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"From BBQ to Bollywood: This Week in Fresno is sizzling with new eateries, events, and bold initiatives! Meet Albert the charming adoptable pet at the center of it all!"


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"From BBQ to Bollywood: This Week in Fresno is sizzling with new eateries, events, and bold initiatives! Meet Albert the charming adoptable pet at the center of it all!"

The Fresno Brief
Archives
"From BBQ to Bollywood: This Week in Fresno is sizzling with new eateries, events, and bold initiatives! Meet Albert the charming adoptable pet at the center of it all!"

Steven Huggins
Feb 3, 2026
This Week In Fresno - Eats, Events & Local Highlights |
Trivia Question❓What famous rock band from Fresno, California skyrocketed to fame in the 1990s with hits like "Mr. Jones" and "Round Here"? Answer at the bottom of the newsletter |
Fresno Fact of the Week |
The Fresno Municipal Sanitary Landfill, also known as the "Tulare Street Dump," is considered the first sanitary landfill in the United States and played a key role in modern waste management practices. |
Internationally recognized pitmaster Matt Horn, owner of Horn Barbeque in Fresno, brings his "Texas meets California" grilling style to his hometown. The restaurant, already popular with lines out the door, serves tri-tip, ribs, brisket, and chicken. A Fresno native, Horn's Oakland location was featured in the Michelin Guide in 2021. Plans for Horn Barbeque in Fresno include adding live bands and serving barbequed 'whole hog' and 'ox tail' on weekends. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday and is a result of Horn's desire to invest in his hometown. Read More... |
The restaurant, The Yellow Chilli, located in Fresno, offers gourmet Indian cuisine with international flavors at moderate prices. It is a locally owned franchise of a famous Indian celebrity chef. The restaurant serves both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, with popular appetizers and tandoor lamb chops. The menu focuses on flavor rather than spice, appealing to diverse backgrounds. The owners emphasize the importance of quality ingredients and offer a sophisticated dining experience. The restaurant has a mocktail menu and will soon serve alcohol. Reservations are recommended, and the restaurant has two patios for outdoor dining. Read More... |
Fresno restaurant Cracked Pepper Bistro is introducing a new breakfast café concept focused on specialty coffee and a brunch-centered menu. Read More... |
A travel stop, the Yosemite Travel Center, is being constructed on Highway 41 in the southeast Madera County corridor, near the Tesoro Viejo community. The center will include a fuel station, a neighborhood market with healthy food options, a car wash, and a Jamba Juice. It is expected to be completed early this spring and will serve both residents and tourists traveling to Yosemite National Park. This new development adds to the commercial growth of the area, which has seen a population boom in recent years due to the construction of new homes in nearby master-planned communities. Read More... |
The Westlands Water District in Fresno County is looking to add solar panels to up to 136,000 acres of farmland. Their Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan aims to convert farmland into one of the nation's largest energy producers, providing cheap, environmentally friendly electricity to the state. The project will create additional tax revenue for the county and benefit farmers by allowing them to divert water allocations to the crops that need it. The project is still in the early stages and will require years and billions of dollars to complete. Read More... |
Local pilots from Fresno's 144th Fighter Wing and Naval Air Station Lemoore will be part of the first-ever joint flyover at Super Bowl LX. Fighter Pilot Dane Ruhnau will fly an F-15C Eagle over the football stadium, landing at Moffett Air Force Base before busing over to the game. Major Jason Sanchez of the 144th Fighter Wing highlighted the surprise opportunity due to timing and luck. Precision and rehearsals are key in preparation for the flyover, with Ruhnau expressing his hope for a West Coast win in the Super Bowl. Read More... |
Opened in 1949, the Crest Theatre is one of Fresno’s true architectural gems. Behind its striking Moderne exterior and iconic marquee lies a beautifully preserved interior with ornate gold-leaf details that feel like “sitting inside a seashell.” After decades as a movie palace, a church, and later a concert venue, the Crest has been revived as a live performance space, continuing its legacy as a place where Fresno gathers for culture, music, and unforgettable moments. |
🎨 ArtHop on Fulton |
📅 Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026 📍 Location: Fulton Street 📄 Details: Experience the heart of Fresno’s creative scene at ArtHop, the city’s most anticipated monthly public arts event. What began over 26 years ago as a small studio crawl has grown into a vibrant, citywide celebration featuring gallery exhibitions, live art, special performances, and interactive experiences — all free and open to the public. Held on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month, ArtHop invites art lovers of all ages to explore Downtown Fresno, meet local artists, and soak in the city’s creative energy as Fulton Street comes alive. 🖌️✨ |
🌸 Love in Bloom: Valentine’s Plant & Sip |
📅 Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026 📍 Location: Belmont Nursery 📄 Details: Celebrate Valentine’s season with a relaxing and creative morning at Love in Bloom: Valentine’s Plant & Sip. For $65, you’ll create a beautiful succulent arrangement in a durable bonsai pot, then unwind with a festive mocktail—choose sparkling apple cider or a strawberry mocktail. 🍓✨ To sweeten the experience, guests can enjoy an optional add-on of chocolate-covered strawberries. This event is perfect for gifting to a loved one, enjoying a solo self-care moment, or bringing a friend along for a fun and memorable start to the weekend. 🌿💕 |
🔥 PERREOLAND: Old School vs. New School Reggaeton Party |
📅 Date: Friday, February 6, 2026 📍 Location: Rainbow Ballroom |
🐾 Adoptable Pet Spotlight: Albert |
Meet Penny 🐶💛 📍 Adopt at: Valley Animal Center |
💡 Answer to Trivia Question: The answer is Counting Crows. |
👉 New here or know a local who should be? |