Celebrate 4th of July Weekend in Downtown Stockton!

Posted on June 30, 2019 by digitalgear

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By Jessica Nguyen

If you’re scouring the Internet and scrolling through Facebook event pages in search of things to do 4^th of July weekend, look no further! Close those tabs, sit back, relax, and put on some patriotic tunes ‘cause we’ve put together an itinerary for your entire weekend! Whether you choose to do everything listed below or can only make a few events, you’re sure to have a fun, family-friendly (and wallet-friendly) Fourth of July (or, you can leave the kids at home- hey, it’s your weekend too).

City of Stockton’s 4th of July Celebration, Weber Point

Thursday, July 4^th

Stockton’s Fourth of July Parade

Parade begins at 10am and starts on Weber Avenue and El Dorado Street, travels north on El Dorado, left on Oak Street, and left on Center Street. The grandstand (main viewing area) will be located in front of the Stockton Civic Memorial Auditorium.

Start your 4^th of July celebration early and attend Downtown Stockton’s Fourth of July Parade hosted by the United Veterans Council of San Joaquin County. The parade will honor Gold Star Families, or immediate family members of fallen service members who died while serving in a time of conflict. Bring the entire family and enjoy lively music, colorful floats, and other eye-catching entities while adorned in red, white and blue attire and patriotically waving your miniature American flags. If spectating is not your thing, you can sign up to participate in the parade! Build that float or ready your trumpet and you’re good to go!

City’s 4^th of July Celebration

5:30pm-10:00pm at the Weber Point Event Center, fireworks begin at 9:30pm

How can it be a 4^th of July without fireworks? Bring your loved ones to view a spectacular fireworks show at the Weber Point Event Center! Take along blankets or lawn chairs to settle in before the start of the spectacle; and if you didn’t opt for an early dinner at one of Downtown’s tasty restaurants, then bring a picnic-style dinner to enjoy (turkey sandwiches sound great, but they don’t beat fried soft shell crab followed by a delicious Dynamite Roll from Misaki’s- just sayin’). Bring your mini flags and good vibes, but leave the alcohol, personal fireworks, hard coolers, barbeque grills and pets at home.

Kaboom 4^th of July

6:00pm-10:00pm at the Downtown Stockton Marina, fireworks start at 9:00pm.

Not only are there fireworks, but this FREE event includes face painting, music, and a bounce house- perfect for kids (and adults -if face painting is your thing…)! Food will also be available for purchase. At 9pm, once you’re full and the kids’ faces are covered with drying paint, you and your family will have an excellent view as you bask in the thunderous booms of fireworks and watch them light up the sky with their brilliant hues.

The fireworks will be- as the kids say- lit.

Stockton Ports Baseball

6:10pm-9:00pm at Downtown Stockton’s Banner Island Ballpark

What’s a more patriotic sport than baseball? Join the Ports and fellow fans for the ballpark’s biggest firework show of the year! But first, cheer on our local team as they play against the Modesto Nuts. Grab some ballpark snacks (chomp down on some nuts and show the Modesto Nuts who’s boss) and enjoy the Delta breeze as you view America’s Favorite Pastime on the day we celebrate America’s Independence.

Friday, July 5^th

Regal Cinemas Stockton City Center 16 & IMAX

Hooray, it’s Friday! After an exciting Independence Day, catch a movie and head to the downtown cinema to sink into reclining seats with a refreshing drink in one hand and a bag of popcorn in the other. With so many great movies hitting theaters, it’s almost too hard to choose the film for Friday movie night. Do you go with the highly anticipated Toy Story 4? The action-packed Spider-Man: Far From Home? Or others that are also probably really great but not mentioned because the author of this article is so focused on waiting for Toy Story 4? Good luck deciding!

Mama Coon Live

7:30pm-9:00pm at Channel Brewing Co.

Local favorite Mama Coon will be performing at Channel Brewing Co., playing originals and covers on her guitar. Come by, purchase one of Channel’s delicious craft beers, and revel in the camaraderie of one of downtown’s hottest spots and the energy of the live music.

Stockton Ports Baseball

7:10pm at Downtown Stockton’s Banner Island Ballpark

Why not make it a baseball weekend? Come to downtown’s ballpark Friday night to cheer on the Stockton Ports. The first 1,000 fans to arrive will receive a free pair of American Flag socks- talk about patriotic! But that isn’t the only thing that’ll knock your socks off (pun intended)- come dressed as your favorite superhero, ‘cause it’s Super Hero Day! And yes, He-Man counts.

Saturday, July 6^th

Farmer’s Market

6:00am to 10:00am under the Cross Town Freeway

Get up early to pick up some fresh produce from the open air Asian farmer’s market under the Cross Town Freeway! The market offers fresh seasonal produce of all kinds – herbs, fish, eggs, sweets, and other tasty Asian treats from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China, and India. Grab the best ingredients for your family lunch and/or dinner!

Brit Floyd

8:00pm to 10:00pm at the Bob Hope Theater

You know what else you need for this 4^th of July weekend? Rock music! Come see Brit Floyd at downtown’s Bob Hope Theater! Brit Floyd is widely regarded as the world’s greatest live tribute to rock band Pink Floyd, complete with a stunning multi-million dollar light show, large circular screen, projections, lasers, inflatables and theatrics. Playing hit songs from Pink Floyd’s classic albums such as Wish You Were Here and Animals, you’re sure to enjoy this performance- besides, you’re probably going to need a break from Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA”.

Sunday, July 7^th

Mimosa Sunday Brunch

10:00am to 2:00pm at the Delta Bistro and Lounge in the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel

Sunday is for brunch! And mimosas, of course. If you’ve never been to the Delta Bistro for brunch, Fourth of July weekend is the perfect excuse to try it! Stuff yourself with country potatoes, sweet cream pancakes, house cured and smoked salmon, and some carved to order prime rib! Relax in this chic atmosphere and get your brunch on.

Rooftop Brunch

10:00am to 2:00pm at Bella Vista

If you want to enjoy brunch on a rooftop during a beautiful sunny morning, this is the place for you. Every Sunday, Fleur Bistro partners with Bella Vista Rooftop to bring you a delicious brunch experience in a beautiful setting. This Fourth of July weekend is only the second Sunday of this new collaboration! Come check it out.

Walk With Weber Walking Tour

Since the 4^th of July is all about honoring our nation’s history, why not conclude your weekend by learning the history behind Downtown Stockton’s oldest buildings on the Walk With Weber self-guided tour? All you need is your smartphone, a stocked snack bag, and comfy walking shoes to step back into the early days of Stockton.

Walk With Weber is available on the DSA website for FREE, and since it is self-guided, can be taken at your leisure (though we recommend late afternoon to enjoy the colors of the setting sun as the weather begins cooling down). To take the tour, walk yourself to 125 Bridge Place (where the tour begins), and open the tour menu on your smartphone to view the tour stops, in recommended order. As you walk to each stop, click on the name of the building to enjoy a slideshow of historic photos and insightful narration by historian Manuel Laguna.

With 24 video clips, this tour takes 2 hours to walk, so we recommend a snack break between stops #6 and #7 – sit on a bench facing the peaceful waterfront and observe the row of gently waving American flags along Weber Point. Once you’ve completed the tour, you’ll be ready to reward yourself with something nice and cool, like a thick chocolate milkshake from Moo Moo’s Burger Barn or a fresh fruit smoothie from Edible Arrangements! Indulge and enjoy!

Now that you’re in-the-know about these Independence Day weekend possibilities, we hope you’ll choose Downtown for your red, white, and bluing! Happy celebrating!

To keep informed about any other events going on Downtown this weekend, visit our events calendar. To receive monthly updates on what’s happening in Downtown, sign up for our newsletter.

How to Get Around Downtown

Posted on June 22, 2019 by digitalgear

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By Nissi Guiao

Downtown Stockton is full of life, housing an abundance of treasure all around and within the walls of the unique businesses who’ve made these blocks their home. There is plenty to do—new things to see, good eats to share, a variety of places to shop, etc. And even though parking has been a top deterrence in times past, there are now so many options to get around.

EASY-TO-USE PARKING MACHINES

The first is simple. Like Nike, #justdoit! Nowadays, there are electronic parking machines pretty much around every corner. Plus, they are very easy to use. Simply punch in your license plate, select your desired amount of time, then pay with card or coin (literally easy as 1-2-3). Just be sure to pay attention to posted signage in your location, as maximum time limits do vary pending the area you are in.

SJ RTD

If you don’t fancy parking and don’t want to have to think about it, RTD is one of the next best options to make your way downtown. Lori Mumphrey, one of RTD’s very own passionate transit ambassadors at the Downtown Transit Center, knows all of the ins and outs. If you’re excited to jump in and take a bus downtown, here’s the 411 from her.

“Our biggest route that we have most people on is our Express 40. And that leaves from here (downtown) to all the way up Pacific to our Hammer Triangle… ‘cause it passes several of our colleges in that area, to the mall. And those buses are actually the ‘big buses,’ the double buses as I call [them]. . .those are always filled. Also our 520 – that has a lot of people on there -runs up and down California Street to the mall as well. Our 510 runs from here all the way down San Joaquin up toward the San Joaquin Hospital and that area. . .the 47 runs from downtown to the DMV. A lot of our buses do run hourly except for our Express buses—they run every 15-20 minutes.”

So if you’re near the Hammer Triangle or if you’re hanging out near the malls, the popular Express 40 (Pacific Corridor) will take you to the Downtown Transit Center, where you’ll be within walking distance to all the places you’ll want to check out or re-visit. If you’re not quite near the route the Express 40 hits, take advantage of the helpful “Trip Planner” (powered by Google) on the homepage or sidebar of their website (sanjoaquinrtd.com) to figure out the most efficient way to get from your specific location to your desired location with ease.

RTD GO! + RTD VAN GO!

If, however, you prefer something even simpler than that, RTD now offers RTD Go! and RTD Van Go! Far greater than transportation via bus, our county’s trusted transit system has implemented other services that ensure even more comfort and convenience for the communities it serves.

RTD Go! “offers an on-demand service with Uber and JVG that subsidizes qualifying trips, provides more mobility options with extended service hours and allows passengers to save up to 50% (up to $5.00 per ride) using the Uber app.”

RTD Van Go! “provides an on-demand rideshare service throughout the county, expands service to rural areas where transportation options may be limited, offers an accessible, safe vehicle that can transport passengers with wheelchairs and features drivers that are professionally trained, licensed, and prepared to help.”

With pure excitement, Mumphrey shares her personal experience: “I really love the new service which is the Van Go! I love that service—I use it myself, personally. The Van Go!, it runs just like Lyft and Uber (but we’re cheaper… I love it). . .Cute, little bus. Cute—just cute! Over the weekend, I used it for my family, and we left from my house and went down here to this ice cream parlor. We loved it! Nobody had to drive…”

Unlike regular bus services, RTD Van Go! runs “7 days a week, even on holidays (Monday-Friday from 6:00am-6:00pm/Saturday & Sunday from 6:00am-10:00pm)” says Mumphrey. “For a $4 one-way ride, you and 3…other people can go on that one ride. Our all-day pass is $10 (that’s for our regular), [where] you and 3…other people [can ride] as well. Then we have our discount for our seniors and disabled. One ride is $3—the all-day for them is $7. But what makes it so nice is you can share it with other people. You know, if everybody comes to your home and nobody feels like driving but you want to go to the winery in Lodi, they have transfer points.”

If you haven’t spotted the colorful buses around town yet, Emily Oestreicher (Marketing Senior Specialist for SJ RTD) says “You’ll recognize them now that we’re talking about it. A lot of them actually look like Van Gogh paintings. . .” Plus, “a lot of people have been using that service because. . .[just like Lyft and Uber] we have an app. . .and for things happening downtown like at the Bob Hope (stuff like that)…you don’t want to worry about parking. . .it’s an excellent service.”

With these new additions to RTD, there is no reason to withhold yourself from enjoying everything downtown has to offer.

Visit sanjoaquinrtd.com for more details on trips, senior and veteran discounts and other services. If you need help at one of the transit locations, feel free to ask any of the friendly and knowledgeable RTD transit ambassadors, and they will happily assist you.

DIBS

“Smart travel, your way” is their motto. Dibs is a fresh travel resource in our community that everyone should know about, especially those who are sustainability-minded.

“Dibs does more than just give you directions. [They] offer transportation options, incentives, tips and even emergency rides home. [They] also bring car and vanpool participants together. You want easy options designed to fit your needs. By foot, bike, car, bus, train, carpool or vanpool, [they’re] your portal to smart travel to save you money, reduce road congestion and improve air quality.”

Making and keeping our environments healthier—cleaner—just like anything else, takes one step at a time. And quite literally, with one of the options Dibs suggests, you can start taking steps right away by walking to work, if that’s a plausible option for you.

Everyone has a part to play – you just have to start somewhere. “Call Dibs on how you get around today at 1-800-52-SHARE.”

ACE

Perhaps you’re feeling adventurous and want to take a trip to the Bay Area. If that’s the case, take ACE (located on 949 E. Channel St.)! Many ride the ACE train for their normal commute to work, but it is also a great way to take a trip out of town. ACE will take you directly to Santa Clara or San Jose—there is even an option to go straight to Great America for a fun day in the sun!

If you’re planning a trip to SF and don’t want to deal with the headache of parking costs or the drive, ACE will take you to its Pleasanton location where you can easily transfer to BART and go directly into the heart of the city. ACE is an excellent gateway to the Bay, and the best part is, you can access it right from downtown!

Visit http://www.acerail.com/Getting-You-There/Transfers-Shuttles to buy your tickets and/or get more information.

As things continue to bloom and blossom, you don’t want to miss being part of it. Grab a friend (or invite a group) and take advantage of any or all of these ways to get around downtown—add to the life and excitement that’s found on every block…

Downtown’s Wheelie Great Biking Community

Posted on June 16, 2019 by digitalgear

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By Jessica Nguyen

Before we start the article, here’s some bike wisdom for good measure:
A bicycle can’t stand on its own. It’s two-tired.

Downtown Stockton is home to many things: historic buildings, delicious eateries, aromatic coffee shops, exciting events, and a thriving bike community. From Downtown-based groups like the San Joaquin Bike Coalition, Roadfinch, and the HUB, to bicyclists who pass through Downtown Stockton, ride to work, or bike recreationally in the area, downtown is a bustling center of cycle-based activity.

Whether bikers choose to ride along the glittering waterfront, on breezy bike paths lined by popular Downtown hangouts, or anywhere in between, Downtown Stockton attracts bikers of all ages and skill levels. In fact, between the months of April and October, bike enthusiasts gather monthly downtown for casual evening rides. These rides, known as the Full Moon Riders, each follow a different downtown route and conclude at a participating downtown restaurant.

San Joaquin Bike Coalition

The San Joaquin Bike Coalition is one of the founding groups of the Full Moon Riders. Although unsure at how the evening bike rides would initially be received by the community, Kari McNickle, board president of the SJ Bike Coalition, reflects that the Full Moon Riders quickly became “successful, beyond what we ever could have imagined,” and that now, it’s “one of our [The SJ Bike Coalition’s] favorite events to lead and promote.”

The San Joaquin Bike Coalition, a nonprofit organization, advocates for bicycle safety and helps to promote bicycle-related events. Their events and group rides are not only lively, but are also completely free to the public. The Bike Coalition is based in Downtown Stockton’s Huddle, a coworking space located on N. San Joaquin Street. Huddle’s central location and inexpensive fees make it a perfect space for the nonprofit, McNickle explains. Bike Coalition members also hold meetings at popular downtown spots nearby and pop into places like Cast Iron, Trail, and Channel Brewing Co.

Kari McNickle proudly states that the SJ Bike Coalition has been around for nearly 10 years. What makes this board president so passionate about cycling in particular? She shares, “I love that it’s a way to get around that connects you with your neighborhood and community.” Bringing cyclists together for bike rides strengthens the sense of community and helps to promote local businesses in the area. She adds adamantly, “it’s really important we [local businesses and organizations] support each other.”

The HUB

Another well-known and revered figure in the downtown biking community is Deacon Steve, operator of the HUB and Deacon at the Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist right next door. The HUB provides FREE assistance to those in need of bike repairs (or bikes) and on average, the HUB sees at least 100 visitors a week. Many of these visitors rely on derelict bicycles as their sole means of transportation and lack the funds to replace or repair them. Deacon Steve and the HUB’s 5 volunteers relentlessly work to help: just last year they assisted with 4,000 repairs, and within the past 3 years have given away over 300 bikes!

The HUB also partners with downtown’s seasonal Full Moon Riders events. Annually, Deacon Steve performs a Bike Blessing to “pray that they [the bicyclists] have a safe cycling year“ before leading the cyclists on their downtown journey. Deacon Steve loves the “freedom of movement” and how bicycles provide “access to your own personal freedom.”

It’s time to dust off your old bicycle, grab a helmet, and head Downtown to join this energetic, lively, and passionate bike community. Explore the downtown area with freedom and the feeling of wind through your hair (or on your face, if you have no hair- we don’t judge). You can join the San Joaquin Bike Coalition, participate in an upcoming Full Moon Riders event (June 17^th, July 16^th, August 15^th, etc.), or grab some friends to bike with and as Deacon Steve nicely puts it, “find a route that works best for you.”

Happy Cycling!

Written by Jessica Nguyen

Summer Fun

Posted on May 19, 2019 by digitalgear

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Downtown Stockton is a place where people of all ages can find something for them and have a great time, especially in the summer season! With summer vacation fast approaching, families with kids can consider spending some time together exploring downtown Stockton at the following events and locations.

Regal Cinemas Stockton City Centre & IMAX

Almost everyone in Stockton visits the downtown area when they want to see movies. This summer, there are plenty of films coming soon to the Regal Cinemas Stockton City Centre for families to check out.

If you’ve already seen the much anticipated Avengers: Endgame, you might want to get tickets to see Ugly Dolls, Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, A Dog’s Journey, Aladdin, The Secret Life of Pets 2, Toy Story 4, The Lion King, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, or The Angry Birds Movie 2.

For tickets and showtimes, check out Regal Cinemas Stockton City Centre online: https://www.regmovies.com/theatres/regal-stockton-holiday-cinema/1816#/buy-tickets-by-cinema?in-cinema=1816&at=2019-05-14&view-mode=list

Full Moon Riders

For the families interested in bicycling or enjoy being active over the summer, the Full Moon Riders is the perfect event series. Each ride begins at 6:00 PM on the night of the full moon from May – Oct., and always begins at Janet Leigh Plaza. It’s a great opportunity to ride along with the community and explore downtown Stockton.

For future riding dates and additional information check out,

full-moon-riders

Stockton Ports Baseball

Sports-loving families can get together and cheer on the Stockton Ports. Watch the minor league team take on opposing teams, while spending time together as a family. The Stockton Ports offer plenty of promotions throughout the summer for fans to have even a better time at the ballpark.

Bonus: The DSA also does frequent Ports game ticket giveaways via social media, so if you’re not already following DSA’s facebook, instagram, and twitter, you may want to start this summer!

For more information and the Stockton Ports schedule, check out, https://www.milb.com/stockton

Cesar Chavez Library

School may be out for the summer, but it is still a good time to expand your mind and learn something new everyday. While you can always visit the Cesar Chavez Library, starting on June 1st to July 31st, families can participate in the San Joaquin County Summer Reading Program. Participants can win prizes at the end of the challenge and there are categories for kids, teens, and adults.

For more information on Cesar Chavez Library, check out, http://www.ssjcpl.org/locations/stockton/chavez.html

And for more information on the San Joaquin County Summer Reading Program, check out, http://www.ssjcpl.org/programs/sumReading.html

Downtown Stockton is fantastic and fun place for families to spend the summer. It’s always awesome to explore and take on new experiences, and downtown Stockton has a lot to offer families. So maybe think about calling a family meeting and plan a visit to downtown Stockton.

STOCKMARKET

Posted on April 27, 2019 by digitalgear

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By Andrew Rocha

Stockmarket is a local event that provides an opportunity for friends and families to explore and experience Stockton businesses. This is Stockmarket’s fifth year and they are in a NEW location at the Waterfront Marina at 445 W. Weber Avenue in #DowntownStockton. This past Saturday (April 20th) was the FIRST Stockmarket of the year! If you missed it, don’t worry! You still have an opportunity to check it out on June 22nd, August 17th, and October 19th from 10am to 4pm.

“With each year and location, we encourage attendees to join us to activate areas of our city that need some love! Our festival will feature 70+ vendors of art, handmade items, vintage goods, live music and tons of delicious local food options. We act as a platform to showcase local small business and to boost our local economy through supporting makers in our city. The festival is free to guests, dog friendly, and creates a fun atmosphere for families and friends to enjoy a day at the beautiful downtown waterfront.”

Founder’s Vision

Amy and Katie, the founders of Stockmarket, had a vision for a space in Stockton where businesses could sell their goods while creating a positive atmosphere in the community. Stockmarket first launched in 2015 with around 700 guests, and now in 2019 they’re attracting almost 3000 guests to a fun event for people of all ages and backgrounds.

“As we grow in size, and people spread the word about what the event is, and what it supports— we continue to hear great feedback from guests. Not only do they feel good about supporting local vendors, they enjoy having a space they can go to free of charge with the whole family (dogs included), to enjoy live music, taste local cuisine and meet new people along the way.”

Resource for Local Businesses

Not only is it a fun time for visitors to explore local businesses and enjoy tasty food, but it’s also good for the vendors. “We have had amazing feedback from our vendors. Not only have we had over 10 small businesses go from booths to brick and mortar, but we constantly hear positive feedback from vendors to surrounding cities who had never previously been to Stockton. It is important for us to change any negative perception people may have of our city, and part of Stockmarket is giving visitors a positive experience they can share with others. We hear all the time Stockmarket has a family feel atmosphere and we are all in it together to create a community event to be proud of.”

If you had a good time at Stockmarket before, you need to check out the event now that they’re downtown. And if you’ve never heard of or been to Stockmarket, definitely come out to the Waterfront Marina in #DowntownStockton to check it out!

Full Moon Riders

Posted on April 20, 2019 by digitalgear

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By Andrew Rocha

Bicycling! Whether it’s a hobby, how you get to work, or a way of life, there are a series of events coming soon that you need to be aware of right away! For the fifth year, the Downtown Stockton Alliance is hosting the Full Moon Riders starting TODAY, April 20th. The Full Moon Riders will be gathering to ride every month on the evening of the full moon from April through October. Each ride will be led by various local organizations and be an opportunity to experience the wonder of downtown Stockton. This will also be the first time that the Downtown Stockton Alliance will be donating $1 per rider to a different non-profit organization at each ride.

Courtney Wood, the economic development coordinator for the Downtown Stockton Alliance explained the background and purpose of the Full Moon Riders event. “I think the original goal was that downtown was kind of empty at certain times and [the Downtown Stockton Alliance] were like, ‘wow, this would be great to have bike riding here’ because there aren’t many cars in the evenings when people go home from their offices. So it’s kind of a cool place to bike ride. I think that was part of it: to get people down here to use the streets to promote bicycling.”

Bikes & Bites

Not only is this event an opportunity to give visitors and residents a unique look at downtown Stockton, but also a chance to grab a bite to eat with fellow cyclists. At the end of rides, leaders will direct the riders to some of their favorite restaurants in the area for a filling and delicious dinner or maybe just a quick snack. If anything, it is a chance for people to come together after a fun ride and take pleasure in some downtown Stockton cuisine. Some participating restaurants may even have special deals and offers for the Full Moon Riders.

And if that still doesn’t sound like a good time, there will also be a giveaway at each ride for the first 100 riders. Registration always begins at 5:15pm in Janet Leigh Plaza on the day of the ride.

The Downtown Stockton Alliance Ambassadors will be helping out at the event. Special events ambassador Shirley Griffith explained the role that the ambassadors play during the event. “We have a table set up with giveaways and signup sheets, so at the beginning we get everybody’s name and email. We also take liability forms and give the riders the giveaway prize. And when they leave the plaza to go on their rides, we load everything up, go to the restaurant that is participating that night and put out bike racks.” So while everyone is enjoying themselves on their rides, it’s the ambassadors that are making sure everyone has a great experience.

So if you’re someone who simply enjoys a leisurely bike ride or you’re a passionate bicyclist, you definitely want to join the Full Moon Riders and experience another side of downtown Stockton. Just remember to ride responsibly and that children under the age of 18 are required to wear a helmet.

Listed below are some more details on each of the upcoming rides. You can also find more information at https://www.downtownstockton.org/play/full-moon-riders-2/

April 20th

6-8:15pm, led by the San Joaquin Bike Coalition.

Non-profit beneficiary: SJ Pride Center

Restaurant: Channel Brewing, Cast Iron, and Kabob & Gyro House

May 18th

6-9pm, led by Deacon Steve from the HUB

Non-profit beneficiary: the HUB

Restaurant: Cancun

Bonus: After-ride bike-in movie!

June 17th

6-8:15pm, led by the San Joaquin Bike Coalition

Non-profit beneficiary: Ready-to-Work

Restaurant: Papa Urb’s & Alfalfa’s

July 16th

6-8:15pm, led by Roadfinch

Non-Profit beneficiary: Mary Magdalene Community Services

Restaurant: All participating Downtown restaurants

August 15th

6-8:15pm, led by Roadfinch

Non-profit beneficiary: Child Abuse Prevention Council

Restaurant: The Downtowner, Subway

September 13th

6-8:15pm, led by Stockton Bike Club

Non-profit beneficiary: Mexican Heritage Center

Restaurant: Nena’s, D’lilah’s Cakery

October 13th

6-8:15pm, led by Robby’s Bicycles

Non-profit beneficiary: HATCH Workshop

Restaurant: participating Janet Leigh Plaza restaurants

Easter Weekend

Posted on April 19, 2019 by digitalgear

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Before the April showers bring May flowers, it’s the season of chocolate rabbits and hidden eggs. Easter is this Sunday! Many of the local churches in downtown Stockton will be hosting special Easter services, which we have listed below! Or if a service isn’t how you spend Easter, we’ve also provided some of the restaurants that have brunch or are open for lunch on Sunday!

Services

Stockton Sunrise Service

(Non-Denominational)

Weber Point Events Center, 221 North Center Street, Stockton CA 95202

6:00 AM to 7:00 AM

Reality Church Stockton

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

235 North San Joaquin Street, Stockton CA 95202

There will be two services on Easter Sunday, April 21, at 9:00am and 11:00am

St Mary’s Church

(Catholic)

203 Washington Street, Stockton, CA 95202

There will be mass on Easter Sunday. Exact time TBD.

Saint John the Evangelist Church

(Episcopalian)

316 North El Dorado Street, Stockton, CA 95202

There will be services on Maunday Thursday, April 18, at 5:30pm; Good Friday, April 19, at 12:10pm; and Easter Sunday, April 21, at 10:30am

Pentecostal Church of Jesus

(Non Denominational)

24 South Grant Street, Stockton, CA 95202

There will be service on Easter Sunday, April 21, 11:15am

Brunch or Lunch

And if you’re going to be spending your Easter Sunday eating brunch or lunch with friends and family, there are plenty of options to choose from downtown.

RoRo’s

20 North California Street, Stockton, CA 95202

Seafood, burgers and barbeque.

Sunshine Hawaiian BBQ

11 North Center Street, Stockton, CA, 95202

Hawaiian cuisine and barbeque.

Flakos Takos

222 N El Dorado Street, Stockton, CA, 95202

Mexican cuisine.

Mimosas Gourmet

30 South El Dorado Street, Stockton, CA 95202

Cocktails, breakfast, brunch, and burgers.

The Downtowner

40 North Sutter Street, Stockton, CA 95202

Wraps, salads, and sandwiches.

Tita’s Ihawan

6 West Main Street, #K, Stockton, CA 95202

Filipino cuisine and desserts.

Photo from The Record

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.

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Thursday, July 4th

Stockton’s Fourth of July Parade

City’s 4th of July Celebration

Kaboom 4th of July

Friday, July 5th

Saturday, July 6th

Sunday, July 7th

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EASY-TO-USE PARKING MACHINES

SJ RTD

RTD GO! + RTD VAN GO!

DIBS

ACE

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San Joaquin Bike Coalition

The HUB

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Regal Cinemas Stockton City Centre & IMAX

Full Moon Riders

Stockton Ports Baseball

Cesar Chavez Library

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Founder’s Vision

Resource for Local Businesses

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Bikes & Bites

April 20th

May 18th

June 17th

July 16th

August 15th

September 13th

October 13th

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Services

Stockton Sunrise Service

Reality Church Stockton

St Mary’s Church

Saint John the Evangelist Church

Pentecostal Church of Jesus

Brunch or Lunch

RoRo’s

Sunshine Hawaiian BBQ

Flakos Takos

Mimosas Gourmet

The Downtowner

Tita’s Ihawan

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Thursday, July 4^th

City’s 4^th of July Celebration

Kaboom 4^th of July

Friday, July 5^th

Saturday, July 6^th

Sunday, July 7^th