Fresno Famous

I once took my oldest child to Art Hop on my back. Tiny little man clutched tight in a baby backpack, he hung on the words and sounds of the bustling venue. Feeling like entertainment outcasts since our newest addition, we snuck in, nervous that a cry or shout from our little one would solidify our isolation. We were surprised... surprised that behind martini glasses, we saw approving smiles. Surprised that the loud and busy atmosphere intrigued, rather than frightened our child. Surprised that gracious smokers pointed their cigarettes away from us as we passed. We were after all, in their world. In a world that, at least by all appearances and expectations, didn't accommodate children.

Since our exodus from childless nightlife, we've found new ways to entertain ourselves.
We prefer the Fulton Mall or Tower District over River Park. We have an annual membership to the zoo and spend nearly every weekend at Roeding Park... feeding the birds, riding the train, etc. We are constantly on the lookout for events like the Chinese New Year Day Parade. We will haul our kids to Earth Day, the Cinco De Mayo celebrations, Juneteenth and anything else find remotely engaging. We will feed our children hummus, curry or salsa without concern, and they will eat it- our oldest will go to the Greek Food Festival for the third time this year. We have been to Chucky Cheese and John's Incredible Pizza, but we prefer Victor's Pizzeria. Our Livingstone's days may have been replaced with quiet nights at home with wine and books, but early Saturday morning we are desperate for intellectual entertainment.

As our family grows, so does our apprehension of appearing in some public places, specifically the later in the day it gets. A two and a half year old and a seven month old complicate matter significantly, but the memory of that ArtHop night two years ago stays with me. Conscious of the lessons and examples we impose upon our children, we will continue to sneak in our own slanted civics lesson in tiny doses of downtown exposure.