Summer Guide 2015 Night & Entertainment picks

Music, beer and good people-watching

Concerts in the Park

No summer in Sac is complete without at least one Friday afternoon trip to Cesar Chavez Plaza for the weekly Concerts in the Park series. As always, there will be beer, food trucks, great music and even better people-watching (seriously, keep your eyes peeled for all the crazy dancers). This year’s roster runs weekly through July 24 (except for July 3) with headliners such as Blackalicious, the Mister T Experience, Jonah Matranga and Arden Park Roots. Free; 5 p.m.; 910 I Street; http://godowntownsac.com/events/
signature-events/concerts-in-the-park. R.L.

A calmer brew

Block Butcher Bar

When the patio outside LowBrau is so mobbed and overwhelming that you have no idea why you even bothered getting to K and 20th, there is an escape. And it’s a dim, trendy escape with excellent craft cocktails, whiskeys, cured meats, cheeses and, most importantly, relative calm. If you realize a mug of suds was what you were after all along, don’t fret: Block’s beer list may be more petite than LowBrau’s, but it still offers a solid mix of intriguing brews. 1050 20th Street, www.blockbutcherbar.com. J.B.

Impress your classy date, alfresco style

Outdoor theater

Romeo and Juliet on a blanket, with a picnic, in a park? Yes, there are a couple of choices to impress your classy date with an outdoor theater performance this summer: The Fair Oaks Theatre Festival’s summer season runs June through October with Seussical the Musical, The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical and a bunch of comedy nights. And the Sacramento Shakespeare Festival will alternate productions of As You Like It and Romeo and Juliet in June and July. www.fairoakstheatrefestival.com, www.sacramentoshakespeare.net. J.M.

A kinder, gentler nightlife

Luna’s Cafe and Juice Bar

Luna’s is one of the few juice places around town that’s open past 6 p.m., so there’s one gold star already. Beyond that, Luna’s is really known as a long-standing venue for poetry and jazz, and they even have open-mic comedy shows. If you and your pals are looking for a more gentle, thoughtful and meaningful sort of night out on the town, this might be a real contender just about any night of the week that isn’t Sunday. 1414 16th Street, www.lunascafe.com. A.S.

This is not optional

Weird Al’s Mandatory World Tour

Weird Al is known for elaborate performances that showcase his ability to mimic every genre of American popular music, interspersed with comedy videos and more wardrobe changes than Lady Gaga’s and Beyonce’s concerts put together. Now that he’s representing his Grammy-award winning album Mandatory Fun, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts, his show can only get bigger and wilder. Catch it in Folsom for two nights in August and remember, last time Al played the Harris Center, he donned a tiger-striped leisure suit and crawled into spectators’ laps to serenade them. All the more reason to get seats near the stage. $49-$89; 7 p.m., Sunday, August 30, and Monday, August 31; Harris Center for the Arts, 10 College Parkway in Folsom; www.harriscenter.net. B.C.

Theatrically dirty hippies

Hair at Music Circus

After a prim and wholesome summer of shows like My Fair Lady and Peter Pan, Music Circus closes the 2015 season with the musical stage version of damned dirty hippies. Hair opened on Broadway during the Summer of Love, and nearly 50 years later, its themes of rebellion against war, capitalism and conformity sing louder than its ensemble of psychedelic misfits. The Music Circus content guide promises (or threatens) simulated drug use, profanity, racial slurs, brief nudity, sexual exploration and the questioning of religion. Groovy! $40-$80; various times, Tuesday, August 18,through Sunday, August 23;Wells Fargo Pavilion, 1419 H Street; www.californiamusicaltheatre.com. B.C.

Sip on beer, soak up some gentrification

Oak Park Brewing Co.'s patio

In some ways it feels like Oak Park is becoming the Brooklyn of Sacramento—rapidly rising house prices, hip new storefronts and some delicious food offerings. One of the better options of late is a visit to the Oak Park Brewing Co.'s expansive patio. Situated on Broadway, the large outdoor space is the best way to observe what North Oak Park’s new Triangle District has to offer. And with OPBC’s lengthy list of beers—including guest taps—and bites, it makes for a lovely way to spend those breezy summer nights. 3514 Broadway, www.opbrewco.com. R.L.

Coin-op Game Room

Those visions you’ve been having—of 42 classic arcade games, plentiful beers on tap and artisanal pizza by the slice—aren’t just symptoms of a scorching case of Pac-Man fever. Sacramento now has its very own “barcade” at 908 K Street in downtown. With most games costing a recession-proof 25 cents, you’ll have plenty of cash left over to blow on craft beer, pizza and cocktails. 908 K Street,www.facebook.com/coinopsac. B.B.

The night belongs to nerds

Big Brother Comics events

The sun reigns over all, unimpeded by clouds. While sun worshipers rejoice, denizens of winter have to find ways to shield themselves from UV rays. This is why I’m thankful for Big Brother Comics, which regularly hosts nerds and nerd-related indoor festivities every Friday night in the form of Magic: The Gathering draft tournaments. With a solid balance of newbies and veterans playing each week, it’s a great way to meet like-minded lovers of games and comics while proving your wizardly might on the cardboard battlegrounds. Since you make decks on the spot, there’s no need for an expensive collection of Magic cards to play. Plus, no sunburns. $15; 6:30 p.m. Fridays; 1722 J Street; www.bigbrothercomics.net. A.S.

Chill with all the cool kids

Requiem Events

The kids love hitting up Requiem Events’ 18-and-over dance club nights at Midtown Barfly, which are full of house music, laser lights and hula-hooping ravers. There’s also That Thing on Friday, which is on Fridays, and varies between house, techno, glitch, trap, bass and future sounds. But Requiem tends to save its big bookings for its mostly monthly Throwdown, which in the recent past has hosted serious producers such as Mighty Mouse, Lane 8, Jody Wisternoff, Louis the Child and Helicopter Showdown. Complement your summer sweat with more sweat. 1119 21st Street; www.facebook.com/requiemevents. J.B.