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The Portola Music Festival rocked Pier 80 in San Francisco this past weekend as thousands of people celebrated the best of electronic and dance music. Set at a working multi-purpose cargo terminal, Portola unfolds amongst towering industrial cranes, shipping containers, and has endless concrete to walk through.
A skeptic, a mystic, and a podcast. The "Gen Explains" weekly show dives deep into the world of astrology, mythology, the occult, and everything in between. The locally-produced podcast celebrated its 100th episode this month, marking a celebratory milestone for Genesis and David Duong, the husband and wife duo who host the show.
My Chemical Romance thrilled fans with an extreme, theatrical performance of their groundbreaking contribution to humanity, "Welcome To The Black Parade," inside a packed house at Oracle Park in San Francisco on July 18. The explosive show was set in a dystopian city, led by a dictator referred to as "His Grand Immortal Dictator," and [...]
Another coffee place in downtown Merced? Yes, but this one comes with a blend of cultural tradition and robust modern influences. Hola Cafecito is making its mark on Main Street with handcrafted drinks, specialty dishes like chilaquiles, and events such as "Casa Drip Sundayz" and music performances.
Just up a flight of stairs and through the doors of Cien Ojos Studio on Canal Street, you'll find one of Merced's best-kept coffee secrets: El Cid Coffee. The handcrafted coffee cart sits inside the downtown art studio and is owned and operated by Joseph Rodriguez, a Merced native with a deep passion for [...]
New York, New York! The Big Apple was at the center of Merced High's third annual fashion show, 'A Tour of New York,' hosted last Wednesday, May 21, inside the school gym. The Merced High CTE (Career Technical Education) Collaborative Fashion Show featured custom, sustainable, and boutique designs curated, designed, and modeled by the high [...]
More than an opportunity to gain work experience, the local Restore Merced organization is leading underserved community members in Merced to live a purposeful life through a relationship of work, value, and mentorship. "Restore Jobs" is a 9 to 12 month program through Restore Merced that provides training, employment and real world experience to those who are signed up through the program.
"Moana Jr." just finished a successful run at the Multicultural Arts Center (MAC) with a series of impressive performances by local youngsters over the past weekend. With the exception of some enthusiastic parents, no one could be more pleased than the three performing arts camp leaders who helped bring it all together: Madison Mitchell, program director; Brieanna Flores, stage manager and instructor; and Kayla Medina, the musical director and vocal instructor.
It was a busy day for 19-year-old Joey Iest. On Friday, June 10, the Stoneridge High School graduate and up-and-coming stock car racer was scheduled to practice at the Sonoma Raceway for the ARCA Menards Series from 4-5:30PM, but was also on the schedule to show his heifer at the Merced County Fair just a couple hours later at 7:30PM.
In an unanimous decision, the Merced City Council voted to approve eight Caltrans Mural Art Project proposals recommended by the Merced Arts Advisory Commission during their meeting on Tuesday night. Leaders also voted to switch one proposed design for another by the same artist.
Locally owned, Hi-Fi Wine is the newest business to join the revitalization along Main Street in Downtown Merced. The wine bar opened at 629 Main St. in early June, and caters to oenophiles, everyday locals and curious visitors alike.
The UC Merced Small Business Development Center (SBDC), at 655 W. 18th St. in Merced, is one of six locations under the Central California SBDC Network that connects community members with no-cost business consulting, training, workshop, and webinar trainings.
Ryan Mondragon, owner of Sanctuary Pizza, is combining community with pizza, and by doing so, is transforming the traveling pizza industry in the Central Valley. "Pizza is the vessel to break barriers," Mondragon says. "Yes it's what I do, and how I make my living, but it also gets people to talk to you, and see what you do with it."
For a second consecutive year, the Merced City Council has agreed to fly the rainbow flag - also known as the gay pride flag or LGBT Pride flag - over Bob Hart Square in downtown Merced for the entire month of June.
Isaac Yarrell is on a mission to promote the sport of tennis for all residents, regardless of age and experience. Yarrell is the director of UnITY Tennis - Merced's only year-round public tennis program.
"My Body, My Choice!" a group of about 30 Merced residents chanted as they made their way down N St. from the Merced County Courthouse Museum toward Downtown Merced. The "Fight for Women's Rights" march happened last Saturday, May 5, with an agenda to bring awareness to the controversial document leak from the United States Supreme Court that happened over a week ago.
The 2022 Lao New Year was celebrated by residents and town visitors last Saturday, April 30, right outside the doors of Bangkok Thai Restaurant in downtown Merced. Traditional food and artisan vendors lined the sidewalks along Main during the day as event-goers awaited the traditional ceremonies to begin.
Exotic and rare plants are at the center of Asio Verde - Downtown Merced's newest, one-of-a-kind specialty plant shop. The grand opening for the shop is this Saturday, April 23, beginning at 10 a.m. with a ribbon cutting. The ceremony will continue until 6 p.m., and will feature free tacos, drinks, and music for the community.
As a first generation daughter of two immigrant farmworkers, Fresno City Councilwoman Esmeralda Soria knows she carries a different perspective when it comes to knowing the needs of her Central Valley community. Soria is currently running for California State Assembly in the newly drawn 27th Assembly District that consists of communities in Merced, Madera, and Fresno.
Lena Xiong-Perez is a 28-year-old farmer with a message and a means to spread it. Her family business, Humble Rice Farmer, has quickly amassed a Merced County following that includes a close friendship with Executive Chef Quentin of the El Capitan Hotel in Merced, buyers and sellers at regional markets, and a loyal community fanbase.
The Village of Hope, a transitional housing program for unhoused families, Veterans, and individuals experiencing homelessness after being discharged from a hospital, is gearing up for its official grand opening in Merced, this Friday, April 22. The event will begin at 10 a.m., with a ribbon cutting at its location, 129 W.
There's always wine at a Portuguese dining table. That's how Andre Santos and Michelle Rosa start to explain the name and purpose of Vinhos - the married couple's new wine lounge and tapas destination in Downtown Merced. Vinhos, located at 427 W.
Chuco Moreno, a renowned Chicano artist and tattoo specialist, led an artist talk with an audience of fans recently as part of a series of art exhibitions, classes, and talks at the art studio of Kreepy Kawaii in downtown Merced. At the evening event, the small studio quickly became packed with residents eager to learn more about the artist.
Applegate Park just received a major update thanks to the San Jose Sharks Foundation. A teal-top street hockey court now sits on top of what used to be two of the four basketball courts inside the gated recreational area at the park. The unveiling of the court took place last Wednesday, March 23.
Frank Ayala remembers a time when he was practically waving his artwork out at passing cars and people on the sidewalks on Main Street in Merced. Now, years later, he is at the center of his very first art show at the downtown gallery Kreepy Kawaii.
Have you been to Duanes? It's the "realest restaurant' in town, according to social media. The restaurant is located downtown, "near the Merced Theatre ... near Bob Hart Square ... and right by the Partisan." Duanes promises: "Great Prices, Great Service and Great Food!"
A San Francisco art gallery just completed a successful and welcomed exhibit featuring the work of several artists from Merced. For the An.ä.log Gallery (also known as "an.ä.log SF") in the heart of the city's Mission District, the nearly two-month-long exhibit - titled "Far Out" - was a chance to offer Bay Area dwellers some provocative perspectives from the rural Central Valley, and its own culturally diverse communities.
Donna Wayman of Merced is an accomplished local artist, but she never imagined her passion would one day reach out nearly 3,000 miles across this great nation, and touch the hearts of "New York City's Bravest" firefighters and their family members who lost loved ones during and after the Sept.
Central Valley Scholars, an organization built and run by Central Valley students, is offering scholarships to new students who are entering an undergraduate university during the 2020-2021 year. The three scholarships, which will be awarded in increments of $1,000, are for students who fall into the catagory of being, undocumented, first generation, or identify as LGBTQ+.
Cloudy skies and strong winds did not stop Northview Health Clinic - the newest addition to the Golden Valley Health Centers network - from holding its grand opening last Thursday, at 3940 Sandpiper Ave., in north Merced.
The 18th Street People's Garden is officially open to the public. Community members celebrated the grand opening of the garden this past Saturday, June 29, at 936 W 18th street in Merced, with live music, lunch, a raffle, and a "green" ribbon cutting.
The first-ever children's museum in Merced County is set to open this coming spring, giving all wonderers and little explorers an opportunity to learn through play and discovery. The project was spearheaded by Mayya Tokman, UC Merced professor of Applied Mathematics and director of the CalTeach program at the UC, her husband Angelo Kyrilov, professor of Computer Science at UC Merced, and Merced County Supervisor Lee Lor.
Merced's Multicultural Arts Center (MAC) and UC Merced teamed up this year for the MAC's 20th annual Day of the Dead celebration, held last Saturday, Nov. 2. Día de los Muertos is celebrated from Oct. 31 through November 2. The time is reserved for praying and celebrating, gathering and uniting communities in one big cultural event.
A small bee garden grows and thrives down the south side of Merced. It's a little miracle of nature thanks to Jessica Gonzalez, the garden's 28-year-old caretaker and beekeeper. Gonzalez originally comes from a background in computer science, but she has just celebrated her first year in the honey business with her shop, Happy Organics.
Ruben Sanchez has been an artist for his entire working life. And it shows. From working in the fields to becoming a produce vendor, the depiction of agriculture and hard work is clearly seen in the colorful canvases that Sanchez creates as representations of his life and the experiences he has been through.
A colorful fiesta danced down Sutter Street in Planada last Saturday as part of the town's annual Community Day Celebration. Spanish music blasted as the parade made its way toward Houlihan Park where over 40 vendors and a park full of onlookers awaited the celebration.
Faustino Ayala, the longtime owner of Tino's Hair Styling, is putting down his clippers for a final goodbye after a 64-year career. Ayala, nicknamed "Tino," has been serving the community of Merced from his shop, located at 455 W Main St., since the early 1960s.
A good turnout of supporters for the Valley Crisis Center took part in the 10th annual Peace for Families march and community gathering in downtown Merced. The march last Friday started out at Laura's Fountain inside Applegate Park and ended with a fun celebration at the Civic Center.