Downtown Modesto

How often am I in Modesto?! Practically never. Before recently, it had probably been well over a decade since I stopped by. Somehow I've found myself out here twice within the past year: once after wine tasting in Ripon, and another time coming back from Fresno. Daaaamn has this place changed! I remember coming down here to visit old friends many years ago. The only thing really poppin' at the time was the bowling alley and the Sonic Drive Thru. Fast forward to now and they've really built up the downtown area. I mean... it's no Oakland or San Francisco by any means. But for a town that's located deep in the valley, it does alright for itself. I really like the design of the downtown area. Trees line many of the streets and there are all sorts of flowers planted throughout. I ran across some really neat wall art that reminded me of the artwork that you'd see in downtown Eureka. There's a big movie theater on the main block that's surrounded by tons of cute shops and restaurants. It felt pretty safe to walk the streets at night and everything is so well lit. This isn't a town that I plan to spend a whole bunch of time in, but it's nice to know that there's a hip downtown area to stop through during my travels to and from the central valley.

I was set to give Downtown Mo only 3 stars, when I realized that I actually look forward to coming here. So then, I thought about why that is exactly.First, & very important, are the eats in this hood. Need a great old school sandwich? There's The Brighter Side. Looking for really good gastro pub fare? There's Commonwealth. Perhaps you're looking for a more refined establishment appropriate for the ladies who lunch? Galletto's & Dewz are perfect for that. What about pizza? Are you craving a really good pie? Chefs of New York has recently opened a new location on J street. And coffee. Every & any downtown needs good coffee. Preservation Coffee is the coffee gem of this town. They're also on J street.Speaking of J street...It leads straight to, then turns into, McHenry Avenue. The historical main drag for cruising. The very place where George Lucas dreamed & imagined, years before he created Star Wars.Maybe you want to see a movie. You've got not 1, but 2 options; State Theater & Brendan Theaters. How about going on your lunch break, then playing hooky & catching a movie instead of going back to the office? It's not a suggestion. It's just an idea.I wish there was a Chase bank around though. Not one single branch of the King of Banks in all of Downtown? Ridiculous, right? Parking can be, but usually isn't, a problem. Street parking is pretty reliable, unless it's during peak times (lunch & after 5). The 2 main garages (both on 11th street) are a good crutch, & about 1/4 of what it costs to park in a downtown SF garage. Between both garages you can count on smooth sailing, unless there's a Gallo event or conventions, etc.And predictably, this hood closes early. Most of the restaurants close at 9:00 or 10:00, so check first if you're looking for a later supper (Tresetti's serves a limited menu till midnight). And there's only a couple of bars open until 2:00 (Tresetti's, The Boardroom).It's downtown. Downtown is all about daytime. 4 stars.

Theaters are easy access with plenty of food if you didn't want to eat before coming.