(Photo Courtesy of: http://www.turnto23.com)
Spray parks are a recent source of entertainment for the city of Bakersfield. The biggest and most centrally located is the spray park at Jastro Park.
Once home of a public swimming pool Jastro Park underwent a remodel to turn some of its space into a public water spray park. Open from May until October this park offers an inexpensive and fun way to the beat the Bakersfield heat. The park offers fun interactive water hoses, spray tubes and even dumping buckets to keep visitors entertained for hours.
(Photo Courtesy of: BakersfieldSwim.Com)
Jastro Park is just one of many spray parks that Bakersfield has to offer. Ranging from smaller parks with only a few spray hoses like Beale Water Spray Park. Or Greystone Spray Park that in addition to its regular spray fun features a large duping bucket that unloads every 2 minutes. Some locations like Jefferson Park offers both a spray park and public swimming pool for just $2 admission.
Of course the ultimate spray park and public swimming pool destination is McMurtrey Aquatic Center located downtown. For a minimal fee you can have wet summer fun on the centers 2 pools, spray park and water slides. With recreation areas and picnic tables this location makes a family fun day easy and cheap.
With a total of 8 city spray parks it’s not hard to find a location near you. Remember to apply plenty of sunscreen and stay hydrated as Bakersfield temperatures can reach over 100 degrees in the summer.
For a complete list of Bakersfield spray parks and hours please visit the BakersfieldSwim website.
(Photo Courtesy of: aquaticdesign.com)
Summers in Bakersfield are hot! Just this week our city is forecasted to bring in it’s first 100-degree day. McMurtrey Aquatic Center is the answer for staying cool while having fun. Located in downtown Bakersfield, this aquatic center is centrally located and offers amenities for young and old alike.
With an 8,551 square foot pool it is unlikely that you could get bored of lounging and swimming. If you do, the aquatic center also offers double water slides with a plunge pool. For the youngest swimmer the zero depth, beach entry, into the kiddie area is most likely where you’ll want to hang out. In the kiddie are you will find hoses, fountains and waterfalls to entertain for hours.
In the larger of the 2 pools you can utilize diving boards, designated swimming lanes and wet play equipment. This area is also open for early morning and late evening lap swimming for $5 entry.
In addition to the swimming fun there is also a snack bar, picnic and volleyball areas. These areas including the aquatic center are all available to reserve privately or semi-privately. With reservation fees starting at just $100 you can afford to host a party that’s sure to be a splash hit.
In the summer you can find McMurtrey open daily from 1–5 pm. Admission is $3 per person or $10 for a group of 4-6 people. Lather on the sunscreen and take a dip in our city’s newest aquatic center. For swim hours and reservation fees you can visit the McMurtrey Aquatic Center website.
The Mark restaurant is Located at 1623 19th Street. (Photo courtesy of:Facebook.com/The-Mark-Restaurant
In August 2012, a new restaurant opened its doors in an attempt to offer fine dining with a downtown Bakersfield flair. The Mark, located at 1623 19th Street, offers its diners a unique experience with a sophisticated ambience for both lunch and dinner.
A good restaurant is nothing without its food and beverage menu and The Mark doesn’t disappoint. With daily lunch specials to steak and lobster for dinner the chefs are hard at work to please any appetite. Appetizers include calamari ($8.95) served with spicy dipping sauces, duck rolls ($11.95), and baked goat cheese marinara ($10.95), one of the restaurant’s top sellers. In addition to soups and salads are the entrees including the ever popular New York steak ($29.95), grilled chicken fettuccini ($13.95) and maple sage fried chicken ($17.95).
(Photo Courtesy of: facebook.com/The-Mark-Restaurant)
For those wondering if the atmosphere requires a refined clientele you couldn’t be farther from the truth. Among business professionals and couples out for a date you will find families dining with children and young teens out for a pre-prom dinner. Daniel Reynolds, a fan of the new restaurant, raves about the atmosphere and food.
“I can bring my wife dancing, have a glass of wine and just relax. The atmosphere is lively and the staff is always friendly. But, what I really come here for is the food,” he said.
Besides appetizers and entrees, The Mark also offers a variety of delectable desserts. Their cheesecake ($6.95) plated with chocolate sauce and garnished with a strawberry seems to be a customer favorite according to Mark Tess, a server at The Mark.
“Customers seem to love our desserts as much as our entrees. The cheesecake and vanilla bean ice cream are our top sellers,” he said.
The Mark also boasts a full bar with specialty drinks and wines to please all palettes. This new restaurant has taken the drinks pretty seriously; not only can you order a drink but it’s delivered interactively. The restaurant serves its own version of “coffee on the rocks” ($8.95) mixing coffee and alcohol all while lit to a flame at your table.
(Photo courtesy of: facebook.com/The-Mark-Restaurant)
On Friday and Saturday nights you can find Kelly Jean and Mr. Timble alternating jazz rounds and providing live entertainment to diners. With a designated dancing area near the stage the atmosphere comes to life.
“My wife and I have two children so we look forward to our Friday date night where we can get to not only eat wonderful food but also dance the night away to our favorite songs,” Reynolds said.
The Mark seems to hit the spot and has a promising future in the Bakersfield community with delicious food, specialty drinks and live entertainment. Operating hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. with bar hours from 11 a.m. to midnight.
Hart Memorial Park (Photo from: capturekerencounty.com)
Jastro Park (Photo from: turnto23.com)
One of America’s favorite pastimes is going to see a show. Whether you’re watching an action, drama or family feature; there’s fun for all at the movies. One of Bakersfield’s newest cinemas is Maya Cinemas 16.
Maya Cinemas Bakersfield 16 is located at 1000 California Avenue. Open 7 days a week 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Maya Cinemas often hosts specialty days including: family, senior, and classic series day.
Allyson Johnson, 17, purchases her ticket to “The Croods” for the 8:45 p.m. showing. “I love Maya Cinemas because it’s the newest theatre in town and gives me something to do on a boring weekday night,” she said.
Tyler Scott, 18, takes movie tickets on Monday evening. Elizabeth Perez, 20, and Stephanie Montoya, 19, visit Maya Cinemas for a late night showing of “Oblivion.”
Maya Cinemas offers a full snack bar that sells the buttery icon that’s synonymous with the movies. They also serve drinks, pizza, ice cream, and candy.
Tyler Scott, 18, has been working at Maya Cinemas for 1 year. In addition to redeeming tickets near the front door he also works the snack bar. “I love working in the theatre, i get to see all the movies I want,” he said.
Photo courtesy of (https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mark-Restaurant/311707555584164)
With so many restaurants in town how do you choose one that deliver on all of your expectations? The Mark, a steak and seafood restaurant in downtown Bakersfield, offers a new option to those that like their dinner with a little swinging on the side.
Since its soft opening in August 2012 The Mark treats their diners to a posh dining experience with a full bar area, VIP upstairs loft, and a dance floor next to the live band. Every Friday and Saturday night from 6:00 – 11:00 pm you can find the second dining area full of laughter and swaying hips as the live band puts on a show.
“Where in Bakersfield can you find dinner and dancing in one place? This restaurant is our favorite date night location,” Sheina Johnson, 30, said.
Currently The Mark rotates its live band, which include the smooth sounds of Mr. Trimble and the Jazz Connection both local artists. The music selection is diverse and offers diners the chance to dance to jazz, swing, oldies and contemporary music.
“It’s something new all the time,” Everardo Vivero, 27, said. “My girlfriend and I can find ourselves dancing to Michael Jackson one minute and full on swing the next.”
The dance floor and live band are located in a second dining room with an accompanying full bar where they serve an extensive wine and cocktail list. The atmosphere is comfortable with a lounge feel. You can dine, drink or relax on the leather couches waiting for your favorite song to come on.
For reservations, restaurant details and full dining lists visit The Mark’s Facebook page.
Photo: (www.playdota.com)
The city of Bakersfield is best known for two things: agriculture and poor air quality, both of which have nothing to do with fun. I am born and raised a Bakersfield citizen and although I have pride in our patriotic community I am not ashamed to say that you do not come to this city for fun. We have the basics: a few bowling alleys, one large mall, movie theatres, a crumbling miniature golf course and an ice skating rink. Bakersfield is a growing city with lots of potential for hosting future advanced developments such as shopping malls and entertainment locations. It is our increasing but smaller population that hasn’t made our city eligible yet for these exciting prospects.
Over the weekend I visited a few local hotspots to see if the citizens of Bakersfield felt the same way as I did or if I was solely perpetuating a stereotype. Angela Majarra, 29, a schoolteacher took her two younger children Daniel, 6, and Elias, 9, to the movie opening “42” this past Saturday.
“ Bakersfield doesn’t have much to offer a family with small children, on weekends it’s either the park or the movies. It gets pretty boring doing the same old thing,” Majarra said.
While I couldn’t have agreed with her more I thought now was a better time than ever to remain objective in hopes that someone would offer a different perspective of our town. While taking my own children to the park on Sunday I chatted with Wendy Carranza, 28, a homemaker who was picnicing in the park with her two young children Iris, 8, and Mason, 2.
“ I think Bakersfield can be as fun as you make it. Sure, there may not be much in the way of entertainment spots but there is a lot of hiking and outdoor activities you can do,” Carranza said.
I can relate to what both of my fellow Bakersfield Citizens were saying. With a larger blended family of five children it’s important for me to keep them active and occupied. Which is why every other weekend we pack up the cars and head out of town to other cities that can offer more “fun”. Other cities do not necessarily mean bigger cities.
Just a short 1-hour drive east to the city of Lindsay, California, population 12,000, you can find McDermont Field House. Our families go-to spot when we don’t want to travel to the bigger cities of Los Angeles and Fresno. McDermont Field House offers: a wave pool, rock wall, skate park, laser tag, arcade, dance floor, soccer fields, basketball courts, bounce houses and aquatic center just to name a few. With prices as low as $10 for an all day pass this location offers lots of bang for my buck.
When we’re not traveling out of town for some weekend fun my family embraces the nature of Bakersfield with its hills and landscapes. We hike, bike ride, and play in the many nature trails that our city has to offer. A great resource for outdoor activities in Bakersfield can be found at the Bakersfield Parks and Recreation website.
The city of Bakersfield has a long way to go to stop this momma from entertaining her children elsewhere.
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Playing the 'Field 