One of the many advantages of being a student at Fresno City College is the proximity of a good time and even better food. Whether you only have an hour to kill between classes or in the mood to enjoy a night out after class, FCC is closer to all the hotspots than you think.  

Here are five places every FCC student should visit this semester 

     Tower Blendz

 A new juice shop located in Tower District, Tower Blendz, specializes in providing a healthy lifestyle boost through their locally sourced acai bowls, smoothies and wellness shots. Their menu also includes, salads, sandwiches and wraps. Starting out as a small reading circle for children owner Yami Tadesse combined her love of community and healthy but delicious food into Tower Blendz. “To get my kids to eat vegetables, I’ll blend it up into a smoothie, so we thought, hey that would be good to have in Tower District,” said Tadese. The store still continues the children’s reading circle that includes arts and crafts. Tower Blendz also hosts open mic on the first and third Wednesday of each month and participates in Art Hop the first and third Thursday of each month. “Family oriented, black owned. It’s healthy but its delicious.”

     Gazebo Gardens 

It is more than just a garden, the 97-year-old establishment provides a host of activities for its guests. This plant nursery is also home to a gift shop and Cafe Van Ness. Thursday – Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m Gazebo Gardens transforms into a beer garden with food trucks and live music. Gazebo Gardens is perfect for morning coffee or a relaxing night out. According to Nursery Manager Aaron Buchheim, Gazebo Gardens produces an all around family friendly environment. 

     Tower Tea 

Located across the street from FCC, one-stop-shop Tower Tea’s menu includes not only drinks like their fresh milk teas, smoothies, slushies and coffee but also, garlic fries, spring rolls, mozzarella sticks and much more. Store owner Binh Ngyuen, opened Tower Tea in 2018 to give students a relaxed, calm, space to eat authentic food. “I went back home to Vietnam to learn recipes, everything on the food menu is my own recipe and everything is made fresh as its ordered, there is no pre-cooked food here,” said Ngyuen. He is confident Tower Tea will succeed, saying “We may be small and new but dont judge us by our size. What I’m doing here is quality over quantity.”

     Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theatre 

In collaboration with Good Company Players, Roger Rocka’s puts on a unique experience found in our nearby Tower District. Enjoy a meal accompanied with live musicals year round. On Thursdays and Sundays, the theatre provides a buffet. They provide brunch on Sunday mornings and Friday and Saturday nights are regular dinner service. Administrative assistant at Good Company Players, Meg Clark says that though there are many theatre studios, “it’s safe to say that Good Company has been around the longest and is producing the most theatre.” This special dinner theatre experience introduces people to a mix of classical musicals and newer broadway shows like “Something Rotten” and “Freaky Friday”.

     Goldstein’s Mortuary & Delicatessen

Enjoy Tower District nightlife at bar and brewery, with 45 beers on tap ranging from $3.50 to $9.00 and live music with a private back patio, Goldstein’s is a great place to unwind this weekend. Bartender Justin Williams says Goldstein’s entertainment of live music and karaoke every night keeps the crowd alive. The brewery has plans to start a Pop Quiz night on Mondays. “People come here because they love our beer selection and the fun and friendly environment,” says Williams. “We have a lot of regulars that have become like family.”