Weekend Rewind: Tattoos, roller derby, new bars and more ...
On Friday, I wrote that this past weekend was one of the busiest in Fresno so far this year. It also proved to be quite Fres-tacular -- between the the tattoo expo, a night of roller derby and a trips to a couple nightspots that were new to me.
From the Tower, to downtown to the north-end, it was a weekend of homegrown attractions and businesses. Here's my rundown of where I was and what I saw:
We already covered the John West concert from Friday night. But afterward, The Beehive took Mr. West over to Starline Grill to wind down a little. He ran into local rapper Chuck Dimes and the two of them starting plotting a show together. Watch for that.
At the Fresno Tattoo Expo on Saturday, we got to see Corey Miller tattooing, cool artwork, bikes and good folks like Michelle and Curtis from La Luna Loca and Zoombie from Skin Decor. We got to see A LOT more people too -- the place was packed.
The perfect post-tattoo event was the Smog City Roller Grrls bout against Santa Cruz. The Roller Grrls zoomed to a 100-70 victory and their adoring fans were totally into it. Jammers Betty Rocker and Hari Kari were the stars of the night. It was my first time at roller derby and I loved every minute. Mark May 17June 28 on your calendar, that's the team's next bout.
After the roller derby, we headed over to Carlton's Bar & Grill, a new place on the corner of Ventura and O. I've been eyeing the place for a while, and was happy to see it was finally open. It had been so for less than two weeks, the bartender told us. At first, there weren't many people inside Carlton's, but within an hour, the place got pretty crowded -- with a post-game crowd from the Central Valley Coyotes, some folks who looked club-ready and even members of the Santa Cruz roller derby team.
We decided to hit the freeway for the North side and end our night at another place we'd never been: Thai Palms inside the Park Place Shopping Center at Palm and Nees. It was very laid-back in there. Bartender Saul served us a cool Thai/tequila signature drink called a Muy Thai and had very much knowledge to pass along -- from the nightlife in the area to the Forestiere Underground Gardens.
Comments:
Why would anyone ever get a tattoo? Unless you want to work at a bar, or ride a motorcycle for a living, they make you unemployable.
Posted by: Mary White at April 28, 2008 1:56 PM
It was a great weekend - best of the year so far, I'd venture to say.
The Roller Grrls match was the highlight for me (well, you know - other than hanging with John West at Palomino's, of course). I will definitely be going back to watch them kick ass again.
Posted by: Heather at April 28, 2008 2:42 PM
Thanks so much Mike for coming to our bout. The whole weekend was so packed with good times, i was surprised by the turnout for the bout. We had some heavy competition with the other events.
As for the SC rollergrrls....thats where they slunk out to. For some reason, they didnt wanna hang with us...cant imagine why. we're nice grrls.
And our next bout has been rescheduled to June 28. Stay tuned!
Posted by: MsJoey at April 28, 2008 3:31 PM
mary,
i hope you're joking. or at least living in the 1950's.
because frankly, times have changed. tons of people have tattoos and jobs that aren't at a bar or on a motorcycle.
and mike, cool to know that carlton's is finally open, i'll have to check it out when i've got an evening down there.
Posted by: ed at April 28, 2008 3:47 PM
It was a good weekend!
We were going to go Carlton's after the Coyote game but my sister had the kids and it didn't look like a kid kind of place. Coyotes had a really good turn out and of course one of the captains of the Valley Girls is Celena and my niece Paige! She looked great!
We didn't make it to the convention or the roller match but it sure was great to see every venue on the street from the Selland down being used and lots of people all around! That's how Fresno should be every weekend.
OH and I didn't go to the tat convention cause if I did, I would want to get another and couldn't do it right then. Ha
Posted by: Geanie at April 28, 2008 3:53 PM
One of the highlights of my weekend was hitting the dance floor at The Starline where special guest, David Harness really got the peeps going. Not only did you see "the usual suspects" but you also saw some of the old school cats who don't go out as much anymore.
There were even former Tower residents who drove from Visalia to Fresno just to see David Harness. And who says, Fresno isn't a travel destination?!?
David Harness has a lotta heart and he knows how to make everyone feel good. No one was just standing, sitting or dancing, most were singing along to the vocal tracks, waving their hands and smiling. There was a whole lot of smiling going on last night!
At one point in the evening, it was getting rather warm inside the venue. You could see on David's face that the heat was starting to get to him as he would wipe his brow with a towel. So the crowd on the dance floor spurred him on, chanting in unison, "DAAA-VID HAR-NESS", "DAAA-VID HAR-NESS", "DAAA-VID HAR-NESS", "DAAA-VID HAR-NESS", "DAAA-VID HAR-NESS".
Then David Harness looked up and shot us us one of those big smiles of his because even though it was getting hot up there, we just made him feel so good!
Posted by: Nite Grooves at April 28, 2008 4:29 PM
So I guess working in Finance as a stock broker doesn't qualify as having a real job ed? People who have jobs that pay them above the poverty line, do not put up with people with a tattoo. Try getting one and you will see.
Posted by: Mary White at April 28, 2008 4:53 PM
Mary, what if you have a tattoo that can be hidden under clothes? Will employers strip search candidates before they offer them a job?
Posted by: Missy T at April 28, 2008 5:53 PM
thanx for the compliment. to be partnered with betty rocker is awesome, but it's HARI KARI.
Posted by: HARI KARI at April 28, 2008 7:24 PM
so, i have tattoos. seven and counting.
i used to work full time @ a church. then i went back to school and got my master's degree.
i currently work as adjunct faculty @ a university in town, and @ a junior college.
both pay above the poverty level. not only do my employers put up with tattoos, they've never been an issue.
and, as someone getting paid above the poverty line i frequently "put up with" people with tattoos.
as for this, "So I guess working in Finance as a stock broker doesn't qualify as having a real job ed," i'm not sure what to make of it. i never said that you couldn't have a job, real or otherwise, and tattoos. you did.
do i know a bartender with tattoos? yes. i also know some teachers, union representatives, middle managers, musicians, furniture builders and more with tattoos.
Posted by: ed at April 28, 2008 10:54 PM
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