Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Free Friday Night Concert

I got a text message two nights ago asking me whether I'd like to go see Blind Melon in Santa Cruz. I immediately responded with YES!  We used to go to the Boardwalk every summer when I lived in the Silicon Valley. That was our tradition. We have seen Eddie Monkey, John Waite, Survivor, Tiffany, Starship, and many other musicians on the beach under the stars. The Boardwalk is very special to me. It's where The Lost Boys (1987) was filmed. While all the actors in the film have aged over the years, the Boardwalk itself seems to be frozen in time. Whenever I am at the Boardwalk, it brings me back memories of my high school days, college days, dotcom days, and the memories just keep adding up!

The parking meters on the streets still take only quarters (plus dollar coins but who carry those?) and are enforced until 8 p.m. The rides are still the same.  The food choices are pretty much the same although I am sure the prices have gone up over the years. I always get a giant corn dog. After the concert, we always stop by Marianne's Ice Cream. The ice cream shop has been there for over 50 years, and it's another place that looks like it has been there for 50 years. It's a coastal amusement park that seems to be a time trap that takes people back in time.

I hope to go there again this summer.

Sunday in Golden Gate Park

Gold Gate Park Map

This morning I woke right before 8 am. I got up, packed up, and headed over to Golden Gate Park with Kelsey in the back seat. Do you know there is free parking in Golden Gate Park? It's limited to 4 hours during Monday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, it is unlimited, but you must get there early. I got to the park at 9 am, and there was plenty of parking. As I was parking, I could see one car after another pulling up and parked behind me. I was pretty sure by 9:30 it would be hard to find parking.

Banjo Stage of Bluegrass (photo taken 2011)

I can see why people love the city. Every weekend and every day there is so much going on. One can never and should never be bored in this area. Many of the weekend activities are free, and if you don't mind taking a little time to plan and pack your own food and drink, you don't need to spend any money at these events. This weekend was the annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. It always runs for 3 days starting from Friday to Sunday. People come from all over the Bay Area to enjoy this free music festival.  It is also SF Fleet Week. I am not sure whether that's free, but I am sure if you know where to go, you can see the air show for free by looking up the sky.

The Golden Gate Park Band

Today there were 6 stages on one side of the park for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. On the other side, just across from De Young Museum, The Golden Gate Park Band was having their last free performance of the season. After I checked out several stages of Bluegrass Festival, I sat on one of the green benches in the shade to enjoy a different kind of music. Kelsey seemed to be pooped after hours of walking, loud music, and being surrounded by people.  She just laid down to take a nap.