Happy September Modesto Friends
By Chris Murphy
On of the most fun things about making ModestoView is that we really get to explore and seek out really new cool things that are happening, check out who is playing or has written new music, or maybe someone has written a new play, or a poem or that someone is thinking about. For whatever reason, all lf the performing arts seasons seem to be launch in September, maybe it tied to back to school, end of harvest or shorter days, but whatever the reason, we are kicking off a amazing season and there will be new cool things like a Steam Punk Convention and we are working on more interesting events and festivals. It be very cool to have Jay Leno in Modesto as he is such a classic car and American Graffiti fan. Modesto USA is truly a city of great performers, music, and live entertainment and we are here to help you enjoy it. Check out our center spread to get all the scoop.
One of the coolest ways we celebrate local music is the annual Modesto Area Music Association, “MAMA” Awards. There is no other event like this in our region where so many different genres of music come together to celebrate, perform and hang out. We are ready to go earlier than before and the nominees are ready for your vote. Huge thanks to Middagh Goodwin for taking us to the next level with artist contact and connections. Chris Ricci and I are so proud that this event is still going strong 16 years later. Vote now and we will have more details in our October issue.
It is crazy how people have an impression about places that they have not experienced. If you look at a lot of comments that people make about Modesto, downtown Modesto or our community, you can tell be reading that they are just retelling something they heard. Ask someone if they have heard about Prospect Theatre, or the Runnels brothers and happily inform them. It is up to all of us to take our city back and we are counting on your ModestoView reader to be this kind of champion. I can tell, that just because you picked this magazine up or are reading this online, you care about our community. Let’s get people downtown and out and about. We see a lot of the same people at some of the local shows or fundraisers, so I ask you my Modesto area friends to spread the word. Let’s get new faces to an art show, or a play or bring a new guest to a charity event. Get people downtown as foot traffic brings energy, it brings new jobs, and with an engaged population, we create a city center that makes every neighborhood better in down. A healthy downtown makes a healthy city. Hopefully soon we will have passenger ACE rail downtown, which will lead to housing and more services. This is what cures our ills. Crime and homelessness go down when there is a strong economy with new jobs. We can do this!
Celebrate Modesto friends all of the cool things happening. We are going in to a beautiful season with nice breezy evenings, dining al fresco, gatherings with friends and helping people enjoy living here. Check out our local businesses that advertise in and make sure you check them out first. My kid are remodeling their house and they have had excellent help and service from Direct Appliance. We do business with our friends that give back to the community and hope you do too. We all have to work together.
I hope you enjoy this fall, it looks like it is going to be a blast. We will be keeping you up to speed on some new restaurants and other cool things starting this month and beyond. ModestoView is here for you so please make sure that you tell us what you like and what you want to see more of.
Thanks so much
Chris Murphy
Founder and Publisher – ModestoView
chrism@modestoview.com<mailto:chrism@modestoview.com>
