Picture this: a warm summer evening spent under the stars, singing along with Lyle Lovett or Crosby, Stills and Nash (or insert the name of 50 or so of your favorite blues, classic rock, oldies, jazz or comedy acts) as you sip divine housemade craft cocktails and gaze out at boats docked at the San Diego Bay. Humphreys Half Moon Inn and Suites’ concert series offers just such an experience for locals and visitors to Shelter Island, nicknamed San Diego’s Hawaiian Isle.
From Easter until Halloween, staff have created an intimate music venue, unique not only to San Diego but to the U.S., where you can listen to tunes from the outdoor concert theater. Alternatively, you can take it all in from your boat or kayak, conveniently located adjacent to the stage.
This unparalleled setting is a major draw for concert goers, according to Bobbi Brieske, vice president at Humphreys. Of course the talented lineup of big name acts, intimate setting, and the feeling that you’ve been dropped from a plane on an island don’t hurt either.
Artists performing at Humphreys rave about the open-air atmosphere. They shout their helloes to the theater attendees and then out to the “boaties” listening from kayaks, inflatable rafts and even small power boats. Those who prefer getting an earful of music by just spreading a blanket on the grass outside the venue also contribute to a true neighborhood vibe.
Humphrey’s concert series has hosted thousands of artists in a theater that holds just 1,450 adoring fans since 1982. Followers of all types of music and comedy can get up close and personal (the last row is only 110 feet from the stage) with the likes of Melissa Etheridge to comedian Jim Gaffigan (this weekend) to the Buena Vista Social Club and George Thorogood and the Destroyers.
The venue was envisioned by a then-UCSD student Marc Geiger (music promoter extraordinaire and co-creator of Lollapalooza). He thought that using the resort’s inner courtyard as a music venue to entertain guests and the community. What started as a smooth jazz haven has exploded into the multi-faceted lineup that Humphreys talent buyer hand picks each year.
This year’s lineup encompasses three seasons of music and entertainment. For a list of acts performing at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, at 2241 Shelter Island Drive, visit www.humphreysconcerts.com. Delicious dinners
“I cook food with flavor. Not stuffy…but delicious,” says Paul Murphy, executive chef at Humphreys restaurant. This food makes your mouth happy: fresh sea scallops seared to perfection; lobster risotto; Yukon Gold potato and asparagus flatbreads are a few of the options on the menu. Murphy has 32 years of cooking experience, but he doesn’t just rely on that to build the concert series menu, which changes an astonishing 30-plus times over the series. He regularly visits his fellow chefs at local eateries, talks to servers and elicits feedback from his foody customers. His advice to those who aren’t lucky enough to get a dinner/concert combination package is to just yell his name from your boat – he’ll come out and chat about the menu with you. Just don’t do it too often or he won’t have anytime to cook!
