Fish Tank Venue in Capo Beach Opens to Rave Reviews

DANA POINT, CA — Retired long time Capistrano Beach businessman, Larry Robinson, can’t stop smiling. He’s had a dream for a long time – a dream of transforming his warehouse into a place where the community can celebrate all the elements that represent the soul of the small commercial area of Capo Beach known as Doheny Village.

On Saturday, October 19th, Larry and his wife Cate saw his dream come true when the Fish Tank held its grand opening event. Over one hundred artists, musicians, and a plethora of creative residents and community leaders were on hand for the evening. Invitees included many who helped realize Larry’s vision of bringing community, creativity, and collaborative forces together to do something "pretty darn cool" in the Village.

Local artists, metal workers, and artisans contributed edgy art pieces that adorned the oversized walls of the revamped warehouse. Pancho Clark, an artist who creates beautiful land and seascapes from sheet metal was on hand to discuss his unique work. Ron Whitworth, a creative Village metalworker, designed the fish logo and street numbers that adorn the building. Tom Clark, a well known local muralist, graphic designer, and artist, painted the wonderful art on the massive roll-up door; designed a beautiful wood slatted art wall; and was instrumental in the planning and transformation of this unique space. To everyone’s delight, Tom put the icing on his creative contribution when he composed live art on an oversized blank canvas while the band entertained.

A state of the art sound system and terrific acoustics in the intimate space helped the amazing band, “Daring Greatly” entertain the crowd with new takes on familiar and throwback tunes. The Calgary, Alberta band, which includes a father-son trio with a long-time friend and fellow musician, produced gorgeous harmonies adding a mellow, laid back mood to the Fish Tank launch.

Moving images were displayed on three large walls of the warehouse, including the garage doors. Local restaurateur Jack Saunderson provided a taco bar and drinks in the adjacent patio area, courtesy of the local and iconic “Lucy’s El Patio” Café.

So what exactly is the “Fish Tank” all about?

Larry expresses it this way:

“Doheny Village is on its way, at long last, to revitalization.” (Larry and other local merchants and residents formed the Doheny Village Working Group, which has been collaborating with the City of Dana Point for some time and is very close to presenting City Council a plan for improving parking, zoning and development standards for Doheny Village.) “The Fish Tank celebrates the part of the Village we simply must preserve – its edgy, industrial vibe; its connection to artists, musicians, landscape designers, metal workers, surf shapers; and all the “non traditional” but very creative people who make the Village the very “soul” of Dana Point."

Larry plans that the Fish Tank will be available for private events such as in-house concerts, memorials, birthday parties, corporate meetings and more. The warehouse space has terrific audio-visual capability and lighting, plus a mezzanine level, and can accommodate a great variety of events for groups up to about 120. Event planners have been notified that local artists may be interested in adorning the walls with art (available for sale) to add an unexpected creative element to an event.

In fact, artist Tom Clark sold a large art piece to a guest at Fish Tank’s launch.

Once operating costs are covered, Larry wants to open the space for low cost community events – “tank talks” featuring local artists, community functions and speakers on virtually any topic, jazz groups, coffee house singers, small dance recitals, yoga, tai chi, storytelling, art shows, and other creative events and classes of almost any type. The place is industrial and open – concrete floors and vast walls with lots of opportunity for customization.

His vision is summed up on the Fish Tank website, www.fishtankcapo.com as a place where “community, creativity and collaboration” will create good energy and great things for a cool little place called Doheny Village.

The Fish Tank is located at 34233 Via Santa Rosa, Capistrano Beach, 92624.

Larry can be reached at 714-984-4142, larry@barrettrobinson.com, or through www.fishtankcapo.com.