CSUB’s The Cherry Orchard, Video Story

On June 02, 2012, CSUB’s Dore Theater presented The Cherry Orchard. It was a must see play; it had great performance.

Let’s beat the summer weather

Bakersfield’s weather is like no other. It is either really cold or really hot. It almost feels as if we don’t have spring. There is no real transgression period.

Luckily, we accommodate by changing our wardrobe with the times.

In the winter, we wear jackets, sweaters, leggings, boots, and two pairs of socks. I even wear two pairs of pants. In the summer, we wear light colored clothing, shorts, skirts, dresses, t-shirts, and sandals. But I must warn anybody who has just strolled down Bakersfield. We do have three degree summer weather. It is not always the most enjoyable, but summer clothes, an air conditioner, cooler, or fan, help the hot weather a lot.

In my opinion, an air conditioner, fan, or cooler, is best little investment one can make in Bakersfield. The prices for them range depending on the size and type of air conditioner, cooler, or fan, the person wants to buy. They can be bought at Lowe’s, Wal-Mart, or Home Depot, to name a few.

But my favorite way to beat the Bakersfield heat is by going to Hart Memorial Park. It is eight miles northeast of Bakersfield on the Alfred Harrell Highway. It is a very nice and big park. There are picnic spots to cook, very tall shady trees to lie down, walk or run around, places to fish, animals to see, playgrounds for the kids, a river, and even two lakes where you can swim at.

It is to no surprise this place is never lonely. The trees and running water bring in people for hours. What better way than to beat the heat than at Hart Memorial Park with your friends and family.

Hart Memorial Park scenery
Photo by (http://www.co.kern.ca.us)

Grenaider’s nightlife

Grenaider’s cocktail lounge offers a welcoming enviornment with music, drinks, and a friendly bartender.

John’s Incredible Pizza Offers Family Fun

(Photo courtesy of: http://www.google.com)

John’s Incredible Pizza Co. is the place to be. It screams family fun and great pizza for any day’s entertainment.

This is no ordinary pizza restaurant. It has different rooms to sit in, an area where birthday parties can be held, and my favorite room, of course, the game room. It has games, rides, and prizes for kids all ages. This place is big. It is located on 3709 Rosedale Hwy, and it is open every day.

This restaurant has a wide buffet. On pizzas, it has alone has18 different types.

Primarily, they are famous for their Spicy Peanut Butter Pizza and Alfredo Pizza, but let’s not stop there. They also have BBQ Chicken Ranch, Fiesta Buffalo Chicken, Meat lovers, Hawaiian, Cheese, and Pepperoni to name a few.

John’s incredible pizza also offers different soups for different days, such as Pasta Fagioli, Beef Stew, a variety of pastas with different sauces such as Marinera and Alfredo, and self-serve salads that can be made with as many, if not all, of the 40 different vegetables, dressings, and toppings.

But another must have are the deserts. They have a wide variety that will satisfy your sweet tooth, beginning with cookies, to self-serve ice cream, cinnamon rolls, to gelatin.

The price of the buffet (required for entrance) includes all you can eat pizzas, pastas, salads, soups, and desserts:

•   Adult $9.79
•   Senior (55 and over) $8.79  
•  Children (under 13) 2 & under are free with paying adult
• Ages 3-6 $4.79
•  Ages 7-12 $5.99

Beverages are not included, but they are also all you can drink. They have soft drinks, ICEE, iced teas, coffee, mocha, cappuccino, beer and even wine.

This place does not disappoint. It is a guaranteed fun time for the whole family under 10 dollars.

Bakersfield’s First Amazing Race was a Success

Photo by: (www.facebook.com)

Bakersfield’s Stewards Inc. hosted the first Amazing Race on Saturday, April 13th.

“It was pretty awesome,” said Andrew Saenz, marketing coordinator of the event. Over 150 people showed up to participate in the scavenger and obstacle course. The first place winners of the race were team Talk Nerdy To Me. They were awarded $1,000 in the awards ceremony at On the Rocks Bar & Grill.

The winners of the costume party were another team. They were named team Valley Fever. They won $300 for the best costume. Their team was dressed up as the Bakersfield arch located by Sillect Avenue. Some of the other team names were team Sole Mates, Speed Racers, Valley Fever, 2 Hot Dogs, 2 Tacos, Race To The Alter, Children First, Super Moms, and The Things to name a few among the more than 50 teams that participated.

The object of this game was to start at Stewards Inc. at 2211 H Street and walk or run until the finish line at On the Rocks Bar & Grill in 1517 18th Street while strategically solving the clues given to each team to make their way through the game.

The organizers of this event have already started their countdown for next year’s Amazing Race. It is still going to be open to the public, and it will remain a scavenger hunt and obstacle course. Clues will still be given to teams, and smart phones will still be permissible for the facilitation of navigation.

But “it’s going to be bigger, even better,” said Andrew Saenz. “It’s going to be huge next year.” Saenz said that they are going to make some changes to make that possible.

Next year, they are hoping to get different hosts to participate, and hopefully they will be able to run different games within the race.

Saenz said that this year Mayor Harvey Hall opened up the race by blowing his whistle at noon at Stewards Inc. But next year they are going to see if Hall can host a game as well. They are also looking into getting different hosts to participate in this event. One thing that will not be changed is the location. “We will always try to keep it downtown,” said Saenz. 

Sofia Velez, 27, attends California State University Bakersfield and participated in the race. “I lost,” said Velez. “But I did need the exercise, and I helped charity.” Velez said that she will be running again next year. “Maybe I’ll win,” said Velez. “It is $1,000.”

Without dismay, money was a good incentive for part of the Bakersfield community to participate, and to help Stewards Inc. raise profits for the needy.

Stewards Inc. has been helping out the Bakersfield community since the 1990s. It also has another location in Bellflower, California. The organization gives seniors assistance with budgeting their money, and making ends meet by managing the Social Security benefits of the people they serve. 

Nightlife In La Movida

La Movida nightclub located at 212 E. 18th street is a popular Spanish club in Bakersfield. This club has three bars, a big dance floor, and always has live entertainment.
On April 19, 2013, La Movida presented Los Herrantes.

La Movida nightclub located at 212 E. 18th presented Los Herrantes on April 19th, 2013. Doors open at 8pm and closes at 2am. (Photo by Elisa Arechiga)

Los Herrantes were starting to play at La Movida. Photo taken: April 19, 2013. (Photo by Elisa Arechiga)

Victor Castro, 29, was the bartender at one of the three bars at La Movida on April 19th, 2013. (Photo by Elisa Arechiga)

On April 19, 2013, Los Herrantes were playing the guitar and accordion on stage for their crowd at La Movida. (Photo by Elisa Arechiga)

The Bartender, Victor Castro, makes a “Cranberry Vodka” on April 19, 2013 at La Movida. Price: $5. (Photo by Elisa Arechiga)

An image of alcohol beverage “Sex on the Beach” made by Victor Castro on April 19, 2013 at La Movida. Price: $10. (Photo by Elisa Arechiga)

My Favorite Places

Bakersfield does not have the greatest reputation for having a wide variety of entertainment options like San Francisco or Los Angeles. I will not argue there, but one thing that no one can deny is that Bakersfield does have some nice places to go and eat at. Let me be the first to say, that is my favorite thing to do here. I love to go out to eat with my family and friends. My favorite places:

• Flame and Skewers

It is located at1201 24th street. This place offers a good Mediterranean menu. They sell kabob plates, sandwiches, Shawerma, and salads. My favorite plate is the Beef Kabob plate.  It is served with a side of beef, rice, salad, hummus, vegetables and a slice of pita bread.

Photo from: (www.flameandskewers.com)

• Olive Garden

It is located at 1701 New Stine Road. This place serves really good Italian food, and it has a lot of entrée dishes to choose from. It has a creatable appetizers list, different types of soups, salads, pizzas, chicken, fish, seafood, beef, pork and lasagna. But as for me, give me a plate of lasagna and a cold Pepsi on the side, and I am happy.  

Photo from: (/www.menuism.com)

• Mariscos Las Islitas

It is located at 1301 Chamberlain Ave. Without a doubt, this is my favorite Mexican seafood place. They have tostadas, shrimp, fish, empanadas, fajitas, octopus, cocktails, etc. They have lots of good seafood. I love their cocktails and their tostadas de ceviche. They are the best. But another thing which makes this place so unique, besides the food, is that the Mariachi sometimes plays here on Sundays. We love El Mariachi.

Bakersfield’s Amazing Race was a Success

Bakersfield’s Steward’s Inc. hosted the first Amazing Race on Saturday April 13^th. “It was pretty awesome” said Andrew Saenz. Over 150 people showed up to participate in the scavenger and obstacle course. These participants walked or some even ran from Stewards Inc. on 2211 H Street until dashing at the finish line On the Rocks Bar & Grill in 1517 18^th Street.

The first place winners of this event were team Talk Nerdy To me.

Some of the other team names were Sole mates, Speed Racers, Valley Fever, 2 Hot Dogs, 2 Tacos, Race to the Alter, Children First, Super Moms, and The Things to name a few, but the list goes on. There were over 50 teams.

What can we say events like these do not happen every day. It is surely not every Saturday afternoon that people have the chance to win $1000 to walk around the streets of downtown Bakersfield while dressed in costumes and solving clues, and help out a needy cause such as the Stewards Inc.

Organizers already started their countdown for next year. “It’s going to be bigger, even better, huge next year” said Andrew Saenz. They are hoping different hosts will be able to run different games. This year they had Mayor Harvey Hall open up the race by blowing his whistle. But next year they are going to see if Hall can host a game and maybe Space Ship Young Blood can also join this event.

For more information, check out the Bakersfield Amazing Race.

Bakersfield Entertains

Photo (from: http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com)

For those that say there is nothing to do in Bakersfield, they are not completely off. It does not offer a whole lot like one would find in Los Angeles or San Francisco, but Bakersfield does with what it can.

One thing Bakersfield has to offer is events. Events are entertaining for the whole community. They allow everyone to join together on a fun, exciting activity.

In the Amazing Race, participants explored downtown Bakersfield in silly costumes while searching for clues. The person with the best outfit won $300.00. The group that won the race by finding what the clues meant the fastest won $1000.00. They then celebrated at On the Rocks Bar & Grill with food and music.

In the Fight for Air Walk, the participants walked for 5K in Yokuts Park to raise money and awareness for people suffering from breathing problems, and they, too, joined a fun celebration.

Events, such as these, can be looked up on the internet: http://www.kernevents.com/

Bakersfield also has to offer some bars and night clubs, shooting ranges, theaters, bowling alleys, parks, ice rinks, Rabobank Arena, and of course, a mall.

The mall, Valley Plaza, is my favorite place in Bakersfield.

Check it out: http://www.valleyplazamall.com/.

It has stores to shop at, and places to eat at. The mall is never empty. People are always there either shopping or simply hanging out.

All in all, I agree Bakersfield doesn’t have the great selection of entertainment, but there is some stuff do to on a Saturday night.