Live music, al fresco dining and stunning ocean views have long been the lure of Dana Point Harbor.
After months of being shut down completely or limited to delivery and takeout options due to the coronavirus pandemic, most shops and restaurants that line the waterfront have reopened; most have altered their business models to include additional outdoor dining seating while also promoting social distancing and personal responsibility.
To help ease the general public back out to stimulate the economy and support local businesses, Dana Point Harbor is welcoming back live, outdoor music performances from local and regional artists of various. The sets are short — running just about two hours — and spaced out in courtyard and patio areas of the harbor as part of its You, Me + Vitamin Sea series.
“There’s no better environment to be in than in the sunshine and feeling that ocean breeze,” Bryon Ward of Dana Point Harbor Partners and Burnham Ward Properties said during a recent phone chat.
The performances take place from 4-6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 12-2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays (some dates and times may vary) in locations including The Wharf Courtyard near Frisby Cellars and Jon’s Fish Market; Outside of Harpoon Henry’s and Coffee Importers; Near Killer Dana Surf Shop and The Brig; and near the Love Wall and El Torito. The line-up, which can be found at danapointharbor.com, includes singer-songwriters like Lauren Black, David Rosales, Kamaki Keawe and Zach Churchill.
Churchill, who grew up in Mission Viejo, said he’s just excited to get back to work.
“It’s such an incredible opportunity because right now gigs and live entertainment have really taken a hit, along with a ton of other industries, but performing outside is a great way to continue to do what I love in a place that’s so beautiful and making people smile,” he said during a recent phone interview. Churchill has already played a few shows at Dana Point Harbor and is scheduled again on Aug. 17 and Sept. 3 and 17.
“I have noticed that people just seem more grateful and happy to hear live music,” he added. “We need poetry and music more than ever, so this just makes me feel grateful to be able to express my creativity and have an outlet where that creativity touches other people.”
The performances are intentionally staggered around businesses throughout the harbor to avoid any sort of mass gatherings, Ward noted. They’ve worked directly with the city to implement safety protocols and have strategically placed patio furnishings and expanded patio spaces to ensure proper distancing.
There’s plenty of signage reminding patrons to keep six feet apart and to properly wear a face mask. Dana Point Harbor Partners have also installed hand-sanitizing stations around the shops and eateries and have launched a more stringent cleaning schedule to ensure benches, tables, chairs and other high-touch areas are frequently sanitized.
“Music and sunshine are both food for the soul and they make a great pairing, but in order to do it safely, spreading it out makes sense so people can enjoy it from different areas and different restaurants,” Ward said.
Josh Frisby, owner of the Frisby Cellars Tasting Room in Dana Point and also a volunteer firefighter in Orange County, said that the addition of live music has definitely brightened the mood of patrons.
“I think we offer a little bit of normalcy, because they can sit on the patio with the tables six feet apart, watch and listen to the live music and enjoy drinking the wine,” he said.
As Frisby’s business went from being completely shut down to creatively pivoting to selling at-home wine tasting kits and glasses of wine to-go, he said he’s glad to see people out and about again and welcoming them into his tasting room. However, as a business owner and someone working emergency services on the front lines during pandemic, he said state mandates on social distancing and properly wearing masks need to be followed.
“It’s affecting people in so many ways,” he said of the pandemic. “Personally, I feel it’s on the business owners to abide by these policies, because the sooner we can get through this thing, the sooner we can all be open and it’s a lot of baby steps. Like most businesses, I’ve spent thousands of dollars on new tables, hand sanitizers and products, employee manuals and just doing everything we need to do to get us back on track. If everyone gets on the same page, we’ll get through this and we’ll be back to a good place when this is all over.”
"hear" - Google News
August 15, 2020 at 10:12PM
https://ift.tt/3fZj64u
You can hear live music at Dana Point Harbor, with social distancing restrictions - OCRegister
"hear" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2KTiH6k
https://ift.tt/2Wh3f9n
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "You can hear live music at Dana Point Harbor, with social distancing restrictions - OCRegister"
Post a Comment