Located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, along California’s Central Coast, the city of San Luis Obispo is all about community. The annual Concerts in the Plaza returns every Friday evening, June 23–Sept. 8 from 5–8 p.m. With the historic centuries-old Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa as the backdrop, featured acts for these weekly free concerts include an array of musical genres, from blues and jazz to soul and funk. Eighties teen queen Molly Ringwald takes the stage with her band, The Molly Ringwald Project, on July 21, playing a medley of ‘80s rock and dance tunes. The downtown Farmers’ Market, occurring every Thursday night along Higuera Street, celebrates its 40th anniversary. Founded in 1983, it has grown to become one of the largest and most-popular alfresco markets on the Central Coast, featuring local farmers selling produce, live entertainment, food stalls, artisan goods and more.
September is California Wine Month, and SLO is a wine-producing region known for its whites and reds but is gaining a reputation for being green as well. Many of SLO’s wineries are Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified and receive this certification only after meeting a list of stringent criteria. Chamisal Vineyards has the distinction of being the first SIP-Certified winery and the first winery to plant grapevines in the Edna Valley nearly 50 years ago. Nearby Wolff Vineyards, a family-owned winery located minutes from downtown, is where enthusiasts can learn how the owners’ underground PVC irrigation project is saving at least 30 percent of water originally used. The aesthetically pleasing Tolosa Winery, which offers reservation-only barrel tastings, boasts a solar system that produces enough power to offset 90 to 95 percent of the winery’s electricity demand. Most wineries are open to the public or by appointment for tastings.