The Contenders take you back to “the day” at Fremont Park in Menlo Park

Isn’t that Santana? Or maybe it’s Paul Simon. No, OMG, it’s Johnny Otis. Sprinkle in some Rolling Stones. Such was the sound emanating from Fremont Park in Menlo Park with the Contenders on stage for the weekly summer concert. And just when listeners thought they’d heard everything, out came the Leonard Cohen tune Alleluia. It was a cooler than usual summer night but that didn’t dampen the spirit of the crowd – or the young dancer who just begged to be held upside down by Dad.

But all through this evening’s concert, a side story was happening. Towards the back of the crowd on the University Ave. side of the park, Ms. Coco Channel (we’re pretty sure a Bichon Frise – pictured below) was holding court. Much of the time she sat contently on her master’s lap, usually with a smile on her face. But enter a couple of young admirers and she turned just a bit coy, if not fully appreciative of their adoring coos and pets.