Get uptown funky and things will be great when you're downtown

This is a little bit different than past posts. I am looking at more, far more than a location, a restaurant, or a show, but it takes a look at an experience. Over the past few weeks, I have reflected quietly on experiences and places that collectively make life a little better. I have recently posted reflections on a couple of businesses in downtown Oakdale, California. That got me thinking about something more. Downtowns offer some incredibly wonderful experiences. Let us reflect on some.

Downtown Oakdale
This is the town I call home. I love the schools and walks to the park from home are simple but adventurous. I know the people as I check out at the grocery store and we can reach just about any point in town by car in 10 minutes or less, even with traffic. But, it is the downtown that has hooked me over the past couple of years. For almost five years, I have gone to the same hairdresser. I never thought I would be able to say, "I have a hairdresser," but I can, I do, and I love her. Judy takes fantastic care of me, and my hair. I found her when I was looking for a place to get a couple of additional ear piercings. She has now done several of them and carefully colors and cuts my hair regularly. She knows what to do with it ahead of summer and is sure to darken things up just a bit for winter. The other stylists there are wonderful and I love Saturday mornings when I get to engage with some of the other clients. Three doors down is Pamyla's where I go for my pedicures and massages. Soon, I will get to try an overnight "escape" there with a couple of educator friends. You can read more about Pamyla's in my review from earlier this year. Two blocks down is Rivi's, the wine bar I reviewed to start the year off. I celebrated my birthday ther

e with my best friend and had another wonderful experience, sitting by the fire, eating tomato soup and sipping delicious wine. Downtown Oakdale offers a great variety of shops featuring antiques, collectibles, and great little trinkets and treasures. There is a clock repair shop, a shoe repair shop, a nutrition center, and a handful of places to eat. Another downtown fixture is Moss Rose Bakery (just down from Rivi's). Whether you're looking for a sweet roll on Saturday morning or a cake for a special event, Moss Rose will happily oblige. Of course, you'll find lots of locals grabbing breakfast at Corner Cafe, too. On the other side of the main intersection, you will find Oakdale Garage with some of the friendliest service around. Plus, they always take great care of my vehicle. I love just walking through and window shopping when the opportunity arises. We love to peruse the furniture at Bordona's too. Downtown Oakdale has a little bit of everything.

Downtown Lodi
Speaking of a little bit of everything, Lodi has a downtown that offers some great variety as well. My home away from home, if I need to kill some time between school and evening event, Downtown Lodi lures me in with shops and restaurants, streets nice to walk, and interesting statues. Lodi Beer, Dancing Fox, and Smack Pie Pizza all offer some delicious food and beverages. Although it's a chain, I have to periodically pick up a special candy apple from Rocky Mountain Candy Company. A newfound favorite is slightly off the beaten path: School Grounds Coffee and Gelato. A must try, for sure! The movie theater is even downtown here. There are shoe stores, antique shops, and a great little shop called French at Heart.

Downtown Modesto
Great food, places to catch a show, a neat experiences are here. I have made some great memories in Downtown Modesto. Most recently, catching friends play at the Barkin' Dog Grill rocked! Last fall, I caught one of my favorite rock bands at the Doubletree. I've seen local bands and comedy acts at the Fat Cat. Back in college, you could frequently find me with friends at Deva Cafe on a Friday or Saturday night. I miss it opening on weekend evenings. But, if you're downtown at lunchtime, it still offers some delicious food. We have seen everything from my daughter's dance recital to plays and even a science show for schools at the Gallo Center! Next week, we will see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat a few days after I catch The Sirens, a play raising funds for Haven Women's Center of Stanislaus County while Michael Bolton plays in one of the other theaters. My most favorite part of Downtown Modesto is The State Theatre. I first wrote about The State in a 2013 review. If you're new to reading this blog, you can read more about the State here.

Downtown Turlock
Places to eat, things to see, people to visit. Going to Turlock is something I have done less of in recent years. But, when I have an opportunity to visit downtown, eating is usually involved. From the former Wellington Station, now known at 10 East Kitchen and Tap House to Turlock's claim-to-fame Dust Bowl Brewing, there are certainly fun places to eat with an interesting harder to find beer selection. A favorite for good eats or social time with a little dancing is Red Brick and the best Thai food I've had in the Valley is found at Ju Ju Thai. I have fond memories of purchasing fabric at Rainbow Fabrics and window shopping. A few years ago, there were two different tea shops where I enjoyed high tea. Some of the storefronts have changed, but Downtown Turlock still has some great charm.

Downtown Merced

I only recently spent some real time in Downtown Merced. I heard about the Merced Art Hhere. We found a great record shop that even had cassette tapes available which sparked my interest. As some of the shops started to close, we headed down to Pinocchio's to get some dinner. The Italian cuisine had something for each of us to enjoy and gelato for dessert! The best part of dinner was the staff. Fabulous folks who treated us as if we were regulars. The cooks even poked their heads out to engage my kids as they ate their gelato and watched the end of the Giants game. We will return!

op for April and saw it as a great opportunity to check out an area I felt less familiar with despite my occasional visits to Merced through the years. I took the kids and we enjoyed an evening of art and downtown adventure. The Merced Art Hop happens a few times a year and I highly recommend
checking it out sometime. You can get more information


Downtown Chico

The best part of Downtown Chico is....everything. The restaurants, the stores, the social scene, the farmers market. I rode a mechanical bull for the first time downtown. As I walked down the streets in Chico, I had flashes of my teen years in Whittier (more on Whittier in a moment). It felt like home in a lot of ways. When my best friend lived there, I loved visiting her. Sometimes with the kids and sometimes on my own. There are so many interesting things to see and do around Chico, but downtown and the area just outside of downtown have some of my favorite spots there.


Downtown Palm Springs
Every March I have a conference in Palm Springs. I find a hotel outside of the downtown area, but spend a good amount of time walking through downtown. It has become tradition to celebrate my birthday (which falls on the weekend of the conference) at Pomme Frite. French dining for a reasonable price and the food is terrific. There are also quaint local boutiques and shops. And, there are old time favorites that remind one of time in Hawaii. Yes, you can get a Dole Whip or pick out a new t-shirt at Crazy Shirts. This year, I expanded my dining experiences. The highlight was Fisherman's Market and Grill. It provides a unique dining experience. You are first assigned a place to sit, then you get in line and wait to order your food. You order your food, select your beverage and find your way to your table. I had gone by myself, but found myself chatting with people attending the s
ame conference I was and they invited me to join them. Another evening, an EdTech friend and I walked through the farmers market. Walking to, from, and through Downtown Palm Springs is a highlight of the minimal downtime during the conference weekend. I have a lot more to see still, but each year I find something new. The really neat part of the circumstances under which I have a chance to check out the shops and restaurants here is that as I meet more educators, the more I can "talk shop" while trying a new place to eat.

Bonus stop:
Downtown Fairhope, AL
I recently had a wonderful opportunity to visit schools in southern Alabama. I had never before spent any time in any of the Deep South. I knew that this trip would require taking some time to become acquainted with the culture and history of the area. On the first day of school visits, we used our lunch break for food and culture. My teacher friend took me into Downtown Fairhope. It had such a classic feel to it. This is a place where a local math class does a scavenger hunt field trip. For our lunch, we ventured into Fairhope's own French Quarter and dined at Panini Pete's. Panini Pete's has been featured on the Food Network and it has some great food. In fact, it has arguably the best beignets in the South, and I even stopped in at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans.

And now for a little "Uptown Funk."
Uptown Whittier
My favorite downtown of all is actually Uptown. Whittier the closest thing I have to a hometown. My roots are
there. I only lived there a few years as a teenager, but my family roots go deep. As a teenager, I spent a lot of time in Uptown. All of the things that I love about the above mentioned downtown areas are things that I first experienced in Uptown Whittier. Good food, window shopping, a movie theater, an old record store, charm, character, coffee, and joy. Whenever I visit Whittier, I visit Uptown. The most recent trip was for my 20th high school reunion last fall. We enjoyed sushi and karaoke at Bambooze, we went into a collectible store and an old bookstore, we sat and enjoyed coffee, and we had brunch at one of our longtime favorites: Rocky Cola Cafe. My best friend and I walked down the street singing Uptown Funk at one point. There is just something marvelous about Whittier, specifically Uptown Whittier.

Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city

Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty

How can you lose?

The lights are much brighter there

You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares

So go downtown

Things will be great when you're downtown

No finer place for sure, downtown

Everything's waiting for you

Don't hang around and let your problems surround you

There are movie shows downtown

Maybe you know some little places to go to

Where they never close downtown

Have you had a fantastic experience with a downtown? Share it here. If you haven't yet, what are you waiting for? Get out there and experience downtown!