The reason why this week hasn’t included many media-heavy posts is because I’m prepping for a video project. My video is going to answer the question: Why is San Luis Obispo a hub for entertainment? I plan on interviewing a students, locals and performers about their experience of the entertainment in SLO. I want to include live footage from shows and feature some of the best venues.
Located between Los Angeles and San Francisco, San Luis Obispo is often overlooked as a entertainment destination. However, many people forget the fact that SLO is home to people in all stages of life. If you have an act, there is bound to be someone in SLO who will appreciate it.
Yes, San Luis Obispo lacks the glamor of a big city with giant arenas, but it makes up for it with intimacy and love for the arts . Where else in California can you be inches away from a band without having to wait hours in line squished up against other eager fans? Where else can you watch a show then possibly share a drink with the performer afterwards?
Stay tuned for more! I’m really looking forward to it.
This week I’ve decided to feature an app by Eventbrite.com. Eventbrite allows event organizers to manage their ticket sales and share them across various social media platforms. It is especially popular for San Luis Obispo event organizers who work on a much smaller scale than most stadiums or arenas. Their app makes planning your weekend that much more brighter. Here’s why:
1. Simple and Direct Interface
Upon opening the Eventbrite app, there are a list of upcoming events in your area. There are two quick links to popular search filters. As seen above “Around Me” and “This Weekend” It’s all self explanatory.
2. Smart Search Filters
If you want to refine your search options even further, the Eventbrite app makes it easy. You can search by relevance, a specific distance if your travel is limited or, my favorite, by cost. Eventbrite hosts many free events that can save you some money if you want to have fun on a budget.
3. Event Organization
For the savvy weekender, Eventbrite offers a place to organize. If you have many tickets to shows over the weekend, the Eventbrite app offers a place for all of your tickets. All you need is the email used while purchasing the tickets.
If you see something that sparks your interest, but can’t research or buy tickets right at that moment, you can save them in the Eventbrite app. This way, you’re guaranteed to never miss an event.
4. Push Notifications
Push notifications are pretty standard for apps nowadays. However, Eventbrite has incorporated a social aspect. If one of your Facebook friends is using the Eventbrite app and has purchased tickets to a show, you can opt-in to receive a notification so you can go with them.
Here is a collection of all of the locations mentioned in Time Out SLO. All of these places are great venues for entertainment. I encourage you to check out their calendars for upcoming events. (Check out the street view feature to preview the inside of some of the venues!)
Cal Poly Dance Department’s company, Orchesis, performs its final run of their annual dance show this weekend in Spanos Theatre. This year’s show, titled Vitality, features 28 Cal Poly students dancing in 13 pieces.
Professor Christy McNeil returned to associate direct for her second year with the company.
“This year we have a whole new technical staff,” McNeil said, “It has worked great so far.”
The pieces exhibit a wide variety of dance styles including ballet, contemporary jazz, and modern. A majority of pieces were choreographed by Cal Poly dance teachers.
McNeil along with Professor Diane Stanton and Michelle Walter direct the company each year. This means they are in charge of auditions as well. The audition process is the toughest part, McNeil said.
Auditions are held the first week of fall quarter. Once the final decisions are made, the company begins rehearsing.
The company is made of a mix of both new and returning dancers, McNeil said.
Third year Cal Poly student William Bassett returned to Orchesis for his second time.
“I love orchesis because its a wonderful positive growing environment that encourages us to be the best dancers possible,” Bassett said, “Every year is very different and every year is a new dance family.”
This year, there are five pieces in Vitality that are choreographed by students and guest artists. The guest performers include: Doug Nielsen from University of Arizona, Daniel Cruz from Seattle, Nancy Cranbourne from Boulder, CO, Damon Rago from Loyola Marymount U and Ryan Lawrence from San Luis Obispo.
Members of Orchesis will be presenting at the American College Dance Festival at ASU from March 13-16. McNeil’s piece “Crash” and student Ella Richards’ piece “On Making Decisions” will be representing Cal Poly.
So far, Vitality has seen good audience turnout.
“Get tickets sooner rather than later,” McNeil said.
Regal Arroyo Grande Stadium 10 is hosting a Frozen Sing-A-Long for the second weekend in a row. Sing-A-Longs for the newest Disney animated musical have been popping up at movie theaters around the country since the film’s growing popularity.
Third year Cal Poly student Chad Eckman, went to the sing-a-long last weekend.
“It was really fun to sing with everyone in the theatre,” Eckman said, “Some people came up to us afterwards to take our picture because we got really into singing.”
The Sing-A-Longs will be showing daily at 12:20 PM until Tuesday, February 12.
Going downtown to dance or watching a dance show are great ways to spend your weekends. But, sometimes a crowded bar or stuffy theatre can get old. Why not go outside for a change? San Luis Obispo offers great nature spots for exploration and hiking.
Click the first photo to begin the adventure to architecture graveyard:
This is architecture graveyard. Beautiful, right? Before you start you first have to grab some friends.
Meet with your friends in PCV to begin your adventure to the architecture graveyard.
Begin your trek by following the path off of the main road to PCV.
Be sure to stop to smell the flowers!
It’s okay if you’re too scared to the top of this structure, it’s only the first. Make a heart with your body instead…
Keep climbing, there’s more to see!
Rest breaks are allowed. No one said it was going to be easy.
Yes, you’re allowed to go inside.
Try to decrypt these ancient cave hieroglyphics.
If there’s a ladder there, that means you can climb it, right?!
What do Oz, Zion I and Bacon have in common? Asides from the letter ‘o’, not much. Except that they are all playing in San Luis Obispo this weekend and made the top three things to do this weekend.
THE LIST
– FEATURED – What to see: The Wizard of OZ
Courtesy of Kelrik Productions
Kelrik Productions brings the MGM classic, The Wizard of Oz, to stage starting this Saturday, January 25th.
Erik Austin, founder and artistic director, emphasized the desire to recreate the movie.
“We worked to embody the characters and pay homage to the movie as much as possible,” Austin said.
To do so, the production will feature projections for special effects, Austin said.
Kelrik has been providing community theatre to the central coast since 2004. It recently has had to move rehearsal and performance spaces since the closing of it’s usual space, Unity Church.
The show will be performed in Cuesta College’s new performing arts center. Kelrik is one of the first companies to perform in the new space, Austin said.
“It’s a beautiful state of the art theatre,” Austin said, “It has every bell of whistle.”
Austin has been working with the cast during the four week rehearsal process.
Courtesy of Kelrik Productions
The Wizard of Oz will feature Cassie Johnson as Dorothy. A Kelrik audience favorite, Mike Mesker, will play Professor Marvel and The Wizard of Oz.
The cast will also feature Allison King (Glinda), Theresa Riforgiate (Almira Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West), Larry Kaml (Uncle Henry/Gatekeeper), Sandy Schwarer (Aunt Em), Ed Cardoza (Hickory/Tinman), Bret Boyle (Zeke/Cowardly Lion), and Evan Camacho (Hunk/Scarecrow).
The Wizard of Oz is just the first of several productions of Kelrik’s 2014 season.
The Wizard of Oz will be playing through February 2nd with matinees and evening shows.
Zion I is coming to SLO Brewing Co. this Sunday, the 26th at 7:30pm. The Bay Area Hip-Hop duo is made of members emcee Zumbi and producer Amp Live. As part of The Masters of Ceremony tour, Zumbi and Live are promoting their seventh EP. A free download of the EP can be found here.
Event and promotion intern, Lindsey Lewis said they are expecting a decent turn out. So get tickets while you can.
The wildly popular SLO Bacon Fest has long passed, but if you didn’t get a chance to celebrate the festivities, there’s still hope. From the creators of SLO Bacon Fest, is San Luis Obispo’s Bacon Week.
Through January 25th, Bacon Week brings all of the dishes created by SLO Bacon Fest vendors, back to their original restaurants. By visiting each restaurant you have a chance to win prizes.
Cal Poly graduate, Grant Garcia, was one of many who enjoyed the food at Bacon Fest in November.
“The vendors did a good job making dishes that go well with bacon, but it’s not too overpowering,” Garcia said.
The Graduate is catered towards guests 18 and over with a club and dancehall atmosphere.
SLO Brewing Co. is a restaurant and bar that turns into a music venue with both all ages and 21+ events.
San Luis Obispo Performing Arts Center hosts local and touring talent in two state-of-the-art theatres on Cal Poly’s campus.
Before I begin throwing events at my readers, I want to make sure everyone is familiar with some of the more popular venues in San Luis Obispo, California. This post features a few of the most frequented entertainment venues in SLO. Whether it’s music, dancing or theatre, these are the places to know.
The Graduate
The first place of interest, The Graduate (or “The Grad”), is a bar and club that hosts 18 and over and 21 and over events. The Grad has a dance hall feel and often hosts local and well-known DJs. There is a different themed night every night starting on Wednesdays. However, they’re most well known for their country line dancing nights on Thursdays.
Third year kinesiology major, Hannah Tappe, has been line dancing for two years now. Ever since her first time her freshman year, Tappe has been going consistently with her friends.
photo courtesy of Hannah Tappe
“I like line dancing because it’s something to do on a Thursday night even if you’re not 21,” Tappe said, “The Grad is a fun place to dance with your friends.”
The Grad attracts many ages, but mostly appeals to college students and, appropriately enough, graduates.
San Luis Obispo Brewing Company, commonly known as SLO Brew, is downtown SLO’s most active music venue. By day, SLO Brew is a restaurant and bar. By night, it becomes a hotspot to a variety of musicians.
Fourth year journalism major Lindsey Lewis is SLO Brew’s events and promotion intern. San Luis Obispo’s small town feel appeals to both artist and audience, Lewis said.
“Everyone feels at home in SLO. Big cities can be crazy and could be harder to visit around town,” Lewis said, “Too $hort was able to go around downtown without too much hassle.”
This month, SLO Brew is hosting 15 acts from all different genres, Lewis said.
The San Luis Obispo Performing Arts Center, or the PAC, hosts all talents and genres. Located on Cal Poly campus, the PAC is home to many local performing arts organizations including the Cal Poly music department, San Luis Obispo Symphony, Opera San Luis Obispo, and Cal Poly Arts. The PAC also hosts touring Broadway shows, famous comedians, dance troupes, and music ensembles. If it can be performed, the PAC can host it.
The PAC is comprised of two auditoriums: Christopher Cohen Center, and Alex and Faye Spanos Theatre. The Christopher Cohen Center, the larger of the two, hosts most of the main acts. The Alex and Faye Spanos Theatre hosts smaller acts and speakers.
Outside of Alex and Faye Spanos Theatre
Inside of the Christopher Cohen Center
Fourth year theatre major, Christopher Gormley, has performed multiple times in the Alex and Faye Spanos Theatre. “It’s always a joy performing on that stage and just as much of a joy to sit in the audience,” Gormley said. “Spanos is a comfortable theatre. I’ve seen such a wide array of performances at Spanos, in terms of content.”
So there you have it, the need-to-know venues in San Luis Obispo. There are still many places to find great sources of entertainment in SLO. But, you’re bound to find something to do any day of the week at one of these entertainment destinations.
Time Out: San Luis Obispo 