INDEX OF STORIES

» Welcome to Lodi
» City offers a world of charms, attractions
» When you think Lodi, think of wine
» For wine lovers, Lodi’s charms are many
» Wine tasting: Basic rules every beginner must know
» Lodi-area wineries
» Lodi’s gateways to adventure await
» Love to tour and eat? In Lodi, you can do both
» What to see, fly, do
» Lodi — a nice, clean place to stay
» A tourist’s eye view of Lodi
» Festivals, music events fill Lodi’s calendar
» Local museums offer something for everyone
» For the Lodi-bound tourist, there are some must-sees
» Lodi can satisfy everyone’s appetite
» Lodi: The place to breakout — outdoors that is
» Grab your clubs and come out swinging
» Looking high, low for that something very old

By Deanne Lowenstein
News-Sentinel copy editor

Live musical events and festivals of all different types can be found nearly every month in the San Joaquin Valley and surrounding areas.

From small clubs to large venues, all types of music can be heard — blues, rock, jazz and many more.

One popular place to see and hear concerts of all types in Hutchins Street Square, where concerts are being held year-round.

“The biggest misconception is that because Lodi is a small town, the musical talent is less and that is not the case,” said Theresa Yvonne, arts coordinator of the Lodi Arts Commission. “A lot of the artists that come here are top-notch, class-act talent.”

The new stage technician at Hutchins Street Square has been a big part in helping things run smoother, Yvonne said.

In Lodi visitors can find the benefits of great talent with the quaintness of a small town.

Here’s where you’ll find live music:

Lodi area

Hutchins Street Square, 125 N. Hutchins St, 367-5442.

Nighttime Live — live jazz concert throughout January, February and March.

Under the Columns — family event featuring live blues, folk, country and jazz music at 6:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of the month, June to September.

Moonlight Swing — a World War II living history band performs in June.

The Back Bay, 100 N. Cherokee Lane, 334-3565. Piano music 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Free admission.

Casablanca, 20 W. Elm St., 339-9825. Piano music 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Free admission.

Garry’s Lounge, 13 S. School St., 333-9794. Live music 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Free admission.

Golden Acorn Restaurant, 809 Crystal Way, Galt, 745-2330. Dixieland jazz, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the first and third Fridays of the month. Free admission.

Jessie’s Grove Winery, 1973 W. Turner Road, 368-0880. Blues in the grove on the second Saturday of the month, April to September. Art, live music and wine tasting.

Legends, 27 W. Elm St., 365-7472. Folk music with local guitarist/singer Harry Rosensteel 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays. Free admission. Live music 9 p.m. Saturdays. Cover charge.

Round House Tavern, 104 E. Lodi Ave, 333-6060. Live new age and classic rock music 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Free admission.

Wine & Roses, 2505 W. Turner Road, 334-6988. Piano music 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Free admission.

The Delta

Mossdale Marina, 73 W. Stewart Road, Lathrop, 982-0512. Live blues music 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Blues jam 6 to 10 p.m. Sundays.

Blues, Brews and BBQ 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays, April through October.

Riverboat II, 106 Brannen Island Road, Isleton, (916) 777-4884. Live music 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 to 6 p.m. Sundays. Cover charge.

Hotel Del Rio, 209 2nd St. (Highway 160), Isleton. (916) 777-6033. Live music Friday and Saturday nights.

Sacramento area

Elk Grove Brewery, 9085 Elk Grove Blvd. (916) 685-ALES. Live blues music 7:30 to 11 p.m. Thursdays and 8:30 to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. Free Admission.

Foothills

Jackson Rancheria Casino and Hotel, 12222 New York Ranch Road, Jackson. (800) 822-WINN. Dalton Town Hall features various big-name artists from country to rock. Ticket prices vary.

Festivals in Lodi and surrounding areas

June

Lockeford Chamber Wine Show, June 1. Annual celebration staged by the chamber of commerce in the picturesque town of Lockeford.

Sausage & Wine Festival, June 8-9, Lodi Grape Festival Grounds, 367-1374. Live entertainment, wine tasting, children’s carnival, crafts, and lots of sausage.

Crawdad Festival, June 14-16 in Isleton, (916) 777-5880. All things Cajun at this crustacean event, including live music, entertainment and a ton of crawdads. Food vendors, crafts, art and games.

Obon Festival, June 29 and 30, Buddhist Church of Lodi, 368-5589. Japanese food, music, Taiko drums, drafts and more.

Downtown Farmers Market and Festival, every Thursday from June 13 to Sept. 26 in downtown Lodi. An old-fashioned farmers market featuring fresh vegetables, fruits and other items, including crafts, all sold from smartly decorated booths lining the streets of the historic downtown section of Lodi. 369-8052, or visit the downtown Lodi Web site.

July

Celebrate America, July 3, Hutchins Street Square’s west lawn, 125 S. Hutchins St. Annual pre-July 4 event in which citizens pay homage to their country. For more information, call the Hutchins Street Square box office, 339-8119 or 367-5442.

Oooh! Aahhh! Festival, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 4, Lodi Lake, at Mills Avenue and Turner Road, 368-4626, steve@whytehouseproductions.biz Lodi’s annual, old-fashioned picnic and spectacular fireworks celebration marking the birthday of the United States.

Mondavi Summerfest, July 13, 5950 E. Woodbridge Road, Acampo. 365-2839. Annual celebration of summer and wine held at Robert Mondavi’s famed Woodbridge Winery.

Garlic Festival, July 26-28, Gilroy, (408) 842-6436. Seven million cloves will be served on Gourmet Alley at the 23rd annual event.

Bear Valley Music Festival — July 28 to Aug. 12, (800) 458-1618. Featuring bluegrass, jazz, opera, orchestral, Broadway and pop. Wine and food available.

August

California Dry Bean Festival, Aug. 3 and 4, Tracy, 835-2131. Two-day event with emphasis on beans. Children’s area, car show, motorcycle show, arts and crafts, food, plus the bean-tasting pavilion and chili cook-off.

Tomato Festival, Aug. 10, downtown Fairfield, (707) 422-0103. Entertainment including a salsa band, wine and beer tasting, tomato eating, tomato costume and tomato cooking contests, Killer Tomato Film Festival — all four cult movies shown throughout the day.

September

Lodi Grape Festival and Harvest Fair, Sept. 19 to 22, Grape Festival Grounds, Lodi. This year’s theme: “America the Beautiful.” An annual Kiddies Parade will be held at noon Sept. 22 in conjunction with the festival. For more information, contact the Grape Festival office at 369-2771, or visit the Grape Festival Web site.

Master Gardener Fall Festival, Sept. 15, Angels Camp, 754-6477. Formerly known as the Zucchini Festival. Features food, educational seminars, crafts and live entertainment.

Salmon Festival and All Nations Pow Wow, Sept. 28, Lodi Lake, 333-6890. Exhibits, barbecue, food vendors, arts, crafts, entertainment, ceremonial dance and celebration.

Senior Follies, Sept. 29, Performing Arts Theatre at Hutchins Street Square, 125 S. Hutchins St., Lodi. The third annual production featuring local senior talents which is staged like a Broadway revue has been a major hit during its first two years. (209) 339-8119 or 367-5442.

October

Lodi Street Faire, Oct. 6, downtown Lodi, 368-8992. Also on the first Sunday in May. Held along the closed streets of historic downtown Lodi, this all-day event features antique and craft dealers from all over Northern California along with many food booths.

November

Sandhill Crane Festival, Nov. 8 to 10 at Hutchins Street Square, Lodi. 367-7840. Nature tours, wildlife demos, music, dance, birds of prey, workshops, art show, storytelling, hands-on exhibits.

Parade of Lights, date to be announced, 369-8052. Lodi’s spectacular Christmas parade featuring a series of spectacularly lighted floats that wind their way through the historic downtown section of the city.

December

Festival of Trees, date to be announced, 331-2055. Annual celebration by the San Joaquin County Historical Society saluting the brilliance of wonderfully decorated Christmas trees staged at the county museum in Micke Grove Regional Park near Lodi.

January 2003

Night Time Live, January through March, Kirst Hall at Hutchins Street Square, 125 S. Hutchins St., 367-5442. Now in its 11th year, this cabaret Friday night concert series showcases local and regional music talent in a nightclub-style atmosphere.

April 2003

Cherry Blossom Festival, first weekend in April at Micke Grove Regional Park, Lodi, 331-2050. Features Japanese culture food, arts and crafts, dance and music.

Asparagus Festival, last weekend in April, Oak Grove Park, Stockton, 943-1987. All things asparagus at the 17th annual event, plus music, crafts, contests and entertainment.

May 2003

Lodi Street Faire, May 4, 368-8992. Held along the closed streets of historic downtown Lodi, this all-day event features antique and craft dealers from all over Northern California along with many food booths.

Migratory Bird Fun Run, early May, Micke Grove Park Zoo, 368-8992. Celebration of the arrival of the numerous species of migratory birds which call the Lodi area home during the spring and summer.

Vines to Wine, mid-May, 368-4793. Annual celebration marking the importance of wine to the Lodi area economy and lifestyle sponsored by the Lodi Appellation Winery Association.

Art on the Square, May 17, Hutchins Street Square, Lodi, 367-5442. Local artists display their creativity among food, music and fun.

Strawberry Festival, mid-May, Galt, 744-2199. Arts and crafts, strawberry products, Strawberry Festival Fun Run, live entertainment.

Chocolate Festival, May 17 and 18, Oakdale, (209) 847-2244. Chocolate tasting, arts and crafts booths, food, entertainment and children’s activities.

Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Jubilee, May 23 to 26, various Sacramento venues, (916) 372-5277. Regional and national jazz musicians convene at this 29th annual event. Food vendors abound. Lodging available.