Concert Under the Stars brings couple from Illinois to Carson City just to see the show

If Wednesday night’s Concert under the Stars in Carson City with Ambrosia and Pablo Cruise was anything else other than a spectacular rock and roll fundraiser for the Greenhouse Project, it was also where new and old friends came together from places far and wide to celebrate.

Among those traveling the furthest just to see the show were Carol Oros and Ron Ward of Oswego, Illinois.

Carol learned of the concert in April as a fan of Pablo Cruise’s Facebook page. She’s followed them ever since the late 1970s, having seen them in Illinois at least five times when she was in her early 20s. She’s among their biggest Illinois fans, she said, buying every album and t-shirt she could get her hands on.

“What’s not to love about Pablo Cruise? There’s been no other band like them. Even back in the '70s and early '80s they played to their fans, each show with heart and they give it everything they’ve got.”

“I used to call the record company, A&M Records, to find out when their new albums were coming out,” she said. “And they were so nice. One year we went back stage and met with the band. They were regular guys. Laid back. Super nice.”

Having never been to Carson City before and wanting to see the band, she bought tickets online, booked a hotel room, and purchased two airline tickets. She wanted her boyfriend, Ron Ward, to see the band and decided to surprise him.

“I said we’re going to see Pablo Cruise. We’re going to Carson City, Nevada to see them,” she said. Ron added: “before I knew it, she had everything lined up.”

Carol Oros even brought with her the shirt she had the band sign at a concert in 1980. She was hoping by night's end that the band would be able to sign it 35 years later.

“That’s a lot of years. Oh what I wouldn’t give to be able to fit in that t-shirt again,” said Carol, poking her boyfriend Ron.

The couple flew in Tuesday and plan to leave Friday. Wednesday was their first time in Carson City. Both had been to Las Vegas before, but never to Nevada’s capital city. And they were impressed.

“This is a really nice town and everyone is so friendly. We’re looking forward to going to the state capitol and the Governor’s Mansion before we head up to South Tahoe,” she said.

The couple had stopped for an early lunch at Living the Good Life, finding the food “delicious” and the service “wonderful” and then embarked on a walk through downtown Carson City and then back to Cafe at Adele’s for the show.

Ron said he was impressed by the stage set up along John Street next to the restaurant and the assorted food, beer and vendor booths around.

“This is really cool isn’t it? On a side street and a big stage?” said Ward. “Looks like Carson City knows how to throw a party.”

Inside the busy Cafe at Adele’s they sat down for drinks and were seated next to a couple they had never met before, who were Pablo Cruise fans themselves, Bill and Cheryl Speed of Plymouth in Amador County. Turns out the two couples have a lot in common. Ironically both couples will be vacationing in Isla Mujeres, Mexico at the same time and at the same place in November.

“Sitting down and meeting Bill and Cheryl, who are friends of the band and learning they will be in Mexico vacationing at the same time, how awesome is that?” said Carol. “It’s the Gospel According to Pablo Cruise. What are the chances?”

The seventh annual sold out concert hosted by Charlie and Karen Abowd of Carson City and held at their restaurant, Cafe at Adele’s, was a benefit for the Greenhouse Project, which began in 2008 and serves as a teaching facility for hands-on training programs that emphasize environmental stewardship, the importance of outdoor activity, civic engagement and academic achievement.

Through these programs, students cultivate and distribute vegetables for school culinary classes and local food banks and produce flower baskets for the downtown Carson City corridor.

In addition to providing youth educational and vocational opportunities, The Greenhouse Project also serves the needs of Carson's low-income community by increasing access to fresher, more nutritious food supplies.

The project promotes revitalization of Carson City's downtown commercial corridor by enhancing its appearance through horticultural arts.

For more information go to the Greenhouse Project Facebook page here or the website here.