Chances are she'll find a lot of both this weekend at Arroyo Viejo Park's summer concert series.

"It's great to have entertainment in our neighborhood," said Slocum, who grooved with her husband to the kickoff concert last weekend featuring the R&B group Rose Royce. "It's uplifting for the community, and music is good for the soul."

If you missed it, not to worry. The man who put Oakland's brand on the 1970s funk scene — Lenny Williams, former lead singer for Tower of Power — is sure to get the crowd moving at Sunday's concert in the park, starting at 3 p.m.

The concert lineup includes Midnight Star performing Aug. 21 and Dwayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Ton! on Sept. 11.

The free event is organized by Councilmember Desley Brooks and is thefirst of its kind in the Eastmont-Seminary neighborhood. It's a welcome event for Oaklanders who miss Festival at the Lake and Carijama, two popular art and music festivals that were discontinued because of problems caused by last-day party crashers.

"Every place I travel, there are city-sponsored, free concerts in the park," Brooks said. "I remember catching the bus to Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C., to hear free concerts and what a sense of unity those concerts created. I want that in Oakland."

About 100 residents came to the kickoff last month featuring Grammy Award-winning Rose Royce, who performed their hit songs "Car Wash" and "Ooh Boy."

Despite the summer heat, many residents brought their lawn chairs and blankets to find shade under the trees. They grooved to'70s sounds and soulful funk. Some women lined up near the front of the stage and danced the Electric Slide.

Gerald Simon and his wife, Pamela, have lived in the area for six years. They said the concerts help bring the neighborhood back to life.

"There have been problems in the area with crime and sideshows," Simon said. "But free concerts help bring the community together, and we have to start somewhere."

The Oakland Black Officers Association and Elite Security, a Black Muslim group, helped to secure the concert venue and manage crowd control. There were no problems.

Looking to do her part, Ondrietta Johnson decided to become a concert volunteer. She has lived in the area for three years and hopes the event becomes a community tradition.

"I think the concert is an infusion of excitement because it's free and it's old school," she said. "With each concert I think it will become more popular over time."

Arroyo Viejo Park is at 7701 Krause St. at 73rd Avenue. The concert begins at 3 p.m. A shuttle from the Professional Building at Eastmont Town Center (Church Street side) leaves for the park every 20 minutes. Return post-concert shuttles leave from 77th and Krause. Picnics are welcome, alcohol is not. For more information, call 238-7000.

This is also the last weekend for the Bayennale International Arts Festival, including a family fun day Saturday at the Fruitvale Transit Village, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a human-sized chess game, chalk pastels and live dance and music.

The Bayennale's closing reception is from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Jack London Square, at the shipping container near Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon. Stick around for Flicka McGurrin's Wet Dark Art drawing on water, 9 p.m., Oakland Estuary west of the Waterfront Plaza Hotel.

For more information and schedule of events: http://www.bayennale.com.

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