Lodi Locals
Happy Monday, Lodi! ☀️
We are so close to summer and honestly, this week's event schedule is giving full summer energy even if the calendar hasn't quite caught up yet. Between the heat creeping in earlier and the evenings staying bright longer, it really does feel like the season is already here; and this edition is packed with events that are going to scratch that itch.
We've got a hands-on summer cooking class for the foodies, a paint night that sends you home with your own piece of wall art, live music at the Farmers Market, and family friendly plans to lock in for Memorial Day weekend. Whether you're looking for a solo night out, a date idea, or something to do with the whole crew, there's something in here for you this week. Let's get into it.
-Kylie Talamantez
📣Events
Paint Bar Studio
Paint Night at Nikki's Place | Tuesday, May 19 | 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Think of it like adding a new piece of art to your home…except you're the one who made it. Paint Night at Nikki's Place is your excuse to get off the couch, head downtown, and try something a little different this Tuesday. No experience needed, no pressure, just a guided step-by-step session in a super welcoming space where the whole point is to have fun and make something you're proud of.
Tickets are $35 and can be purchased here. All paint supplies are covered, so just bring yourself, your favorite snacks, and whatever you're sipping on these days. Whether you go solo, drag a friend, or make it a date night, it's two hours of creativity in the heart of Lodi; and you'll leave with something to actually hang on your wall.
For those of you who haven’t been to Nikki’s Place before, the directions can be a bit confusing so here’s a breakdown: downtown Lodi. Directions: Go through the glass door (to left of Brick House Restaurant) and take stairs or elevator to the 3rd Floor, then follow signs to Nikki's Place.
📍 Nikki's Place, 104 N. School Street, Suite 306 (3rd Floor), Lodi
VisitLodi.com
🎶 Live Music at the Farmers Market — Tandem Bikes & Brews | Thursday, May 21 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM | 9 N. School Street
If your Thursday night routine could use a little upgrade, this is it. The Lodi Farmers Market is already one of the best things about summer in this town, but stopping into Tandem Bikes & Brews while it's all happening around you? That's the move.
This week, Abigail Taylor takes the stage, and if you haven't heard her yet, she's a Lodi local who blends country soul with modern pop in a way that stops you in your tracks.
And here's what makes Tandem the perfect pit stop: grab a cold craft beer, a glass of wine, or pick up a cup of TRAIL coffee if you're doing an evening caffeine run — because yes, you can absolutely have live music and your coffee fix at the same time. Then browse the market vendors, come back for another drink, and let the night stretch out. That's Lodi summer in one evening.
The Farmers Market runs every Thursday from May through August, 5–8 PM, with a different live music act at Tandem each week all season long — so this is one of those recurring plans worth putting on your calendar now.
📍 Tandem Bikes & Brews | 9 N. School Street, Lodi
Cheese Central
Strawberries: Sweet, Savory & Unexpected |Wednesday, May 21 | 3:00 PM | Cheese Central | $85 per guest
Okay, if you've been feeling the heat lately and suddenly craving all things fresh and summery — the blueberries, the brie, the cold pasta salads — this one is for you. There is something about strawberry season that just feels like a full reset, and Chef Staci Bennet is turning that energy into a whole hands-on culinary experience at Cheese Central.
This isn't just a cooking demo you watch from a seat. You're getting in there, working with fresh strawberries in ways that go way beyond dessert. Think creative sweet and savory pairings, unexpected flavor combinations, and the kind of recipes that make you feel like you actually leveled up in the kitchen. Oh, and every guest gets a complimentary glass of wine, so yeah — it's that kind of afternoon.
At $85 a seat, it's a really solid way to spend a Wednesday if you've been in that summer food mood and want something a little more intentional than just snacking on fruit over the sink (no judgment, same).
📍 Cheese Central, Lodi | Spots are limited so grab yours before it sells out!
Five Window Beer Co
🧠 Trivia Night at Five Window Beer Garden | Tuesday, May 19 | 6:00 – 9:00 PM | $5 per person
One of the best things about this time of year? The sun is still out at 7 PM and the evenings are finally warm enough to actually enjoy being outside. Instead of sitting inside after dinner, take the family or your crew out to Five Window Beer Garden for Trivia Night — a super fun, low-key way to spend a Tuesday that honestly feels more like a summer night out than a random weeknight.
At just $5 a person, it's one of the most affordable things happening in Lodi this week. Teams are 2 to 6 people, so it works whether you're rolling with a big group or just a couple of friends looking for something to do. It's the kind of thing that brings out that fun, competitive energy in people — and makes for genuinely great memories with whoever you bring along.
A few things to keep in mind before you go: no cellphones or Apple Watches during trivia (yes, that means it's a real, old school test of what you actually know), and no outside food or water bottles. Plan to arrive a little early to get your team settled before the 6 PM start.
📍 Five Window Beer Garden | 9 W Locust St, Lodi, CA 95240
🏡 Family & Kids Corner
Michael David Winery
Family Night Carnival at Michael David Winery
Saturday, May 30 | 4:00 – 7:00 PM | FREE
One of the best things you can do for your family this season? Get outside, put the screens down, and just go do something together — and this is the perfect excuse. Michael David Winery is hosting a free Family Night Carnival on May 30th and it is genuinely one of those events that has something for every single person in your crew, no matter the age.
The kids get carnival games, face painting, crafts, bubbles, and a pop-up from World of Wonders Science Museum (yes, actual hands-on science fun at a carnival — love that for them). Three food trucks will be on site so dinner is handled, and the parents? You get to sip wine at a winery while your kids run around safely having the time of their lives. That's not just a fun night out, that's a win for everyone's mental health.
There is something really special about trading a regular Tuesday evening for a night full of laughter, fresh air, and a little bit of magic. Getting kids outside and engaged in creative, social experiences like this does so much for them — and honestly, it does just as much for the grown-ups who need to decompress too. Best part: tickets are completely free, so there's zero reason not to go.
📍 Michael David Winery | 4580 CA-12, Lodi, CA 95242
🎟️ Free admission | All ages welcome
🍷 Memorial Day Weekend at Michael David Winery
May 22 – 25 | Free Admission | No Reservations Needed
If you're looking for a laid-back, no-pressure way to kick off summer with the whole family, Michael David Winery has the long weekend covered. From May 22nd through the 25th, they're hosting a full Memorial Day Weekend experience out in the garden — free to attend, open to all ages, and zero planning required on your end.
Live music sets the tone both Saturday and Sunday with Chase Estes on May 23rd and Lucas Sanchez on May 24th, both playing noon to 3 PM in the garden. Grab a glass from the Garden Wine Bar, snag a charcuterie board from Curated Luxe Bites, and just soak it all in. It's the kind of afternoon that feels like summer is actually here.
If you want to take a little piece of the weekend home, keep an eye out for the Memorial Day Mystery Cases — a surprise wine selection available onsite only while supplies last, priced at $170 for club members and $200 for retail. Spontaneous, festive, and exactly what a long weekend should feel like.
✨Community Spotlight
From Building Tour @Kylie.Talamantez
The Story Behind 13 W. Pine Street
You already know Lodi is the birthplace of A&W but the building that sits at 13 W. Pine Street today has a story that goes a little deeper, and honestly a little spookier.
Roy W. Allen was a hotelier by trade before he ever sold a drop of root beer. So it's no surprise that when he set up that first stand along Pine Street on June 20, 1919, right along the parade route between the Lodi Arch and Church Street, he wasn't just passing through. Allen had roots here, and the building at that address has long been connected to his early presence in Lodi, with an upstairs apartment space that locals have tied to the man himself.
From Building Tour @Kylie.Talamantez
Today that upper floor sits largely empty and desolate, and it has quietly earned a reputation around town as one of Lodi's allegedly haunted spaces. A 2023 episode of Cody's Caravan actually filmed a full "haunted loft" segment right there on Pine Street, with locals pointing to the upstairs space as a spot where things feel a little off. Whether you believe in that kind of thing or not, there is something undeniably eerie about standing below a dark abandoned upper floor knowing that the whole American fast food industry was essentially born on the sidewalk right beneath it.
The plaque is easy to miss. It sits low on the ground near a fire hydrant, halfway between the Lodi Arch and School Street. But now that you know the full story, it hits a little differently.
📍 13 W. Pine Street, Lodi — look down, and look up.
🎶 LIVE MUSIC | MAY 2026
Sat - May 23
Kool Wind & Fire + Sweet Tina (Tribute – Kool & the Gang, Earth Wind & Fire & Tina Turner – Groovin’ in the Grove) | 7:00 PM
📍 Jessie’s Grove Winery - 1973 W Turner Rd, Lodi
Thu - May 28
Big Booty Bob (Thursday Night Music) | 5:00–8:00 PM
📍 Oak Farm Vineyards - 23627 N DeVries Rd, Lodi
Fri - May 30
The Network Band (Rock/Variety)
📍 Five Window Beer Co. - 9 W Locust St, Lodi
Thanks for reading! It means more than you know that you take a few minutes out of your day to stay connected with our little corner of the world. See you around Lodi! 🍇
