Big Bear Labor Day Weekend Update – Aug 29-31

What are you doing for the Labor Day Weekend?
It is supposed to be another gorgeous weekend with pleasant weather so we suggest getting outside as much as possible.

Labor Day Weekend in Big Bear is a HUGE garage and yard sale day, so you may want to get out and explore for bargains sometime this weekend.  One of the biggest areas for this will be the east end of the valley – Big Bear City, Sugarloaf, and Erwin Lake

Since this is the last holiday of the summer – Big Bear is loaded with music.  For a complete list – visit our Big Bear Times Event Calendar.

Thursday – Aug 28

Check out Silver Moon over at Nottinghams Tavern.  Silver Moon is a very talented duo that has a repertoire of over 1500 songs spanning every genre you can think of.  They are playing outside on the patio from 6-8 so order some dinner and relax.  Crab Cakes, Artichoke Spinach Dip, Caramelized Brie – just to name a few to wet your appetite!

Friday – Aug 29

Full Flight “a little taste of everything” plays Classic, Alternative and Original Rock done Singer/Songwriter style at The Wine Room at Wolf Creek Resort – 6:30-9:30pm.  

Friday Nights in The Village.  If you have not went to this yet – time is running out.  Here is the schedule and locations:
The Steve Garcia Group are playing at the Copper Q featuring Greg on the congo drums
One Story is playing on the corner of Pine Knot & Village Dr. They are a eclectic folk/rock duo with an extraordinary mix of covers and originals.
The Heart Lights are playing in the breezeway between Amangela’s and Home Warehouse Design Center. They are known as the Carpenters of Big Bear.
The Balloon Guy will be in front of The Shirt Shanty on the corner of Pine Knot & Village Dr.
Magic J performing in the village. Never know where he might pop up and surprise you with his magic.

Saturday – Aug 30

Recommended:
Plethora – One of Big Bear’s longest running rock bands plays Grifters Bar and grill in Sugarloaf.   This place has been remodeled extensively.  The food is good, the drinks are cheap and the band is hot.  Come for dinner – stay for the show.  No Cover. Plethora plays from 9pm-Midnight.

The Other Room next to No-Name Pizza in Big Bear City presents the theatrical production of the critically acclaimed play “Love Letters” starring Beth Wheat and Steve Cassling for three performances August 29-31 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15

Led ZepAgain – Led Zeppelin tribute band at The Discovery Center. Tickets start at $30. Show starts at 6:00pm

One Story performs at Black Diamond Tavern 7-10pm.  They are a eclectic folk/rock duo with an extraordinary mix of covers and originals. No Cover.

Bob Gully is at Nottinghams Tavern 7-10pm.  Singer/Songwriter. Upstairs in the bar – No Cover

The Wheeland Brothers are at The Cave. Reggae mixed with acoustic rock, ukulele and hip hop.  Tickets start at $10

Sunday Aug 31

Community Mountain Bike Ride – Mountain Bike riding for ALL levels in a group setting in and around Big Bear Lake.  Ride starts at 9am.

Labor Day – Monday – Sept 1

Be safe, appoint a designated driver.  Have fun, bbq responsibly and enjoy your day!

Weekend Highlights – Aug 1-3

What a weekend!  The Tour de Big Bear, a karaoke gig, filming The Duke Michaels Band, The Tubes, a walk around Meadow Park and a barbecue with friends!  As some of us locals say “If you are bored in Big Bear, you must be boring!”

Coming into town on Thursday night after being in San Diego all week felt just like when used to come up on weekends before I moved here.  What to do?  First thing is to check The Big Bear Times Event Calendar to find out.  The new agenda layout makes it real easy to see what is happening each day.  Then call and verify events are correct (sometimes things change), write up the Weekend Update and make sure it is out by noon on Friday.

Friday morning – I took a walk down to Meadow Park to gather pictures, research and explore for my ongoing chronicle of Big Bear Parks.  I am still working on that permanent page for The Big Bear Times.  I hope to add that page later this week.  There is more there than meets the eye from the street.  Here are a few pics:

Meadow Park

Meadow Park Picnic Area

Meadow Park Four Square and Hopscotch

Bark Park

Bark Park Large Dog Area

Meadow Park T-Ball Stadium

Meadow Park T-Ball Field

Meadow Park Tennis Courts

Friday – noon.  Head off to Nottinghams to check out the bike expo and learn all about the Tour de Big Bear.  The sound of silky jazz piano up here in Big Bear usually means Mike Cross is playing.

Mike Cross playing his smooth jazzy licks

I said hello and walked around and checked out the bikes, met some interesting people and learn more about cycling at 7000 feet.  I wrote a separate article covering that so if you want to read more: click here.

Later Friday night, I was off to The Boathouse Lakeside Tavern for a gig with Beyond Karaoke.  Everyone knows what karaoke is, but Beyond Karaoke adds live musicians so you really get the feel of being onstage with a band.  Stephen Tebo (the K.J.) and Chris Canzoneri (Guitar) anchor the show every Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 8pm (more or less).  I add synth on Friday.  Saturday and Sunday alternate with other guest musicians on keyboards or bass.  Its a rockin’ good time and the sunsets are spectacular!

The video company I work for, Rebel Video Production, got a call on Wednesday from Duke Michaels to film The Duke Michaels Band Saturday, August 2nd at The Cave before The Tubes.  Arriving at 6:30 to set up cameras before the show, I was pleased to learn we could stay for The Tubes.  Can you say BONUS?  The Duke Micheals Band had a flawless perfomance and the sound at The Cave was great!  We have permission to show you this video here – so take a look!

I had to leave to take one of the camera operators home so I missed out on Direct Divide but made it back right as The Tubes took the stage.  I have never had a chance to The Tubes before and was curious.  I have seen quite a few “comeback” shows and you never know how good (or how bad) they might be.  Let me tell you, this was one awesome concert!  Fee Waybill did not disappoint dressing up in various costumes that mimicked the original music videos.  He came out in well tailored suit first with highlight of that outfit being “What do you want from life?”  Then he came out in a jail outfit with a crazy cage on his head.  He leaves for a bit while the band plays and returns in a straight-jacket singing  Mr Hate.   He never misses a lyric or note and at the end of the song he has freed himself from the jacket.  White Punks on Dope was one of the most outrageous performances I have ever seen live and I dare say it rivaled an Alice Cooper show.  I was really surprised at the full range Fee was still able to hit.  The band was extremely tight and the sound was fantastic.  Two Bear-Paws up for this show.

No pictures of the show are authorized but I did get pics after the show with one of our camera operators, “Sneaky Jimmy” posing and being his sneaky self with the band.

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Sunday morning I woke up late (natch) to the sound of rain and thunder.  I put on a pot of coffee and enjoyed the morning doing nothing, listening to the rain, contemplating the past week.  My week had been so full, it was nice to slow down for a bit while the storm soothed my soul.

Being a resident in Big Bear means you run into your friends all the time.  At The Tubes concert, I had run into a few that went together.  They called me up on Sunday and invited me over for a barbecue.   What a perfect wrap up for a weekend!  We talked about the show, looked up other bands from that time on YouTube while telling stories about “the good ole days” and enjoyed great food, cold brew and good friends.

Isn’t that what Big Bear is all about?

 

 

 

Big Bear Weekend Update – Aug 1

Well, all my dear readers, I have been out of town this past week.  But for those of you who are continuing to support my endeavors here, thank you.   I will jump right into what is going on.

The Big Bear Cycling Festival wraps up this weekend, with the highlight being the Tour de Big Bear ride.  There is also a Poker Ride, Cycling Expo and a Road Bicycle Concours contest.  All of this is going on Friday at the Nottinghams/Robin Hood Resort parking lot noon till 9 pm.  Saturday, the expo moves to the Christmas tree lot in the village.  If you like bicycles, come on down!

Friday Nights in The Village will be from 5-8pm with street musicians, arts and crafts and more.

Tonight, Kenny Marquez is playing at Le Dolce Vita Tasting Room.  Listen his sweet guitar stylings while enjoying good company.

Tomorrow night my friend Duke Michaels and his band will be at The Cave in the Village.  Duke Michaels is one of the opening bands before the 80’s band “The Tubes” takes the stage.

Yours truly will be doing my usual Friday night gig with Beyond Karaoke at The Boathouse Lakeside Tavern.  If you want to sing, come down and belt out a few.

Of course, if none of this interests you, there is always the lake.  It is really warm, so why not take the kids down to Swim Beach?  I took another look around Meadow Park and realized I did not know half of what is there.  Baseball fields, TBall field, BBQ’s, Picnic Tables, Tennis Courts, Basketball court, playground and Bark Park for Dogs.  That will be the next park highlights, but for now I gotta go interview one of the cyclists.