Downtown’s Wheelie Great Biking Community

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By Jessica Nguyen


Before we start the article, here’s some bike wisdom for good measure:
A bicycle can’t stand on its own. It’s two-tired.

Downtown Stockton is home to many things: historic buildings, delicious eateries, aromatic coffee shops, exciting events, and a thriving bike community. From Downtown-based groups like the San Joaquin Bike Coalition, Roadfinch, and the HUB, to bicyclists who pass through Downtown Stockton, ride to work, or bike recreationally in the area, downtown is a bustling center of cycle-based activity.

Whether bikers choose to ride along the glittering waterfront, on breezy bike paths lined by popular Downtown hangouts, or anywhere in between, Downtown Stockton attracts bikers of all ages and skill levels. In fact, between the months of April and October, bike enthusiasts gather monthly downtown for casual evening rides. These rides, known as the Full Moon Riders, each follow a different downtown route and conclude at a participating downtown restaurant.

San Joaquin Bike Coalition

The San Joaquin Bike Coalition is one of the founding groups of the Full Moon Riders. Although unsure at how the evening bike rides would initially be received by the community, Kari McNickle, board president of the SJ Bike Coalition, reflects that the Full Moon Riders quickly became “successful, beyond what we ever could have imagined,” and that now, it’s “one of our [The SJ Bike Coalition’s] favorite events to lead and promote.”

The San Joaquin Bike Coalition, a nonprofit organization, advocates for bicycle safety and helps to promote bicycle-related events. Their events and group rides are not only lively, but are also completely free to the public. The Bike Coalition is based in Downtown Stockton’s Huddle, a coworking space located on N. San Joaquin Street. Huddle’s central location and inexpensive fees make it a perfect space for the nonprofit, McNickle explains. Bike Coalition members also hold meetings at popular downtown spots nearby and pop into places like Cast Iron, Trail, and Channel Brewing Co.

Kari McNickle proudly states that the SJ Bike Coalition has been around for nearly 10 years. What makes this board president so passionate about cycling in particular? She shares, “I love that it’s a way to get around that connects you with your neighborhood and community.” Bringing cyclists together for bike rides strengthens the sense of community and helps to promote local businesses in the area. She adds adamantly, “it’s really important we [local businesses and organizations] support each other.”

The HUB

Another well-known and revered figure in the downtown biking community is Deacon Steve, operator of the HUB and Deacon at the Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist right next door. The HUB provides FREE assistance to those in need of bike repairs (or bikes) and on average, the HUB sees at least 100 visitors a week. Many of these visitors rely on derelict bicycles as their sole means of transportation and lack the funds to replace or repair them. Deacon Steve and the HUB’s 5 volunteers relentlessly work to help: just last year they assisted with 4,000 repairs, and within the past 3 years have given away over 300 bikes!

The HUB also partners with downtown’s seasonal Full Moon Riders events. Annually, Deacon Steve performs a Bike Blessing to “pray that they [the bicyclists] have a safe cycling year“ before leading the cyclists on their downtown journey. Deacon Steve loves the “freedom of movement” and how bicycles provide “access to your own personal freedom.”

It’s time to dust off your old bicycle, grab a helmet, and head Downtown to join this energetic, lively, and passionate bike community. Explore the downtown area with freedom and the feeling of wind through your hair (or on your face, if you have no hair- we don’t judge). You can join the San Joaquin Bike Coalition, participate in an upcoming Full Moon Riders event (June 17th, July 16th, August 15th, etc.), or grab some friends to bike with and as Deacon Steve nicely puts it, “find a route that works best for you.”

Happy Cycling!

Written by Jessica Nguyen

Summer Fun

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Downtown Stockton is a place where people of all ages can find something for them and have a great time, especially in the summer season! With summer vacation fast approaching, families with kids can consider spending some time together exploring downtown Stockton at the following events and locations. 

Regal Cinemas Stockton City Centre & IMAX 

Almost everyone in Stockton visits the downtown area when they want to see movies. This summer, there are plenty of films coming soon to the Regal Cinemas Stockton City Centre for families to check out.

If you’ve already seen the much anticipated Avengers: Endgame, you might want to get tickets to see Ugly Dolls, Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, A Dog’s Journey, Aladdin, The Secret Life of Pets 2, Toy Story 4, The Lion King, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, or The Angry Birds Movie 2.  

For tickets and showtimes, check out Regal Cinemas Stockton City Centre online: https://www.regmovies.com/theatres/regal-stockton-holiday-cinema/1816#/buy-tickets-by-cinema?in-cinema=1816&at=2019-05-14&view-mode=list 

Full Moon Riders 

For the families interested in bicycling or enjoy being active over the summer, the Full Moon Riders is the perfect event series. Each ride begins at 6:00 PM on the night of the full moon from May – Oct., and always begins at Janet Leigh Plaza. It’s a great opportunity to ride along with the community and explore downtown Stockton.  

For future riding dates and additional information check out, 

Stockton Ports Baseball 

Sports-loving families can get together and cheer on the Stockton Ports. Watch the minor league team take on opposing teams, while spending time together as a family. The Stockton Ports offer plenty of promotions throughout the summer for fans to have even a better time at the ballpark. 

Bonus: The DSA also does frequent Ports game ticket giveaways via social media, so if you’re not already following DSA’s facebook, instagram, and twitter, you may want to start this summer!

For more information and the Stockton Ports schedule, check out, https://www.milb.com/stockton 

Cesar Chavez Library 

School may be out for the summer, but it is still a good time to expand your mind and learn something new everyday. While you can always visit the Cesar Chavez Library, starting on June 1st to July 31st, families can participate in the San Joaquin County Summer Reading Program. Participants can win prizes at the end of the challenge and there are categories for kids, teens, and adults.  

For more information on Cesar Chavez Library, check out, http://www.ssjcpl.org/locations/stockton/chavez.html 

And for more information on the San Joaquin County Summer Reading Program, check out, http://www.ssjcpl.org/programs/sumReading.html

Downtown Stockton is fantastic and fun place for families to spend the summer. It’s always awesome to explore and take on new experiences, and downtown Stockton has a lot to offer families. So maybe think about calling a family meeting and plan a visit to downtown Stockton. 

STOCKMARKET

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By Andrew Rocha

Stockmarket is a local event that provides an opportunity for friends and families to explore and experience Stockton businesses. This is Stockmarket’s fifth year and they are in a NEW location at the Waterfront Marina at 445 W. Weber Avenue in #DowntownStockton. This past Saturday (April 20th) was the FIRST Stockmarket of the year! If you missed it, don’t worry! You still have an opportunity to check it out on June 22nd, August 17th, and October 19th from 10am to 4pm.

“With each year and location, we encourage attendees to join us to activate areas of our city that need some love! Our festival will feature 70+ vendors of art, handmade items, vintage goods, live music and tons of delicious local food options. We act as a platform to showcase local small business and to boost our local economy through supporting makers in our city. The festival is free to guests, dog friendly, and creates a fun atmosphere for families and friends to enjoy a day at the beautiful downtown waterfront.”

Founder’s Vision

Amy and Katie, the founders of Stockmarket, had a vision for a space in Stockton where businesses could sell their goods while creating a positive atmosphere in the community. Stockmarket first launched in 2015 with around 700 guests, and now in 2019 they’re attracting almost 3000 guests to a fun event for people of all ages and backgrounds.

“As we grow in size, and people spread the word about what the event is, and what it supports— we continue to hear great feedback from guests. Not only do they feel good about supporting local vendors, they enjoy having a space they can go to free of charge with the whole family (dogs included), to enjoy live music, taste local cuisine and meet new people along the way.”

Resource for Local Businesses

Not only is it a fun time for visitors to explore local businesses and enjoy tasty food, but it’s also good for the vendors. “We have had amazing feedback from our vendors. Not only have we had over 10 small businesses go from booths to brick and mortar, but we constantly hear positive feedback from vendors to surrounding cities who had never previously been to Stockton. It is important for us to change any negative perception people may have of our city, and part of Stockmarket is giving visitors a positive experience they can share with others. We hear all the time Stockmarket has a family feel atmosphere and we are all in it together to create a community event to be proud of.”

If you had a good time at Stockmarket before, you need to check out the event now that they’re downtown. And if you’ve never heard of or been to Stockmarket, definitely come out to the Waterfront Marina in #DowntownStockton to check it out!

Full Moon Riders

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By Andrew Rocha

Bicycling! Whether it’s a hobby, how you get to work, or a way of life, there are a series of events coming soon that you need to be aware of right away! For the fifth year, the Downtown Stockton Alliance is hosting the Full Moon Riders starting TODAY, April 20th. The Full Moon Riders will be gathering to ride every month on the evening of the full moon from April through October. Each ride will be led by various local organizations and be an opportunity to experience the wonder of downtown Stockton. This will also be the first time that the Downtown Stockton Alliance will be donating $1 per rider to a different non-profit organization at each ride.

Courtney Wood, the economic development coordinator for the Downtown Stockton Alliance  explained the background and purpose of the Full Moon Riders event. “I think the original goal was that downtown was kind of empty at certain times and [the Downtown Stockton Alliance] were like, ‘wow, this would be great to have bike riding here’ because there aren’t many cars in the evenings when people go home from their offices. So it’s kind of a cool place to bike ride. I think that was part of it: to get people down here to use the streets to promote bicycling.”

Bikes & Bites

Not only is this event an opportunity to give visitors and residents a unique look at downtown Stockton, but also a chance to grab a bite to eat with fellow cyclists. At the end of rides, leaders will direct the riders to some of their favorite restaurants in the area for a filling and delicious dinner or maybe just a quick snack. If anything, it is a chance for people to come together after a fun ride and take pleasure in some downtown Stockton cuisine. Some participating restaurants may even have special deals and offers for the Full Moon Riders.

And if that still doesn’t sound like a good time, there will also be a giveaway at each ride for the first 100 riders. Registration always begins at 5:15pm in Janet Leigh Plaza on the day of the ride.  

The Downtown Stockton Alliance Ambassadors will be helping out at the event. Special events ambassador Shirley Griffith explained the role that the ambassadors play during the event. “We have a table set up with giveaways and signup sheets, so at the beginning we get everybody’s name and email. We also take liability forms and give the riders the giveaway prize. And when they leave the plaza to go on their rides, we load everything up, go to the restaurant that is participating that night and put out bike racks.” So while everyone is enjoying themselves on their rides, it’s the ambassadors that are making sure everyone has a great experience. 

So if you’re someone who simply enjoys a leisurely bike ride or you’re a passionate bicyclist, you definitely want to join the Full Moon Riders and experience another side of downtown Stockton. Just remember to ride responsibly and that children under the age of 18 are required to wear a helmet.  

Listed below are some more details on each of the upcoming rides. You can also find more information at https://www.downtownstockton.org/play/full-moon-riders-2/ 

April 20th 

6-8:15pm, led by the San Joaquin Bike Coalition.

Non-profit beneficiary: SJ Pride Center

Restaurant: Channel Brewing, Cast Iron, and Kabob & Gyro House

May 18th 

6-9pm, led by Deacon Steve from the HUB

Non-profit beneficiary: the HUB

Restaurant: Cancun

Bonus: After-ride bike-in movie!

June 17th 

6-8:15pm, led by the San Joaquin Bike Coalition

Non-profit beneficiary: Ready-to-Work

Restaurant: Papa Urb’s & Alfalfa’s

July 16th 

6-8:15pm, led by Roadfinch 

Non-Profit beneficiary: Mary Magdalene Community Services

Restaurant: All participating Downtown restaurants

August 15th 

6-8:15pm, led by Roadfinch 

Non-profit beneficiary: Child Abuse Prevention Council

Restaurant: The Downtowner, Subway

September 13th 

6-8:15pm, led by Stockton Bike Club 

Non-profit beneficiary: Mexican Heritage Center

Restaurant: Nena’s, D’lilah’s Cakery

October 13th 

6-8:15pm, led by Robby’s Bicycles 

Non-profit beneficiary: HATCH Workshop

Restaurant: participating Janet Leigh Plaza restaurants

Easter Weekend

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Before the April showers bring May flowers, it’s the season of chocolate rabbits and hidden eggs. Easter is this Sunday! Many of the local churches in downtown Stockton will be hosting special Easter services, which we have listed below! Or if a service isn’t how you spend Easter, we’ve also provided some of the restaurants that have brunch or are open for lunch on Sunday!

Services

Stockton Sunrise Service

(Non-Denominational)

Weber Point Events Center, 221 North Center Street, Stockton CA 95202

6:00 AM to 7:00 AM

Reality Church Stockton  

(Non Denominational. Part of the Reality Family of Churches) 

235 North San Joaquin Street, Stockton CA 95202 

There will be two services on Easter Sunday, April 21, at 9:00am and 11:00am 

St Mary’s Church 

(Catholic) 

203 Washington Street, Stockton, CA 95202 

There will be mass on Easter Sunday. Exact time TBD. 

Saint John the Evangelist Church 

(Episcopalian) 

316 North El Dorado Street, Stockton, CA 95202 

There will be services on Maunday Thursday, April 18, at 5:30pm; Good Friday, April 19, at 12:10pm; and Easter Sunday, April 21, at 10:30am 

Pentecostal Church of Jesus 

(Non Denominational) 

24 South Grant Street, Stockton, CA 95202 

There will be service on Easter Sunday, April 21, 11:15am 

Brunch or Lunch

And if you’re going to be spending your Easter Sunday eating brunch or lunch with friends and family, there are plenty of options to choose from downtown. 

RoRo’s 

20 North California Street, Stockton, CA 95202 

Seafood, burgers and barbeque.  

Sunshine Hawaiian BBQ 

11 North Center Street, Stockton, CA, 95202 

Hawaiian cuisine and barbeque. 

Flakos Takos 

222 N El Dorado Street, Stockton, CA, 95202 

Mexican cuisine. 

Mimosas Gourmet 

30 South El Dorado Street, Stockton, CA 95202 

Cocktails, breakfast, brunch, and burgers. 

The Downtowner 

40 North Sutter Street, Stockton, CA 95202 

Wraps, salads, and sandwiches. 

Tita’s Ihawan 

6 West Main Street, #K, Stockton, CA 95202 

Filipino cuisine and desserts. 

Photo from The Record

Stockton Restaurant Week

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By Andrew Rocha

January is California Restaurant Month and from January 18-27, Visit Stockton presented the 10th Annual Stockton Restaurant Week. Stockton is a city with plenty of culinary talent and unique flavors that can only be found here. Stockton Restaurant Week is an event where restaurants all around Stockton have a chance to show off their best dishes and menus at special fixed prices. 

Building Community

Visit Stockton has been organizing this event every year for ten years. Wes Rhea, the CEO of Visit Stockton explained the purpose behind Stockton Restaurant Week, “The main reason that we started this event is to really build a relationship with restaurants. That’s the number one thing people do when they visit a city is to go out and eat. So it really helps us support the restaurant community. We typically work a lot with hotels and attractions but this gives us an opportunity to work with restaurants. And also this is a traditionally slower time of year. January, post-holiday, people are focused on fitness or already ate a lot and cooked a lot, and so we’re trying to shift that business during a particularly slow time.” 

Over 30 restaurants participated in this years Stockton Restaurant Week and plenty of restaurant owners and patrons express their delight at experiencing such an event. Especially with so many restaurants now offering vegan and gluten-free options. Some of the participating restaurants are here in downtown Stockton. 

Downtown Restaurant Participants

CAST IRON TRADING – 110 North San Joaquin Street 

Visit if you’re looking for specialty coffees, housemade breakfast items, sliders and burgers, and much more! 

DELIBERATION ROOM – 19 North California Street 

They got veggie and meat appetizers to go along with All-American cuisine like pulled pork and corned beef sandwiches. 

DELTA BISTRO AT UNIVERSITY PLAZA – 110 West Fremont Street 

A great place to have a drink while also enjoying a variety of soups, salads, and sandwiches. 

MISAKI SUSHI & BAR – 222 North El Dorado Street Ste. M 

Enjoy some Japanese cuisine like chicken teriyaki and signature sushi rolls. 

PORT CITY SPORTS BAR AND GRILL – 222 North El Dorado Street 

It’s hard to beat a plate of ribs, shrimp scampi, or a mixed plate of wings, chicken strips, onion rings, and fries. 

THE DOWNTOWNER – 40 North Sutter Street 

Does a Prosciutto-Mandarin Salad, a Wagyu BBQ Meatloaf, or a Big 10 Burger sound good? Then maybe visit The Downtowner. 

You can learn more about the restaurants that participated in this year’s Stockton Restaurant Week by checking out the event’s page on Visit Stockton’s website

I think that it’s safe to say that the 10th Annual Stockton Restaurant Week was a huge success and next year’s is sure to be just as great. It is really something special to have an event like this and an organization like Visit Stockton to get so many businesses involved all for the benefit of Stockton and it’s residents. 

Christmas Services

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‘Tis the season to be jolly! It’s December and, even though it can get a little cold and rainy, downtown Stockton is keeping warm through festiveness and the holiday spirit. Christmas is quickly approaching and there are actually a few churches in the downtown area that will be holding Christmas services. For anyone visiting friend and family over the holidays, these are services that might be interesting. Listed below are a few of the local churches that will be holding such services. 

Reality Church Stockton  

(Non Denominational. Part of the Reality Family of Churches) 

235 North San Joaquin Street, Stockton CA 95202 

There will be a Christmas service on the morning of December 23rd at 10:30am. 

St. Mary’s Church  

(Catholic) 

203 Washington Street, Stockton, CA 95202 

There will be Christmas mass on both Christmas Eve and Day (December 24th and 25th).

Saint John the Evangelist Church  

(Episcopalian)  

316 North El Dorado Street, Stockton, CA 95202 

There will be a Christmas service, “Lessons and Carols with Holy Eucharist”, on the night of Christmas Eve (December 24th) at 5:30pm. 

Pentecostal Church of Jesus  

(Non Denominational)  

24 South Grant Street, Stockton, CA 95202 

There will be a Christmas service on the morning of Christmas Day (December the 25th) at 10:00am.  

These services are sure to help anyone have a very Merry Christmas. And to those who do not celebrate Christmas but are still spending their time with friends and family this season, the Downtown Stockton Alliance wishes you a Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! 

The Write Place

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By Andrew Rocha

Reading and writing are not only valuable to a person’s education, but they are skills that promote imagination and foster an understanding between people of varying backgrounds and cultures. Downtown Stockton is a place that is teeming with diversity and creativity and the Write Place at the Tuleburg Press is helping to spread the message of the value of literacy to the community. 

Community Effort

Studio manager Katelynn Castaneda knows the purpose of Write Place and is a witness and participant to the work they do for the community, sharing that “The point of the Write Place is to help get literacy across the board to everyone, so those that who are low income or cannot afford to get an education, we want to be able to bring in everyone from all walks of life so that they can get that general understanding that literacy is important.” 

Workshops and Classes

More than just a mission statement and a dream, the Write Place is actually taking action to make a difference in the community and help all kinds of people. The Write Place hosts many events throughout the year and teaches classes that are both educational and fun. According to Castaneda, one of the more popular classes is paper-making. “It tends to be really popular with kids especially. They like to come in and go through the process because it is something that we don’t do very often and it’s a very niche-y thing to do. It’s very fun for people to go through the process and be like ‘Oh, this is so much fun. I had no idea that this was something that I could do at home.’” 

And the Write Place has even more to offer. Their coptic binding class could always use some more participants. “It’s a fun thing to do. It’s very tedious and very time-consuming, but you can do really creative art with different spines and stitches.It’s really fun to learn and once you learn it, you know it for the rest of your life.” 

Impacting #DowntownStockton

The Write Place is doing so much in downtown, that it is sometimes hard to believe and almost sounds like magic. “We have stuff that people can tangibly use for books, but we also take those books and we also make things out of them. We recently done some old reader’s digest books. We’ve taken those, gutted them pretty much, and we’re taking them, using the covers, and we’re going to be holding classes where people can come in and make coptic bound journals. They’ll have like really cool top cover pages that are made from those old reader’s digests and all the insides were taken from old paper pulp that were made into paper. So for like the holidays, we made some really cool envelopes out of that paper and stationary sets that we are now selling to people.” 

While sometimes it is hard to see the use of writing and literature and many people find those to be their least favorite subjects from school, the Write Place makes the world of books and writing fun and exciting. Located at the Tuleburg Press at 343 E. Main Street and open from 1pm-5pm, the Write Place is helping to make a positive change in Downtown Stockton.

 

Fun, Family-Friendly Summer Activities & Events in Downtown Stockton

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By Jessica Nguyen

Soon, 90 degree temperatures will be heading our way, and you know what that means- summer is almost here! Luckily, there are plenty of family-friendly summer activities and events for you and your loved ones to enjoy in the Downtown Stockton area. Whether you want to cool off from the heat or stay out of the sun, these Downtown Stockton events and activities got you covered (no pun intended)!

Arts & Entertainment

To start off, the Weber Point Event Center is a family favorite! Throughout the year, the Event Center is home to festivals, concerts, and community celebrations as well as a colorful play area for children. In the summer, there is a free interactive water feature for all to enjoy (edit: unfortunately, the water feature will be closed this summer but will be re-opening next year). If getting wet is not for you, feel free to take a leisurely stroll along the water instead and enjoy the view or have a nice lunch in the nearby picnic site. Starting in June, the Event Center hosts Movies at the Point, where family-friendly films are projected onto the outdoor canopy in the evenings. These events are free to the public, so don’t hesitate to bring blankets, snacks, or even dinner to enjoy while watching movies under the summer night sky full of stars.

  

Speaking of films, don’t forget to stop by the Regal City Centre Stadium 16 & IMAX with the family to see highly anticipated summer movies such as Hotel Transylvania 3 and The Incredibles 2.

If live performances or conventions are more your style, come relax and enjoy bands and artists scheduled to perform at the Bob Hope Theatre such as The Monkees, Jake Shimabukuro, and Benise. Over at the Stockton Arena, the first ever Kidz Expo will take place on July 21st, and will include vendor booths, inflatable bounce houses, face painting, magicians, and much more – a great opportunity for you and your family to spend time together. Continue making memories with your loved ones at StocktonCon, an event that showcases talented artists in the San Joaquin Valley Area and promotes awareness of popular culture. Come dressed as your favorite movie, anime, video game, or comic book character!

Educational Activities

Downtown Stockton also offers entertaining, educational activities for youth. For example, at the Children’s Museum of Stockton, kids can enjoy over 40 interactive exhibits, including a Reptile Display, an Eye Exhibit, a Magnet Exhibit, and a fort with a slide. Admission is only $6, and children aged 2 and under are free!

Another option is a visit to the Cesar Chavez Central Library, which offers internet access, free classes, and workshops. Programs for children include: Preschool Playtime, Family Storytime, Family Game Time, and a LEGO Building Club.

Sports

And of course, we can’t forget about sports! Don’t forget to come cheer on our Stockton Ports baseball team at Banner Island Ballpark! In addition to spectating, kids can play with games, inflatable bouncers, and a giant slide located past the outfield along the seawall. There are also batting cages along the first base line for those who want to practice their swing.

Also, join us, the Downtown Stockton Alliance, for our free, trademark event, Full Moon Riders! Bring your family and bicycles for casual evening rides along the Downtown Stockton Waterfront. After the event, riders meet at participating downtown restaurants. The rides are scheduled on nights of the full moon, and the first one is coming up on May 29th! The ride theme is Flower Child Pedal, so wear some flowers in your hair or on your wheels to celebrate the Full Flower Moon!

Each Full Moon Riders event has a different theme, so remember to gear up, decorate your bikes, and have fun!

To keep up on family-friendly summer activities happening in Downtown Stockton, check out our Events Calendar!

Book Lovers Paradise in Downtown Stockton

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By Paula Sheil,
Tuleburg Press & The Write Place

Nestled in the center of Downtown Stockton is a welcoming book lover’s paradise. Inside are shelves bursting with poetry and art books, vintage printing presses and book binding equipment, polished and brought back to life, and floor-to-ceiling murals depicting Stockton’s lush natural habitats. This book lover’s oasis – The Write Place – is a legacy project of Tuleburg Press.

The mission of Tuleburg Press is to foster literacy in our diverse community by identifying, publishing, and/or mentoring emerging, talented, local writers, especially those who write about life in the Central Valley. The Write Place is where we make that happen.

Located at 343 E. Main Street, The Write Place is a studio workshop that offers classes in book binding, letter press printing, and so much more. During the week, book arts and creative writing classes take place, while on the weekends the center hosts authors and artists who showcase their work.

Artist Saul Serna works on a linoleum block print in a Delta-inspired environment realized by muralist Armando Perez.

From cover to cover, Tuleburg Press is all about the book. But more than a book publisher, we host classes where students can create their own books from making the paper, to assembling the book structure, sewing up the book, and filling its pages with creativity!

Instructor Angie Maxson helps Paige and (mom) Sabrina Wold make junk journals.

Poets can work under the tutelage of Stockton’s poet laureate Tama Brisbane on Tuesdays. Writers in other genres meet the second and fourth Mondays of the month at our Writers Exchange, where they explore prompts and share their work.

We hold a multitude of different book arts classes throughout the month.  Review our schedule and enroll for the classes on our website.

In addition to our regular classes, we often host special events for schools, businesses, and individuals. Schools make hour-long field trips to tour the facility and engage in book arts activities, including book making and creative writing. Businesses have used our services as a company team building retreat, where employees can attend a private workshop in which they learn to make paper, make journals, or learn to bind books. We are always happy to hold birthday parties for bibliophiles; all of our offered classes can become a private party.

To discuss setting up a special event at The Write Place, please contact us via email at [email protected] or via phone 209-949-2233.

We hope to see you soon!