The Green Flash Concert Series Rocks the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla

Enlarge Photo

On June 20^th, Michelle Guerin and I headed up the coast to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography’s Birch Aquarium for its Green Flash Concert Series.

The series features monthly live  music performances in Birch’s outdoor Tide Pool Plaza. June’s headlining act was Rockola, a local band covering tracks from the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album as well as assorted classic rock favorites. How could we miss it?

Inside the aquarium lobby, Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery offered fresh, hot meals and beverages—both hard and soft—for purchase, but line lengths were daunting. Instead, we decided to explore Birch’s dim avenues before the concert began, and have a look at the creatures benefiting from the Green Flash Concerts.

Fish Are Friends, Not Food

As soon as we confronted our first fish face, we were struck by the irony of our day’s prior events. That morning, we’d attended a media luncheon at the La Jolla Aventine’s superlative seafood restaurant, Blue Coral Grill, and dined on everything from crab to shrimp to. . . fish.

Anyway, we learned the evening Green Flash Concerts are a great time to enjoy the Birch Aquarium’s attractions minus the crowds of screaming schoolchildren. Despite the crowds outside, only a few people were perusing the tanks with us.

Among our favorite creatures were the thorny egg sacs with baby sharks curled inside; the stunning adult leopard sharks; the undulating jellyfish; and last but not least, the Leafy Sea Dragon—the most flamboyant case of camouflage I’ve ever seen.  

The Beatles Arrive at Birch

 
By the time we emerged into the light Birch’s Tide Pool Plaza was packed to the gills with throngs of eager rockers.

The Plaza’s artificial tide pool exhibits were thoughtfully draped in netting to provide the hardy creature respite from fervent fingers—during the day, Birch’s tide pools are hands-on. The plaza overlooks Scripps Pier and the La Jolla coast. It’s the perfect spot for catching a glimpse of the event’s namesake, which would occur at 7:59, according to the Green Flash Concert bracelets strapped on our wrists.

Dressed in toned-down Sgt. Pepper-style jackets, Rockola took the stage and began to sing. Immediately, the crowd went wild, bopping, bouncing, singing along. I have no doubt these were the very same Beatles fans who brandished handmade signs and flung themselves at John Lennon’s limo in the sixties. Their enthusiasm was no surprise—Rockola’s chief crooner had expertly mastered Lennon’s singing style.

During intermission, KPRI Radio (102.1 FM), held a drawing for door prizes, and Michelle was the bashful champion of a pair of Goo Goo Dolls tickets.

We Hit Rock Bottom

After the concert, we headed straight to the real Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery in La Jolla. Two hours stealing glances at Rock Bottom cuisine induced quite the craving—plus, we wanted to take advantage of the 20% off coupons adhered to our Green Flash bracelets.

The million-dollar question: Did we see the legendary green flash? Alas, San Diego’s notorious twilight haze spoiled that possibility. Attend a future Green Flash Concert this summer, and you might have better luck.

July 18 - EVE SELIS, the popular Americana artist from San Diego, returns this year with her unique blend of country, gospel and rock 'n' roll that is catching the ear of music critics all over the world.
http://www.eveselis.com/

August 15 - Combining blues, jazz and rock 'n' roll, the high energy of LEN RAINEY & THE MIDNIGHT PLAYERS brings out the dancer in everyone.
http://www.lenrainey.com/

September 19 -- THE BIGFELLAS, an eclectic quartet, mixes genres to produce a zany performance that will have listeners laughing
and singing. Voted San Diego's "Best Local Band" in 2006.
http://www.bigfellas.net

All Green Flash Concerts are ages 21 and up. Prices are $15 for members, $20 pre-sale, and $25 at the door. Visit aquarium.ucsd.edu for more information.