyone from all walks of life so that they can get that general understanding that literacy is important.”

Workshops and Classes

More than just a mission statement and a dream, the Write Place is actually taking action to make a difference in the community and help all kinds of people. The Write Place hosts many events throughout the year and teaches classes that are both educational and fun. According to Castaneda, one of the more popular classes is paper-making. “It tends to be really popular with kids especially. They like to come in and go through the process because it is something that we don’t do very often and it’s a very niche-y thing to do. It’s very fun for people to go through the process and be like ‘Oh, this is so much fun. I had no idea that this was something that I could do at home.’”

And the Write Place has even more to offer. Their coptic binding class could always use some more participants. “It’s a fun thing to do. It’s very tedious and very time-consuming, but you can do really creative art with different spines and stitches.It’s really fun to learn and once you learn it, you know it for the rest of your life.”

Impacting #DowntownStockton

The Write Place is doing so much in downtown, that it is sometimes hard to believe and almost sounds like magic. “We have stuff that people can tangibly use for books, but we also take those books and we also make things out of them. We recently done some old reader’s digest books. We’ve taken those, gutted them pretty much, and we’re taking them, using the covers, and we’re going to be holding classes where people can come in and make coptic bound journals. They’ll have like really cool top cover pages that are made from those old reader’s digests and all the insides were taken from old paper pulp that were made into paper. So for like the holidays, we made some really cool envelopes out of that paper and stationary sets that we are now selling to people.”

While sometimes it is hard to see the use of writing and literature and many people find those to be their least favorite subjects from school, the Write Place makes the world of books and writing fun and exciting. Located at the Tuleburg Press at 343 E. Main Street and open from 1pm-5pm, the Write Place is helping to make a positive change in Downtown Stockton.

Fun, Family-Friendly Summer Activities & Events in Downtown Stockton

Posted on May 21, 2018 by digitalgear

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By Jessica Nguyen

Soon, 90 degree temperatures will be heading our way, and you know what that means- summer is almost here! Luckily, there are plenty of family-friendly summer activities and events for you and your loved ones to enjoy in the Downtown Stockton area. Whether you want to cool off from the heat or stay out of the sun, these Downtown Stockton events and activities got you covered (no pun intended)!

Arts & Entertainment

To start off, the Weber Point Event Center is a family favorite! Throughout the year, the Event Center is home to festivals, concerts, and community celebrations as well as a colorful play area for children. In the summer, there is a free interactive water feature for all to enjoy (edit: unfortunately, the water feature will be closed this summer but will be re-opening next year). If getting wet is not for you, feel free to take a leisurely stroll along the water instead and enjoy the view or have a nice lunch in the nearby picnic site. Starting in June, the Event Center hosts Movies at the Point, where family-friendly films are projected onto the outdoor canopy in the evenings. These events are free to the public, so don’t hesitate to bring blankets, snacks, or even dinner to enjoy while watching movies under the summer night sky full of stars.

Speaking of films, don’t forget to stop by the Regal City Centre Stadium 16 & IMAX with the family to see highly anticipated summer movies such as Hotel Transylvania 3 and The Incredibles 2.

If live performances or conventions are more your style, come relax and enjoy bands and artists scheduled to perform at the Bob Hope Theatre such as The Monkees, Jake Shimabukuro, and Benise. Over at the Stockton Arena, the first ever Kidz Expo will take place on July 21st, and will include vendor booths, inflatable bounce houses, face painting, magicians, and much more – a great opportunity for you and your family to spend time together. Continue making memories with your loved ones at StocktonCon, an event that showcases talented artists in the San Joaquin Valley Area and promotes awareness of popular culture. Come dressed as your favorite movie, anime, video game, or comic book character!

Educational Activities

Downtown Stockton also offers entertaining, educational activities for youth. For example, at the Children’s Museum of Stockton, kids can enjoy over 40 interactive exhibits, including a Reptile Display, an Eye Exhibit, a Magnet Exhibit, and a fort with a slide. Admission is only $6, and children aged 2 and under are free!

Another option is a visit to the Cesar Chavez Central Library, which offers internet access, free classes, and workshops. Programs for children include: Preschool Playtime, Family Storytime, Family Game Time, and a LEGO Building Club.

Sports

And of course, we can’t forget about sports! Don’t forget to come cheer on our Stockton Ports baseball team at Banner Island Ballpark! In addition to spectating, kids can play with games, inflatable bouncers, and a giant slide located past the outfield along the seawall. There are also batting cages along the first base line for those who want to practice their swing.

Also, join us, the Downtown Stockton Alliance, for our free, trademark event, Full Moon Riders! Bring your family and bicycles for casual evening rides along the Downtown Stockton Waterfront. After the event, riders meet at participating downtown restaurants. The rides are scheduled on nights of the full moon, and the first one is coming up on May 29^th! The ride theme is Flower Child Pedal, so wear some flowers in your hair or on your wheels to celebrate the Full Flower Moon!

Each Full Moon Riders event has a different theme, so remember to gear up, decorate your bikes, and have fun!

To keep up on family-friendly summer activities happening in Downtown Stockton, check out our Events Calendar!

Book Lovers Paradise in Downtown Stockton

Posted on May 7, 2018 by digitalgear

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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!

Historic Downtown Tours

Posted on March 23, 2018 by digitalgear

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By Manuel Laguna, DSA Resident Historian Ambassador, CTA

Since 2006 I have presented the history of Downtown Stockton through various tours I gave to visitors from senior groups, schools, and even Stockton Sister Cities. We have had groups from throughout California, from the Bay Area to Southern California visitors. In general, they have always seemed to have a positive attitude towards Stockton which they saw as a beautiful city with its many waterways and interesting historic buildings. I have never had a tour where at least one person wouldn’t say, “I didn’t know that!”

In October of 2016, I partnered with Kelly Howard for the very first Ghost Tour of Downtown Stockton. A total of 65 people joined us to explore the Hotel Stockton, B & M Building, and finally the Bob Hope Theater. The tour was well received by everyone, except one young lady who became so frightened, she had to leave early. We are looking forward to organizing a ghost tour again in 2018. Call me at 209-888-8636 to be added to the downtown tours contact list.

Every October I am joined by dozens of third grade students from the Stockton Collegiate Schools as we visit the Bob Hope Theater and the San Joaquin County Administration Building. Other local schools bring their students to downtown too. At the end of 2017, we had over 200 students from Kohl Open School join me for a series of brief public art tours! We looked at various street murals as well as one of the Music To Our Ears community pianos affectionately called “Jules” as it reminds people of a time machine from a Jules Verne’s novel. Our tours ended at the Mexican Heritage Center where the students viewed ofrendas, or altars, made for the Dia De Los Muertos celebration.

The Bob Hope Theater was clearly the most requested place to visit last year. Certainly, one of the most fun tours was with former Stocktonian Karl Scott and his photographers. Karl came here to write an article on his memories growing up in Stockton and going to the movies. He even recreated a promo done in the past at the Bob Hope for a Vincent Price movie! During the movie projection, a skeleton was lowered over the side of the balcony to scare theater goers. Karl said that teenagers would throw popcorn at the plastic skeleton as the audience laughed. As we took pictures during the tour, one of Karl’s photographers lowered a skeleton off the balcony.

I also fondly remember the group from Stockton Institute for Continued Learning who came to the DSA office for a talk and tour last year. I dressed in a costume as a fictional Charles Weber employee and after the talk I took over 30 participants on a tour of the B & M Building, Hotel Stockton, and Bob Hope Theater. Later that month, I led “A Walk Through Time” tour of the Stockton Rural Cemetery where I told the stories of the many colorful characters buried there, both heroic and tragic figures of Stockton’s past.

I have several new ideas for history events and tours in 2018. I’m happy to notice that there is a growing interest in local history and historic places in our community. If you want to stay in touch for the upcoming tours, contact me at 209-888-8636 or email.