Pops in the Park June 28, 2014

This Saturday, June 28, the final Pops in the Park concert will be held at McKinley Park. And what a finale it will be! Starting at 6pm, Garratt Wilkin & The Parrotheads will be performing a celebration of the music of Jimmy Buffett. Margaritas, beaches and boats. There's no way that won't be fun. The emcee for the night is KCRA and KFBK Financial Advisor Kelly Brothers. 

The place is sure to be packed, so get there early for the best view of the stage. Bring your own blankets, lawn chairs and picnic. Or you can get dinner and dessert from Burr's Fountain, Clark's Corner and the East Sac-Midtown Kiwanis Club. (Portions of the proceeds will go toward funding nighborhood improvements and next year's concert series.) For more info, go to eastsacpopsinthepark.com.

Since McKinley Park is just two blocks from my home and I plan on getting there early and staking out an area for my neighbors to have a block party! We did this last year and it was a blast. 

Pops in the Park

This Saturday, June 21, perennial Pops in the Park favorite, the John Skinner Band, will be rocking Bertha Henschel Park starting at 6pm. Their distinctive blend of hit songs from the 1950s--from swing to rock to Motown classics and ballads--are bound to get the audience dancing and singing along. The emcee for the evening is KCRA meteorologist Tamara Berg.

Come early for the best spot. Bring your blanket, lawn chair and picnic dinner. Or you can get delicious vittles at the event from Burr's Fountain, Formoli's Bistro and the East Sac-Midtown Kiwanis Club--with a portion of the proceeds going to fund neighborhood improvements. For more information about Pops in the Park, be sure to check out eastsacpopsinthepark.com.

Taste of East Sacramento

Right after Pops in the Park ends, it’s time to start thinking about next year. The Taste of East Sac event is just the thing to get the ball rolling. On Sunday June 29th, from 5-7pm at the Shepard Garden and Arts Center in McKinley Park (at 34th Street) the 6th Annual Taste of East Sacramento will show off the best food, drink and entertainment the area has to offer.

Presented by the East Sacramento Chamber of Commerce and Selland's Market, the event will include offerings from more than 15 area restaurants, wineries and food purveyors, including 33rd Street Bistro, Dos Coyotes and Hoppy Brewing Company. There will also be art on display and live music by The Brian Dougherty Trio.

Tickets for the event are $30 in advance. There are a limited number, and every year that have sold out quickly. They can be purchased at Selland's Market-Cafe, or call (916) 452-8011 or email eastsacchamber@aol.com. 

I went last year and had a great time. I've already bought my tickets for this year and plan on seeing a lot of my East Sac clients there!

East Sac's Pops in the Park 2014 Weekend #2

This coming Saturday, the second Pops in the Park concert will be held at Glenn Hall Park in River Park. Starting at 6pm, The Count will be playing their unique blend of rock and R&B. The emcees for the evening are KCRA's Edie Lambert and former assemblyman (and Lambert's husband) Lloyd Levine. 

Bring your own food, or you can find plenty of delicious refreshments from Burr's Fountain, Formoli's Bistro and the East Sac-Midtown Kiwanis Club. (A portion of the proceeds from food and beverage sales will help to support neighborhood improvements.)

And more great bands and food are still to come. For more information about Pops in the Park, go to eastsacpopsinthepark.com.  

East Sac's Pops in the Park 2014 Starts this Weekend!

For nearly 20 years, through the efforts of Councilmember Steve Cohn, countless volunteers and many talented artists, Pops in the Park has raised money for East Sac parks while also providing a month's worth of great live music, food and fun. And this year is no exception. 

Starting this Saturday, Pops in the Park kicks off at East Portal Park at 6pm. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and be sure to get there early to get a good spot. The Chris Gardner Band, specializing in their own unique brand of country-rock music, will be performing. The evening's emcees are B Street Theatre's Buck Busfield and Bill Blake. You can either bring your own refreshments (they are requesting no outside alcohol) or purchase them from Burr's Fountain, Clark's Corner and the East Sac-Midtown Kiwanis Club. 

And here's the schedule for the rest of the Pops in the Park series:

June 14- Glenn Hall Park, The Count

June 21- Bertha Henschel Park, John Skinner Band

June 28- McKinley Park, Garratt Wilken & The Parrotheads: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett

Sounds great, doesn't it? For more information on Pops in the Park, visit eastsacpopsinthepark.com.

Pops in the Park 2014!

OK, this is a little early to announce it, but it is one of my favorite events of the year…

The 2014 Pops in the Park schedule and line up has been announced! This is one of the many benefits of being in the East Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, getting news before they make it into a nice, colorful poster.

The current plan (subject to change of course) is as follows:

Saturday June 7th starting at 6:00 pm will be Chris Gardner Band playing in East Portal Park
Saturday June 14th starting at 6:00 pm will be The Count at Glenn Hall Park
Saturday June 21st starting at 6:00 pm will be John Skinner Band at Bertha Henschel Park
Saturday June 28th starting at 6:00 pm will be Garatt Wilkin and the Parrot Heads at McKinley Park

I'm excited to load up the bikes and make a day of it for each of these!

Pops in the Park Benefit Concert

The Pops in the Park summer concert series wouldn't be possible without support year round. As such, an upcoming concert at the Torch Club will benefit next year's concerts. The Count, a local band specializing in classic rock and soul music (and a featured Pops in the Park performer), will perform this coming Saturday, November 9 at the Torch Club (904 15th Street) from 4-7pm.

While admission is free, donations will be accepted for the Pops in the Park/ Gifts to Share fund. Good tunes and good cocktails, all for a good cause. What could be better?

Screen on the Green

This Saturday, August 10, Glenn Hall Park will host the screening of the 1996 live action version of "101 Dalmations," starring Glenn Close, Jeff Daniels and Joely Richardson (and just over a hundred spotted dogs).

The movie starts at sundown, around 8:15pm. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and your favorite movie snacks and settle in for a fun, kid-friendly evening. Complimentary water is available, and other drinks and snacks will be available for purchase, courtesy of the River Park Mothers' Club.

Screen on the Green is presented by Councilman Steve Cohn in association with Pops in the Park. For more information, visit sacscreenonthegreen.com.

Click on the tab at the top of this blog to see all the East Sacramento Homes for Sale.

Taste of East Sac

This Sunday, June 30, Taste of East Sac returns to the Shepard Garden and Arts Center near McKinley Park. Now in its fifth year, Taste of East Sac showcases all the best that area restaurants, wineries and breweries have to offer. The food and wine on hand will be plentiful and delicious, and the cause worthwhile. This event supports Pops in the Park, which just recently wrapped up its 2013 season.

This year's theme is "In the Good Old Summertime." From 5-7pm, you can enjoy the summertime vibe along with the abovementioned refreshments, art and music.

Tickets are $30 per person, and can be purchased over the phone at (916) 452-8011 or via email at eastsacchamber@aol.com. You can also find more info at http://tasteofeastsac.weebly.com/.

Pops in the Park, Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers, Mckinley Park

This year's Pops in the Park goes out with a bang with Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers, performing tonight, June 22, at 6pm at McKinley Park. A staple at the Sacramento Music Festival, this band has often been cited as the "Best Unsigned Band in the Blues." And you'll see why when you see them perform covers of classic blues as well as original tunes. Tamera Berg, part of the KCRA weather team, will be the night's emcee.

The Pops in the Park at McKinley is always my favorite since I live just a couple blocks away and can walk to the event! I hope to see a lot of past and future clients at this event.

Pups in the Park

I defy you to resist the cuteness. The morning of June 22, before Pops in the Park takes over, McKinley Park is the setting for the 5th Annual Pups in the Park dog walk and costume contest. From 9am to 12 noon at Shepard Garden and Arts Center (35th & McKinley), bring your own pup (and/or other human friends) and enjoy the 1K dog walk/parade, contests, raffle prizes and goodies from local vendors, as well as meet other dogs available for adoption from area rescue groups.

Admission is free, but if you want to enter your doggie in the costume contest and/or join the dog walk, the entry fee is $20. Proceeds from the event benefit Friends of East Sacramento, the Youth Development Network and Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary.

For more details on Pups in the Park, call Happy Tails at (916) 556-1155, or check it out at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/6069093823/eorg#.

Pops in the Park, Bertha Henschel Park, The John Skinner Band

For decades, The John Skinner Band has entertained audiences throughout Northern California with their energetic blend of 1950s rock, swing, Motown classics, ballads and more. Tonight, June 15, they will be performing at 6pm at Bertha Henschel Park as part of this year's Pops in the Park. KCRA's Edie Lambert and former California State Assemblyman Lloyd Levine will be the evening's emcees.

Pops in the Park, Glenn Hall Park, Mercy Me!

June 8, Popsin the Park moves to GlennHall Park. The evening's entertainment is Mercy Me!, a three-time Sammie award-winning band that will perform covers of popular R&B and funk tunes, as well as their own original music. Mellisa Paul, the host of local TV talk show Sac & Co., will oversee the festivities as the night's emcee.   

Pops in the Park

June 1, kicks off this year’s Popsin the Park series. So don’t forget to stop by EastPortal Park at 6pm to enjoy the toe-tapping Cajun and zydeco tunes of Tom Rigney and Flambeau. Actually, you’ll probably want to get there a little early to find a good spot to set up your lawn chairs and grab a bite to eat from one of the local food vendors.

Here are some pictures that I took at the event. Quite the turnout and this was on a 100 degree day!

Rebuild McKinley

A direct recipient of funds raised by Pops in the Park goes to this project ($5000). Almost a year ago, on July 21, 2012, nearly a third of the McKinley Park playground was burned down. Since then, community members have rallied to rebuild it. According to the website:

"The theme of the playground will be essentially East Sacramento, with an intent to reflect its history and sense of place. To this end, the playground will have elements such as a trolley, architectural elements reminiscent of the Alhambra Theater and natural elements such as logs and stones. The playground may also include other features reminiscent of Sacramento's past and present."

If you're interested in volunteering your services, there will be plenty of opportunities to do so: three shifts a day for six days from Tuesday June 4th to Sunday June 9th. For more information on how to volunteer or make a donation to the cause, see the official website at http://www.cityofsacramento.org/rebuildmckinley.

Pops in the Park

If you didn’t get your fill of live music with the Sacramento Music Festival, never fear. All this June, we have Pops in the Park. Starting out in 1991 as an afternoon concert, the East Sac Pops in the Park has since evolved into a series of evening concerts to help fund the upkeep of neighborhood parks.

This year, it kicks off June 1 in East Portal Park with perennial Sacramento Music Festival favorites Tom Rigney and Flambeau. Rigney and his gang of talented musicians always gets the audience up on their feet with their energetic Cajun and zydeco tunes, traditional New Orleans jazz, waltzes, blues and ballads. The emcees for the evening are B Street Theatre’s Buck Busfield and Bill Blake.

The series continues through June in various East Sacramento parks. Here’s the schedule:

June 1- Tom Rigney and Flambeau, East Portal Park

June 8- Mercy Me, Glenn Hall Park

June 15- The John Skinner Band, Bertha Henschel Park

June 22- Mick Martin & The Blues Rockers, McKinley Park

All shows start at 6pm. Get there early with your blankets or lawn chairs to get the best spots. The shows are free, with proceeds from food and drink vendors benefitting neighborhood projects.

To find out more about Pops in the Park, visit the website at http://eastsacpopsinthepark.com.

Pops in the Park Lineup!

The bands for East Sac’s 2012 Pops in the Park summer concerts have been announced!

Mercy Me! will kick it off on June 2^nd with their rhythm and blues in McKinely Park

The Chris Gardner Band will be playing Country music at Glenn Hall Park on June 9^th.

My favorite, the Q-Balls will perform rock-n-roll classics from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s in East Portal Park on June 16^th.

Ivan Najera and Friends will finish it off with Latin Jazz in Bertha Henschel Park on June 23^rd.

All of the concerts start at 6:00 pm. You can find out more about them at eastsacpopsinthepark.com