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The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and Como Lakeside Pavilion is open for business! After the long (extra long!) winter, we feel you deserve a little outdoor fun, and coinciding perfectly with the purported nice weather comes the kick off of the annual Music in the Parks series.

Leading the charge with performances every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday is the airy and charming Como Lakeside Pavilion. You can pick and choose your pleasure, with music ranging from swing to symphony, from rock to big band–all while chilling out in the breezy lakeside amphitheater. Our suggestion? bring a picnic to share with friends or pick up a sweet treat at the adjacent cafe.

For more information on Music in the Parks, including a full summer roster of events at Como Lakeside Pavilion, Mears Park, Rice Park and more visit the City of St. Paul’s website HERE.

The schedule for the month of May is as follows:

Como Park, Zoo & Conservatory is one of those places that’s so big, and so full of beauty and things to do, that sometimes I don’t know where to start. You can only do so much in one day. I think of it as the Central Park of St. Paul.

Whether you want to jog around the lake, rent a paddle boat, plan a picnic, listen to outdoor music, take your kid for a carousel ride, cross country ski, look at flamingos and monkeys, take pictures of endless gardens and colorful flowers, bike paved trails, or lounge in the grass with a book, Como Park has it all. This is one of those gems that St. Paul is truly, truly lucky to have. If you haven’t been there lately, what’s stopping you?

My 1-year-old son and I packed up earlier this week with stroller, water, and snacks, and set out for a 1.6-mile walk around the lake. We stopped along the way to pick up acorns and throw them in the water, to watch a dad and his kids fish off a small dock, and to laze in the grass and gaze at puffy white clouds on a perfect summer day. We didn’t make it to the carousel, but with all that there is to do at Como Park, that means we’ll just have to come back again soon.

From power-pop in the park, to the Twin Cities’ only lesbian dance night, to the hottest up-and-coming national acts, to Minnesota’s largest indoor music festival, St. Paul has your music and nightlife needs covered this weekend.

THURSDAY

The Hopefuls headline this week's Music in Mears

Music in Mears: The Hopefuls and Ready Goes at Mears Park
Since Erik Appelwick left the Hopefuls and joined Tapes ‘n Tapes, the local supergroup fronted by Darren Jackson (also of Kid Dakota) has been pretty quiet. Though they released a new album back in December, fans don’t get to see the band play live as much as they’d like. Expect unironic keytar playing and unabashed power-pop to avail. Their Music in Mears set will appropriately be followed by a screening of “School of Rock”; St. Paul’s The Bulldog Lowertownwill provide the eats. (6 p.m., movie at dusk. Free. All ages. 221 5th St. E., St. Paul. 651-291-9128.)

Also Thursday: Girl-fronted grunge-metal band Domenica at Station 4; Nick Hensley’s Love Songs for Angrymen at St. Paul Student Center, part of the U of M’s Noontime Concerts Series; mariachi youth chorus Los Ninos de Guadalupe at Castillo Park for the District Del Sol music-and-movies series (followed by a screening of “La Leyenda de la Nahuala”).

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Besides all the great music happening at Taste of Minnesota (check out my preview of the event here), St. Paul’s got a ton of other great shows lined up this weekend. Here’s a sampling of the best:

Detroit Don King Band performing at Harriet Island Pavilion

THURSDAY, JULY 2

Detroit Don King Band at Como Lakeside Pavilion
As part of St. Paul’s Music in the Parks series at the gorgeous Como Lakeside Pavilion, local bluesman (via Detroit, of course) Detroit Don King and his Blues Band play all the blues and R&B standards – think BB King, John Lee Hooker, and Muddy Waters. (7 p.m. Free. 1360 N. Lexington Pkwy., St. Paul.)

Also Thursday: Minnesota’s own grunge rock icons Soul Asylum at the Minnesota Zoo; and Philadelphia dark-folk-meets-Christian-hardcore band mewithoutyou at Station 4.

Toots Hibbert of Toots & The Maytals

FRIDAY, JULY 3

Toots at the Maytals at Minnesota Zoo
Reggae legend Toots Hibbert and his band The Maytals have been around since the ‘60s, and not only did they count Bob Marley as a contemporary, they’re credited for naming the genre of reggae. Nearly 50 years later, they’re still kicking out the grooves with their trademark mix of reggae, soul and gospel and recent collaborations with The Roots, Ben Harper, Bonnie Raitt and Eric Clapton have kept their sound fresh. Wain McFarlane opens. (7:30 p.m. $43. 13000 Zoo Blvd. 952-431-9200.)

Also Friday: A local underground punk/indie showcase featuring Private Dancer, The Blind Shake and Birthday Suits at the Turf Club; Washington, D.C. reggae act Lucky Dub at O’Shaughnessy Auditorium; and ‘80s New Wave band The Romantics (famous for “What I Like About You” and “Talking in Your Sleep”) at Taste of Minnesota.

Kate Voegele performs at Taste of Minnesota

SATURDAY, JULY 4

Kate Voegele at Taste of Minnesota
Everyone knows Elvis Costello is the really hot ticket at the Taste, but Cleveland folk singer Kate Voegele is all-but-guaranteed to be the sleeper hit of the night. The 22-year-old just released her sophomore album A Fine Mess (which already hit the Top 10 on Billboard) and was featured on CW show “One Tree Hill” playing her single “99 Times.” (6:30 p.m. $10. Harriet Island, St. Paul. tasteofmn.com)

Also Saturday: Legendary rocker Elvis Costello at Taste of Minnesota; local acoustic/blues act Tap City at Station 4; and oldies act The Vogues (best-known for performing the “The Drew Carey Show” theme song “Five O’Clock World”) at Taste of Minnesota.

No Doubt headlines the Xcel Energy Center

SUNDAY, JULY 5

No Doubt at Xcel Energy Center
After Gwen Stefani’s solo career took off – including not only a music career but a clothing, fragrance, and shoe line – most assumed No Doubt were kaput. But they’re back with a new album that harkens back to the ska sound they made popular in the late-‘90s. Whether you’re a fan of Gwen solo or the band, she’s always the entertainer, and is sure to have some killer outfits. Paramore and Bedouin Soundclash open. (7:30 p.m. $39.50-80. 199 W. Kellogg Blvd. 651-265-4800.)

Also Sunday: Hitchville, a country/rock fusion band featuring Minnesota Music Award-winner Heidi Owens, at Taste of Minnesota; and Duluth country-blues musician Charlie Parr at Turf Club.

Brooklyn's Pterodactyl plays the Turf Club

MONDAY, JULY 6

Pterodactyl at Turf Club
Pterodactyl’s blistering beats, falsetto voices, and chiming guitars made them one to watch after their debut album “Bluebird” was released. Hot off a strong sophomore release “Worldwild” in June, the band’s sound goes everywhere from noisy punk to reserved psychedelic mood music. Also playing: Local band Gay Beast and Chicago’s Mayor Daley. (9 p.m. $6. 1601 University Av. W., St. Paul. 651-647-0486.)

Also Monday: Soap Boxing Poetry Slam: IWPS Showdown Slam at Artists’ Quarter.

Cafe Accordion Orchestra performs at 9 Nights of Music

TUESDAY, JULY 7

9 Nights of Music: Café Accordion Orchestra at Minnesota History Center
Get out your beret and pack a beatnik picnic for this week’s edition of the Minnesota History Center’s summer music series 9 Nights of Music. Local band Café Accordion Orchestra perform a mix of French Musette, vintage swing, Latin and European folk music. Fun fact: It’s fronted by frequent Prairie Home Companion accordionist Dan Newton. (6:30 p.m. Free. 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul. 651-259-3000.)

VNV Nation headlines at Station 4

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8

VNV Nation at Station 4
London-based electronic music band VNV Nation have quite the cult following – they’ve been around since the mid-‘90s and helped establish the emerging electronic-goth genre. Their sound combines elements of industrial music, trance, synthpop and electronic body music; fans of modern-day electronic-infused acts like Interpol and Ladytron better get schooled and check them out. War Tapes and Ayria open. (6 p.m. $20-23. 201 E. 4th St., St. Paul. 651-298-0173.)