About San Luis Obispo's Downtown Slo

Concerts in the Plaza is presented every year by the San Luis Obispo Downtown Association as a free concert for the public in the historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. “The Mission”, as it is commonly referred to, was built in 1772 by Spanish Missionaries and local Chumash Indians and is one of 21 historical missions in California. When it was built it was likely never imagined that this plaza would be filled with music, people, dancing, food and drinks. However, every summer for 13 weeks Friday nights become THE night for locals and tourists alike to come downtown and move their bodies to the rhythm of local music.

The concert venue itself is gorgeous but the music is the real gem of the series. We get treated to local talent ranging in genres from reggae to jazz and electronic rock to cowboy yodeling, there is a concert for everyone with all tastes in music. Often times people show up regardless of who is playing that night and simply because they want to be around a lively crowd and good vibrations. If this sounds like something that you would be interested in and your wondering, “Dom, you’ve sold me on the show but how do I know who’s playing and what time should I bring my dancing shoes down?” then I have the answer for you.

To see who’s playing that week you can simply follow this link here (WFS) and not only see the complete schedule but the weather forecast for the evening and a link to the band that is playing that night. For example, tomorrow night is the kick off of the event and Nada Rasta will be the band playing; by clicking on their link it takes you to their facebook band page where you can listen to their music and learn about the band. Don’t forget to take note that the event begins at 5:30 and runs until 7:30 in the evening. That leaves you plenty of time after the show to grab a bite to eat at one of the local restaurants and shop our beautiful downtown.

The New Times news of San Luis Obispo regularly refers to Concerts in the Plaza as a “Best Bet” for what to do on a Friday night in town. If my vote counts for anything there, I would have to agree with them. See you there tomorrow night!

San Luis Obispo, California, is one place to find happy people according to Dan Buetttner in is new book, THRIVE, Finding Happiness the Blue Zone Way. A Gallup-Heathways poll ranked San Luis Obispo No. 1 in overall emotional health. To see complete article contact Parade.com/happy town. The article is titled, "You'll wish you were here .... lessons from Happy Town U. S. A." Some of the reasons San Luis Obispo ranked so high is access to a variety of arts, number of greenbelts, great biking, walking and hiking trails. Also there is NO outdoor smoking and drive-throughs are prohibited.

I first visited the area in 1996 and fell in love with it. When I turned a "milestone" age (and I'm not saying which age that was!) I moved here without knowing a soul. The place has that kind of effect on people. This is a college town Cal Poly SLO and many students after graduating and leaving the area, find themselves wanting to return. Often they do and raise their children here. I like that we are half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco. They are many talented people who live here and peaple are just plain nice.

SUNSET MAGAZINE NAMES SLO

a TOP TEN DREAM TOWN

It's nice to be envied. An issue of Sunset Magazine shows San Luis Obispo a lot of love, featuring the city as one of its top 10 Dream Towns - or, as the editors say, places to go "for the perfect vacation, or the perfect rest of your life."

Grouped with locations such as the town of Eastsound on Washington's Orcas Island and Butte, Colorado, the two page spread starts with a flattering line: "For your consideration, San Luis Obispo is the most Californian place in all of California."

In particular, writer Matthew Jaffe notes the weather, Thursday's Farmers Market, and funky favorites, including Linnaea's Cafe and the Palm Theatre - "the only solar powered picture show in the country" - as proof of San Luis Obispo's charm.

Sunset readers have previously voted San Luis Obispo the "Best Downtown" in the country. But the 110 year old magazine isn't the first to heap praises on the city: Surfer magazine ranked the near-the-beach town as one of the top 10 surf towns in the country. Runner's World, meanwhile, ranked it one of the top 10 cities for running.

While Sunset did note the still high cost of living in SLO, it was particularly impressed by the city's outdoor options, noting it's "relentlessly fit" population.

"People often talk about California as a state of mind," Jaffe wrote, "Well, in San Luis Obispo, its also a way of life."

San Luis Obispo is located approximately half way between San Francisco and Los Angeles on US Highway 101.  It takes about four hours to get to San Luis Obispo using US Highway 101 but there is another way from San Francisco which is the gorgeous scenic Highway 1 thru Big Sur.  This way takes about six hours and is curvy but must be seen sometime during one's lifetime.  City Population 44,206 County Population 254,566 Physical City Size  10.5 square miles Founded 1772 Incorporated February 18, 1856 You can also reach SLO by air and by train.  San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport is served by United Express and US Airways.  The airport is five miles south of downtown on Highway 227 (Broad Street). www.sloairport.com.  The Amtrak depot is located at 1011 Railroad Ave., www.amtrak.com. Bicycle paths thread through San Luis Obispo.  You can rent bikes or bring your own on local buses and trains.  On Thursday through Sunday, the trolley (25c) completes a loop of downtown every 15-20 minutes, hours of operation vary.  San Luis Obispo is a great place to spend a vacation or live.