Picnics + Concerts = A Perfect Summer Evening

With clear skies, perfect weather, and plenty of beautiful lawns, San Diego is the perfect city for a picnic.  It's also the perfect town to catch some toe-tapping tunes for free.   This week on the blog, we've lined up some of the summer's best concert series and where to go to get a delicious picnic-style meal beforehand.  Picnics and harmonious tunes have never been more enjoyable.  





Pioneer Park is unique in that it sits atop a pioneer cemetery that dates back to the 19th century.  Starting today (July 8th) until July 22nd the "Mission Hills Summer Concerts in the Park" will kick off its summer season of free music.  From 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM you can lay out a blanket or chairs and enjoy this community tradition.

Vanoos Grillette in Mission Bay is the local's secret and the perfect place to get a meal-to-go before heading to Mission Hills.  This little gem of a spot makes authentic Mediterranean food as well as American deli sandwiches.  We suggest ordering a pita sandwich or a speciality wrap and a few appetizers, like hummus and grilled pita wedges and spinach cheese pies.  





Tucked away on the north east corner of Balboa Park is charming Bird Park, which has free concerts every other Saturday from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.  The Bird Park Summer Concerts will run on July 9th, 23rd and August 6th.  This series has been going on for over a decade and the park's wide open space draws in hundreds of locals.  

Just north of Balboa Park is a Whole Foods Market on University Avenue, perfect for picking a wide array of food and drinks to go.  Choose from hot prepared food or fresh pre-packaged sandwiches and cheese and fruit boxes.  From healthy greens to decadent baked goods, there's something for everyone here.  





"Point Loma Summer Concerts" free shows are so popular that the series provides free parking and shuttle service (click HERE for details).  Opening night is tonight and the concerts run until August 5th at Point Loma Park, and takes place every Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 PM.  Catering is available on-site but bringing a picnic meal is also encouraged.  

Con Pane Rustic Breads & Cafe in nearby Liberty Station is a great option for picking up that picnic meal.  As you can guess from the name, all bread is made in-house and locals pop in to buy loaves regularly.  The drool-worthy sandwiches are addictive and the bakery treats like scones, brioches and cookies will bring you back, whether there's a free concert nearby or not.  





Last summer we highlighted La Jolla's free concert series, and this year it's still on our list for places to be every Sunday.  A tradition since 1984, stake out your favorite spot in Ellen Browning Scripps Park overlooking La Jolla Cove and enjoy music from from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.  "La Jolla Concerts By the Sea" runs through September 4th and will feature such musical genres as old-fashioned Rock'N'Roll, Blues, and Swing.  

There will be hot dogs and snacks to purchase, but if you feel like adding a few gourmet treats, then stop by Bristol Farms, the high-end grocery market.  The cafe inside the market offers soups, salads, sandwiches to go.  Don't forget to peruse the cakes, cookies and artisan chocolates, for a sweet end to the meal.  





Nestled in University Heights is the Trolley Barn Park, named for the old streetcar barn that housed the neighborhood trolley in the early 1900s.  Every Friday (until August 5th) Trolley Barn Park is also home to free concerts, part of the "University Heights Summer in the Park" series.  The music begins at 6:00 PM and winds down around 8:00 PM.

On your way to University Heights, stop at Bread & Cie to grab some speciality sandwiches and French sweets like macarons and petit fours.  They also have a delectable selection of muffins, pastries, and cinnamon rolls for those with a bigger sweet tooth, as well as sumptuous salads for the healthy eater.  Bread & Cie also has a kid's menu perfect for children with small appetites.





Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park hosts free concerts every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.  The "Twilight in the Park Summer Concerts" provides family-friendly entertainment in a historical setting and goes until September 1st.  Click HERE for more concert details.

Located a few minutes from Balboa Park is Mona Lisa Italian Foods, which might not be an obvious choice for a sack meal, but their deli makes arguably the best Italian subs in the city.  Classic sandwiches are made with imported cheeses and meats for an authentic touch of Italy.  Their market also sells produce (apples, pears, bananas) and snacks to round off the meal.   






Enjoying a meal al fresco while taking in a free concert is the perfect recipe for a lovely evening.  Call Mission Bay Vacation Rentals today to book your summer stay, conveniently located in the center of all the fun.  We've done the planning for you, wicker basket and gingham tablecloth not included.

San Diego's Biggest Fan

Spend Memorial Day Weekend with one of San Diego's founding fathers, John Diedrich Spreckels (known to his friends as J.D.).  Since he was born in 1853, you won't exactly be able to spend time with J.D. himself, but thanks to many of his generous contributions to the city, you can still enjoy his legacy.  There are some terrific activities going on right now in his namesake park, the theater he helped build, and the colossal organ in Balboa Park.

J.D. was responsible for turning San Diego from a sleepy village into the beautiful city it is today.  He brought the Arizona Railway to the coast, making San Diego the hub, and helped transform Coronado Island into a resort town complete with Hollywood movie stars.  After buying the horse powered San Diego street railway system he changed it to electricity, helping the city move into the future.  Needless to say, he was the wealthiest man in San Diego, and one of the city's biggest fans. 

In 1912, he built a beautiful theater (christened Spreckels Theater, of course), to bring vaudeville to San Diego, which later became a movie palace and then transformed into the performing space it is now.  The theater was the first modern commercial playhouse west of the Mississippi and is now home to the San Diego Ballet, lavish musicals and even the occasional rock concert.  Spreckels underwent a massive renovation in honor of its centennial birthday which uncovered marble sculptures and the original box office.  Currently playing is the classic Broadway musical "42nd Street," a tap-dancing extravaganza, that will be running through mid-June. 

Spreckels Park, home to the Coronado Flower Show, hosts weekly summer concerts in the gazebo every Sunday at 6:00 PM.  The series begins this Sundy, the 29th, with a performance by the Coronado Community Band, a multi-generational band made up of all volunteers.  Parking can be a little tough right before the music starts, so we suggest going a few hours early in order to snag a close spot and to enjoy the picturesque park.  There are picnic tables throughout, mature trees that offer the perfect amount of shade, and a massive playground that even grown-ups will want to explore.  The park was donated by J.D. in 1927, as he owned the entire island of Coronado, for locals to enjoy the quaint island.  Judging by how well-maintained the park is, it's safe to say Mr. Spreckels would be proud of his Coronado community today.

One of the most spectacular contributions from J.D. is the Spreckels Organ in Balboa Park.  The outdoor organ is made up of 4,725 pipes, ranging in size from 32 feet to the size of a pencil.  This is one of the largest outdoor pipe organs in the world.  The Spreckels Organ was donated in 1914, and since 1917 has hosted free weekly Sunday concerts.  This Sunday, May 29th, from 2:00 to 3:15 PM is a very special tribute to David Bowie.  Sitting outside, watching the organist play on an organ that is housed in a vaulted, embellished gables, listening to magnificent music, is an unforgettable experience, one we know J.D. would love.

J.D. was a visionary who saw the potential that little San Diego had.  This weekend, there will be plenty to do, thanks to John D. Spreckels.  Move into one of Mission Bay Vacation Rentals for a long weekend and start exploring the sites and sounds that San Diego has thanks to Spreckels.