Happy June! Here’s are five awesome — and, NB, entirely outdoors — ways to ring it in:
The Beach Boys
Few bands celebrate 50 years — hardly anyone can boast that kind of longevity, least of all a group of people trying to make music unified under one name. Granted, The Beach Boys haven’t actually been together for that whole time. They’ve had their ups and downs, and it had been nearly twenty years since the surviving members all stood together on one stage, but 2011 saw wave after wave of rumors that Brian Wilson would rejoin his cousin Mike Love along with Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks. Finally, at this year’s Grammy awards of all places, it happened. They might be grandpas, but they can still hit the high notes (mostly), and the current world tour could well be their last. That’s Why God Made the Radio, a new reunion album which comes out on June 5, is true to form and unsurprising, but at the very least reflects that the band members have mended fences for the sake of the music. They’ll play at The Greek Theatre (2001 Gayley Rd., Berkeley) on Friday, June 1, at 8 p.m., $45-$125, APEconcerts.com — Will Butler
Clever humans have been fermenting honey to make wine for thousands of years. Learn how to do it yourself at “Makin’ Mead,” a workshop at the UC Botanical Garden (200 Centennial Dr., Berkeley) on Saturday, June 2. Robert MacKimmie of City Bees joins garden staff to demonstrate the basics and to offer advanced recipes for cyser (apple-and-honey wine), along with other treats. Each participant gets to sample the day’s products and bring home a gallon jug of mead. 2 p.m., $40-$50. 510-643-2755 or BotanicalGarden.Berkeley.edu — Anneli Rufus
