A major transformation project for the Graffiti USA Classic Car Museum kicked off at the beginning of December! The current projects underway are primarily made possible by the generosity of corporate sponsors and founding donors, including George Reed Family Companies, Boyett Petroleum, Beard Land Improvement Company, Burkett’s Pool Plastering, Joseph Bondi, and Allan and Pat Ramsay.

Several years ago I went to visit my Tai chi teacher who is a 3rd Generation Grandmaster of T’ai Chi. Upon entering his house I noticed a large Chinese calligraphy on the wall representing one of the most important principles of T’ai Chi : Self-Restraint. Next to the powerful looking character, was a poem written by Mr. Yip. When I asked my teacher what it meant he showed me an English translation of it. To make it more accessible I have changed its formal language to sound more like we talk today:

Can Modesto become the Haiku Capital of the World?. Every other month at LoFi Diner, Burn & Rave has been hosting an epic beatnik Poetry Night and Haiku Battle, popularizing the format and pitting haiku against haiku in a fun and inspirational battle until a winner emerges! These short form poems, which originated in Japan in the 9th century, consist of three lines and 17 total syllables in this order: 5/7/5. These tightly worded poems can pack a big punch as they reflect life and often, if done well, resonate with deeper meaning and leave a strong impression on readers.

Four-cheese Tortellini, Mediterranean Pesto Chicken, Cioppino, Lamp Chops, Coconut prawns, and flaming Saganaki cheese. These tastes are amazing. Rich, perfect pasta, worlds of spice and nice portions are what greet you when you dine at D’Forno in Downtown Modesto. Besides being a great new restaurant, D’Forno has great roots here in our community.

Here we are, nearing the end of one of the weirdest NFL football seasons ever. ModestoView readers know that many of the local restaurants and bars featured in ModestoView are also great please to watch your favorite teams. Are you in the playoffs? Will you be a national champion? Can you stay healthy? Can you play into the future? Could you imagine being a quarterback at the age of 50 or even 60? Would’t it be cool if you could get out there any play?

I can’t believe that it is officially 2024! The air is filled with the promise of new beginnings, and for many, including myself, it’s the perfect time to set resolutions and goals that will shape the next chapter of our lives. Modesto is known for its strong sense of community, and I plan to contribute by volunteering and getting involved. Whether it’s participating in neighborhood clean-ups, supporting local businesses, or joining community events, I hope to be an active and positive force in the city. As this marks my last year in our beautiful city before I go off to college in the fall, I’m dedicated to staying actively involved, contributing whatever I can to make Modesto even more wonderful.

2024 is a fresh start for Modesto in so many ways. You can feel the positive progress in downtown and other parts of our city, as Measure L and H funds begin to show results in addition to the young energy of new businesses and community support. Modesto’s Community and...

By Chris Murphy and the ViewCrewThere seems to be a new shiny glow around town right now. More people are out and about, new businesses are opening, the live music is flowing. We had some exciting new openings in 2023 and more are expected in 2024. This next year should be a great year for our local businesses, things to do and community spirit. D’Forno is featured in this month’s ModestoView, the Intermission has changed J Street with retro elegance, and Phase 2 of the Graffiti USA Museum has started to connect our past to our future. Here are just a few of the bright spots.

Recently, there has been a noticeable decrease in fitness levels. The gym is less crowded, and during my runs, I no longer see the familiar faces I used to pass along the way. It’s understandable, though. With colder weather approaching, who wants to go outside? We tend to bundle up in sweaters and jackets, focusing more on fashion than fitness. However, it’s important to remember that during the holiday season, we often indulge in food and drinks, making it even more crucial to prioritize our fitness routines. In January, many people make resolutions to lose weight, resulting in packed gyms, at least for the first three weeks. To break away from this January routine, consider joining a gym now. Start by purchasing new fitness equipment or setting new fitness goals. Don’t wait until January; take action in December. Stay ahead of the fitness game and maintain your momentum. Grandma worked hard all summer to rock that bikini. Don’t let your fitness routine slip away and have to work twice as hard in the new year to regain it. My advice is simple: just like a pet isn’t just for Christmas, your fitness shouldn’t be either. Fitness, like a new pet, is a lifelong commitment. Additionally, it’s important to mention that we are more likely to catch a cold or other illnesses during the winter. If you’re sick, stay home and avoid spreading your illness to others. Many things in life are meant to be shared, but sickness is not one of them. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

So you want to be a photographer? Photography is a passion that happens the first moment you get that great shot and the addiction continues to get the next one. Having been a Photographer for Modesto View I get asked a lot what is the best starter camera should I get. Whether it is professional or a hobby I think the hardest path for all beginning photographers is knowing what kind of photography you want to do; portraits, live music, street, sports, food, landscape, or as for me it was a little of each for 20 years. I understand camera phones have come a long way, but they have their limits. If you want to get out of Auto mode shots and learn to take your photography to a different level, DLSR and of course, Mirroless is the way to go.

“Every child is an artist until he’s told he’s not an artist.” – John Lennon. It’s been pummeled into our brains that ages 0-5 are the most important for life-long development. Every parenting class hammers that into you. But there are so many nuances to that statement. It’s a heavy reality and puts a lot of pressure on us as parents, but it doesn’t have to! Art is one of the simple things we can do with such a daunting task as getting our kids prepared for life. What does art have to do with life-long development? EVERYTHING! Art strengthens neural pathways in the brain by using our senses-we feel the paintbrush glide across the paper, we feel the clay and dough in our hands. We smell the paint and glue. We see bright colors. Our synapses fire and when they experience sensory, and art is full of sensory! Art develops motor skills, both fine and gross. From holding the paintbrush to cutting with scissors, every aspect improves coordination and dexterity. It even preserves divergent thinking and creativity! Art allows you to draw a unicorn-hippo or create something new from the “mistake” you drew. Your circle is more like an oval? One eye is bigger than the other? Kids just create something different and learn to go with the flow-when they are allowed to! So often we squash creativity by encouraging a more perfect circle, “Oh no, that’s an oval! Let’s try again!” Nah, flip their creativity on instead: “What a great circle you made! What are you making?” Who cares if their circle wasn’t perfect! There are no limits to art. If you can think of it, you can draw it, paint it, sculpt it, or write it! Messes can be cleaned, memories last a lifetime.

In the “Winter Fun” series, we will introduce you to some seriously awesome things to do with your kiddos over winter break. Seasonal things (or in the warm indoors!) to keep your littles entertained for 3 whole weeks. One of our favorite things to do at home is...

Team #BrewView joined hundreds of players Saturday morning to play a virtual game much like Pokemon Go and Ingress, in the streets of Downtown Modesto. We started at Mocha Magic for some warm drinks and sweet treats, then went as far as the Gallo Center for the Arts, the Police Station, the Children’s Museum, and the Fire Department- players got a glimpse of everything DoMo has to offer. This was the first Cluedupp Game to take us to that part of downtown. It was nice to have different buildings involved in the storyline. What is better than solving a mystery with your friends and learning about our great city?

December, our last 31 days of 2023, includes holiday shopping days and end-of-the-year closeouts. If you went to the end-of-November Shop Local Saturday, with Handmade Arts and resurrected Mod Shop, thank you for supporting local artists. You can still resist the big box stores and find locally created gift ideas in Modesto. Art Walk can accommodate your last-minute seasonal shopping as Third Thursday falls on December 21. Check out downtown creative-related businesses. Watch for neighborhood pop-up art and crafter sales. I may hold one on December 16.

Year-End Charitable Giving: Graffiti USA Classic Car Museum. As the year comes to a close, it is the perfect time to reflect on the joy and impact that charitable giving can bring. Graffiti USA Classic Car Museum needs your support. The Graffiti USA Classic Car Museum is not just a...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. If you went shopping for gifts on Black Friday or Small Business Saturday, I hope you supported local businesses. It is crucial to support our locally owned establishments, including restaurants, bars, and cafes, especially those that promote local music. Rockin’ Holiday takes place...

*Sings* “Brrrrrr! It’s cold out there! It must be Christmas in the atmosphere!” Let ModestoView warm you from the inside out. Whether you want a treat after skating at Modesto on Ice, to take a special someone out to surprise them, or just want to try a new place and needed a good excuse-let these libations open your palate and light your soul. There are so many seasonal cocktail menus out there, it was hard to narrow down our favorites. If you are like me and want easy an New Year’s Resolution, resolve to try one of these drinks and then post about it on social media with #modestoview to tell us about it. You’ll finish your resolution quicker than anyone else and can coast through the rest of the year. Stay warm and sip on, friends!

My how quickly the seasons change. Fall always brings a new freshness and winter really cleans it all up. I truly hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I treasure every moment I have with my family. I know that I am very thankful for my family, friends and my co-workers. The people we surround ourselves with are where we get our inspiration, direction and strength.

Are you just feeling that extra Clark Griswold family spirit?. If so, we have a party for you Griswold family friends. ModestoView and the State Theatre are presenting a great new party at the new Intermission at the State. December 19, 5 – 9 pm wear your ugly sweater and bring a few extra to donate. You can enjoy spiked EggNog, fun and games and we will watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I know you have a stack of ugly sweaters that you have quickly purchased for parties, like this one, so bring a few extras that will keep someone warm this winter here in our community.

Other than the big guy, Santa, no other commercial Christmas character looms larger than Clark W. Griswold, the ultimate family man. No one is more possessed to illuminate his house, take care of family and friends, “kith” and kin, host a wicked vintage RV in his suburban driveway, suffer upper management daily as he invents amazing new non-nutritive cereal varnishes while he dreams of a pool for his family. Pretty much sums it up for all of us. To “Griswold” your house is a verb and when it’s done right, you will see the Christmas star over the nitroglycerine plant. It just doesn’t get better.