Downtown Fresno Academy
Class 13
Class 4 - Organizing Entertainment
Thursday, September 17, 2026
One thing Downtown does well is entertainment. And that’s on purpose. With one of the oldest historic theaters in California to businesses working together, entertainment remains one of the largest economic drivers for Downtown Fresno. Current stakeholders understand how places can be used for people to gather, celebrate and relax.
Commonly referred to as Third Spaces, parts of Downtown have been designed or intentionally been redeveloped for the very purpose of getting you out of the house.
Tonight, we will learn about the current strategies to develop and organize spaces with a vision.
As always, we will begin promptly to maximize time with the presenters. Parking should be free this evening so we should be able to get close to where the presentations will be taking place. I would encourage you to wear walking shoes and bring water.
Side note: Please have a roommate for the class trip selected by the end of the night. I will be asking for pairings at the end of class. If you would like your own room, please let me know. There will be an additional $120 cost for single rooms.
Warnors Theater - 5:30 PM
1400 Fulton St, Fresno, CA 93721
Parking:
Park anywhere along the street. It will be free.
Nicole Owens, Executive Director of the Warnors Performing Arts Center, will give us a behind the scenes tour of the Warnors Theater. She will share about the current vision for the theater and how watching a show has shifted.
From the roof to the basement, we will get to see the theater in its full majesty.
TRAVEL to The Brewery District - 6:30 PM
MEET at 716 Broadway St Fresno, CA 93721 - 6:45 PM
Parking:
Next to our meeting spot is a parking lot. Noted above. Please park there. It will be free and available just for the class.
Nora Monaco, Property Owner
What started out as storage spaces has now blossomed into a destination for Downtown Fresno - The Brewery District. And that’s all thanks to Nora. She realized more could be done that drives economy downtown. She had the space, ability to develop, and a vision for what could be. From there, the Brewery District was born. We will tour spaces that are currently for lease and see how space is currently occupied. We will eventually move onto Fulton St.
We will have dinner at one of our stops with Nora.
Brewery District Bar Owners 7:30 PM
Bar owners from the surrounding area will join us to share their origin stories and what they aim to accomplish in Downtown Fresno
Sun Stereo Warehouse - 8:15 pm
Building upon the vision for the area, the Sun Stereo Warehouse has a strategy - mixed use all in one place. From a nail shop and aerial arts, to educational technology and a tea shop, the leases in the building hold a number of shops that serve a wide range of customers…all under one roof.
We will stop by Isla Tea Lounge that will have a gallery opening in their space.
Class Afters
Join us Modernist for a drink following class!
Google Classroom
If you have not done so, please add yourself to the Google Classroom now. You will need to access this before the next class. Please be on the lookout for our first class thread!
Classroom Code: v4zh73fw
Next Class
Overnight Trip
Friday, October 23
- Load Bus at 5:45 am
- Leave at 6 am
- Stop 1: Old Town Pasadena | 10 am - 11:30 am
- Stop 2: Downtown Hollywood Partnership | 12:30 - 3 pm
- Lunch
- Partnership Offices
- Travel to Santa Monica | 3 pm
- Check into the Shore Hotel | TBD
- Stop 3: Promenade in Downtown Santa Monica | TBD
- Dinner
- Entertainment Zone
- Nightlife
Saturday, October 24
- Board Buses back to Fresno | 10 am
- Return to Fresno | 3pm at the latest
- Entertainment Zone activated in Downtown Fresno
- Stay or come later to experience this new type of activation
Hotel - Shore Hotel
1515 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Have questions or need help?
Text or call Esteban
509-413-9375